2016 Economic Impact Awards 16-29 Years in Operation Winner: JMark Business Solutions Inc.

JMark Business Solutions Inc. started in 1988 as a small information technology company with only one employee. Fast forward to 2016, and the Springfield-based company employs 116 and shows no signs of stopping – helping it secure $14.4 million in revenue last year.

“We’ve been fortunate to assemble an amazing team who are focused on awesome service, client success and always doing what is right,” says CEO and President Thomas Douglas, via email. “We align around our core values to ensure we provide value to our clients and to our team.”

The company’s core values – honesty, passion, teamwork, excellence and accountability – have led its expansion across the United States, including recent growth into Tulsa, Okla. The company also secured its first international client and now provides support in seven countries. JMark estimates client base revenue at more than $1 billion annually.

With a goal of 15-20 percent growth annually, JMark’s team continues to refine the company’s strategy to fit the fast-paced industry. Company officials say managed services – its bread and butter – change on a constant basis and they have decided to embrace the ebb and flow, rather than fight the current. That change is a move to the cloud.

“Because bandwidth costs in our region had been an inhibitor, we were slower to move into the space than some other markets where high-speed guaranteed bandwidth was inexpensive,” Douglas says. “Security and user experiences are always our focus, so we look at each situation critically and determine the best overall solution.”

JMark’s growth strategy is a three-pronged approach. With client growth and business solutions covered, Douglas says the company also has a large focus on employee retention.

“One of the things we do that truly helps JMark grow is to do our best to align company success with people success and client success,” Douglas says.

Douglas says things such as employee profit sharing, 100 percent health care coverage for employees and 70 percent for families, and a wellness program are just a few retention efforts. While the industry may change daily, since joining the team in 1997 Douglas says some things stay the same.

“The only thing that is the same about JMark in comparing 1997 to 2016 are some of the key people that have been with us the entire time,” he says.

To develop the next generation of key people, JMark also started a leadership and apprentice program designed to help transition those in the IT field that are just starting out in their career.

Douglas says when technology is done right it equals employee productivity, which translates into client trust.

“Trust isn’t earned once, it is earned with every interaction,” he says.