The COVID-19 Pandemic has been a challenge unlike any other for Fortress Solutions and the world as a whole. As the pandemic spread, Fortress swiftly adapted and shifted procedures and policies to not only keep employees safe, but to also maintain the world class support we expertly provide to our customers.

One such procedure change was allowing employees who could work from home to do so. This allowed our on-site team to space out and follow the CDC recommended guidelines, such as social distancing and retaining a six-foot personal bubble.

After medical advancements and procedures slowly returned our world to something closer to normal, Fortress eagerly welcomed all employees back into their offices starting June 1, 2021.

It is important we recognize and applaud all on-site employees whose dedication and perseverance kept Fortress operational and critical customer deliveries flowing through this past year! To those who continued to come to work every day as an Essential Worker throughout the pandemic, we sincerely thank you. Our customers keep the world phone calls working and the internat operational and our Fortress employees played a crucial role in ensuring these services were up and running.

However, even amid our eager and joyful return to the office and the new normal, the impact and losses from the pandemic are still evident. Fortress was forever changed by the passing of two key figures within our Fortress family:

PAUL DAVIDSON

Paul had been the controller at Fortress for almost 11 years. He was a good friend, and a highly trusted, well regarded, and capable professional who worked tirelessly to help advance the company. Paul was instrumental in the initial implementation of SyteLine and its subsequent upgrades, the integration of Restor Telecom into Fortress, and establishing the accounting systems and business procedures required to successfully launch FortressUAV and ReadyH2.

Outside of work he enjoyed musical events, especially anything related to Jimmy Buffet and trop rock. He enjoyed attending renaissance festivals around the state and served for many years as a member of the Parks and Recreation Board in the City of Allen.

For so many of us, Paul has been the “go to” problem solver in the company for years, and that vast knowledge base will never be replaced. He will be greatly missed by all of us.

KAREN LEE

Karen joined Restor Telecom in 2007, where she held a variety of roles in Sales Operations, Communications Management, and Administration. She partnered closely with Restor Telecom’s CEO, Lisa Somerville, in representing Restor as one of the most successful and recognized woman-owned businesses in the state of Florida, and she also served as an Ambassador with the Leesburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

Karen was a kind and generous person whose laughter and positivity were infectious. At work, she was passionate about meeting and exceeding the expectations of all those she met, customers and colleagues alike. In life, Karen was always the center of the party and a lover of fashion and jewelry and music and dancing. She was in inspiration to all who knew her, personally and professionally, and she will be deeply missed.

In celebration of the employee return to work and in-memoriam of those not only lost within our own Fortress family, but also within our employee’s extended families, both our Leesburg and Plano offices held Reunion & Remembrance events.

We celebrated with fantastic food, lively music, and special dedications in both Leesburg and Plano. Below are the two trees that were planted in both the Leesburg and Plano offices in memory & honor of Karen & Paul.

Please view highlights from both events below. For full photos, please check out the Fortress Facebook page.

It was so wonderful to finally see our entire Fortress family face-to-face. As Brendon Mills, CEO of Fortress Solutions stated,

“2020 was a year unlike any other. It brought many challenges – both personal and professional. I am humbled by this team and their dedication not only to Fortress but to each other.”

If this past year showed us anything, it is that our employees are flexible, dedicated, and stronger than we ever could have imagined. We are geared up and ready to tackle the second half of 2021 head on!