In This Season...We're Grateful

In this season of giving, receiving, and blessing-counting, we're reflecting on what we're grateful for:

Alan De Keyrel, CEO

Good health, an awesome team to work with, two wonderful kids and a wife who couldn’t be more supportive.

Kim De Keyrel, HR Director

Being able to spend every day working with my husband, healthy kids; and, great family and friends to spend the holidays with.

Chris Kostelec, Web Developer

Family (who all live in Minnesota), friends, my job, and my health. With all the progress of technology and medical advancements, it’s also a great time to be alive.

Dustin Hart, Web Developer

Every second I get with my wife and newborn son. My wife survived an Amniotic Fluid Embolism during delivery of my son Archer, even though her odds of survival were at best 10-15%. Every smile and laugh I get from each of them is a reminder of how very fortunate I am to be spending this holiday season with family.

Eric Reynolds, Web Programmer

A well-paying job that lets me go on fun vacations to support my photography hobby. I have been able to visit all sorts of cool places over the years. My cats, because they give me something to care for and are fun to play with. Computers, so I can create things that help other people in their work.

Ethan Herber, Social Media/Marketing Specialist

All the wonderful people in my life...My family, girlfriend, friends, and coworkers. For technology that has connected me to family that live hundreds of miles away. My dogs which take care of me just as much as I take care of them.

Joe Milbach, Web Developer

Family: My wife, son and I moved back to Iowa to be closer to our parents and extended family. They have become a bigger part of our lives because of it. My Work Family: Alan, Kim, and the rest of CWS welcomed me back as a remote employee after a short leave when I first moved to Iowa. It is nice to have these two groups of people in my life.

Jonny Yucuis, Project Manager

Having a great wife, family, friends, cat, 2004 Saturn Ion II. I also have the greatest group of people around me to work with, laugh with, learn with. I know a lot of people say that they’ve got the best team to work with…but they’re wrong. We do :).

Kaleb De Keyrel, Intern

The chance to do this internship with CWS! Family, my friends, my doggy, and my health.

Melissa McNallan, Content Coordinator

My daughter. Friends and mentors who have inspired me to take risks. Words of wisdom. I've been reflecting a lot on what a yoga teacher once told a class I was in, "Push to your edge. Don't worry. The ground will always catch you." I'm fortunate to have fabulous people in my life who do the same.

Mike Schnell, Account Strategist

A great and expanding family (our baby girl should be here before 2014 ends. Quality medical care: Madden (our son) was able to pass his hearing test right after his surgery. Witnessing how his world opened up to new sounds was pretty amazing. A great job: It's cliche to talk about how much you enjoy your work team, but honestly they are the best. The amazing projects I have been able to work on and the amazing people I was able to work with.

Sam Malone, Infrastructure Engineer

Family, friends, and health; and, for all of the people in our community who take some time out of their day to brighten others, especially during the Holidays.

Sarah Link, Graphic Designer

The people around me. Most of my family lives in Minnesota, so I get to see them often. The people I work with are wonderful, we laugh and have a lot of fun. I am also grateful for the time that we are in. I look at how life has changed and it is amazing.

Sara Pennington, Office Administrator

Local companies that sponsored Free Zumba® on the Plaza over the summer. Without CWS, Inc., Home Federal Savings Bank, Holiday Inn Downtown, Thyme Restaurant & Lounge, Rochester Downtown Alliance and HyVee South, this awesome summer long event wouldn't have been possible. Each week there were 75-100 people having a great time while getting some great exercise!

Shane Kovash, Lead Programmer

Technology. Yes, it can be a burden with credit card fraud, spam, advertisements, etc.... But, being able to have video calls with family that live out of town is priceless. And, if you have kids, being able to take pictures or video at anytime on your phone is a blessing. That way, when you look back at your collection, you have more than just photos and videos of their birthdays.

Sheryl Barlow, Business Development Director

Of course, all the usual stuff like family, my health, my fantastic job and my friends but specifically: a cure to my acid reflux (if you want my secrets...let me know!), my Body Beast weight lifting work out. I now have biceps! (well, small biceps but I have them), publishing my 2nd book, Drowning Tory. Our Trip to the Carolinas in May for my niece, Sam's, wedding. It was a blast!

Tom Novak, Support Specialist

The health of my family & friends. Life can turn on a dime, yet my family has been more than fortunate over the past year. Here's looking forward to a healthy & rewarding 2015.

Tracy Lauritzen, Account Strategist

2014 has been a surgery free year for Otto! Sheryl's diligence ​in recruitment efforts. It's great to be creative again and I'm excited to have a successful work life balance. Happy, healthy family, friends and colleagues.