NAPL client-member Wordsprint (Wytheville, VA) received the prestigious Hall of Fame Award at the recent NAPL Top Management Conference held in Tucson, AZ.
I admit to feelings of pride in seeing company president Bill Gilmer accept the award at the honorary banquet. Wordsprint has been one of my clients for the past several years, and, in that time, I have come to understand what makes them one of the leading companies in the print and graphic communications industry.
Not that it is all champagne and roses at Wordsprint. They face many of the same challenges as “treading water” companies: cutthroat pricing from competitors; cash flow hiccups; and ever-increasing service requirements to maintain customer expectations, to name a few.The company was dealt a severe blow when co-owner Steve Lester passed away in 2008, as it was Steve's financial acumen and investor-mindset that provided financial support and a strong sounding board.
And let’s remember that Wordsprint is a privately-owned business in a small town in southwest Virginia. With annual sales of approximately $3.0 million, we are not talking about a big company with a ton of resources.
So what makes Wordsprint a leading company? Here’s my perspective:
Passion: Bill Gilmer, founder and co-owner, exudes passion about this business. He is constantly learning new ideas, seeking input from those within the company and from outside resources such as NAPL. His leadership skills are second to none, and it is clear he commands the respect of his staff, customers, suppliers, and industry peers. In the photo below, Bill is in the middle, flanked by Kim Haga, the company's marketing director, and Kathy Matheny, Chief Financial Officer.
People: Typical of many private companies, Wordsprint has adopted the personality of its visionary and driving force, Bill Gilmer. Bill is an excellent communicator and takes the time to share insights and seek suggestions from all employees. As a result, the staff is dedicated, team-oriented, and loyal, notwithstanding some post M&A acquisition integration issues that are in the process of being resolved.
Persistence: Bill Gilmer is driven to succeed, working long hours and focusing on both “big picture” strategy and “devil in the details” tactical implementation. His persistence manifests itself in Wordsprint’s very high rankings for customer satisfaction as measured by the NAPL eKG customer diagnostic tool.
It is worth noting that Wordsprint in an NAPL Premier level member and has benefited from our team of staff consultants who provide sales management consulting, operational assessments, and strategic planning. Two years ago I helped negotiate and structure a strategic acquisition of a competitor that increased sales and expanded Wordsprint's market presence.
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