FSB/WINNING WORKPLACES
Best Bosses 2005: Distinguished Finalists
Winning Workplaces and FSB: FORTUNE Small Business received over 200 nominations for this year's Best Bosses program. These included many great leaders who have produced impressive business results through enlightened people practices. Below is a list of some notable finalists and their accomplishments:
Rebecca Boenigk, CEO, Neutral
Posture, Inc., Bryan, Texas
Rebecca Boenigk is the CEO of Neutral Posture, Inc., a 16-year-old manufacturer
of ergonomic furniture with 75 employees. Boenigk believes in treating employees
the way she would want to be treated, which has resulted in a casual, family-like
atmosphere where employees are encouraged to take a seat on Boenigk's couch
and discuss issues. Neutral Posture purchases school supplies for employees'
children at the beginning of each school year and trains employees on how
to manage their personal finances. Company luncheons occur monthly for birthday
and anniversary celebrations. Because employees are always encouraged to
come forward with their innovations, the halls at Neutral Posture frequently
fill with prototypes of different ideas for chairs. The nurturing, family-like
environment pays off: the average employee tenure is five years and it is
not uncommon for workers who leave to boomerang, i.e., to return eventually
to the company.
Michelle J. Boggs, President and
CEO, McKinley Marketing Partners, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia
McKinley Marketing Partners, Inc. is a provider of marketing contractors
to a wide range of industries. Being in the "people business," President
and CEO Michelle Boggs invests considerable time and care in the development
of her 10 employees, personally meeting with each one on a bi-weekly basis.
She encourages employees to come forward with ideas for improvement at any
time but also solicits ideas in weekly meetings. At those meetings, each
staff member is asked to do three things: 1) Complete the sentence, "I feel
like saying...," 2) Complete the sentence, "I want to be acknowledged for..."
and 3) List their top two or three priorities for the week. A strong belief
in work-life balance exists at McKinley: employees enjoy flexibility in
scheduling and do not work nights or weekends. Boggs' personal touch has
benefited the company as it has experienced a 40 percent increase in sales
from 2003 to 2004.
Mike Faith, President and CEO, Headsets.com,
San Francisco, California
Headsets.com is a 7-year-old Internet and catalog retailer of headsets.
As his industry endlessly cut costs and reduced staff, President and CEO
Mike Faith concentrated instead on building up a highly skilled and knowledgeable
customer service staff of 37. To acquire passionate, energetic customer
service representatives, Faith invests heavily in the selection of new hires,
employing a business psychologist and voice coach as well as three or four
company leaders in the process. Employee satisfaction is a high priority:
responsibilities are matched with individual strengths, and there are numerous
opportunities for employees to grow into new jobs. Management is open-book
and employees are offered monetary rewards for good ideas. Weekend retreats
are a frequent company event, and Faith offers a standing invitation for
employees to have dinner at his home on Tuesday nights. Headsets' attention
to employee satisfaction and communication has resulted in one of the lowest
turnover rates in the industry.
Eugene Guszkowski, Principal,
AG Architecture, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
AG Architecture is a 13-year-old full-service architectural engineering
firm focused on the design of innovative living environments for seniors.
The 42 employees of AG Architecture include representation from Poland,
Bosnia, Ireland, and Mexico, demonstrating a commitment to diversity. Gene
Guszkowski, principal, has led the firm in creating a unique open-door working
environment that attracts and retains talented employees. Guszkowski recognized
that by providing a well-designed workspace and a nurturing, stimulating
environment, the company could support the well-being of employees on a
daily basis. Every week, for example, the company holds a fruit day, a bread
day, and, on Fridays at 4:30 PM, a social hour. Guszkowski is dedicated
to keeping channels of communication open to employees and to maintaining
organizational transparency through an open-book policy for company financials.
His employees say he believes in fairness and the importance of teamwork.
Ralph Hawkins, President and
CEO, HKS, Inc., Dallas, Texas
With 678 employees, HKS, Inc. provides professional services in architecture,
planning, structural engineering, and graphic design. Founded in 1939, it
has been led by President and CEO Ralph Hawkins since 2002. Hawkins encourages
all-around employee wellness with an onsite fitness center, healthy food
and drink options, and Doublecheck, an Internet-based professional education
and improvement program offering 120 seminars annually exclusive to HKS.
Employees help determine the health-care plan, vacation days, flex time,
and retirement investment plan. They are also mentored and encouraged to
grow professionally which accounts for why 90 percent are promoted from
within. All employees are cross trained across various jobs so that they
can quickly respond to shifts in the economy and to provide a more secure
work environment. The turnover rate is less than half the national average.
HKS has received numerous regional and industry-related awards.
