This Thursday I'll be presenting to our friends in the Netherlands about how American ESOP and other employee-owned companies have fared during this pandemic. And though I usually wouldn't be fully awake until the second football game of the day, I'm actually excited at the prospect of waking up at 6:30 am on a holiday.

I'm not typically an early riser, but this year I find myself thankful for the opportunity to wake up and share all the inventive and inspiring ways ESOPs have taken care of both company and community this year. Thankful to be part of a community that cares for workers during good times and bad. Thankful that, in spite of what 2020 threw at us, we as a community stayed resilient.

I'm also grateful this year, as every year, for my coworkers at the NCEO, who do so much in service to this community and who feel, as I do, thankful. In their own words:

"I am incredibly grateful for all the amazing friendships I’ve had the privilege of forming in the employee ownership community and the extent to which these friends generously share their hearts, minds, and experiences with other employee-owners across the country."

"I am thankful for the opportunity to find strength within struggle and being able to witness the positive interactions of so many of our members."

"I am grateful for the unending stream of creative ideas and the passion to make them happen that I see in our members and in my colleagues at the NCEO."

"I am grateful that I can work every day with people who care about making life better for everyone they work with."

"I'm grateful to be part of a community that delivers real benefits to millions of workers nationwide."

"I am grateful to have a job where I can work with colleagues to make the world a better place by supporting and expanding the employee ownership community."

So from all of us at the NCEO, thank you for all you do for the employee ownership community.