Those of us who knew Karl Neupert, who passed away so unexpectedly last month, will no doubt agree that he was indeed "bigger than life." He was someone whose standards were high, and who at times could be hard to please, for sure. But along with those sometimes frustrating aspects of working with him came frequent rewards, for Karl also had one of the biggest hearts in our industry.

Karl was one of those people who always remembered your birthday, and who had a sentimental side to him that few knew existed, until they got to know him. Once you got past his "bluster," you could see the genuinely caring and sincere person that he was, and then you had no choice but to love him.

Karl Neupert inspired people to be their best. He made you want to do a good job, each and every time, and made you want to learn and grow from your experiences. He treated everyone fairly and without prejudice to role or station. "It's just right," he'd say. In fact, Karl was one of the most influential people in my own professional career.

Thanks, Karl, for everything you did for ASA, for our industry, and for me personally. I will always remember you for the good friend you were to me.