The Swartz Report: Celebrating 2 Years in Business!

Post written by Donald Swartz, President and Principal at Swartz + Associates, Inc. | Lover of Chiefs, Royals and golf | Avid “Cruiser” | Poker Enthusiast

Recently we celebrated the 2-year anniversary of Swartz + Associates, Inc.! It doesn’t seem possible two years have passed since the formation of the company and my venture (adventure?) back into entrepreneurial mode.

The lessons learned have been many, but I want to focus on a couple of comments my Advisory Board made at our most recent meeting:

1. Celebrate Successes. Too often we have good things happen…new referral sources, successful appeals and positive reinforcement from clients, but we still get trapped thinking about tomorrow. Will we get the next deal? What happens if we’re unsuccessful? Cash flow concerns. Meeting employee’s needs. While these “issues” are all valid, it’s important to recognize these are all “part of the deal” in owning a business. In fact, not worrying about these things can create a feeling of complacency. I readily accept these things will be a part of my practice and will always need my attention. However, we shouldn’t be shy about celebrating our successes. We should take pride in successful endeavors, acknowledge our wins with fellow employees, and share the stories with clients and referral sources. Positive energy goes a long way!

2. Marketing NEVER Stops. We should always be on the lookout for new business and promoting ourselves to the right audiences. One thing I’ve learned over the past 30 years is it’s very hard to turn the marketing switch off and on. As an owner, it doesn’t work that way. We’re always “ON” because you never know when opportunities will present themselves.

Speaking of celebrating…THANK YOU TO ROGER JOHNSON AS HE RETIRES

It’s time to celebrate the retirement of Roger Johnson on June 30^th.  Roger joined me in January 2005 in our Omaha office after spending 25+ years in the private sector as a property tax manager for companies including Kiewit Construction and Union Pacific. Roger has been a terrific asset and has worked hard to achieve maximum results for our clients over the past 12 years.

Moving from the corporate employee world to the consulting side can be challenging and Roger excelled at developing client relationships and providing exceptional service. Although officially retiring, Roger will still keep his nose in things as he consults with us in an advisory role through the balance of the year.

Well done, Roger. Thank you for your expertise, your work ethic and your friendship. Enjoy your time with your family and on the golf course!

As always, if you have questions about your property valuations or if there’s anything else I can help you with, email me at  or call our office at (913) 766-8777.