Mike James, CEO,
Fireproof Records Center, Columbus, Ohio
Fireproof Records Center is a full-service information management solutions
business that evolved from a storage company founded 99 years ago. CEO Mike
James fosters a family-like community with his 102 employees by holding
a "Lunch with the President" session, during which employees are invited
to give feedback and voice concerns. Employees receive 100 hours of training
in their first year and 40 hours of training in every subsequent year of
employment. They also cross train to better learn the business and improve
productivity. Known for being respectful and consensus driven, James believes
communication is a high priority. In addition, Fireproof Records practices
open-book management where employees are taught to read financial documents.
Turnover has decreased every year for the last three years, demonstrating
a high degree of employee satisfaction.
Vivian Kelly, Founder and President,
Interprose, Inc., Reston, Virginia
President Vivian Kelly founded Interprose, Inc., a public relations firm
in Reston, Virginia, seven years ago. While her company runs as a virtual
agency with 16 employees spread across the country, Kelly has been able
to foster a sense of inclusiveness and a spirit of teamwork using weekly
staff calls in which employees are encouraged to speak freely. If employees
are hesitant to raise an issue in a staff call or to approach Kelly individually,
they are encouraged to speak to a member of the agency's steering committee.
The firm's values have been tested in recent years. Interprose primarily
serves telecommunications equipment suppliers, a client base that has been
severely cutting back on expenditures. The company responded by having everyone,
including top management, accept a pay cut and by broadening their client
portfolio. Today, employee pay, firm revenues, and profits are all beginning
to climb again.
Cecelia McCloy, President and
CEO, Integrated Science Solutions, Inc., Walnut Creek, California
Integrated Science Solutions is a 6-year-old private company that provides
engineering and applied science consulting services. With a strong growth
record, the company attributes its success to exceptional customer service
that sets it apart from other consulting firms. President and CEO Cecelia
McCloy values teamwork, openness, and constant communication among her 46
employees. She does so through teams, yearly manager-employee site meetings,
an employee satisfaction survey, and an open-door policy. In addition to
a supportive work environment, employees are awarded monetarily with contract
award fees, company bonuses, and career advancement. They also receive tuition
reimbursement. McCloy is admired by her employees for her steady cheerfulness,
strong sense of fairness, and respect for meeting commitments. Integrated
Science Solutions has experienced virtually no turnover in the last three
years.
Herb Murrie, CEO, MLR Design,
Chicago, Illinois
Herb Murrie is CEO of MLR Design, a 40-year-old brand identity and package
design firm in Chicago. The company overcame a down market through a shared
commitment to excellence that begins with employees participating in the
creative process at all levels. Murrie maintains a competitive edge through
hard work with a stress on efficiency, respect for every employee, and emphasis
placed on the importance of the customer. He rewards employees for innovation
with time off, bonuses, and accolades. Employees understand that open and
constant communication is valued so they feel free to express their opinions,
positive or negative. Murrie says that he refrains from his natural tendency
to resolve problems quickly, opting instead to ask employees a number of
questions and do "a lot of listening." Many of the 23 employees view Murrie
as their mentor. These approaches have allowed MLR Design to continue to
enjoy steady growth in an increasingly competitive industry.
Steve E. Sullivan, CEO, Sullivan
International Group, Inc., San Diego, California
With 107 employees, Sullivan International Group, Inc. is a 7-year-old
professional services firm specializing in engineering, technology, and
logistics services. CEO Steve Sullivan always makes himself available to
his staff. He meets with non-managerial staff to hear their ideas and concerns
through a monthly "Lunch with the CEO" program and has a suggestion box
he reviews himself. He provides the staff with incentives to present ideas
on cost savings and project management. These ideas have helped foster continued,
strong growth of the company. The company has created a culture of volunteering
and giving. It recently established the Sullivan Children's Foundation,
whose mission is to enhance the quality of life of children in their region.
The firm was named San Diego's fastest-growing privately held company two
years in a row by the San Diego Business Journal.
David Wolfskehl, President,
Action Fast Print, Edison, New Jersey
Under the leadership of President David Wolfskehl, Action Fast Print, a
23-year-old, nine-employee printing company, incorporates an "all hands
on deck" approach to production and customer service. Wolfskehl has implemented
daily team huddles in each department to maintain a fluid stream of communication
and to eliminate any roadblocks that employees are facing. Virtually all
suggestions for improvement come from employees, so when it comes to implementing
change, buy-in is extremely high. These huddles and the resulting teamwork
led to nearly doubling the dollar-per-hour production rate in 2004. Wolfskehl
also builds camaraderie by bringing the entire team together for a free,
weekly catered lunch, which gives the team a chance to socialize and take
a break from the fast-paced environment of the quick-print industry. This
dedication to employee engagement and teamwork has resulted in minimal turnover,
increased efficiency, and continuous increases in revenue.