When Ty and I first started what was then known as “Aloia & Roland,” we really didn’t know what our law firm would become. Yes, we had visions of what it could be; what we wanted it to be. But at the beginning, those dreams seemed so far in the distance, and always buried by the demands of day-to-day life. Fast forward 16+ years…and now we have won an award given by the community in recognition of the reputation we have built. Naturally, this has caused me to stop and reflect on what it means to me at a personal level, and what it means to our team, our clients, and of course, it makes me ponder what comes next.
Personally, I am beyond honored and humbled that Aloia, Roland, Lubell & Morgan, PLLC was awarded not one, but THREE distinctions in Gulfshore Business magazine this month: Best Litigation Law Firm, Best Business & Corporate Law Firm and Best Commercial Real Estate Law Firm. And we were named finalists for Best Trust & Estate Law Firm and Best Labor & Employment Law Firm.
As many of you have noticed, we have developed a firm identity and brand, “LawDefined”, and a tagline, “Our dedicated service defines us”. I believe it’s important to break down the deeper meaning within our tagline and how winning “Best of Business” is representative of where we are as a firm today.
“Our dedicated service defines us”
Our – Of or belonging to us; Belonging to or connected with us.
Dedicated – Devoted to a task or purpose; having single-minded loyalty or integrity.
Service – The action of helping or doing work for someone.
Defines – State or describes exactly the nature, scope or meaning of.
Us – Used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself and one or more people as the object of a verb or preposition.
“Our dedicated service defines us” is more than our tagline, it’s our mission statement and the embodiment of how we function as professionals day in, day out – to do what’s right, to do our best and go the extra mile for our clients, and our community.
To my partners and our team:
I want to personally thank each and every member of our dedicated staff, our talented team of attorneys and my three steadfast partners, Ty Roland, Evan Lubell and Jack Morgan. It’s because of you that Aloia Roland is the success it is today. We wouldn’t be who we are without your unique role in our law firm. You inspire me daily, you challenge me often and you keep making a sincere difference. In a way, being recognized for this award is the culmination of more than 16 years of our dedicated service, and the many years of hard work, even before all of our journeys began with our firm. What an honor it is to share this public recognition for all you do both on the front lines and behind the scenes.
To our clients:
I want to extend my heartfelt “thank you” to every single one of our clients. It’s because of you and your faith in us that we have the honor to practice in the field of law. You come to us with your challenges and your problems, your hopes and your dreams, and you instill great trust in us.
Our role as your attorneys is unbelievably fulfilling. It’s one of my greatest joys to see the pride in my team after they’ve been able to help you get what you deserve and defend your very best interests. Time and time again, I’ve witnessed my fellow partners and attorneys come in from a hard fight defending your vulnerabilities, protecting your assets, securing greater stability for you and your family – all because they care so deeply about you and your well being. We can only accept this honor of “Best of Business” because you instill trust in us to perform when you need us most. Again, I can’t thank you enough for letting us do what we love.
To our friends, colleagues, and those who work to make Southwest Florida better:
This past year has been extraordinarily challenging, yet we continue to grow and change. And we couldn’t have done all that we’ve achieved without your support and your encouragement and your advice. Just last year when we renovated our brand-new headquarters in the heart of downtown Fort Myers, we relied on many of you to help us with that process – both the building itself, as well as our mission to rebrand in order to better tell our story. The simple act of sharing a social media post, or giving us constructive feedback about a TV commercial has contributed to the evolutionary process. You’re an extension of our business and our brand, and that makes telling our story that much more special.
Southwest Florida is a vibrant place. The community in which we live is, in so many ways, a paradise. But paradise comes with responsibilities. I am proud of what our firm has done (and will continue to do!) to make Southwest Florida a better place. But we know first hand that so many of you likewise take the responsibility of community stewardship to heart, and we thank you for the countless individuals and the organizations you serve; the causes you’re committed to, and the times we’ve asked you to help us with our causes.
To my family:
My father (and my hero) was a successful attorney, and was so compassionate about the clients he served. He inspired me to embrace this profession. However, as a boy, I experienced first-hand the countless hours that a dedicated lawyer must devote to his or her clients, and in turn, the sacrifices a lawyer’s family makes as a result. Now that I am the lawyer/husband/father, I know and see the sacrifices my family makes. For all of those sacrifices, and because you cheered us on every step of the way, you make winning this “Best of Business” honor that much richer because we get to share it with you! Nancy, Angie, Wendy and Morgan, we love you, and we appreciate the sacrifices you have made to support our careers.
So where do we go from here? That is going to require some greater thought and time. At a minimum, we will keep showing up for each other. We will keep going the extra mile. And we will keep doing what is right. But, for those of you that know us, we never just do “at a minimum”, so stay tuned…
Most Sincerely,
Frank Aloia, Jr.
