Today is National Employee Appreciation Day. Every year Employee Appreciation Day rolls around, and we see a tidal wave of social media posts and emails about the value employees bring to their companies and how the contributions they make don't go unnoticed. But this year feels different.

This year, more than ever, Employee Appreciation Day feels necessary, not only as a means for employees to receive well-deserved recognition but as a day for them to take a breath. 2020 was a difficult (is there even a good word to encapsulate 2020?) year for everyone, both personally and professionally. So in 2021, it's vital that we take a day to step back and admire that we made it to this point. You're vital, and thanking you is my privilege. Thank you.

Every employee at our company survived a historical moment. We're still surviving it. The fact that each one of us still wakes up each and every day to contribute to our companies' goals and mission is something to be celebrated.

I have found that many of Axon’s team members came out of 2020 stronger. They are more resolved than ever to make a meaningful contribution to the world. In Axon's case, that contribution takes the form of "protecting life."

I have seen sales reps bend over backward to send catered meals to agencies that had a rough year and have lost officers to COVID. I have seen engineers and product managers spend countless hours improving our products to be even more effective. I have seen our Vietnam team go in and out of quarantines at a different pace than the US and still thrive. I have also seen our People Operations team think of, and deploy, ways to support and uplift our teams through mental health initiatives and more.

Our employees not only contributed this past year, they made our company stronger. They rose to the challenges presented to them and came out as better team members and leaders. So yes, on this Employee Appreciation Day, I want to take the time to let all Axon employees know I recognize their contributions. But I also want to take the time to let every one of them know how proud I am of how they handled the challenges of the past year.