Working through the pandemic was an interesting experience and challenge as a leader. In the beginning everything was uncertain, and businesses were being forced to shut down. Since Dickinson Brands is considered an essential business, we remained open. I decided to form a COVID taskforce to establish a safe community to help ensure the health and safety of my employees. I would make sure to meet with different departments and bring them up to speed as soon as new information on COVID or safety precautions became available. I reassured them that Dickinson’s was there for them, and we were all in this together. We worked to secure N95 masks and other PPE gear as quickly as possible, and all employees were issued the protection they needed. One morning at the height of the pandemic, as I approached my office, there was a 4’ X 4’cardboard sign outside the door that read “Thank you for keeping us safe Bryan!” It was at that point that I realized how profound of an experience this was to me and was humbled to have the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way. As an individual that prides myself on “rolling up my sleeves” and collaborating with my teams, I was just doing what needed to be done and didn’t stop to think of how being genuine and authentic made such an impact on others. It was a great lesson in how business and heart can — and often should — go hand in hand. As a family-owned company, I hope the “we’re in this together” family feeling extends to all my employees on a day-to-day basis, and this experience showed me it truly was.