This month Paragon turned 25. We'd be lying if we said it's been easy, but if given the opportunity to do it all over again, we can say without a doubt, we would…..granted we'd probably do a few things differently.
From humble beginnings in 1997, to nearly collapsing during the Great Recession of 2008-09, to navigating through a worldwide pandemic, Paragon has always stayed the course and focused on being the market leader. Thanks to an incredible team focused on delivering legendary customer service, we are proud to say that we are competing at the highest level with clients in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and most recently, Arizona.
Over the past three years, we've had to adapt to new circumstances and react to an evolving and highly competitive global talent market. The pace of change has been significant, and the pressure on business leaders has been at an all-time high. Through Paragon's IT Leadership Forum, we continue to see organizations and individuals prioritize leadership development. Next month, in partnership with the Arizona Technology Council, we'll offer our first Forum in Arizona. Undoubtedly, the organizations willing to invest in leadership development tend to be on the winning end of talent attraction and retention.
Attracting and retaining our own talent at Paragon has also been critical. We've been fortunate to experience steady growth, and this year we have nearly doubled the size of our recruiting team. We've also invested more in training and development for our internal team and had a little bit of fun along the way. In February, we took our entire team to Arizona to celebrate and show appreciation for their hard work and dedication. Expressing gratitude comes easy when you have a strong culture and a team continuously pursuing mastery in their craft.
We believed this from the beginning, but after being in business for 25 years, we can confidently say it's the relationships that make the difference. The importance of establishing relationships that bring extraordinary value to everyone involved is what has led us here today.
To our customers and consultants: Thank you for trusting us over the years and helping us become a leader in our industry. While we know we aren't perfect, we are honored to have earned your trust and will work tirelessly to preserve it. To our employees: We are grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented, dedicated and passionate people. Your commitment to our customers, consultants, and each other has been integral to Paragon's progress and success.
We are humbled and incredibly grateful to all of you.
Cheers!
Joel & Craig Jackman