Nice article in Puget Sound Business Journal

Nice Article in Puget Sound Business Journal about Inventive Productions

http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/01/25/tidbits1.html

Inventive Productions mentioned in Puget Sound Business Journal article

RJ McHatton and Inventive Productions were mentioned in an article by writer Patti Payne in this week’s Puget Sound Business Journal.

Here is a link to the article:

http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/10/26/tidbits1.html

Brian Vance - CEO of Heritage Bank

Brian Vance with Director RJ McHatton

I had never been to downtown Olympia before. It was a beautiful sunny day. We were there in Olympia to interview Brian Vance, the CEO of Heritage Bank, for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “Best Workplaces” video project. Brian did a great interview. Brian is originally from a farm and ranching family in Southern Idaho. He calls himself a cowboy because that is where his roots came from. Brian told me how he had started in the banking business as a teller and over the years he had worked almost every job in the bank. Now he is the CEO of one of the fastest growing community banks in the country. He was proud that his bank just became a “Billion Dollar” bank, which is a huge milestone in his industry. We talked about how his company has become a “Best Workplace.” Brian said it all came down to the values of integrity, listening to your people, and doing the right thing. He talked about the importance of keeping constant communication with the team and keeping to the fundamental vision. Brian talked about the 80 year history of the Heritage Bank and how proud he was to see it growing still, even in tough economic times. I could tell that Brian was very passionate about the importance of honesty and integrity and having fun with his team. Some of the Heritage team made sure I heard about Brian’s famous “Pancake” recipe. Brian talked about the company picnics and Pancake parties. Sounds like a great place to work.

Russell Steele - CEO Clearwater Casino & Resort

Russell Steele with Director RJ McHatton

My son Jason and I took the fairy to Bainbridge Island. It was a fantastic day. Jason brought the binoculars. We were there to interview Russell Steele, the CEO of Clearwater Casino and Resort. Russell did a super job in the interview. He talked about the many programs that his company has put into place to help inspire a “Best Workplace” culture. He talked about the importance of offering educational opportunities for the team and providing a great environment for listening to the employees needs.

Brad Burkett - Kimpton Restaurants and Hotels

Brad Burkett with Director RJ McHatton

I really enjoyed meeting Brad Burkett from Kimpton Restaurants & Hotels. I was there at the Alexis Hotel in Seattle to interview Brad for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “Best Workplaces” video project. Kimpton was a finalist for the Best Workplace of the year awards. Brad told me some of the fundamental values that helped create such a winning culture at Kimpton. He talked about the importance of his team overdelivering with clients and doing whatever it takes to make experiences special. He talked about the vision of the Founder and how their company has grown from one location to fifty. Brad talked about the empowerment that he and all Kimpton employees feel and how wonderful it was to work for such a friendly company.

Brian Paulen - CEO Madrona Solutions Group

Director RJ McHatton with Brian Paulen

It was great meeting Brian Paulen, CEO of Madrona Solutions Group in downtown Seattle. I was there to interview Brian for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “Best Workplaces” video project. Brian had a great sense of humor and it was exciting to learn about one of the fastest growing companies in the country. Brian proved to me that a positive attitude and a positive team culture has tremendous impact on the team success. He talked about the importance of being a great listener and being flexible to the needs of clients. He talked about the diversity of his team and the importance of having fun at work. I really liked how Brian said his greatest mentor was his father.

Tim Gibbons - CEO of Pharmacy OneSource

Tim Gibbons, CEO of Pharmacy OneSource

I learned a lot in my interview with Tim Gibbons, CEO of Pharmacy OneSource. I interviewed Tim for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “Best Workplaces” video. Tim talked about the great culture that his company has nurtured over the years. He told me that his greatest pride is seeing his team being happy, successful, and innovative. He said that his secret to success is hiring great people.

