I've proven once again that the best way to look clever is to surround yourself with bright people.

After 10 years on the Internet, we just released a next-generation version of our Panoramic Feedback 360-degree feedback system.

It's named "SASS", an acronym for Smart Administration System for Surveys. It is truly a smart, logical, sassy user interface

But it wouldn't be smart software without the work of a team of brainy, dedicated people. I'd like to introduce you to some of them:

Elena Albegova is our client support manager, who keeps us up-to-date on what our clients need. With her assistant Janna Andre, she continues to provide our tech team with abundant, practice-based guidance for SASS.

Aaron Bentley first programmed Panoramic Feedback a decade ago as a family member, and grew into an internationally-recognized open source developer. He created the initial design for SASS and performed much of its programming. He also performs his own music at open stages around the city.

Mike Fletcher joined us when we needed extra muscle to move SASS forward. He showed a special ability to conceptualize our initiatives for our research and development grant applications. Mike is well known as a presenter at Pycon, the annual Python developers' conference in Chicago.

Mike Lin has made our user interface powerful, intuitive, and graceful. He's a wizard at managing JavaScript and the Ext library. He may be the youngest member of our technical team, but once people see what he accomplished with SASS, I believe his career future is assured.

Maru Newby led as senior developer on this project for more than two years, enhancing the blood flow to his brain by traveling to work on rollerblades. He's a world-class expert in the Python programming language we use. From the onset, he also made a point of understanding the users of 360-degree feedback.

As these people have proven, software (or machinery, or business plans) can never outweigh the contribution of the human beings who make it all happen.

But you knew that. It's probably what attracted you to the profession of helping people develop, in the first place.