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A look back at our first Fastest Growing Companies issue from March 1999 begs some comparisons.
First, the issues facing entrepreneurs back in the day remain familiar. So we did a detailed comparison of the last five years’ worth of survey responses and it confirms that recruiting and managing people is far and away the most challenging aspect of growth. But this year, it also topped the list as the No.1 factor contributing to growth, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re a start-up or employing thousands. It’s a two-way street, and this year’s profiles unlock some team-building secrets of the stars.
Second, the cover art was a purple rocket ship. If you have to rip off an idea, make it your own! Still, this year’s art is special even if it is a blast from the past.
And how could we resist? Topping the employee-growth chart this year is Miramichi’s Fatkat Animation Studios (by press time it had almost doubled again, topping 70 employees). So we asked 30-year-old cartoon king Gene Fowler to take a crack at the art for the cover. As we learn about Gene in the feature story on page 37, he has made the difficult shift from being an animator to a high-flying CEO, but he hasn’t lost touch with his craft. But true to his stated transformation from being a doer to becoming a leader, he had the talented Cindy Blakney produce the sketch. As Gene says, “Dude, I just wish more entrepreneurs would realize that they can’t do it all themselves.”
The survey also revealed some growth- |
management themes that are illustrated by more established companies on the list. For example, Composites Atlantic Limited, an aerospace firm based in Lunenburg, N.S., has begun a recruiting- and-referral effort aimed at women. In fact, CEO Maurice Guitton says he will not only train any female employee interested in advancing her career but will also consider interested and qualified family members or friends.
ADI Group CEO Hollis Cole lost an employee to New Hampshire 15 years ago for personal reasons. So what did he do? He opened an office in Salem, and now much of the engineering firm’s U.S.-based business comes from that state. Fortis Inc. continues to outperform utilities in its class with a disciplined and focused acquisition plan aimed at lucrative growth markets.
Get even more insight into Fortis’s strategic prowess in Jonathan Norwood’s latest column as he returns to Progress’s regular line-up on page 24. (When he joined SEAMARK Asset Management Limited as a vice president and portfolio manager late last year he took a short leave from his column.)
Finally, is a more spiritual workplace the secret to harmonious growth? Writer David Swick decided to find out, starting with the Centre for Spirituality and the Workplace, the first of its kind in Canada located at Saint Mary’s Sobey School of Business. Have a read and judge for yourself if it’s time for your company to take a closer look at the connectedness of your team’s work, life, and soul. You’ll be surprised at the potential benefits. |