Chuck Riley interview - Lane Powell Attorneys

Chuck Riley with Director RJ McHatton

I went down to the Lane Powell offices in Seattle to interview VP Chusk Riley for the video we are making for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual “Best Workplaces” award. Chuck Riley did a super interview. He talked about the incredible culture at Lane Powell and how they really focus on core values with their clients and their employees. Lane Powell is one of the oldest and most successful law firms in the Northwest. It was started over 100 years ago. Today Lane Powell has over 300 staff and over 150 attorneys. Over the years many of the Northwest’s great judges once worked with Lane Powell. Chuck said that one of the secrets to success at Lane Powell is total committment to the local communities. The culture of the company is focused on coming up with new ideas about ways the firm can help people. He talked about how the employees dedicate time and money to helping the food banks and Habitat for Humanity and the United Way. I could tell that Chuck was very dedicated and proud of his team at Lane Powell. He also was very proud that his employees would have voted Lane Powell as one of the “Best Workplaces” in Washington.

Kurt Carlson, CEO of Propel Insurance

Director RJ McHatton with Kurt Carlson

I could not stop thinking about my interview with Kurt Carlson of Propel Insurance. He really impressed me with his interview. I had driven down nto Tacoma to meet with Kurt as part of a video we are making for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual “Best Workplaces” Award. Kurt’s company Propel Insurance was a finalist this year. Kurt told me how the company started many years ago and how they recently had changed their name. He told me how they nurtured the culture and about the incredible character of his team. Kurt started talking about all the many things that his company has created to help inspire a positive workplace. I was definitely impressed. In addition the normal medical benefits and 401ks, Propel had created several recognition awards and parties to inspire team mates to look for and find heroes among the team. Their goal is to recognize and focus on the positive things that people do everyday to help others. They try to catch people doing things right. I was inspired by the enthusiasm of Kurt Carlson and his huge goals for the future. Kurt talked about how he has learned a lot from his mentors including friends he has made at the YPO, Young Presidents Organization. Propel definitely seems like a great place to work and I can see why they were nominated by their employees for an award.

Matt, Steve, and Ben interview - Turnstyle Design

Matt Diefenbach, Director RJ McHatton, Ben Graham and Steve Watson

I drove over to the Seattle offices of Turnstyle, a fast growing Graphic Design firm. I was there to interview the leadership team of Turnstyle because they were finalists for the annual Puget Sound Business Journal “Best Workplaces in Washington” award. I was immediately impressed with the Turnstyle team. The office had a great receptionist, but as I looked around it seems that I could see almost the entire staff in one big loop of view. The offices had lots of people but they weren’t in cubicles or offices. It was one big room, with the leaders and regular employees all working hard on their computers. There was a very positive buzz in the air. I set up my camera, lights, and sound equipment in a small office of someone who was out that day. I interviewed Matt, Steve, and Ben individually, and then all together. My goal was to find out why they were nominated as one of the Best Workplaces and to find out their secret to success in business. I quickly learned that these leaders were a great team. Each partner had specific skillsets that when put together equalled an unbeatable match. They told me how important their culture and values were to the fundamental success they had achieved. They talked about how every member on the team was like friends, so they valued taking time off together for an event or even just a drink. They thought it was worthwhile shutting down the entire office to go have a fun time together. They talked about how important relationships with clients and the employees meant to them. They told me how they believed in trust and integrity and diversity. Matt, Steve, and Ben were so enthusiastic that I felt enthusiastic and energized, too. These guys were very creative and fun, but I could tell they took their business very seriously and would go the extra mile to find creative solutions to a project.

