Image of Thanksgiving dinner table

For This We’re Thankful

Here at Cook & James, we like to count our blessings at the holidays. But more so, kindness and gratitude are so baked into our culture that we make the time year ‘round to go above and beyond in terms of thankfulness. In ways large and small throughout year, we make it a point to tell our friends, colleagues and employees they’re important and how much we truly value them.

Take our fun, over-the-top booth displays with giveaways and swag (like at the recent Chili Cookoff in Atlanta or at GAR in Destin). Take the Acts of Kindness we formalized a couple of years ago – and even continued through the pandemic. Take the example of placing high priority on our employees making sure everyone knows how great they are through a blog series we launched in early 2021, Employee Spotlight, to highlight our wonderful C&J family.

This month, we hosted the Thanksgiving Swag Giveaway, an online contest in which 30 entrants vied for some of the best C&J swag around (wine bottles, bottle openers, turkey rubs, and our new cutting board) plus a $50 Honey Baked Ham gift card. Huge congratulations to Daniel Michael from eXp Realty who won the coveted prize.

We launched an online Thankful series, in which we featured an employee quote each day showcasing what they are thankful for this year (find a few highlighted below). Right after Thanksgiving, we’ll launch the “12 Days of C&J Giveaways,” so watch for ways to win big and small during the run up to Christmas. Internally, we treated ourselves at our annual office Thanksgiving Potluck last Friday with a bounty of deliciousness. Then we kicked off a toy drive benefiting the Aflac Cancer Center where anyone – not just employees - can donate a new, unwrapped toy and place it under our purple C&J tree. Toys must be donated by December 10 and questions may be addressed to Brianna.Glouse@cookandjames.com.

As we hunker down for some turkey with friends and family, please permit us to share our gratitude with a few words from our very own employees. I’ll let Kara begin the thankful thoughts and I’ll close us out. Wishing you and yours all the kindness and gratitude this Thanksgiving, through the rest of the holiday season and into 2022!


"I am extremely grateful for each and every member of our C&J family. It has been a crazy year (I think maybe this is how we’ll describe every year going forward=) and everybody has worked so hard to go above and beyond for our clients. You are what makes C&J great and I appreciate all that you do!" ~Kara Cook, Partner  


"I am thankful for the family I was born into, the family my husband and I created, and the new family I've found here at C&J!!" ~Coco Bullock, Office Manager


"I am thankful for my family's continued health and my continued opportunities for growth at C&J. After almost 9 years, still never a dull moment over here!!" ~Brook Zink, VP of Operations


"I'm so thankful for my co-workers at Cook & James! We truly are a TEAM, and we work so well together!" ~Kim Miller, Oversight Attorney for South Carolina


"I am thankful to have an amazing position with an amazing firm. Also I am thankful for my work family as well as my husband and my son." ~Jamie DiGregory, Director of Operations


"I'm feeling extra thankful for my health and the opportunities I receive to better myself." ~Devin Kirkland, Operations Manager


"I am thankful for my kids, specifically my third little one coming in December (a girl after having 2 boys!)" ~Hannah Winegar, Scheduling Coordinator


"With life being as fragile as it is on a daily basis, I am simply thankful for every new day I'm given, for the hope I have that better days are coming and eventually every storm will run out of rain, and for everything I have, including this C&J family." ~Jason Cunningham, Scheduling Coordinator


"I am thankful to be part of a team that is full of selfless leaders. Everyone here at C&J is so amazing!" ~Rhett Jerrum, Marketing Coordinator


"I am thankful for my daughters, my C&J Family, and that I am able to work for a company like C&J." ~Laura Escareno, Paralegal


"I am thankful for my C&J work family. The people that work here are truly a family and you can tell everyone really cares about each other." ~Angela Durham, Paralegal


"I am thankful for growth, in and outside of C&J, and new beginnings. Also for my two children, who motivate me to the best that I can be in every aspect of my life." ~Hannah Terry, Post Closer Team Lead


"I'm thankful for our C&J clients. They make me want to continue to put on fabulous events!" ~Brianna Glouse, Sales & Marketing Manager


"I am thankful for the opportunity to work as a part of the Cook & James Team! I am also thankful for all of my family, friends, & fur babies!" ~Jessica Pleasants, Auditor


"I am thankful for a wonderful family and for friends, both old and new, for being part of my life." ~Glendora James, Escrow Officer


"I am full of gratitude for all the hardworking individuals that I get to work with daily at Cook & James! Thank you for all that you do!" ~Bryce Linden, Attorney


"I'm thankful to be surrounded by people who inspire me to be a better person." ~Heather James, Partner