The Department of First Things First: The 2025 "Who I Call" Awards

Before we dive into the lists, the predictions, and the strategic roadmaps for 2026, I need to make a stop at the Department of First Things First.

Usually, this department deals in priorities and logistics. But today, we’re dealing with the infrastructure of sanity.

People often look at a Director role or a completed project and assume it’s the result of one person grinding away in a silo. But the truth? No one does any job alone. At least, no one does them well alone. Maximum productivity—and more importantly, maximum enjoyability—is a team sport.

I wanted to take an unfiltered, kitchen-table look back at 2025 and shout out my “Phone a Friends.” These are the people on my speed dial. The ones I call when the config is broken, when the politics are exhausting, or when I just need someone to tell me I’m not crazy (or, conversely, that I definitely am).

Here is the official 2025 Roll Call.

The RUG Rockstars: Joanna Mayers & Katie Ferst

To Joanna Mayers and Katie Ferst: What a year.

Working on the Philadelphia Regional User Group (RUG) with you both in 2025 has been a highlight of my career. We pulled off two massive events, and we navigated some absolute chaos behind the scenes to get there.

We didn’t just survive; we expanded. We took the show on the road to Delaware, and now we’re heading west to Harrisburg. If we keep this momentum up, we’re going to have to rebrand as the “Mid-Atlantic Empire.”

Somewhere between the planning calls and the frantic text threads, I feel like we all grew up a bit this year. It shifted from just “getting the job done” to actually relying on each other. We don’t just talk shop anymore; we talk life. I appreciate that friendship more than the successful events.

I can’t wait to see what 2026 brings for us, both inside the RUG and out. (PS: I am still figuring out the logistics for that Phillies game. It’s happening. Mark it down.)

The “Ambassador of Quan”: David Epstein

I have to tell a story that perfectly encapsulates why David Epstein is a legend.

We were at his Customer Sharing Movement after-party at Workday Rising. The music is loud, drinks are flowing, people are decompressing. I walk up to David, dragging a brand new analyst with me, and I decide this—right here, amidst the noise—is the perfect time to talk about learning calculated fields.

Most people would have laughed and said, “Mike, call me next Monday.”

David? He didn’t even blink. He straight-up put down his drink on the high-top table, grabbed a napkin (and a swag pen he undoubtedly had ready in his pocket), and said, “Okay. Let’s get to work.”

Then, in true David Epstein fashion, he handed us a mountain of swag and asked if we needed a drink.

In Jerry Maguire, Rod Tidwell talks about the “Quan”—it’s not just the money, and it’s not just the respect. It’s the love, the community, the whole package. David is the Ambassador of Workday Quan.

The Inner Circle

This is the kitchen cabinet. The people who know where the bodies are buried and, more importantly, help me avoid burying any new ones.

Debby, Lawrence, Frank, Phil, Loren, Jill, and the Rookie of the Year, Tiff.

I have a confession: I spent more time with this crew at Workday Rising than I did with my old team. And that says everything.

Tiff: You took on Workday like a matador staring down an angry bull. Thank you for showing me the kind of passion and engagement that proves our jobs won’t be replaced by AI anytime soon. (Also, I will never look at a light-up foam noodle and not flinch. Ever.)

To the OGs: You are my Avengers. Actually, you’re my Beatles—the band that just keeps playing. One day, we’ll probably all just start a consulting firm together and take over the world. But for now, I value the fact that when I call, you answer. Watching us all grow up together in this industry has been nothing short of amazing.

Let’s keep the group chat alive. Phil—come back to us! DevCon isn’t nearly as cool as the Inner Circle.

The New Guard: The CVS Team

To my new team at CVS Health: You walked into a whirlwind, and you haven’t flinched.

2025 threw some serious curveballs at us. We were all finding our footing in the first few weeks, dealing with the scale and complexity of a massive organization, and the pressure was immediate. The way you handled it was incredible.

Building a new dynamic takes time, but looking at what we accomplished this year, I’m excited. We aren’t just patching holes; we are building something sustainable.

The Home Front: Jenn, Justin, and the Zoo

Finally, the Department of First Things First has to acknowledge the Board of Directors at home.

To Jenn and Justin: Thank you for putting up with my grumpy ass.

Thank you for listening to me vent about HR tech architecture when you’d rather be talking about literally anything else. Thank you for dealing with me as a human, not just a dad or a husband.

The Chief Morale Officers: Toby and Ava. To my furry office mates: Thank you for forcing me to touch grass (literally) twice a day. You are the unspoken heroes of every Zoom call—usually visible in the background, napping through my most important presentations. Thank you for never caring about Workday releases, only about when the next treat delivery is arriving.

Justin: Thanks for keeping me humble by constantly stealing my phone and reminding me that I’m not as cool as I think I am. You are, quite simply, the coolest kid I know, and I can’t be more proud to be your dad.

(Now, give me back my phone.)

First Things First: Call your people. Tell them thank you. Tell them you love them.

Then, let’s get back to work.

See you in 2026.