Bob Berntson interview - Berntson Porter CPA

Director RJ McHatton with Bob Berntson

I first met Bob Berntson a few years ago when I interviewed him and his partner Greg Porter for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce “Eastside Business Awards.” Today I was interviewing Bob for the video we are making for the Puget Sound Business Journal on the “Best Workplaces in Washington.” Bob is a great person to interview because he has a subtle sense of humor. He reminds me of Harrison Ford because when I interviewed Harrison Ford he always did subtle jokes about himself, and Bob does the same thing. Bob talked about the unique culture they had at Berntson Porter CPA and the many ways they try to nurture that culture. He said that Values are extremely important and that his team had terrific character. He said that they have a “Fireside Chat” several times a year to help keep everyone in the team on the same page about where the firm was going and how they were going to get there. Bob said that he is very lucky because he has some terrific mentors who have helped him over the years. Bob said he loves his company and all the people on his team. Bob said that he felt like a very lucky man. He said that one of the key foundations of their focus is on community involvement and that his team really loves helping others. I really enjoyed my interview with Bob and feel I learned a lot.

Dave Coffman interview - Coffman Engineers

Dave Coffman with Director RJ McHatton

I met Dave Coffman in downtown Seattle at the Coffman Engineers office. Dave Coffman is the CEO of Coffman Engineers. He is a real character. I was interviewing him for the Puget Sound Business Journal video about the “Best Workplaces” finalists. Coffman Engineers has been around for over 30 years now. Dave talked about how he started the company 30 years ago in Bellevue, then expanded to Alaska and now they have coverage all over the Western US and do work all over the world. Coffman Engineers has a great track record, with several large long-term clients including Nordstroms. Dave talked about his focus on integrity, honesty, and dependability. He talked about the culture he has tried to nurture over the years. He said that several of his people have gone off to start their own companies and he is proud that he has been a mentor to so many and that his team voted Coffman as one of the best workplaces in Washington. Dave told me he really cares for his people. He said the secret to their success has been their people and their belief in diversity. I really enjoyed meeting Dave Coffman.

Melanie Dressel interview - Columbia Banking System

RJ with Melanie Dressel of Columbia Banking System

I drove down to Tacoma to meet the CEO of Columbia Banking Systems, Melanie Dressel, for a video we were making for the Puget Sound Business Journal. Columbia Banking was a finalist for the “Best Workplace” award. Melanie did a great interview. She talked about the reasons her company has been successful in such a challenging business climate. She said that the culture of the organization and the focus on the values of customer service and treating people right were paying off. She said that her philosophy is to hire good people and you will succeed. She said that every employee goes through a boot camp to make sure everyone understands the culture and values. Melanie proved to be a very strong leader and I learned a lot from our interview. Thanks, Melanie!

Casey Sheldon interview - Weber Shandwick

Casey Sheldon with Director RJ McHatton

 I drove down to the Union Station area of downtown Seattle to the offices of Weber Shandwick.  I was there to interview President-NW Casey Sheldon for the video we are creating for the Puget Sound Business Journal about the “Best Workplaces in Washington” award.   It only took five seconds to realize why Casey Sheldon is so successful.  She is energetic, enthusiastic, charming, and extremely confident.  Casey is so passionate about her team and her love for her work.  Casey loved to talk about her great team and how her goal is to do whatever she can to help them succeed.  She talked about the tremendous pressure of her industry and how her team has risen to the occasion.   We discussed the core values and the culture and the character of her team.  Casey talked about the first time she ever managed other people.  It was back in Ohio when she was young and leading a team of auto workers.  She talked about how her team had worked together to overcome adversity.  Casey Sheldon is a remarkable leader and a tremendous positive force.  I spoke to some members of her team and they were very proud to be a finalist for the Best Workplace Award.  They said that they love the flexibility that Casey and the leadership allow for the team members.  I am very lucky to be able to interview these Best Workplaces companies and their leaders.  You learn so much from each interview.  Its rewarding to hear that so many leaders like Casey still have focus on values and integrity and character.  Everyone is going back to basics of the way they treat each other.

