The stars aligned in mid-2023 when Don Aikman, my beloved late father and long-ago business partner, connected me to local artist and Watermark founder Marie Williams of Chatham. Marie had served the local community’s ‘desktop publishing’ design and editing needs for over two decades, and she was searching for the right person to continue to support her customers. Marie and Don had served together on Chatham’s Tercentennial Committee in 2012 – the year my dad first planted the Watermark-ownership seed in my head. At the time, I was committed to a career path with a local nonprofit, and to the swirling activities of two school-age kids.
Eleven years later, Don and Marie’s chance meeting at the Chatham dump (transfer station) last year created the path for me to join Marie in this bright, artsy, tucked-away Munson Meeting studio. Life circumstances pushed me to take the business ownership risk… Eternal gratitude to my father and younger brother Dennis who inspired me to follow my dreams and be closer to family here in Chatham.
By the end of 2023, Marie’s ‘labor of love’ was my own small business, Watermark Office Services, Incorporated. It’s an extra thrill to be next door to supportive friends at The Cape Cod Chronicle, where my communications career began after graduating from Syracuse a few quick decades ago…
I’m honored to continue the graphic design, editing, and printing services that have brought so many locals to Watermark. Through our periodic blog, “Ripple Effects,” we’ll share snippets of the organizations and the people who are launching us into the next 25 years of Watermark Office Services.
Thank you, Marie, for your mentorship and dedication to our community. Happy retirement!
~ Dawn Dinnan, August 2024
Dawn, a great story, and working with you for many years I know how lucky it is that Marie got you to pass on her business and the community to have you.as part of them.
We will see each other soon. Pat
This is fantastic, Dawn!