This is the first of a series of snapshots (blogs, tweets and posts) into a case study for success,Pegasus Residential (the winner) of The$100KRefreshcontest.
Pegasus is already doing things right; however, we will be working with them on building and fully maximizing their brand both internally and externally.
Today marks the official start of the pre-discovery process with them. Our team has compiled an evaluation form and several questions that will help them crystallize their vision, determine priorities and open discussion points to be fully explored.
Successful branding involves design, metrics, remedy, delivery and maintenance.
To learn more about the overall process related to branding, click here.
Pegasus Residential was selected as the winner of a contest hosted by Discover True North(a full-service agency) and a team of well-respected alliance partners. The contest that opened on 5/8/09 and ran through 12/1/09 was created to recognize and reward companies within the multifamily industry that had created or sustained a positive work culture in tough economic times. An advisory committee made up of twenty industry experts had the opportunity to cast his or her vote on for a trio of semi-finalists, with Pegasus emerging as the winner. Read more…
Most Deserving Multifamily Firm Will Receive a Corporate Makeover
SAN FRANCISCO, CA –June 16, 2009 – Discover True North, in association with its Alliance Partners, some of the finest service companies in America, have launched the $100K Extreme Corporate Makeover, in which the most deserving multifamily firm will receive a corporate makeover including creative, training, consulting and performance improvement services valued at $100,000 from DTN and its Alliance Partners.Some of DTN’s Alliance Partners include Brook Furniture Rental, Inc., Carter Design Group, Fast Signs, Grace Hill, Green Up Today, Howitz-Dunn, and Vendout.com.
“We’ve heard impressive accounts of companies that continue to demonstrate strong values in these tough economic times, whether its keeping customer service at the forefront of business,developing work cultures that align performance with their corporate values and professionals, who, while cutting back on expenses, have not sacrificed excellence.” says Deb Bronson-McGrath, CEO of Discover True North.
“We hope to inspire people and showcase worthwhile endeavors from company teams that have been feeling low as a result of the economy.It will hopefully be fun and produce refreshing boosts in morale,” says Giovanni Cruz, Senior VP of Creative Services.
“The winning company will receive an entire refreshment of their brand,” says Sam Cabebe, Director of New Media.“This includes a new or refined logo, new website, key brand messages, customer loyalty program, an interactive training class, leadership retreat, customer service benchmarking, public relations, employee performance benchmarking, and a design makeover of the corporate office greeting area and much, much more!”
A variety of other personal, community, and corporate improvement opportunities will be incorporated into the program; one of the most outstanding initiatives is led by Multifamilypro.They recently launched a best-of-breed mentoring program that taps the expertise of seasoned mentors and pairs them with mentees industry-wide.Details of this exciting “give-back” program are available at www.howitzdunnmanagement.com.
Veronica Dickerson, COO shares additional details, “The 100K Extreme Corporate Makeover event closes at midnight on December 1, 2009.Semifinalists and the winner will be announced in January 2010 by an Advisory Board made up of multifamily experts and executives.Whether your firm has cut back on expenses without cutting back on excellence, they are sustaining an outstanding motivational culture for their employees, they are conducting business in a socially responsible fashion, or exhibiting merit in some other way, we want to hear about it and get your company the accolades they deserve.”
ABOUT DISCOVER TRUE NORTH:As an agency and business development rainmaker, Discover True North, LLC provides cutting-edge creative, consulting and training solutions to the multifamily industry. The company is made up of seasoned professionals who are passionate about helping organizations create systematic change that improves employee satisfaction, performance and the bottom line.From branding, public relations, logo, website and interactive kiosk design to building Virtual Corporate Universities and on-line interactive courseware, providing training workshops, seminars and leadership retreats, Discover True North is known for delivering high-caliber results while helping companies move beyond average to extraordinary.
Posted by V.Dickerson on Jun 2, 2009 in Leadership
In recessionary times, you find yourself analyzing your employees to the Nth degree.All of a sudden, that customer service manager you never had problems with seems to be folding under pressure, that sales director doesn’t understand that she can’t just wait for people to walk through the door and doesn’t it all come back to the manager?
Isn’t it true that we find ourselves far more frustrated that we have been tolerating a mediocre employee, or worse, carrying the dead weight of an employee when we are faced with the challenges brought on by an economic downturn?
Today, more than ever, it is imperative that you have the right leaders in place within your organization, not only to survive but to thrive in all of the doom and gloom in the marketplace.The right leaders know what it takes to keep employees motivated when they feel like throwing their hands up in surrender to the challenge of earning customer loyalty and gaining new business.The right leaders know how to develop a strategic plan, cast a compelling vision and then coach, train and support their employees as they set out to execute a business plan.
Here are 5 steps to evaluate the quality of leadership in your organization.Read more…
Nominations Open to Honor Most Admirable Multifamily Company in America with Internal & External Makeover
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - May 8, 2009 -The team at Discover True North (a full-service agency), and a host of their Alliance Partners have created an opportunity to recognize and reward companies that continue to demonstrate strong values in these tough economic times, through keeping customer service at the forefront of business, developing work cultures that align performance with corporate values and professionals, who, while cutting back on expenses, have not sacrificed excellence.