Cam Green & John Rubino interview - Green/Rubino PR

Cameron Green, Director RJ McHatton, and John Rubino

 I really enjoyed my interview with Cameron Green and John Rubino of the PR firm Green/Rubino.  I was interviewing them for the Puget Sound Business Journal video about their nomination as one of the “Best Workplaces” in the State of Washington.  John and Cameron are a great team.  One is a numbers guy (John) and the other is a writer-creative guy  (Cam).  They seem to have a winning combination.  One of the great moments during our interview was when Cameron talked about the importance of writing skills.  He said that his advice for a future CEO is to make sure to focus on writing skills.   I could tell that John and Cam are great leaders because they kept talking about values and character and integrity.

Brad Jackson, CEO of Two Degrees

Brad Jackson with Director RJ McHatton

I drove downtown Seattle to interview Brad Jackson of Two Degrees for the Puget Sound Business Journal video about the “Best Workplaces in Washington.”  Two Degrees was a finalist for the award this year.  Two Degrees is located in the Exchange Building where once there was the Pacific Northwest Stock Exchange.  The Exchange Building is a 22 story concrete building in an Art Deco style.  According to Wikipedia it was once the second tallest concrete building in the United States.  It reminds me of the tall buildings they used in the old Dragnet series or black and white Noir films showing the Courthouses of LA.  I went up the elevator to the Two Degrees offices and was immediately surprised by the hustle and bustle.  I met with Brad Jackson.  He is someone you will never forget.  He and I sat down in a small office and I started recording the interview.  We talked about his background and the history of the company.  Brad once worked with Price Waterhouse and has a strong background in accounting.  He said that he found that his strengths pulled him more into relationships and consulting.  Brad talked about the special culture they have at Two Degrees.  He said everything was about the Culture and nurturing the culture.  He said that everyone is focused on the clients and how they can help their clients get better.  Brad is almost hypnotic in his focused passion and pride about his team.  He impressed me as someone who looks at life and situations from 30,000 feet, looking down and trying to figure out ways to make everything better.  Brad talked about how his company had become one of the fastest growing companies in America.  He talked about how he set incredible personal and team goals and how they achieved them every time.  Brad talked at length about how important his team and the positive creative workplace environment was to the success of the organization.  Brad talked about the Core Values of his team.  He talked about their vision for the future.  He talked about some of the unique and creative ways they have nurtured their culture.  He told about lavish annual company retreats and a special inhouse film festival where employees went out and made their own films for their internal film festival, all in the name of creative team building.  I feel very lucky to have been exposed to Brad and his team.  They have sparked many new ideas and inspiration on how I can be a better leader for my team.  Thanks Brad.

Joan Cole Duffell Interview -- Committee for Children

Joan Cole Duffell with Director RJ McHatton

 It was a very warm day.   I was visiting the Committee for Children headquarters in downtown Seattle to interview their CEO, Joan Cole Duffell, for the Puget Sound Business Journal video.  Committee for Children was a finalist for the annual “Best Workplaces of Washington” award in the Non-Profit Category.  I was immediately impressed with Joan.  She was so passionate about the mission and the core values of their organization.  Committee for Children has some incredible numbers.  They have been around since the 1970s.  There are over 25,000 schools in over 25 countries that are using their curriculum.  They create curriculum that helps kids deal with issues like sexual abuse, poverty, learning disabilities, and bullying.  Joan talked about how her team works hard to be nice to each other.  She said that they use the techniques in their curriculum as a baseline example to help nurture a positive best workplace.  That day they were having a pot luck lunch where each person was to bring a meal indicative of their heritage.  Italians brought Italian food, French people brought French food, Hispanics, Asians, and Irish brought food from their culture, too.   I was moved by my interview with Joan.  I think I am very lucky to be introduced to such great organizations like the Committee for Children.  I think everyone should learn more about their vision and mission.  To learn more go to www.cfchildren.org 

