In the second post of a two-part series celebrating Rite-Solutions’ 20th Anniversary, we ask if the founders’ expectations have been met? Has their vision been fulfilled? The answers are, Yes! And Yes!
As presented in our first 20th Anniversary post, Rite-Solutions was the result of a desire to start an organization that was different from typical, top-down, hierarchical, bureaucratic, mind-numbing, numbers-focused organizations.
To achieve that goal, the first addition to the management team was a third founder. Based on a recommendation by their previous boss, they added Linda Edwards. She was responsible for developing success metrics for a new kind of business. Focusing on best-of-breed benefits for citizens, cultivating the company’s “trust environment,” and fostering transparency throughout the organization, she was instrumental in the company achieving desired outcomes. Linda served as the CFO since the doors opened in January of 2000.
The three founders, believed that cultivating meaningful relationships with employees would lead to better business performance compared to a command-and-control culture. Fast-forward 20 years, and the company has exceeded all their expectations. Today Rite-Solutions is an award-winning, innovative company with over 220 employees.
The company’s “One of F.E.W.” (Friends Enjoying Work) belief has been a foundational component of the company’s long-term success. Because people feel trusted, heard, respected, and valued, the company enables the collective genius of the entire organization; every day!
Because people truly care, employee engagement is off the charts. Great ideas, whether a cost-saving measure or a technical innovation, come from all corners of the company and are given equal consideration. “No one feels threatened by raising ideas, in a culture that doesn’t fear change,” says Marino. “Everyone is in the same boat, pulling together.”
Because of a same-boat mentality, everyone is a rower. They do the “rite” thing for the customer and the company. Linda adds, “Employees hold themselves accountable for their individual contribution to our success.”
“We are pleased to have been chosen as a prime contractor on several bids, competing with much bigger companies. It means our approach works,” notes Marino. By fully engaging employees, the company is able to output higher levels of productivity than other organizations of its size. “We definitely punch above our weight,” says Marino.
When employees are respected, contributing, and having fun, they tend to stick around. “Our culture enables us to attract and retain smart, ambitious people,” says Lavoie. The majority of the people who started with us in 2000 are still with us.
(To learn more about Rite-Solutions’ culture, read Jim Lavoie’s Creating an Innovative Climate blog series).