Deb Bronson-McGrath, CEO of Discover True North (DTN) shares, “Our carefully selected Alliance Partners and the team at DTN are consistently seeking ways to create relational bridges founded on our core values. We believe passionately that good citizenship is good business and we are committed not only to giving back to society, but to helping businesses achieve increased NOI and improved performance”.
“To tangibly demonstrate good citizenship”, says Veronica Dickerson, COO of DTN, “we created a $100K Extreme Corporate Makeover, in which the most deserving multifamily firm will receive a corporate makeover - refreshing both their internal and external brand”.
The winner will receive a host of branding/marketing tools (logo, website, pr plan, social media consultation, a design makeover, etc.), strategic planning services (eco-audit, customer satisfaction benchmarking, recruitment services, a leadership retreat, etc.) and performance services (online training courses, mentoring, shop services, etc.). A complete list of prizes is available at 100KRefresh.com.
Nomination forms are being accepted for the $100K Extreme Corporate Makeover now through midnight on July 13, 2009. To enter simply fill out the online form and submit the reasons why your firm deserves to win. Videos uploaded on YouTube.com can supplement entries. Semifinalists and the winner will be announced in August by an Advisory Board made up of industry experts and executives. Categories that will be evaluated are: Cutting Back on Expenses without Cutting Back on Excellence, Sustaining an Outstanding Motivational Culture for Employees, and Social Responsibility.
“An especially dynamic contribution is being offered by Multifamilypro,” says Giovanni Cruz, Senior VP of Creative Services at DTN. “They have developed a best-of-breed mentoring program that taps the expertise of seasoned mentors and pairs them with mentees industry-wide. You can learn more about this generous “give-back” program at either 100KRefresh.com or at .howitzdunnmanagement.com.
I came across a few golden chestnuts from material stored about a decade ago on employee motivation. The suggestions are still noteworthy today:
Welcome Kit: Prepare a “Welcome” Kit for the new hire that includes a “welcome card”, a “Payday” candy bar, their career description, a checklist of “self-study” new hire training projects (market study, shopper’s reports, etc).
“You Deserve a Break Today”-Once a month, fill a cooler with ice and fill with cold sodas and inexpensive snacks. Invite the staff to stop into the kitchen or break area for snacks throughout the day. Crockpot or potluck lunch can also be a nice alternative every couple of months.
“Joy Gangs”: Nominate a small group of team members (Ben & Jerry’s originated the idea) and have them create special theme days for the staff, (”Elvis Day: Serve 50’s type fast food) or have them catch someone in the act of doing something above and beyond. Honor them by presenting a certificate or “Joy” candy bar on the spot.
Grounds staff Award: Provide your team with mini-certificates of appreciation to hand out to a member of the grounds team, whenever they are found doing something especially great. Whomever collects the most in a given amount of time, receives a plaque or certificate, or trophy known as “The Golden Broom”
Never Gamble Tickets: Buy a lottery ticket and enclose it in an envelope that says, “I never gamble when I count on you.”
Speaker Phone Fridays: Connect teams across the country or region once a month by speaker phone or internet for brainstorming a specific challenge or to recognize achievements area-wide for the month.
Car Wash Blues: When your team meets a goal, offer to personally wash their cars for them
Annual Maintenance Olympics: Lock change-out Challenge, Obstacle course, etc, competing for the Golden Hammer Award.
Movie Magic: When a goal is achieved and if there is no money to treat them to the movies, close the office for the afternoon and have the whole team watch a rented movie on a vcr, supply popcorn, pop and goober peanuts. Do a thumbs up or down, as well as deciding whether anything relevant can be applied to work.
Posted by V.Dickerson on Apr 17, 2009 in Uncategorized
If you’re anything like me, you find yourself wondering, “Where does time go?” or “Why isn’t there enough time in a day?” far too often.We bury ourselves in work, bite off more than we can chew, and stretch ourselves thin as we try to run our personal lives in our “spare time”.
I welcomed my first child, an amazing baby girl, into the world on December 25, 2008 so I have had a four month crash course in the art of balance. I’m still learning, but I sure do cherish time a whole lot more than I used to.
I ran across a story I want to share with you by the name of 1000 Marbles that gave me new perspective about precious time. See you at the marble store?
Posted by D.Bronson-McGrath on Mar 28, 2009 in DTN News
One of our newest workshops -
There are far more people than just Mick Jagger out there wailing, “Can’t get no sat-is-fact-shun”, especially as it relates to having customer service expectations met.
Posted by D.Bronson-McGrath on Mar 28, 2009 in DTN News
Let’s face it, you need more traffic but don’t have the extra cash flow to throw at new advertising sources. Today, more than ever, smart marketing is a must! Here are some tips to help jumpstart your outreach marketing program.
Posted by D.Bronson-McGrath on Mar 28, 2009 in DTN News
Do any of these scenarios ring a bell? If so, we have some practical solutions for your consideration.
You are counting on staying profitable during tough times through primarily cutting expenses.
You recognize a growth opportunity within a specific market and/or have started a new business, but are hesitant to invest in various marketing/sales tools (website, brochures, etc.).
You have analyzed current performance trends and realize that a core issue is that your leasing staff is not equipped to handle the new shifts in customer value perceptions whether leasing a new apartment or when renewing their lease.
g things right; however, we will be working with them on building and fully maximizing their brand both internally and externally.
