We are in the “final approach” stage of a year-long project that’s set to open before Thanksgiving. It’s fairly substantial, high-profile and covers about 20 acres. As we all know, building this year is full of unknowns. To mention a few, we’ve had delayed packages, electrical panels shipped without interior guts, late refrigeration equipment, along with late door operators. You name a delay, and we’ve dealt with it. The icing on the cake is that there are not enough tradespeople in the market right now. Somehow, together, we got it done.

This week, I sat down and wrote personal notes to the folks who run the major subcontractors that helped us in this process. I thanked them for their efforts and for their tireless commitment to getting it done. Too often, I think we forget that whether we are a construction project team, or any team that requires collaboration to move an initiative ahead, it’s never a solo act. It’s nice to be able to say thank you to the people who partner with you. It’s the long game that we will play next year, and the next year, and the next. Most of us run a marathon, not a sprint. The COVID era has felt more like an ultramarathon, but we’re still reaching our finish lines, and I’m grateful.