What a night! Vertech is still buzzing after our spectacular Annual Employee Christmas Party. The evening was an absolute blast, packed with festive energy, bold (and hilarious) dance moves, and the definitive proof that while our industrial automation pros are world-class at programming robots, dancing like them is… well, a work in progress!
Adding a touch of mystery to the festivities, a roaming mentalist wove through the crowd all night, leaving a trail of dropped jaws and baffled engineers in his wake. Whether he was reading minds or performing impossible sleight-of-hand tricks right under our noses, he kept the energy high and the "how did he do that?!" whispers going long after he left the room.
The party, held near our Phoenix office, hit a fever pitch with the night's main event: line dancing! The brave Addison Waege traveled all the way from our Nashville office to lead the charge. It remains a mystery if Addison knew exactly what he was signing up for when he volunteered to teach a room full of engineers how to find their rhythm, but he was a total pro.
Addison guided the team through a routing with incredible patience. Despite a "creative" range of dancing abilities and varying levels of listening skills across the floor, he kept his composure and kept us moving. Cheers to Addison for bringing a slice of Nashville soul to the desert!
Beyond the dance floor, we took a moment to honor the incredible talent that fuels Vertech. A massive congratulations to our latest graduates and award winners!
Vertech LEADS (Leadership Education and Development Series) 2025 Graduates: Alex Spatchek, Drew Bellcock, Frank Stamm, Jacob Hoyt, Matt Buchan, Regan Givens, Ricardo Arancibia, and Will Lasley.
Einstein Award: Stephen Pawlowski
Rookie of the Year: Chris Sianez
Company Contribution Award: David Pate, Lisa Marthaler, and Robin Huxley
Cornerstone Award: Chad Carman, Jesse Wilson, Jeong-Won Lee, Joey Paz, and Paul Warning
Project Team of the Year David Folkner, Jacob Hoyt, Lorelei Hopersberger, Mary Benson, Mauricio Rodriguez, Michaelea Pawlowski, Ross Sheffler, Sam Pendergast, Will Lasley, and Rohan Baravkar
Road Warriors Austin Reilly, Brandon Choi, Brandon Volz, Cole O'Reilly, Derek Nixon, Jacob Hoyt, Mauricio Rodriguez, Michael Dillmann, Riley Barnett, and Sam Pendergast
At its heart, the night was about the Vertech family simply enjoying each other's company. Once the formalities wrapped up, the dance floor and patio stayed packed. It was amazing to see colleagues who usually only interact through screens finally clinking glasses in person. Stories were shared, laughs were loud, and the barriers of distance and job titles completely melted away. These are the moments where true friendships are forged and unforgettable memories are made.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and proved that a willingness to look slightly ridiculous is the secret sauce of an incredible culture.
Note: Vertech leadership officially confirms that line dancing skills remain entirely optional for continued employment!