Letter from the President
Happy Holidays
2003
is one of the years when several holidays coincide. The Muslim fast of Ramadan
concluded with the feast of Eid al Fitr just before the American Thanksgiving.
And December finds us busy with Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, and New Year
holiday preparation and festivities.
We call it our “holiday season,” but we try to cram so much into the end of the year--finishing projects, reviewing budgets, and planning for 2004, piled on top of busy holiday social calendars. With reduced budgets in the government and education sectors, many of you are doing double duty just to keep up with the normal activities of your organizations. You are called on to do more with less.
In 2004 we hope that changes. We hope budgets are stronger, your strategic plans are more predictive and agile, and you are highly productive but less stressed, increasing your bottom line through your ethical leadership.
At Hezel Associates the past year has brought consistent growth, notwithstanding the economic downturn. We’ve completed a full year evaluating PBS’s TeacherLine under a US Education Department Ready to Teach grant. For Project Lead The Way we are beginning our fifth year evaluation of the high school engineering prep program. On the strategic services side, we’ve helped several wonderful education clients to manage change in their organizations, plan strategies for the future, and build business and marketing plans to secure their successes.
We also celebrated our “sweet 16” birthday in 2003. We are certifiably one of the oldest research and consulting businesses in the niche of education and technology. Still, we exercise frequently for increased flexibility and agility as a company. We hope you’ll take us out for a run in 2004.
From all of our staff, our best wishes to you and your staff for an enjoyable holiday season and an excellent year ahead.
Happy Holidays,
Richard Hezel
President