Thank you to everyone who continues to read the Reference Steward blog and provide positive feedback about its content, depth of postings, etc. Your thoughts and feedback mean a lot to me and the other contributors. We’ve watched both large multinational and small technology companies struggle with the basics of managing and investing in customer relationships; through our work we understand that successful reference programs are never build on academic models and other folks’ best practices. The most effective and well run programs are those that have developed and maintained this view: that the customer is central; that sales is a powerful contributor to programmatic success; that accountability and discipline ensure sponsorship and ongoing program funding; and that it’s necessary to operate like a small line of business with a clear mission in mind. The Reference Steward blog is a medium designed to provide you with insight into that view. Anyone who tells you that all you need is more/better success stories, their model or someone else’s best practices might as well be selling snake oil. Thank you for your support. Please continue to reach out! You can reach me at promise.phelon@phelongroup.com. Promise Phelon, Partner promise.phelon@phelongroup.com