An Open Thank You Letter to The GTECH Community:

The day has finally come.  Today is my last day as a GTECH Strategies employee.  While I will remain affiliated as an Emeritus Board Member – my time as a staff member is officially complete as of March 1.  I find myself feeling a strange combination of nostalgia and pride.  

Ultimately, I am overcome with gratitude and humility.  The last ten years have been a spectacular entrepreneurial journey – and I have learned, experienced, and grown more than I could have possible hoped for.  I am grateful that my time and tenacity has yielded some level of  benefit, impact, aligned interests, unlikely connections and new value. But more than anything I am so grateful to an entire ecosystem that has allowed me to learn, grow, fail and find myself.  

To all the GTECH staff (past and present):  Thank you for your trust, your talents, your creativity your energy and your commitment.  You have made this organization what it is today – and I am more proud and grateful than I can articulate to have been able to serve as your leader.  Through your trust, prodding, challenging, and shared values you have helped me find my voice – and I hope that I have in some small way helped enhance your own.  

Evaine, I have never worked with someone as talented, capable and hardworking as you.  Your dedication to GTECH and the work we undertake is unmatched.   You have inspired me with your ingenuity, passion, and integrity – and I consider it an honor to have worked along side with you and to be succeeded by you.  It takes a lot of gumption to be willing to lead and learn at the same time and I applaud you for jumping into it.  

To the GTECH Board of Directors (past and present):   GTECH has come a long way since our primordial origins.  Thank you for your guidance, support, trust, listening, and presence.  It hasn’t always been a smooth ride, but you have always been what I needed you to be at the time I needed it and that is a special feat.   

To my co-founders: Thank you for the shared vision and kitchen cabinet.  Nothing happens with one person alone.  Thank you for indulging my ample food metaphors when we were all hungry to get something done.  

To all the GTECH partners, Ambassadors, funders, vendors, and donors:  At some point in the last decade you came across GTECH and whether you “got it” right away or it took some time and explaining – you signed on to be a part of our vision –  sharing in our values and aspirations.  In this capacity you allowed me the time and space to be vulnerable – and to be real.  You provided your own expertise and passion and we found the true harmony of business.  I could not have asked for any more in my adopted home and entrepreneurial pursuits. I am humbled to have been a small part of what is a profound movement underway in Pittsburgh’s communities embracing the ethos that it is the process of improving places that has the potential to improve lives.  

Over the course of the next 2 months we will share some “looking back” blogs leading up GTECH’s 10 year Anniversary Celebration – “Grounded For Good” on April 21st at The Heinz History Center recapping a few highlights of the last 10 years.  In the meantime, if you haven’t already bought your ticket or made a donation – now is the time!  I look forward to seeing you there!

Remember what GTECH stands for,

Andrew