As we are nearing the end of 2013, it seems a good time to do a bit of reflection…
First of all, I want to send out a heart-felt “Thank You!” to all of our friends and colleagues who have supported the launch and growth of Commodity Technology Advisory. Without your advice, encouragement and of course, commercial support, ComTech would not be here today. It’s been a very gratifying experience to have started a new business venture and have it succeed well beyond my initial expectations. We owe that success to you. Again, thank you.
In terms of what we have accomplished, I think we’ve done some damn good work this year…
Our research efforts and reports are the most visible products of our efforts, including research we’ve conducted with ETR Advisory on the emerging European Energy Market Regulation, the 2013 CTRM Global Market Size Report, and the CTRM in the Cloud Research and Report (with the final report due out right after the first of the year). Additionally, we are currently in the process of launching our CTRM Vendor Perception Study and that report will be available sometime in the first quarter of the new year.
Beyond these public research efforts, we’ve also done a number of proprietary projects, working with our clients to help answer some of their pressing questions and concerns. In all, we’ve done more than a dozen private research projects covering diverse topics such as our analytic-based CTRM product selection shortlisting exercises, competitive landscape reviews, customer reviews of the value of CTRM systems (this report has been subsequently made publically available on our website), corporate and product strategy reviews, and several projects around mergers and acquisitions.
Around mid-year, we launched the CTRMCenter.com, a web portal and clearinghouse of information on all things CTRM, including an on-line directory of CTRM companies and products, a ComTech authored blog, a news section covering the important stories related to commodity trading and risk management, and section covering other blogs from CTRM industry participants. We’ve also included videos from our CTRM Executive Interview series on the site (we’re going to do even more in the video/multimedia arena this coming year, so look for that). Additionally, we’re also making constant upgrades to the site and will add new features in the coming weeks and months to make it even more interesting and valuable to the industry.
We’ve also been working hard to keep the content flowing on our ComTechAlert newsletter and our blog…
Dang, I need a vacation!
On a personal level, I want to single out a few people for special thanks. If mushy sentiment is not your thing, you should probably move along now…
First, to our guru of all things related to the web, Mr. Andrew Colby. Andrew was invaluable in helping me launch ComTech’s presence on the web and has been the driving force behind not only the technical improvements we’ve been making, but he’s also has been responsible for most of the creative side of our websites. Thank you Andrew! Your hard work and vision is appreciated more than you know.
I also want to thank my partner in this business venture (and more importantly, my friend), Gary Vasey. Gary left a lucrative position as the head of a successful trading firm to join this business just a couple of months after its launch. When we first started talking about his coming on board as a full partner, in the back of my mind I was thinking, “Dude, you’d be nuts to leave that position for this risky start-up!”. But, he had the confidence and faith that we could make it work and he was right. Gary’s experience, creativeness and raw intellectual horsepower has been invaluable in making ComTech what it is today. So, once again, thanks Gary!
I do also want to express my sincere appreciation to the two most important people in my life, my wife Julie and my daughter Ally. Without Julie’s initial and ongoing support, this company wouldn’t exist. Her amazing intellect has constantly challenged me, and her beauty and caring heart continuously amaze me. To my daughter Allison – there has never been a better person, much less a better kid. Thank you for understanding when I’m away from home traveling or coming home late from the office. You always greet me with a smile and never give me a moment of worry. You are the best and I am so very proud to be your father.
In closing, I want to wish everyone the very best in this holiday season. May the New Year bring you and your families nothing but happiness, good health and prosperity.
