Bill was an amazing person. He was a great leader, mentor and a friend to me. In the past few days, I've had some time to think about all the fond memories.
As a leader, he was inspirational. He had a way of bringing folks together to drive and accomplish goals. In tough situations, he had a way of lifting the team’s moral and keeping us encouraged. He was type of leader that I wanted to be. He dreamed big, lead with vision, and I feel lucky to have worked closely with him.
As a mentor, Bill was passionate about building people up. I know of many colleagues and friends who would agree that Bill made them a stronger person. He would purposely assign work that provided more experience and coached along the way. Over the years, I've gotten used to asking Bill for advice on work and life. He was always there for me. To me he was reliable and authentic.
As a friend, Bill and I would talk regularly. Chatted about the weekend trips with family, white water rafting, debate on the best types of whiskey, share cooking recipes (my Impossible 12oz steamed brick vs. Bill's made from scratch sausage gravy...), how to get the best deals during black Friday, how to raise good kids (above all else Bill was passionate about his family), the list goes on.
Seems like longer, but I've known Bill for only four incredible years. Four years that went by extremely fast. Even leaving, he taught me one last lesson: slow down, plan some of those trips instead of putting it off, go and taste the whiskey instead of talking about it, have dinner together instead of sharing recipes. Prioritize what's really important. Bill will be missed.