To say 2020 has been a challenging year is an understatement. With all it has thrown at us individually and collectively, this year has reminded us to appreciate life just a little more, from time spent with family and friends to being able to connect with nature to focusing on our health.
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, we reached out to some of our members to see what they are grateful for during this season of gratitude.
J.C. Bouvier
Vice President, Digital, Allegiance Fundraising
Working out of our Mashpee Commons location couldn’t be more ideal for Bouvier and his colleague Ashlee Gay. “We were in Hyannis when we started here. Mashpee didn’t exist,” Bouvier said. “We’re both walkers and like to break up the day walking. Mashpee is more conducive to that, being the little village that it is.”
The freedom to get outside for a walk in Mashpee Commons is just one of the things Bouvier is grateful for.
When it comes to CapeSpace, Bouvier said he is also thankful for the sense of community it engenders and the ability to connect with other members in a relaxed, professional atmosphere.
As for his outlook for the future, Bouvier said, “I think you generally have to keep a positive attitude these days. … I’m hopeful we’ll have a good holiday season coming into inauguration day and we’ll be able to put the country back on the right track.”
Kevin Flannigan
Attorney, Flannigan & Associates, P.C.
As a practicing attorney in both New York and Massachusetts for over 38 years, Flannigan has loved the ability to connect with people through his work. CapeSpace has given him the opportunity to continue doing so.
“The people we work with here are very friendly and knowledgeable. It is nice to bounce things off one another. I find it really helpful,” he said. “I like the people and think Robbin and Anna are the greatest. I’m very thankful to have found this location and to move my practice here. It’s worked out perfectly.”
His CapeSpace office is also well-suited to his schedule. “I keep crazy hours,” he laughed. “This is perfect because it allows me to work when I need to and be on the road when I don’t.”
As to what he is most thankful for this year, he didn’t hesitate – it’s his wife Christine and their two children, Michael and Katherine. “First and foremost, it has always been this way my entire life. I am so thankful for my family,” he said. “I love my wife and I have two beautiful kids who are young professionals now.”
This year, like he has for countless Thanksgivings, Flannigan said he will continue his tradition where he expresses his gratitude at the dinner table “for having a wonderful family.”
Julia Furtado-Lavoie
Regional Sales Manager, Complete Payroll Solutions
Especially this year, Julia told us, “I am thankful for my health. I’ve lost several family members to COVID, some unexpected, some expected, so I’m very thankful for my health.”
With all the challenges we’ve faced this year, Julia acknowledged, “it is very easy right now to be in a dark place and feel badly for ourselves. … Although things appear to be dark and COVID is definitely a difficult thing, it could always be worse.”
So she remains optimistic, both personally and professionally.
She is also grateful for “my colleagues at Complete Payroll Solutions. We’ve been very busy and have had a lot of fun working together this year. I feel very lucky.”
And she also expressed gratitude for the environment she is fortunate to work in at CapeSpace. “Anna and Robbin make us feel at home, and it’s such a warm and welcoming place,” Julia said. “I love CapeSpace and they did a really good job preparing everything during the pandemic. I’m grateful I could use the space this year. It’s been really important to me.”