This weekend, GS Design, a leading Milwaukee branding, digital and design agency, will celebrate its 25th anniversary. For my partner, Marc Tebon, and I, this is a milestone we barely dreamed possible when starting the organization in 1986. With our hot-off-the-presses diplomas from UWM, we began the company as a six-month test; our vision didn't extend all that far beyond print production services.

Fast forward to 2011: GS Design counts among its clients such Wisconsin powerhouse brands as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Mercury Marine and Johnson Controls. Our employees include some of the best strategists, designers, writers, user experience architects, and developers around. No longer limited to print production, we create strategic programs that leverage both print and digital components.

In large part, we have Milwaukee to thank for our success. As the city has evolved, it's become rich in talent. The pool from which we draw has continuously gotten bigger and better. And we've been able to attract great talent from outside the city, as well. Once prospective employees see Milwaukee, they realize it would be a great place to call home. Our employees could easily go to bigger markets, but they stay because of all the city offers them and their families. (We like to think they also stay because we treat them so darn well.)

A core philosophy at GS Design is that great work comes from great working relationships. It's a principle that has served us well. Our long-term clients, many of whom are based here, have allowed us to play a larger role in their businesses as our capabilities have broadened. For their support of our success, we're beyond grateful.

To celebrate our 25th anniversary and honor those who helped to make our success possible, we're throwing a private, 25-hour (yes, you read that right), entertainment-packed event at our headquarters. We've lined up performances by Bubba Blackwell - the "American Daredevil" and motorcycle stunt rider, as well as local favorites such as Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans, Firesirens Fire Dancing, Super Force Breakdancing, and others. While it's hardly a typical anniversary party, GS Design isn't known for doing things the "typical" way. We've built a reputation for having a big personality and showing it off in the work we do. And we want our invited guests to remember this event long after they leave.

For your part, Milwaukee, we thank you. For it's here that we do our best work and it's here we begin our next 25 years. We have no doubt they hold as much success and happiness as the first 25.