Charlie Liekweg interview AAA Washington

Charlie Liekweg with Director RJ McHatton

 I knew I would like Charlie Liekweg immediately when I saw the giant photos of Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, and Ulysses S. Grant on the wall of his office.  I had recently returned from a trip to Gettysburg so the Civil War stories were still fresh in my memory.  We were there to interview Charlie Liekweg for the Puget Sound Business Journal “Best Workplaces” Award.  His company, AAA of Washington had reached the finalist stage.  Several of the AAA employees came up to me to tell me how much they loved working at AAA.  They were amazing.  I met Charlie in his office at the Bellevue headquarters.  Charlie told me that he really doesn’t use his office that much because he is usually out in the field visiting all of his offices.  We sat down and talked about his philosophy of management, the company culture, the core values of his team, and the specific things his organization does to get such a happy workplace recognition.  I was very impressed with Charlie and his understanding of his employees.  He talked a lot about the character and integrity of his team.  He talked about they proved themselves so many times, like during the heavy snows last Christmas and during the heatwave this summer.  He said his team always surprises him with positive surprises.  Charlie talked about how his team started a competition to be more healthy and how proud he was that they have accomplished so much in a short time.  He said that his company has actually earned reduction in health costs because the team became more healthy.  I was deeply moved by meeting Charlie Liekweg.   He is a great leader and the AAA Washington team is definitely one of the most positive, enthusiastic, sincere teams I have ever seen.

Edgar Martinez & Brian Haner interview Branded Solutions

Director RJ McHatton with Brian Haner & Edgar Martinez

I drove over to Kirkland to interview the famous baseball player Edgar Martinez and his business partner Brian Haner.  I was interviewing them for the Puget Sound Business Journal because Edgar and Brian’s businesses were recognized for the annual “Best Workplace in Washington” award.  They don’t give out Academy Awards to business owners, but the “Best Workplace” award is about as great an honor that any business leader could strive for.   We met with Brian and Edgar in their new office.  They are such winners.  Edgar Martinez had proven himself with his incredible Major League Baseball career that earned him a place in the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame and a reputation as a kind humanitarian.  Brian Haner was immediately evident to be one of the most positive and inspiring leaders I have ever met.  During our interview Edgar and Brian talked about their belief in Values, Character, and living these concepts every day.  They actually take their core values very seriously.  Branded Solutions and Image Source are one large team dedicated to helping others.  Brian and Edgar and their team have taken a lot of time and effort to analyze and defining the Culture they want in their business.  Edgar Martinez has built a reputation of caring about people and always taking the time to talk and listen with people one on one. Brian has built a reputation as a great leader and a big, positive thinker.  Brian and Edgar make a great team because they are totally focused on those Core Values and keeping their Corporate Culture alive everyday.  Thanks Brian and Edgar for the interview.  I learned a lot.

Chuck Grouws, CEO of CHG Building Systems

Chuck Grouws with Director RJ McHatton

I drove down to Renton to interview Chuck Grouws of CHG Building Systems.  CHG had reached the finals of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual “Best Workplaces” Award.    I was immediately impressed by Chuck Grouws.  He had a great handshake and looked me in the eye.  Chuck seemed like an old-style business owner who made friends for life.  Chuck did a super job in his interview.  He talked about how he started the business over 30 years ago and some of the simple fundamental secrets to his success.  He said that he believes hiring good people and treating them nice was very important.  He said that backing his word and backing his work was the backbone to a successful business.  Chuck talked about how some of his team has been with him all these years.  One family had six members work for CHG.  Chuck talked with pride about a lot of the projects CHG has worked on over the years.  He also was proud that his sons had joined him in his business.  Chuck talked about the benefits his employees receive when they work there, including all the usual items like insurance, 401ks, etc.  But I really liked the annual fishing trip to Alaska benefit that four employees get each year.  Chuck told me that he really believes in his focus on the values of integrity and ethics and doing the right thing.  I really enjoyed my visit with Chuck Grouws.  He reminds me a lot of my dad and how emphasis on values still can work in today’s business world.