The grand opening gala of the Thayer Leader Development Group’s new high-tech meeting and conference rooms at The Thayer Hotel was an outstanding party by any measure.  Tray passed champagnes and fine wines, combined with an open bar and seemingly endless gourmet snacks, made for an extraordinary culinary extravaganza.  The guest list included distinguished leaders such as Lieutenant General Mike Maples, former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency; Scott Smiley, Commander of the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point; and Lee van Arsdale, former Delta Squadron Commander.

Rick Minicozzi, Managing General Partner of The Thayer Hotel and CEO of the Thayer Leader Development Group (TLDG), gave an impassioned talk, discussing the future of the glamorous national registered landmark.  He explained the expertise required to restore the dining room to its former glory with painstaking artistry and attention to detail.  He applauded the efforts and generosity of fellow owners such as Bill Murdy, CEO of Comfort Systems; Fred Malek, Chairman of Thayer Capital; Dan Rice, President of Sundial Capital Partners; Tim Tyson, CEO of Aptuit; and Joe Depinto, CEO of 7-Eleven.

The National Anthem was beautifully performed by Ms. Susan Hoffman, a long-time manager of the hotel’s restaurant.  Background music was provided by Marty’s Fabulous Brass Quintet.  All night long, beautiful women in sparkling cocktail dresses were as plentiful as the Soldiers with bedazzling medals freshly earned on the fields of battle in Iraq and Afghanistan.  A number of West Point Cadets and Instructors were in attendance, as was Brigadier General William Rapp, a former West Point First Captain and now the Commandant of the Academy.

The guests were enthralled by the new meeting and function rooms, boasting 6500 Lumen HD projection systems and 100 inch screens. Room improvements, including fancy new furnishings and Lutron lighting systems, were met with great applause.  All in all, it was a night to remember.  Hundreds of guests gave their well-wishes to the new Leadership conferencing initiative as well as the anticipated plaques honoring West Point’s Medal of Honor recipients, West Point’s Rhodes Scholars, and West Point’s Distinguished Graduates.

It is hard to imagine a finer party.  It is even harder to imagine a more selfless crowd of revelers - all of them enjoying their time together.  Time spent in comradeship before the call to duty takes many of them away again to help defend the free people of the world. 

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