Celebrating a business anniversary is a very special event, and it’s even more special when you are a founding partner.

When you open the doors on that first day of business, you tend to think about the next day much more than 10, 20 or even 50 years down the road. But before you know it, you are celebrating milestones of success.

There are many reasons to celebrate an anniversary: to let your clients and prospects know of your sustainability in business, to strengthen your company’s brand and to attract new clients. However, there is one reason that stands out for me — to thank those employees that have helped your business succeed.

Every principal of an organization understands the value of a good employee. During the decades, you see them come and go, and in one way or another, every one of them has helped shape your business into what it is today.

Go East has seen a lot of changes over the past 20 years, but the company has successfully retained its warm personality and appeal because of its employees. And that’s a trait worth celebrating.

The way I see it, design is more valued today than ever before. In particular, the automotive industry seems to have embraced both that idea and an historic perspective, acknowledging that the last 40+ years have seen some long-lasting and much appreciated design and turning full circle. From functional to powerful and exciting, the new designs of the American muscle car are more exciting than ever. I can’t wait to take one of these for a ride.

The new Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger — and now the Chevrolet Camaro — have seen that embracing a bit of the past will (and has already) help them become more recognized and re-strengthen their brands.

It also shows that brands are not easily forgotten. The Pontiac GTO was a great example. When they introduced the the “new” GTO in 2004, I and many others assumed the retro styling would be the primary design driver. I was disappointed to see it was just another “new” car. It was not a GTO.

I believe that embracing a bit of the past and adding a 21st Century touch to it can do wonders for a well known brand.

Now, let’s see what Pontiac can to with the Trans Am.