A Sentimental Journey Through the Years: Celebrating IC System’s 10-Year Club

There are some events you look forward to because they’re fun. Others because they’re meaningful. Then there are the ones that somehow become both.

Our annual 10-Year Club celebration is one of those events.

On Thursday, July 23, I had the privilege of coordinating one of my favorite IC System traditions at the beautiful Tria Event Center in White Bear Lake. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect—as if summer itself had decided to join us for the occasion. The sunshine, warm breeze, and conversations that filled the outdoor patio created the perfect backdrop for an afternoon dedicated to something we don’t celebrate nearly enough: the people who have chosen to build their careers here.

This year’s theme, “Sentimental Journey: Renew Old Memories, Celebrate the Ones to Come,” couldn’t have been more fitting.

As I looked around the patio, I couldn’t help but think about the stories gathered at every table. Every laugh shared between coworkers. Every memory sparked by familiar faces and shared stories. Every friendship that began in a training class, over lunch in the break room, or while solving a challenge together.

These aren’t just employees. They’re the people who have helped shape IC System into the company it is today.

Out of the 119 employees who have reached the incredible milestone of 10 years or more with IC System, 74 were able to join us for the celebration. Each one represents years of dedication, resilience, and countless moments—both big and small—that make up a career.

This year also marked a special milestone as we welcomed 14 new members into the 10-Year Club. It’s always exciting to celebrate those first ten years because they represent so much more than a date on a calendar. They represent relationships built, challenges overcome, lessons learned, and a commitment to something bigger than yourself.

Perhaps what I love most about this event is seeing every generation of IC System represented in one celebration.

One of our newest 10-Year Club members was celebrating a decade with the company. Just a few tables away was our most senior member, whose IC System journey began all the way back in 1974. Just imagine everything she has witnessed—the evolution of our industry, the technology, the leadership, the growth of our company, and the thousands of people whose paths have crossed hers over more than five decades.

That’s the beauty of this celebration. It reminds us that while every career begins on a different day, we’re all contributing to the same story.

As someone who helps organize this event each year, I admit there’s a personal reason it’s become one of my favorites. I get a front-row seat to watch coworkers reconnect, hear stories I’ve never heard before, and witness the genuine appreciation our company has for the people who have stayed and grown with us.

And this year, I found myself looking ahead.

Next year, I’ll no longer be standing behind the scenes coordinating the celebration.

I’ll be joining the club myself.

Knowing that made this year’s event feel even more special. As I watched our newest inductees receive their recognition and listened to conversations filled with memories from years gone by, I couldn’t help but imagine what my own celebration will feel like next year. It’s something I’m genuinely excited about.

In a world where changing jobs has become the norm, reaching ten years with one company is an accomplishment worth celebrating. It speaks to more than longevity—it reflects trust, relationships, shared purpose, and a workplace where people choose to stay.

As the afternoon came to a close and the patio slowly emptied, I realized the theme wasn’t just about reminiscing. Yes, we renewed old memories. We laughed about stories from years past. We honored the people whose dedication has helped build IC System’s legacy.

But we also celebrated the memories that haven’t happened yet—the conversations that will continue next year, the coworkers who will soon earn their place in the club, and the traditions we’ll continue to keep alive.

Because while our history is something to be proud of, the best part is knowing our story is still being written.

Congratulations to every member of IC System’s 10-Year Club—and welcome to our 14 newest members. Your dedication, hard work, and the countless ways you contribute have helped make IC System a place people are proud to call home.

I can’t wait to join you next year.