http://www.dind.com/blog/awards-recognition/ en-us Fri, 18 May 2012 19:28:20 PDT Fri, 18 May 2012 19:28:20 PDT SiteCrafting.com GearBox 1.1 (beta) http://www.sitecrafting.com/blog/dependability-challenge/ The gauntlet has been thrown down. We can't hide now...we must be exceptional. While it is nice that we were recently recognized for dependabilty, I see it as more of a challenge. A challenge for us to do more, perform better, and have more satisfied customers. So, what are we going to do? How will we respond? How can you respond to your customers in such as way as to be known for dependabilty? How can your business garner coveted word of mouth referrals?While not perfect...here's what I recommend...feel free to add comments below on other things you think are important.1. Focus on your business.Don't waste time looking over your shoulder at your competitors. Instead, focus on being the very best you can be at what you do.  Get your house in order. List everything you do well, and everything that needs improvement. Address issues, deal with them, and don't sweep anything under the rug. Take criticism as an opportunity for improvement, not as a personal attack, and be sure to thank the person who gave you that opportunity. 2. Establish systems.Make sure you have set systems for dealing with all situations. Make sure your people know what those systems are. If something falls outside of that system, create a new one. We have systems for simple tasks like setting up new hosting customers as well as complex systems to track complex projects. 3. Empower your people.Stay out of the way of your employees. Give them the tools (systems) to perform their tasks, let them solve problems creatively, and give them the responsibility and authority to satisfy customers. 4. Communicate.Make sure email is answered within a couple of hours and phone calls the same day if possible (I'm trying).  Keep communication  professional, get to the point, and archive your messages to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.5. Follow through.Do what you say you will do. Everytime.We will continue to work on improving in all these areas, while not perfect by any means, we've made it our New Year's resolution to continue focusing on improving and providing exceptional service. Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:22:00 PST http://www.sitecrafting.com/blog/sitecrafting-outed-awesome/ Dan Voelpel begs the following question in yesterday's Tacoma News Tribune: "If I asked you to name the most underrated business in Tacoma, what would you say?"First on Voelpel's list was SiteCrafting. The article defined "underrated" by those local firms that are either well-known but who's contributions are deeper than at first glance or others, like us, who fly somewhat under the radar but do great business. From the article:What does a guy with a double major in theology and philosophy do? Start a small company that creates sophisticated Web applications. That's what Brian Forth did in 1998. Now, Sitecrafting has become the predominant ? and growing ? go-to Web development firm for more than 160 South Sound governments and companies. The long list of clients includes the City of Puyallup, Starbucks, Bellarmine Preparatory School and MultiCare Health System.I guess the secret is now officially out. ;) Don't worry, we won't go and get swelled heads over this. Instead, we'll just keep serving our clients well and serving them up the most useful web apps anywhere.Link to the Tacoma News Tribune Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:43:00 PDT http://www.sitecrafting.com/blog/appreciation/ What an honor and at the same time, what a challenge. SiteCrafting is thrilled to be named by The Business Examiner as the Top Place to Work in the category of Employee Appreciation, but --- and here's the big but --- it means we have to live up that honor. A challenge I am glad to take on, given the dedication, commitment, and selflessness shown on a daily basis by our people who truly make SiteCrafting a top place to work.Sure, we have a lot of very smart, technically minded people working here, but what's more important and worthy of recognition is the fact that we have incredible human beings working here. We have individuals committed to our customers, to our vision, to our community and to each other. So how did this happen?  And how do I live up to the challenge?Pay and Play FairEveryone wants to make more money. More importantly people want to know they are contributing and their contribution is valued. One way to do that is to offer a solid salary. Be honest about where their salary comes from. Set expectations and when they exceed them, reward them. Your name is on the bottom of the check, but your customers really pay them...make your team realize that.Provide Maximum Benefits Give all of your employees the same benefits you give yourself and your family. End of story.Get Out of the Way Establish the standards, articulate the vision, guide and suggest, but ultimately stay out of their way. Trust me, they will surprise you. Want What's Best You can't keep everyone happy, but you can wish them happiness and do things to encourage their happiness. Sometimes that happiness lies somewhere else. That's OK.Protect them, but not too much...Give them the credit, make them the star, and when things go wrong, keep them from being thrown under the bus. Be prepared to let them fail, dust them off, and put them right back on the bike, pretty soon they'll be riding like pros.Be the ModelLead with the enthusiasm, consistency, and dedication you expect from them. Appreciate them and they will appreciate you.Say "Thank You" AND mean it! Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:25:00 PDT http://www.sitecrafting.com/blog/fastest-growing-companies/ I have a seven year old who loves boxes. He loves building playhouses, cars, and hideouts using as many raw materials and all the imagination he has, and he does it everyday. He has faith in me and depends on me. I have a five year old, who loves her daddy more than just about anything and who loves princesses and dress up. She is learning to read and is getting better at it every day. She counts on me to be there, to support her and to love her.I have a two year old who would rather drive a Tonka dumptruck than pretty much anything in this world. He celebrates every time I walk in the door..."Hi-O Daddy".I have a wife, who supports me, loves me, and has given me the freedom to explore my dreams, sometimes at the expense of her own sanity. She is the backbone of our family.I pretty much have all my eggs in the SiteCrafting basket, and so does my family, but we're not the only ones.No less important is our SiteCrafting team. We have a team with plans of their own. Each one special and important to them individually. Each wanting to make a life for themselves and their families. Each striving to be the best they can be. In our group, some are starting a family of their own, others buying their first house or paying off student loans - all important.Tonight SiteCrafting was recognized for growth. For being the sixth fastest growing company in the South Puget Sound. We are honored.Growth to me does not mean much if we can't take care of the dreams of those who have made the growth possible. It means nothing if we can't further develop the people who have made our company and our customers successful. We need to strengthen their lives, their families and enable them to fulfill their dreams. So tonight as I thanked our team, the Business Examiner, the sponsors and our customers. I meant a heartfelt "Thank You" . A "Thank You" for believing in the vision, having faith in the plan, and for delivering. Your future is bright; your dreams are safe. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:08:00 PST http://www.sitecrafting.com/blog/brian-forth-honored-at-8th/ On April 29th, Brian was awarded Small Business Leader of the Year by the UW Tacoma Milgard School of Business. The Annual Business Leadership Awards is in its 8th year, and is considered one of the premiere events for businesses in the area. Brian was was joined by family, friends and staff and was one of four business leaders receiving awards for excellence in leadership. Other honorees included David Ottey, of the Emergency Food Network (receiving the Non-Profit Leadership Award); Bill Matthaei, of Roman Meal (receiving the Business Leadership Award); and James Milgard, of Milgard Windows & Doors (receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award). We were in good company, as the event brought together exceptional business leaders around Western Washington. Opening remarks were provided by Shahrokh Saudagaran, Dean at Milgard's School of Business, as well as David Zeeck President and Publisher of the News Tribune. We were privileged to hear a keynote address from William Ayer, chairman and CEO of Alaska Airlines and Alaska Air Group that touched on the economic situation and winning principles during challenging times.Brian was given the opportunity to speak as he accepted his award. Proud to finally have a reason to use his philosophy degree, he provided the audience with the following:About 2600 years ago, a Greek Philosopher named Heraclitus uttered the following which applies not only to fly-fisherman like myself, but to all of us. He said, "You can never step in the same river twice".You can view his introduction by Peter Comfort of Propel and his speech here:As one of SiteCrafting's staff, I can testify that this recognition only furthers the pride the staff has about the company and it's future.  We're proud to have winning leadership, principals and strategy that are seeing us through hard times. We're proud to be a part of community that fosters growth for a company like ours. We're proud to have the opportunity to be part of something that's bigger than the sum of its parts. And, as for our future, I think Brian summed it up nicely this tidbit of advice:We have to approach each day, confident that we can handle whatever changes come our way because we adhere to timeless, changeless principals. Thanks to Denise Ploof for nominating Brian for this honor. And Congrats, Brian! This award is well deserved.Related:Biz Buzz - Lessons from the dinner tableThe News Tribune - A Tacoma Company That Does It Right Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:03:00 PDT http://www.sitecrafting.com/blog/sitecrafting-honored-as-3rd-fastest/ Last night, myself, Brian, Julie, Mandi, Michael, Nick, and Kirk attended the Business Examiner's Fastest Growing Companies event at the Tacoma Glass Museum. Last year, we were honored to receive the #6 spot out of 10 finalists, but this year we received third place.Finalists were selected from companies headquartered in the South Sound. The winner of the #1 spot this year was Wichert Electric Inc from Chehalis. BCRA also won the Longevity Award for the second year running.Congrats to Wichert Electric, BCRA and all the other finalists.  Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:15:00 PST http://www.sitecrafting.com/blog/icic-2010/ Following our nomination by Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma, and a long period of vetting, SiteCrafting was notified that we had been selected by the ICIC as a recipient of one of the top 100 fastest growing companies in inner-city areas in the US. It turns out Tacoma is considered inner-city eligible (though I've never really thought of it that way). In any case, over 800 companies were nominated and only 100 made the cut for recognition in Boston. We were one of three in Washington State.  The event is put on by Harvard Business School, Bloomberg Business Week, and several other sponsors including Bank of America, Staples Foundation, etc. ICIC was founded in 1994 by Harvard Profession Michael Porter - you can learn more about ICIC here.The three day trip included a welcome reception at the Boston Library, a full day of business roundtable discussions and case studies at Harvard Business School, and the culminating event at the Boston Convention Center where the ICIC list was revealed. We took in a ton of information during our short time in Boston, but here are some of my highlights. My first night I took a trip to Fenway Park to watch the Red Sox play the Angels. As a baseball fan and player, this was a dream come true. A self guided walking tour of downtown Boston, Boston Common, and Historic places like the Old Statehouse, Boston Massacre site, Faneuil Hall,  Old North Church, USS Constitution, Boston Tea Party site, Paul Revere's house, etc. A few morning runs around downtown and Boston Harbor Meeting and learning from CEOs of other organizations that are growing, thriving, and facing similar pressures and concerns as SiteCrafting Stealing out a bit early for a tour of the Samuel Adams Brewery - Thanks Ken and Scott from New York for driving (and suggesting it) Falling in love with a city that never really appealed to me before actually visiting - I love Boston (in the springtime) Overall the trip was fantastic, the ICIC, Harvard Business School and Bloomberg Business Week were excellent hosts.  Here's some more coverage of the event: Bloomberg Business Week Coverage ICIC Inner City 100 Fri, 28 May 2010 11:35:00 PDT