A New Millennium Begins
On January 1, 2000, the world celebrated听the听start听of the听new millennium听鈥�听though some听would say听the party came听a year听too听early. But early or not,听the 21st听century听was upon us.听
Fireworks听lit up the sky,听as听the world听held听its听breath to see if computers would听crash as the date turned听from 1999听to the听year 2000.听Fortunately, the听Y2K bug听didn鈥檛 bite,听and all was well听鈥� with听our听computers, that is.听
All was听not听well with the听U.S.听presidential election.听The outcome was听embroiled in听controversy and听it took a听Supreme Court decision听to determine that听George W. Bush would become the 43rd听president in听January,听2001. Later that year,听the world听would mourn as听nearly听3,000 people听lost their lives in terrorist attacks听in the U.S.听on September 11th.听Still later in the decade,听Barack Obama would become the first African American听U.S.听president听in听2009.
Globally,听China and India听were experiencing听rapid economic growth听in the 2000s. But Asia also faced devastation after a massive 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean,听which impacted听several听countries听where Wilbur-Ellis听does business听(see sidebar).听Wars听erupted in听Iraq听and Afghanistan听during the decade, and听the Great Recession began,听battering economies worldwide.听
On a happier听note,听there was new hope for curing disease, as听human DNA听was mapped in the largest international scientific project听ever. The听Apple iPhone听came on the scene,听launching a mobile revolution, and social media听evolved听from听a novelty to part of听everyday听life.听
At Wilbur-Ellis,听the 2000s was听a听decade when the company celebrated听a听momentous birthday,听transitioned its听top听leadership听twice,听doubled revenues,听and听intensified听its听focus on technology and strategy.
