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| Steve James (left) accepting his DeSales Hall of Honors Award from DeSales President, Doug Strothman. |
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We are so proud to share great news with you!
Mortenson Family Dental's CFO, Steve James, was inducted into the DeSales High School Hall of Honors last Tuesday night.
The designation of “Hall of Honors Inductee” is the highest distinction bestowed by DeSales High School. Members of the Hall of Honors have distinguished themselves and DeSales through their outstanding accomplishments, character, or commitment to DeSales.
The
DeSales Hall of Honors was established in 1992. Since then, thirty-eight DeSales alumni and former faculty/staff members have been named to this prestigious group.
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Get to know what a wonderful person Steve is by reading his fantastic acceptance speech, focusing on optimism and greatness, below:
Speech delivered by Steve James, Chief Financial Officer for Mortenson Family Dental, in Louisville, KY on the occasion of the DeSales High School Hall of Honors Award Dinner - August 16, 2011
"First off I want to thank
the committee and the leadership of DeSales High School for bestowing me with this wonderful honor. This is the Highest Distinction bestowed to a DeSales graduate; only 41 people prior have been honored out of over 5,000 alumnus. WOW! But
what is it I have done to receive such an honor?
I was a good student here Class of 1982; 11/1/56, but not the best, no major scholarships offered when I graduated. I was an OK athlete, a basketball player for 4 years. I think I averaged 6 p.p.g. my senior year on a team that went 4-19 (not the best).
I must say, however, I was a very good grade school baseball player. In fact, if there was a Baseball Hall of Fame I am sure I would be in it (St. Thomas More 1978).
So, it is clear that I was not inducted for my academic or athletic prowess.
I have had some success in recent years, but nothing of fame or fortune to note. So, what is it that I am honored for? I have given a lot of thought to this and I believe more than anything else this is an affirmation of who I am and what is uniquely me.
I am pleased and proud to say that I am a card carrying optimist.What does it mean to be an optimist? Webster’s Dictionary defines “Optimism” as hopefulness and confidence about the future or successful outcome of something. My definition would be the best combination of FAITH and HOPE and LOVE. Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope, confidence and love (Helen Keller)
To nurture optimism is to nurture hope, altruism, and inner strength. True optimists will persevere in the face of all obstacles and hardships. Optimists assume good things are permanent and pervade in every area of their lives, but assume bad things are only temporary and isolated to their context. We optimists want the world to be better place.
In my career, it has been my desire to contribute to a better world by making a great health care company that is grounded in its desire to help it patients achieve better dental health and its employees a better life. Mortenson Family Dental fulfills that objective for me.
At DeSales, my desire has been to cultivate a brotherhood of young men that desired a faith-based education. This was originally supported by my sons needs here but shortly thereafter, I was inspired by the commitment of the leadership and alumni that wanted it for generations to come.
Optimists value and need strong relationships and moreover we need to be inspired by the greatness our relationships bring. To that end, I want recognize and thank a few of the many that have inspired me with their greatness.
I first want to thank my MOM and DAD together; their love for each over is the greatest romance I have ever witnessed. It is the standard by which I measure and aspire for my marriage.
Separately I want thank my MOM for giving me the gift of optimism; short of me there is no person in this world more optimistic than my Mom.
DAD, you give me the gift of a work ethic and the value of always doing what is right. You can’t be a great optimist and be lazy or be wrong-minded. I always tell my kids I am forever and I have you to thank for that.
I also want to thank my brother BRIAN. His sacrifice and his courage for his family and country is simply inspirational to me. At 35 years old he enlisted in the Navy to serve our country. Since then he has had 2 deployments to Iraq in service of our country.
My kids, BRANDON, ZACHARY and SAMANTHA:
All my kids were/are outstanding student athletes who participated in college athletics; my two oldest, Brandon and Zachary are going to be doctors (dentists) and my daughter Sam will graduate this year with honors from Campbellsville University. More importantly they are great people that will be exceptionally successful in life. I like them for the adults they have become and love them for who they are.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my daughter-in-law, SARAH. She is the strength of my family; when my wife had a stroke a couple of years ago, she cared for all of us. Also, she is carrying two very important packages, my grandbabies (twins!) COLT 1 and COLT 2.
I want to thank my MORTENSON FAMILY. I am privileged to work with great people. We love what we do.
I especially want to thank DR.O. WAYNE MORTENSON, my mentor and an optimist like myself. His entrepreneurial spirit, big thinking and willingness to let me and my peers at Mortenson be inspired and empowered, has led to building a small, single-office dental practice into one of the fastest growing and largest employee owned dental groups in America. I am fortunate; in 1996 he introduced me to my vision of my perfect job.
I want to thank my DeSALES FAMILY.
In 2004, we took over the school from the Arch with well less than 300 students, a $2,000,000 debt, an outdated facility, and a prevailing attitude of we are 2nd best. Today we boast of 5 straight years of growth now with 330 students and 7 straight years of financial success and surpluses.
In particular, I want to thank the late Tim Keogh; his optimism, supported by his overwhelming faith in God got us started; and more recently Doug Strothman, his vision and drive has generated a rebirth at DeSales
There are so many others:
All MY FRIENDS, especially my life long com padre, TIM CROOK.
Dr. WILL ENGILMAN, the smartest man I know and a closet optimist; he helped me become a reformed optimist rather than a blind optimist.
STEVE GOODMAN
My sisters, - JENNIFER TRIPLETT, BETHE LOVINS, and VERA JAMES.
My mother-in- law, MARIE KING and my late father-in-law, JIM KING.
FATHER MIKE GREENWELL, who introduced me to accounting as a profession.
The Carmelite Priest led by FATHER FARRELL KANE; they introduced me to a much bigger world with possibilities than simply my vision of South Louisville
Most importantly, I want to thank my wife MARY ANN; She has inspired me to the greatest moment of optimism for me since the first time I met her some 32 years ago. I told my friend Matt Hammond before I even met her, “That is the woman I am going to marry”; after 28 years of marriage I still love her just as much as the first time I saw her. She is the reason why I get up each morning.
I want to close by telling you WHAT I BELIEVE:
- I believe in giving 100% when you only have 80%.
- I believe in being polite to anyone and everyone, including yourself. If you can’t be nice to yourself who can you be nice to?
- I believe in taking chances and making mistakes.
- I believe in telling people I love them over and over again.
- I believe in miracles and random acts of kindness.
- I believe in second chances.
- I believe that everyone is lucky to be alive..
On behalf of all optimists in the world, it is with great pleasure and honor that I accept the Hall of Honors induction.
THANK YOU"
CONGRATS STEVE! You deserve it! We appreciate and thank you for all that you do!
