Great job.

[gw]

When are you guys gonna be bought out by a huge uncaring megacorp? This always seems to happen when I discover a vendor too good to be true. Heh heh...

[tknterry]

If I thought there was any chance of that happening I would not have signed up with FQ. I think FQ is a stable company and has no need to consider being acquired by anyone. Also it would be contrary to the principles they built FutureQuest upon.

[Andilinks]

I have no doubts about the stability and certainly no doubts about the continuing quality service but I do wonder if Deb is still actively participating in the business. Her profile (http://www.aota.net/forums/member.php?u=25) no longer lists her title as CEO and she hasn't visited these forums or posted on her blog in a very long time. Who is the CEO if not Deb?

I know I speak for many here when I say we miss her (you).

Andi

[Terra]

I do wonder if Deb is still actively participating in the business.
Yes, very much so... She is absolutely still an active member of the team putting in 40+ hours a week for FutureQuest...

Her profile no longer lists her title as CEO ..... Who is the CEO if not Deb?
Due to restructuring she is no longer CEO, that position is being held by myself now as the sole owner of the company... We talk daily about the future and direction of FutureQuest, Inc., and how best to arrive at our destinations...

she hasn't visited these forums or posted on her blog in a very long time.
She's not working on the frontlines anymore (including forums) but does read the forums... At this stage in our growth, her talents are more valuable working behind the curtain, than getting distracted by the topical realm of forums and support issues... It is simply a matter of focus...

As for her blog I think that's just because she is keeping her personal/family life so busy these days that she doesn't have as much time to blog about it...

I know she's planning yet another trip to Vegas and has yet another dog (ST. Bernard) named Tagen - whom has become Franktown's very own Godzilla... ;)

--
Terra
sysAdmin
FutureQuest

[Wassercrats]

Ok, then I'll say I miss Deb too. I wasn't sure what happened and I was afraid to raise any issues that might get a response that people don't really want to hear, whatever that would be. I pictured the staff reading every post about Deb and looking back and forth at each other, trying to decide if it's finally time to disclose something. Then Melissa has to excuse herself, and Sheila holds here head in her hands while Bob puts some special tags on the thread so it can be monitored with the special software Terra wrote. But I guess none of that happens.

[Andilinks]

Thanks for clearing that up, like Barry said the silence was the worrysome part.

...yet another trip to Vegas and has yet another dog (ST. Bernard) named Tagen...Best of luck with both...

[Jeff]

Also miss Deb on the forums -- she had a wonderful ability to create the sense of online community and connect with customers that was such a big part of FutureQuest's success; her previous 24/7 commitment to the community and direct customer interaction will be mighty big shoes to fill.

[Evoir]

Totally unnerving way to make such an important announcement about the company.

[tknterry]

Evoir, you do have a good point. It raises a question in my mind, such as what other restructuring has occurred and what prompted it? I understand FutureQuest is a privately owned business but its future and direction does interest me also as a new 'site-owner'.
Totally unnerving way to make such an important announcement about the company.

[Terra]

Totally unnerving way to make such an important announcement about the company.
It was not so much an announcement, as it was to answer a question that was raised...

Unfortunately, this is a private and personal matter between Deb and myself, and there is not much more I can comment on as to the specific reasons/details behind her decision...

As stated prior, Deb is still very much a part of FutureQuest's future, however she wants to focus her efforts behind the scenes rather than getting distracted by the forums or other front line type engagements... I respect her decision to step out of the limelight and place more emphasis on her family and personal life - something that sadly suffers greatly when trying to build a business from the ground up... In essence, Deb is finally getting a well deserved vacation (after 8.5 years) that will allow her to better focus her true talents and energies - both for and outside of FutureQuest...

Overall, *nothing* has changed, outside of Deb stepping away from the forums... The FutureQuest Team (which Deb is still very much a part of) is still building and growing in a healthy progression as well as having a strong and positive outlook on our future... The site owners will always expect the best from us, and Deb's absence from the forums should in no way detract from our primary mission of providing the best site owner service/support in the industry...

If anyone should believe that we are failing in that mission, please let us know so that we may make the necessary adjustments and/or corrections...

In the end, this is not about Deb or myself, it is about the entire FutureQuest Team that tirelessly labor day in and day out in striving to make your hosting experience a cut above the rest...

--
Terra
sysAdmin
FutureQuest

[tknterry]

Thank you Terra for the clarification and although Deb left the forums before I came, of course I respect her privacy. I dont have a family myself, but I know that a business can quickly consume one's time and energies. Also with an active forum such as this and FutureQuest's keen emphasis on quality service it probably is even more time consuming. As a new site-owner I appreciate this emphasis and in fact thats why I switched to FQ.
Also, I have noticed a definite improvement in my website's responsiveness since I moved to FQ. When I FTP to my site, it responds almost instantly compared to the noticable delay pre-FutureQuest.

[Evoir]

I appreciate the response Terra. And I do miss Deb.

[Jeff]

It's a bit like hearing Terra will no longer be working with the OS or apache, but I can respect your privacy and we've certainly seen the service continue to be great in all respects.

[Andilinks]

I asked the question out of curiosity feeling that an announcement was long overdue given the openness that such matters were dealt with in the past and out of an affection that I felt for Deb who seemed to just vanish without saying goodbye.

Thanks again for the response.

[gw]

striving to make your hosting experience a cut above the rest...


You've certainly accomplished that. Wow, owners actually talking to customers... thats a rare concept :wink:

[DogAndPony]

Thanks for that, Terra...

Since she's still reading the forums...

Hi, Deb!

:ythiya:

I miss you, too!

(Oh, yeah, and-- Hi, Bob!)

:smile:

[Bob]

(Oh, yeah, and-- Hi, Bob!)

:smile:

:wave: :QTtongue: :QTbeach:

-Bob