Recruiting: Technology – Intelligium

Intelligium is an ESM (Enterprise Systems Management) service provider. While the company has several experienced ESM professionals currently working for them, Intelligium has always had an issue specific to finding suitable ESM consultants for future project opportunities. In essence the firm was always behind the eight ball as far as recruiting was concerned. By using a pro-active approach to create a network of ESM consultants using a combination of multiple mediums like push and pull strategies over the internet and direct contacts, the firm was able to create a highly classified database of ESM professionals. Intelligium used technologies for collaboration like Sharepoint to make this database accessible to all of its clients/prospects and team members. This helped the firm create a database that can be queried on a pro-active and on-demand basis. This helped the firm not only meet customer's requirements much faster, but also reduced bench costs significantly.

Marketing – KnowledgeStorm

KnowledgeStorm is the Internet's top-ranked search resource for technology solutions and information. The company partnered with MarketingSherpa, publisher of research, Case Studies and benchmarking data on marketing, to conduct series a of thought-leadership surveys to compare B2B technology vendors' content strategy and distribution practices to B2B technology buyers' preferences. This concept is unique in that, to date, no research had been conducted examining both the buyer and marketers' perspectives concurrently. KnowledgeStorm believed this was an excellent opportunity to reinforce its thought leadership position while also providing some valuable educational data to its customers to help them improve the quality and effectiveness of their lead generation efforts.

KnowledgeStorm's overall strategy was to leverage a partnership with MarketingSherpa by conducting three research surveys, fielding each concurrently to technology vendor and technology buyer audiences. Once the studies were complete, KnowledgeStorm would execute an integrated marketing campaign to assume more of thought leadership role in the technology marketing space and to strengthen the KnowledgeStorm brand. The overall business goals of this program were to generate Web leads, increase KnowledgeStorm's visibility within the media and increase sales opportunities for KnowledgeStorm. By using a variety of marketing tools including research, podcasts, press releases and Webcasts, KnowledgeStorm wanted to create a burst of media activity to generate attention around the study findings as well as KnowledgeStorm and MarketingSherpa, through press mentions and article inclusion for the duration of the campaign.

Lead Generation – Anteo Group

Anteo Group provides Enterprise Java solutions and ERP consulting solutions. The company sends its Java postcards to approximately 4000 recipients who are a combination of clients and consultants. This list is created by Anteo Group and not bought from an outside vendor. It is simply intended to remind clients that the firm is here if needed. The company sends other material throughout the year such as newsletters which are focused on Java technology issues.

Members from Anteo Group also interviewed James Gosling of Sun Microsystems, founder of the Java software language. Anteo Group will post this interview on its website and create a podcast which the user community can download. Topics discussed were developments regarding Java which would be of interest to anyone using that technology.

Sales & Incentives – Cybera

Cybera is a provider of MPLS-based private networking solutions. The company's sales team makes a certain percentage commission on a portion of the monthly recurring revenue for every site they sign on. This provides an incentive for prioritizing larger deals, and for growing the deal throughout its lifecycle. The model provides each sales person with an annuity for their successes, which in turn enhances loyalty and reduces turnover.

Brand Building – HANS Performance Products

Hans Performance Product Company created a new logo design corrugated box for packaging and shipping its devices. The new series boxes are designed larger to accommodate the new upsized products due for introduction by year end. These boxes can hold additional accessory items that assist the enhancement of the Hans Device. The boxes are also coded using the universal bar code to describe the type of device and what the device box contains. This insures efficiency in packing the boxes and allows for a faster fulfillment process and gives the customer the information on the exterior of the box, leaving no questions to the contents. Pre-boxing of the devices has also increased the speed of getting the Hans products to the designated driver. The efficiency of the fulfillment process has been drastically improved as this new packaging allows the drivers to receive their device earlier, allowing for safety at the driver's next event.

The design Logo features the Hans logo with an emphasis on Design to Outperform. It also identifies the Hans device as the Head and Neck Restraint Experts. Dealers and individual sellers have commented on the new Logo boxes as having the next generation look. The contents are easily identified and assist in providing a professional look that's unmatched in the Head and Neck racing community. The change in the packaging of the Hans Product has managed to add growth in the third quarter of 2007 by the very visual aspect of the box, yet second to the performance and success of the product.

Systems & Controls - Street Smarts

Street Smarts converted its accounting system from Peachtree Accounting to Deltek Financial Management System to provide better information to all of its managers and clients. The firm had been struggling to get its invoicing done accurately and its results reported in a timely fashion. This new system has dramatically improved the automation of the process and therefore the accuracy of the information. One of the huge benefits has been the firm's ability to exceed its banks' expectation to report results (Street Smarts decreased reporting time by 5-7 days). In addition, by sending out more accurate invoices faster, the firm has dramatically shortened the cycle to receive payment. The significant by-product has been the reduction in the amount of financing the firm needs. Street Smarts has reduced its line of credit from approximately $1.2 million to $750-800,000. Lower interest payments have led to Street Smarts having more cash to grow its business.

