By: Mary Thomas

The evening of January 22, 2026, the staff (less Jing Tang, Statistician who has 2 young children) and their guests headed for the first off-site annual meeting of Decision Innovation Solutions.

Landing in Punta Gorda rental vehicles were loaded up and headed to the beautiful barrier island, Sanibel, on the gulf coast of Florida. Arriving at Sundial Resort we were treated to a sort of calm you experience when you rediscover the beauty that surrounds you.

Two photos of a sandy beach: bright sunlight over the ocean in one, clear blue sky and calm sea with sandy shore in the other.

Photos courtesy of Paige and Kade

The next morning many of the team members enjoyed a peaceful walk on the beach or a run before breakfast. Awake and well fed, it was time to get down to business. Alan started by asking the staff “What challenges will DIS face in the next 10 years?” This was the leadership’s time to sit back and let the staff lead the discussion. After a slow start, ideas started to flow.

Several people sit at a conference table with notepads, water bottles, and coffee cups; TV, flip chart, chandelier in background.

Learning the day’s schedule from Alan

Ideas start flowing

Two photos side by side show a group at rectangular tables in a carpeted conference room, listening to a meeting with laptops and drinks.

Prioritizing ideas

Three meeting room photos group writing on a flip chart older man in red jacket reading papers woman points as two people discuss.
Five people in a meeting room Four talk near a whiteboard and TV one works at a table with laptops Drinks are on the table.

Alan gets a quick break as staff continue to prioritize

People at a U-shaped table in a meeting room. A woman in front listens closely while others talk. Notebooks and snacks on the tables.

Lunch was delivered to the conference room as the staff continued to discuss ideas and goals for the next 10 years. Team members were excused to enjoy the rest of the afternoon, while the leadership team was left to sort through the information collected and create SWOTs to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to DIS. Alan offered guidelines to continue this conversation back at the office with all team members.

Brief update: Leadership has continued the issues resolution process with the team and plans to continue on a regular basis.

Friday Evening – SHIMA JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE

Ten men and women of different ages stand indoors in two rows for a group photo, smiling near a landscape painting and some plants.

DIS team members: L to R – Spence, Micheal, Mary, Cindy, Paige, Kade, Alex, Dave, Patricia

Friday evening DIS staff and guests met at one of the resort restaurants, Shima Japanese Steakhouse. This teppanyaki grill featured two very entertaining chefs creating a wonderful interactive dining experience.

Two chefs cook at hibachi grills as diners seated at two tables watch and smile with food and drinks on the tables in warm light.

And now for the egg splitting trick. The chef will attempt to slice a raw, shelled egg in half. Tossing the egg into the air, catching it with the edge of the spatula and momemtum will do the rest.

Chef in black uniform with headband cooks at hibachi grill holding knife and egg as diners watch; plates and drinks on the table.

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Paige, Kaelyn and Alex volunteered to try egg-splitting

Two young women cook at a hibachi grill in a restaurant, smiling. Two older adults watch and laugh. Dishes and condiments on table.

(Photos courtesy of Alex)

Chef at a hibachi grill tosses food with a spatula as two diners watch, surprised and amused Vegetables and bowls on the counter.

(Photo courtesy of Alex)

Chef cooks on a large hibachi grill as diners watch, sipping drinks and sharing appetizers. Plates and sauces fill the table.

Saturday Morning Babcock Ranch Echo Tour

Near Punta Gorda Florida

Babock Ranch is a 73,000 acre working ranch and conservation lands now owned by the state of Florida. Aboard the swamp buggy (or better know to us as an old school bus) our narrated tour began. There are two eco systems on the ranch, Cypress swamps(filters for phosphorus and nitrogen) and pine flatwoods. Since our tour was mid-day we didn’t see any panthers, turkey or bears – OH MY!! And yes, early tours may see Florida Panthers and black bears.

Cracker cattle, cranes, white-tailed deer, much smaller than our Iowa deer. Feral pigs and of course GATORS!!

Three side by side images: a longhorn cow on grass; deer herd grazing in an open field; wild boars foraging in dry grass and shrubs.
Black wild hog sniffs dry soil by green shrubs and palmettos; next to it is a pond with trees draped in moss and leafy plants.

(Photos courtesy of Kade)

Lunch at the Ranch

The Gator Shack

Two people smile at a picnic table outside with food and drinks in front of them under a wooden shelter with trees and a grill behind.

Spencer Parkinson, Co-Founder, CEO, and President Sarah Parkinson, Supporting Partner

Following our Swamp Buggy Eco-Tour, we were treated to a meal at the Gator Shack. We filled up on fried gator bites, fried shrimp, fish, burgers, mac-n-cheese and much more.

Older man with gray hair on an outdoor bench holding a phone wears white T-shirt blue jeans black sneakers water bottle nearby.

Dave Miller, Chief Economist

Three people sit at a red picnic table outside with condiments and water bottles Trees and parked cars are in the background.

Kade Grafel, Research Analyst Cindy Harwood, Operations Manager, Steve Harwood

Two people sit closely at a red picnic table outdoors smiling at the camera with water bottles and a phone on the table trees behind them.

Patricia Batres-Marquez, Senior Research Analyst and Gerardo Marquez

Three people at a red wooden picnic table outdoors smiling at the camera with trees in the background water bottles and phone on table.

Kaelyn, Alex Robinson, Paige Klipstein, Research Analyst

Two people at an outdoor picnic table smile at the camera. The table holds a wide-brimmed hat and water bottles. Another person is in back.

Research Analyst Kayan Nading, Michael Nading, Jr, Research Analyst

Sunday was a free day to explore on our own. Some went to visit friends, explored the island, caught a little more of Florida’s sunshine or just relaxed a little longer.