CEO's Message—Third Quarter 2021 | 30 Years and We're Still Cookin'

30 Years and We're Still Cookin'

Parnell Black, MBA, CPA, CVA
NACVA's Chief Executive Officer

Thirty years ago it was hard to imagine what we would look like today. We have come a long way and faced many challenges along the way. Our greatest challenge, as many of you might assume, was in 2020 when, due to COVID-19, our lives were turned upside-down.

I must confess, I was naïve enough to predict the shutdowns would only last a few months; six, tops. I sure called that one wrong. I think I can say, it looks like COVID-19 is, with starts and stops, moving to the rearview mirror. Let’s hope so. But, in the end, the challenges it presented on our enterprise may have been the best thing that could have happened because it forced us to get much smarter on how we run our business. We fine-tuned everything, significantly advanced our technology, upped our game on membership benefits and services, and, all in all, became a better organization.

I cannot say this without acknowledging the incredible staff at HQ; they have been troopers this last year, each rising to the occasion, working as a team to keep us moving forward. Here is our staff https://www.nacva.com/hqdirectory so you can see who I am talking about.

In addition to that, I must acknowledge our wonderful membership, fantastic member volunteers, and various teams. To be honest, when the COVID-19 shutdowns came last year, I feared the floor was going to drop from underneath. What happened, however, was just the opposite. Our members continued their membership with many stepping forward to volunteer their service and support, and existing volunteers and teams all seemed to take a keener interest in the organization with many asking what more they could do to support us. Frankly, I felt blessed and realized more than before that NACVA has a real family here where people truly care about their brethren and do not run to the hills when things get tough, but rather, step forward with offers to help. (See below)

We never felt such a high level of support. I think the COVID-19 crisis made most people realize, as I do, that life is precious, we are not in control of many of the factors that can turn our life upside-down at a moment’s notice, and all we can do is manage those things for which we do have control, and do so with greater care and respect. Primarily that means family, friends, associates, and people with a common purpose. NACVA offers all of that to its membership.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.