During the awards presentation - presenter Ben Dyer, president of Innovations Publishing, reminded Street Smarts President Marsha Anderson Bomar that he was formerly the president of Peachtree Software and jokingly told the audience "see - this proves that these awards are completely unbiased!"

Team Building - GeoResults

Organizational culture helps to bind employees together by creating distinctions from other companies, defining identity, enhancing commitment, providing social stability, and establishing a unique image. GeoResults aligns their employees with the company culture through stories and rituals. Two specific events help build the GeoResults' team and contribute to the team's motivation and job satisfaction. GeoResults was founded in June 2001 by a small team of engineers who had left Nortel in the telecommunications industry downturn. Needless to say, the first three years were extremely difficult financially with a start-up company, particularly one in the telecommunications industry. However, every December a Christmas/Holiday Party has been held at the company president's home. The most important aspect of this party is the tradition that every year lobster stew is ordered and shipped in from Maine. Even the first year, when the party was "covered dish", the lobster stew was provided. During the year, the team looks forward to the company "Christmas party" and the lobster stew from Maine.

In fact, the founder said that he would fly the entire team to Maine to the restaurant that ships the lobster stew to Georgia for the holiday party. Each year everyone circulates pictures taken at the party, which, in turn, reinforces the fun that everyone had at the annual party. As the company has grown, a new tradition has grown as GeoResults now has a suite at Turner Field to entertain clients at certain Braves' games during the season. However, one night, and this past season, the game designated was opening night as GeoResults' "Employee Night". Each employee can attend and bring one guest.

Benefits - DAXKO

DAXKO is a company committed to its team members and their families, as evidenced by its development programs, benefits, and family atmosphere. In DAXKO's continued effort to provide its team members with rewarding careers, DAXKO offers a host of benefits including: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance. DAXKO pays for 100% of the team member's coverage (team members may elect to add family members to their plan at an additional charge). Escalation Paid Time Off (PTO) policy: 15 days per year for first 4 years, another 5 days (total of 20) on your 4th anniversary, and another 5 days (total of 25) on your 7th anniversary. Paid Holidays (9); 401(k) Matching: DAXKO matches 50% of the team member's contribution on the first 6% of their salary. Long-Term Disability Insurance: Company-paid long-term disability insurance provides 60% of the individual's pre-disability earnings. Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance: Company-paid $100,000 policy for all full-time, salaried team members. Life Insurance: Company-paid $100,000 life insurance policy for all full-time, salaried team members.

Slightly more unique - Maternity Leave: New mothers are provided 6 weeks at full pay and benefits before or after the birth of their child. Flu Shots: Free flu shots for each team member during the fall of each year. College Savings Plan: Company-sponsored 529 Plan for college savings. Health Club Subsidy: To encourage fitness and wellness, DAXKO pays joining fees and $53 per month for membership fees to any YMCA or JCC so long as the individual uses the fitness facility a minimum of 4 times per month. Friday Morning Fun Runs: Organized group runs for those willing to meet on Friday mornings at 6 AM! Casual dress code 5 days per week.

The differentiators: 'Family Lunches': Weekly free catered lunch in our Garage Cafe for all DAXKO team members. Self-Directed Professional Development Budget: Each team member is provided with $1,500 per year to spend on professional development. The individual selects how the money is spent - not their boss. Team Building Budgets: Each individual team within the company (e.g. sales, software engineering, finance, etc.) is provided with a quarterly budget to spend on a team building activity of their choosing. Free Caffeine: Refrigerators full of a dozen soft drink choices, plus coffee machines capable of making single-servings of 15 different flavors of coffee, cappuccino, chai latte, espresso shots, mochachina, hot chocolate and more. Free Fruit: Stocked fruit bowls (bananas, peaches, apples, raisins, etc.) throughout the office. Fitness & Wellness Programs: Competitive challenges to encourage teambuilding and fitness. 2-3 month competitions based on a number of exercise and nutrition goals resulting in prizes and a healthier you. 'Helmet Stickers': Awards given to a handful of team members (typically 3-5) at our monthly DAXKO-Wide Meeting to recognize them for demonstrating our core values and delivering results. Beyond the recognition, they receive a $50 gift card. Achievers Club: Annual awards given to the top 4-6 team members in the company based on the best demonstration of living by our core values and producing the most significant results in relation to our mission and annual goals. Social & Teambuilding Events: Annual Auburn-Alabama Tailgate party for DAXKO team members, friends, and family; Halloween costume party; Annual DAXKO Bash; monthly birthday celebrations; and Annual DAXKO-Wide Kick-Off (won the 2006 Eagle Innovation Award for Team Building). Innovative Workspace: We view our workspace as a benefit. Focused on increasing collaboration and teamwork, the space is actually a place people look forward to coming to everyday. With wireless access throughout; quiet rooms for undisturbed heads-down time; a coffee shop; brainstorming rooms; scooters for getting around quickly; bright colors; a learning center to catch-up on the latest tech, entrepreneurial, and business magazines and books; and relaxing places to work and meet, DAXspace stands out as a unique place to work.

Congratulations

Congratulations to all the RCB Eagles Innovations Award Winners.

Read all about this years RCB Eagles Award Banquet.