August 2025: "I just remembered, it's my birthday."
It’s almost my birthday, and I’ve never been a fan. When I was a kid, my parents would throw a party for me on the Sunday right before school started. My mom put a lot of effort into making sure that the party’s were fun, but what I remember most is my cousins sulking around, muttering things like, “I hate your birthday. Your birthday means summer is over and school is starting.”
So yeah, it’s my birthday. I’ll hang out with Ford and Jenelle and pretend that I dont have any baggage about it. ; )
Anyway… moving on.
Beach Week
It’s crazy to think this year marked my eighth summer at Holden Beach with Jenelle’s family.
I’ll never forget the first time I went. Jenelle and I had only been dating a few months when she invited me to the beach with her family. The trip began with picking up my now sister-in-law, Mackenzie, at the Baltimore train station. She had just finished her latest round of medical boards and was full of energy.
For the next eight hours, Mackenzie prepared me to meet the family. She said her brothers were pretty easygoing, but that Micah would probably ask me a lot of political questions (he did). She said her mom wouldn’t say much but would observe everything (she didn’t, and did). And she warned me that the only one I really needed to worry about was the dog, Buster. He didn’t like anyone. (Buster and I became fast friends.)
That first trip was the beginning of many that followed, to include trips that marked celebration, heartache, and a whole lot of relaxation. But this year was different. It was the first time Ford got to experience the ocean and the pool. My little dude L-O-V-E-S the water. He gets it from his mama.
Time moves fast, but I’m grateful for these milestones, the people who make them matter, and the chance to watch Ford fall in love with the same traditions that shaped his parents.
Until next year…
Values.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about values and what we stand for as a family. It hit me that if we want Ford to grow into a man of character, we have to show him what that looks like. Values aren’t taught; they’re demonstrated.
Whether it’s welcoming colleagues into our home or navigating the early days of fatherhood as first-time parents in our 40s, I’ve come to realize that values are lived. They show up in how we treat others, how we hold space, how we show up, listen, and lead.
Now, with my son watching, I’m doubling down on what matters: humility, consistency, presence, and purpose. In case you missed it, here are 10 lessons I’m teaching him. Truth is, they’re lessons I’m still learning, too.
In a world moving faster than ever and with AI becoming more powerful by the day values are what keep us human. They’re the legacy we leave.
Conferences, Meetups & New Stuff
WHEW... It’s been a whirlwind of building and connecting. As I type this, I’m getting ready to welcome 150 (!!) people to the August Triangle Digital Products & Innovation Meetup, where we’ll explore the idea of Operationalizing AI in the Enterprise and introduce the new AI-Native product offering from SAI.
That event is piggybacking on an enablement session with several of my colleagues, where I had the chance to demonstrate the new AI-Native: Foundations program we’re bringing to market. I’m genuinely excited for the full suite of products to launch at the SAFe Summit & AI Symposium in Denver this September!
If you’ll be in the Charleston area and want a sneak peek, join us at the Charleston Meetup on Aug 14!
A Business You Should Know: Project Fearless
If you ever find yourself in Amsterdam or Rotterdam, keep an eye out for a crew of bold, confident girls skating, building, leading, and challenging the status quo. That’s Project Fearless: a program designed for girls aged 9–14 to break stereotypes, take risks, and grow into the kind of leaders the world needs.
It was started by my former Under Armour teammate Mérida Miller, who saw a gap and filled it. From skateboarding to climate science, her team gives girls the tools to discover their voice, embrace failure, and show up for each other in a way that’s both fearless and real.
Mérida didn’t build Project Fearless to help girls become who they’re expected to be, she built it so they could explore who they really are. And in doing so, she’s helping shape the next generation of impact-driven women.
Learn more or support the mission here: Project Fearless.
Mattis Foundation
We’re excited to announce a community donation to the Middle Creek High School Football Team. Jenelle and I both believe deeply in the power of athletics to build character and discipline. So when we had the opportunity to support our friends’ kids and their school, we jumped on it.
We’re also preparing to open the submission portal for the Kevin J. Smith Memorial Scholarship for the 2026 award cycle. Please take a look at the nomination requirements and share them with any well-qualified students you know. We’re proud to offer a $5,000 annual scholarship, renewable for four years.
And finally, Jenelle is already hard at work planning the 2025 Garden Party. Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date—we’ve got some fun things in the works.
Thank You!
Whether you're building something new, leading through uncertainty, or simply doing your best to show up with intention, know you're not in it alone. These updates are my way of staying connected, sharing what I’m learning, and, hopefully, offering a spark of momentum along the way.
As always, thanks for reading. I hope this glimpse into my journey adds a bit of value to yours.
Keep going. Keep growing. And if something here resonated, I’d love to hear from you.
Until next time,
Adam