Thanks in the Marketplace - 2010

November 16, 7:30 - 9:30 AM

Talamore Country Club in Ambler, PA

Scores of business leaders gathered to share news of opportunities that had presented themselves in this challenging economic climate.  This venue provided an opportunity to learn how our peers were coping, succeeding, even thriving during this time. 

You won't want to miss this year's event to be held November 15, 2011, at Talamore Country Club in Ambler and sponsored by C12 Philadelphia.

Highlights from last year's event:

A panel of 4 CEOs from area businesses shared challenges they have faced, actions taken, and lessons learned in the past year.  Attendees listened closely to accounts that ranged from staving off bankruptcy,  to doing the right thing in the face of "opportunistic" circumstances, to responding in line with one's values/beliefs, to abundant blessings in response to submission to our Lord's will. 

Below are a sampling of questions and responses from the panel discussion: 

What has the last year been like for you?

• We had a double hit - we lost our largest client due to an acquisition and then had 5 very soft months to start of the year.  Thankfully, one of the markets we serve is the unemployed worker who is looking to re-enter the workforce - we train and equip them.  It has been both a blessing to help the men/women who have come through our school - and the revenue has helped us survive this challenging year. 

• My company experienced a 40% drop in business virtually overnight.  Had it not been for some major miracles, this could have put our 30-year old business under for good.  What kind of miracles?  Saying a prayer and having a customer call within 5 minutes to ask if we could take $48k in advance (before the end of the week) for future work.  This had never happened in all our years.  Then, within 2 weeks we were selected for a major project rolling out over 6 to 8 weeks giving us a chance to recover from the hit.  Each time it was needed prayers were answered. 
• We had an immediate 25% reduction in revenue back in November of the prior year; it was a good year until then. We had hoped for some stabilization in Jan/Feb, but without that were forced to do some layoffs.  I presented my Core Business Presentation at my C12 meeting soon after the layoffs and was strongly urged to ask for concessions from all my suppliers. We did so and that was very effective in boosting our bottom line.

Are you thankful for any of the events of the last year - what and why?

• I saw God move with His provision by providing us with a large project when we needed it.  We were getting extremely low on work in January and were provided with a large enough project to keep our employees busy for several months. 

What is one of the hardest things you've had to do in the last year?

• No doubt, it was the layoffs.  The first round was a little easier as some of those were poor performers.  In conducting both, the Feb. and June layoffs I was visibly shaken in communicating the news to our people.  So much so that most of them were comforting me telling me they knew it was necessary and things would work out.

Has your strategy changed in the last year?  If so, how?

• As a family-run business we're taking a look at long-term plans.  In the past we simply wanted to double our revenue - it was all about profits.  Now, we're considering quality of life and the purpose of the business.  We want our plan to follow God's will and His purpose for the business.  We're considering other refinements as well; do we fire some bad customers and/or possibly eliminate some poor performing products.

Where have you seen God at work in your business?

• I have seen God moving in the most difficult circumstances in life.  We had an employee with cancer who was ministered to by our chaplain.  She rceived Christ as her savior and passed away in peace. 
• First, we are still here.  We are making an impact on our employees, our students and our clients because of the way we are doing business.  The business is a vehicle for the delivery of God's grace. 
• The Lord has provided numerous opportunities for me to grow personally as a direct result of the business - opportunities to interact with others in the community and hopefully, along the way, encourage and point them to Christ.

• My business has been a vehicle for working with my young children.  The work isn't glamorous - we clean the office every Friday night.  But, it's a great time to spend with my kids, teaching them how to work, how to handle the money they earn, and how to have some fun along the way.   

Comments from attendees:

• I appreciate the challenges made to me on running a Christian company.
• Awesome job!
• I thought the meeting was phenomenal!  Thank you for the opportunity to hear and share these testimonies.
• I pray that God will bless the mission of C12.
• Very good program! You are doing ministry in a very meaningful way.
• Thanks!  This was great.
• Thank you for your encouragement.

What can you expect this year?  

More of the same... As Christian business owners who have been meeting together each month for more than 2 years, we have been privileged to see the ups/downs of the that period, our respective responses to the challenges, and the results as well as the associated lessons.  Knowing how much that knowledge has helped us, we wanted to share some of our experiences and lessons with our neighbors in the business community as a means of providing hope.  This seemed most appropriate as we approach the Thanksgiving season.

To register to attend the breakfast event, Thanks in the Marketplace, just click on the link below.