By Charles Groce, CEO, Pearl Street Consulting

Today, Pearl Street marks one year as an independent and healthy technology initiative.  Although I started Pearl Street in July 2014, it wasn’t until July 1, 2015 that it became the primary focus of my professional life.   This has proven to be a most exhilarating experience and has shown me that without taking chances one cannot even truly aspire to success.

In my life I’ve worn many hats.  I’ve been a dish washer, a tobacco stripper, a cook, a waiter, a professional musician, a tech support specialist, a programmer, and a student of mathematics, statistics, and computer science.  I taught college math for four years at two different universities.  I’ve been a web developer, data analyst, and an IT Manager.  I’ve been a Product Manager and a creator of new things people need.

I’ve been published nearly two dozen times on a range of topics, from theoretical mathematics to marketing strategy.  I’ve written software for Fortune 500 companies, and even one Fortune 50 company.  I’ve run and been the public face of a national marketing company.  Now, I’m a start up founder and a leader of experts.

I’m proud of the work I’ve done and the work of my colleagues, without which the opportunity to run a company like Pearl Street would not be possible.

I think it’s a sign of our times that we are required to wear so many different hats.  Many of us, these days, don’t get to work along a single path in a single industry.  What we set out to do in the beginning is not necessarily what we end up doing.  I dare say experience in multiple industries is necessary in an era in which technology is evolving so quickly and continually changing the fundamentals of how we work together.  And experience on the ground floor of customer service, in whatever industry, is key to understanding how to making customers happy.

I want to thank all of my customers for helping to make this initiative a success.  And I want to thank my fellow Pearl Street team members for their hard work, dedication, creativity, and inspiration.  Here’s to another year!