We often receive positive feedback for providing concise, transparent, easy-to-read reports on our annual financial Performance. In fact, our 2008 Annual Report received recognition as the Best Annual Report at the IR Magazine Awards ceremony in March of this year. The award was presented based on the compilation of more than 30,000 US-based analysts and portfolio managers invited to vote on companies they felt had the best Investor Relations in many categories.
That is certainly a tough act to follow, but I believe the first annual 2009 Southwest One Report™ will not disappoint. In fact, by combining our Corporate Responsibility reporting and an annual financial report into one document for the first time ever, we have now provided a “one-stop shop” opportunity, if you will, for our Stakeholders to learn about our dedication to our triple bottom line: Performance, People, and Planet.
We have continued to focus a significant amount of time and effort on a large number of revenue and cost initiatives, about 90 percent of which has been on revenue-generating enhancements. The Performance section of the Southwest One Report™ provides an excellent platform to share more details on how we are growing our revenues and containing our costs.
Protecting our financial health through maintaining a strong Balance Sheet and investment-grade credit ratings remains a priority for the Company. We achieved this goal again in 2009 as illustrated in the Financial Strength area of the Performance section of the One Report.
And, finally, Wall Street and all Stakeholders alike remain very interested, and many invested, in our future. They want to know how the Company plans to survive and, better yet, prosper, in what is destined to be another year full of challenges. We will not give up on hitting our financial targets and our continued focus and actions support that our Warrior Spirit is stronger than ever and up to the task. It’s On!!
