National Mountain Climbing Day was August 1 and it reminded me that we all have uphill battles to face. While most of us will never climb mountains like the Grand Tetons in my home state of Wyoming, the metaphor of its many ups and downs, peaks and plateaus resonates. Being a business owner is one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced. And as with mountain climbing, it has come with many moments of exhilaration and exhaustion. 

People often ask me why I chose the name Promise Law. I had some experience as an attorney before starting this firm, and I knew I wanted to practice law in a way that matched my approach to life. Estate planning tends to be a somber business, but I believed there was a way to infuse it with humor and reflection. My work didn’t have to be doom and gloom; there are ways to discuss challenging topics in a positive and forward-thinking manner. I wanted to create a new type of experience for our clients — that’s the promise at Promise Law. 

I set out on Sept. 1, 2014, intending to create a tenor and culture that would invigorate the client experience and our team. In the beginning, it was only Tammy and me, and we worked out of shared office space. Fortunately, the reception team at the building was outstanding and spoke to our clients as if they worked for us. Combined with the shared conference room, many clients thought we had the whole building instead of one little office. It was a little cramped, but we made it work.

Having new and varied perspectives over the years has inspired me to think more closely about what we are doing and where we are headed. Elizabeth Bircher came aboard in Feb. 2018, and she brought a thoroughness and thoughtfulness that elevated our game. Five years after opening, we moved to our current office and joined forces with Rob Kutz, another skilled and compassionate practitioner. By combining with Rob’s team the firm grew to seven strong. 

Around that time, I started wondering if I’d reached the pinnacle of my career and personal mountain. I’d think, “This has to be the top, right?” But we continued to have changes and challenges personally and professionally. 

Any honest business owner will tell you that being in charge is scary. It’s a lot of responsibility to ensure your clients receive the service they deserve, and the lights stay on. Due to Rob’s retirement, 2023 has been a frenetic year. But each new challenge is also an opportunity to climb higher on that mountain. And that’s precisely what we intend to do.

September often signals a time of change for Promise Law. And this Sept. 1 — our ninth anniversary — we’ll be moving to a new office. The new location will place us closer to many of our referral partners and should be more convenient for many clients. We’re looking forward to getting settled into the space. 

Other changes are coming, including a new attorney joining the team. So, stay tuned! At this point in our evolution, I want to thank our clients for their support over the years — we couldn’t have done any of this without you. A grateful nod to our referral partners for trusting us to help their clients. I also have endless appreciation for my current and former team members, who have made the firm what it is today.

As with the merger, this is probably not Promise Law’s mountaintop. There will be challenges ahead and much more work to do. But I think we’ll soon be in the perfect position to take on whatever new peaks come next. 

- Geneva Perry