"So take a trip. Create some epic content. Engage with people in places you've never visited before. Because even if the customers (and sales) don't come right away, you'll be building a lasting brand. And that's what counts in our increasingly noisy world." the Hustle, May 25, 2016. Ace & Everett: A Lesson In Content Marketing.

Exactly. I read the above Content Marketing piece today and it gets at the essence of what I strive to accomplish.

I've been at Appomattox River Company for 4 years, this weekend, and more than anything, this is what I've tried to do: To tell an authentic story, engage and connect with the communities we serve, and break through the noise.

I want to thank all of you that I've met over these four years for your friendship, for influencing me and assisting me, in telling our story. The story of Appomattox River Company, of the Paddleva Family, and of my journey have become completely intertwined, but there have been so many other voices, far more powerful than mine that have "contributed a verse."

I am truly grateful.

There are many instrumental people involved in Appomattox River Company's success and I hope that I've honored their significant contributions in these years. I look forward to telling more of those stories in the years to come.

There are many talented people who've aided me in building the PaddleVa Family community. Many who've opened their hearts and shared the knowledge that their passion for paddling has fostered. Thank you. Thank You. I cannot thank you all enough. I truly find great joy in your adventures and in sharing those adventures.

And lastly, but not least, thank you to my family. Thank you for putting up with me.

"Always remember there was nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name."

When I first started at Appomattox River Company, I was told to find where I fit in. As the son-in-law to the owner/founder, coming into a well established, successful business, things were not always easy. There were a lot of eyes on me, some expectations, some reservations, and some hesitations. But I found my place, and in doing so I found an extended family, both at Appomattox and in the larger Paddleva community.

It's been a fun ride. I've met so many excellent people. I feel very fortunate that a big part of my purview is telling the story of this very storied enterprise. I feel especially fortunate that with the telling of those tales, comes travel to many new places, and that travel brings me into contact with all of you, the paddlers. There are many subsets of the tribe, and I've found smiles and laughter within each one. From whitewater, to canoeing, to SUP, to touring, to kayak fishing, the world of paddling is full of eccentric, exceptional, and deeply engaging individuals.

Thank You all for the great memories over the last four years, and I look forward to meeting more of you, while hanging with the tribe, in the years to come.

PaddleVa

See ya out there, on the water!