Blue Diamond
is celebrating success!
We ended the year with terrific financial
performance thanks to our grower-owners and
Blue Diamond
team members. We have an
amazing future ahead of us.
I would like to share a personal reflection.
Perhaps you agree that our politicians make
promises lightly. Once elected, most genuinely
try to deliver upon their commitments. However,
as soon as they reach a roadblock, they fall
back on the all too convenient excuse of
blaming the other party. We know this, and
that is why they seldom earn our trust.
In our personal lives, we treat promises
very differently. For most of us, the promises
we make to our neighbors, children, and
spouses are sacred bonds. We don’t let other
opportunities or a little adversity stop us from
delivering on our commitments.
Can you think of an important promise that
you recently made and kept
?
How did it make
you feel
?
I suspect you never doubted you
would keep that promise. To do so would go
against your nature and value system.
Twenty-six year ago, I was working at
General Mills and my wife, Carolyn, and I
were newlyweds. We fondly remember that
we were very happy and also very poor.
We were both excited when I ripped open
an envelope and read, “Dear Mark, your
MBA application has been accepted for
the marketing program here at Northwestern
University.” The top marketing program in
the country and my dream school had said,
“Yes.” The problem was that full tuition was
shockingly expensive. My only option
was to ask my parents for help. You should
understand that my parents had never been
wealthy and were proud that their son had a
good job at General Mills.
I recall my dad saying, “Mark, when you
already have school loans, why would you
leave a perfectly good job and go back to
school
?
” I replied, “Dad, please trust me.
This will be a great decision.” With my
promise, he said, “Mark, we are unable to
pay for your tuition, but have enough equity
in our house to co-sign for a loan.” For my
parents’ trust in me, you can imagine my
appreciation and commitment to pay that
loan back! I also appreciate the ongoing
support of my wife and children.
As
Blue Diamond
’s President and CEO, I have
felt a similar responsibility to pay back all the
trust grower-owners have given me. It is with
great pride, that once a year we share the
many promises we have made and kept. I trust
grower-owners agree, that with over eight
years together, we are building a fantastic
track record.
Each year, our grower-owners entrust us with
their year’s work in the form of the almond
crop. And, it is our mission to maximize your
short and long-term returns. We have 20
years of good records tracking the return
performance of
Blue Diamond
versus other
almond handlers. During this time,
Blue
Diamond
has not only been the safest and
most trusted source. It has been the best! From
the millennial in 2000 to our own Centennial
in 2010,
Blue Diamond
beat the competition
by an average of $.01 per pound.
Mark Jansen
President & CEO
Delivering on Our Promises
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
6
A L M O N D F A C T S
