2020 Year In Review Newsletter

“Happy New Year!” For many people, I think those three words have an extra special ring this year. What an interesting year 2020 has been. Among the many challenges the year brought (working from home, virtual schooling, being laid off, quarantine, sick loved ones, cancelled events, cancelled church, drive through graduations and funerals, re-scheduled vacations, smaller holiday gatherings, and the list goes on) I hope you found a sliver of light in all the darkness. Maybe 2020 was a great year for you and your family? Maybe you enjoyed the extra downtime and were able to spend some quality time as a family? Maybe, like me, you built a treehouse with your kids (something you may not have otherwise found the time to do in all the craziness of the world). Or, like my wife, you went to the park with the kids or just went for a walk during the pretty spring days of quarantine. Maybe, like us, you welcomed a new member to the family. Whatever it was, I hope this slow down brought you and your family a few positives that you will take with you into the new year. And if 2020, was in fact the most challenging year yet (as it understandably was for many), I hope that 2021 brings you and your family a new start.

I find myself somewhere in the middle. Stuck between the stress of a tough year in business, frustrated with all the canceled events, yet thankful we are an essential business, for all our amazing team members and for the customers that kept us working. I’m appreciative for the lessons this year has taught me, along with the change of pace it afforded me at times. The word “essential” was thrown around loosely this year. But here at Nix Companies, we know just who that word was intended for; not to be compared with that of the front-line health care workers, teachers, grocery store workers, first responders, and a few others, of which we are all so thankful for this year. But, just beyond those, our business is one of the many whose “essentialism” has always been there; it was simply on full display this past year. This is something we have always celebrated as a company, and our team members take pride in. I even coined a slogan years ago #workthatmatters. We repair equipment for the agriculture and transportation industries. We provide critical maintenance to the power plants and refineries. We fabricate critical infrastructure for the pharmaceutical, food, healthcare, mining, and defense industries, along with many others. We feel truly blessed and honored to be serving these industries. We are so thankful for our many customers who put their faith in us this past year. Because of you, I’m proud to say that we did not have to lay off a single permanent, full time employee in 2020 due to a lack of work. Our hearts go out to those restaurants and other small retail establishments who have been the hardest hit. Maintaining a full staff (of over 90) certainly did not come without challenges. Like many, we had to make sacrifices this past year, but we welcomed the challenge, and the opportunity to prove that our team members really are our #1 priority. We know that our customers appreciate that about us, and this is one of the reasons (if not the primary) that you continue to choose us for your fabrication, repairs, and industrial coatings needs. #ourpeoplemakethedifference.

In closing, on behalf of the Nix family and team members, we wish you a heartfelt thank you for putting your trust in us over the past year, past decade, or even generations. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you in 2021. All the best wishes for you, your organization, and your family in the new year!

                                                    Sincerely,