I've seen many changes since I started in the business, many names have disappeared and many are different. What I've always told our people is that SCM's success will not be defined in the short-term, but rather by the longevity that comes from working day-in and day-out to build and earn a solid reputation.

Reputation is important in every business, but in this industry it's everything. Clients and colleagues alike know that we are straight shooters and that they can count on us. Because in the end, all clients walk away with is the knowledge that their dollars accomplished what they wanted and that they were treated with respect.

I feel very fortunate to have visited some great cities and to have met a lot of wonderful people along the way. One of our earliest supporters and friends was the Mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington. To have been a part of the underwriting team that financed the Harold Washington Library was an honor and truly gratifying to pay tribute to a pioneer.

The investment banking industry is not an easy business to enter or succeed in. We feel that we have had to be better than our competitors to consistently prove ourselves. As we near our 35th Anniversary, this attitude has clearly served us well and we will continue to employ it as we look towards the future.

As time goes on, we will steadily expand and make capital investments to meet customer needs. What will guide us as we grow is an internal compass that always reminds us of where we came from and where we're going. Though you may not read about us in the paper tomorrow, you can count on reading about us 50 years from now because we're just beginning.