2013 Dynamic Dozen No. 10: JMark Business Solutions Inc.

JMark Business Solutions Inc. is building a culture of manageable growth by focusing its attention on the wills and needs of its clients, a practice the company’s leader notes as crucial in the service industry.

Describing JMark’s growth pattern, President and CEO Thomas Douglas points to maintaining the company’s reputation and protecting existing clients and revenues, as well as expanding its reach toward more clients.

“It’s paramount that, in our processes, we uncover what the concerns of our clients are and can always provide value to them in what we do,” Douglas says.

JMark recorded 2012 revenues of $8.56 million, a 34 percent increase compared to $6.37 million in 2011. Three-year growth through 2012 climbed to 47 percent, factoring 2010 revenues of $5.79 million.

Douglas, who notes JMark’s core service of information technology outsourcing continues to sustain the company’s cash flow, estimates a 25 percent increase in revenues this year.

“Computers are very much like paper was 50 years ago. Everybody has a computer on their desk, just like everybody used to use a pad and pencil in order to run their business. There’s nothing that is a competitive advantage by having technology,” Douglas says, pointing to where JMark fits into the equation. “With the right strategy, with the right plan and with the right operational effectiveness around technology, it can provide a significant advantage to profitability and competitive impact.”

Douglas lays much of that responsibility at the feet of JMark’s 66 employees – up from 42 in 2010 – a move he says is important to maintaining balance when growing. A recent key hire came in March when JMark brought on Todd Nielsen for the newly created position of chief operations officer.

“The company has definitely been in growth mode,” says Nielsen, an industry veteran whose roles include nearly two years as COO of Decision Systems Plus Inc. in Des Plaines, Ill., and a decade as CEO of California-based Frontec Solutions Inc. “My opinion, and that of Tom’s, is the company is just at the beginning stage of its growth. That’s not just optimism speaking – it’s looking at the potential of what we’re capable of doing as an organization.”

JMark is no stranger to growth, now a three-year veteran of the Inc. 5000. The annual list ranks the fastest-growing private companies that submit applications for consideration. On the 2012 list, JMark ranked the highest among Springfield companies, at No. 4,153, with 31 percent revenue growth through 2011. The company ranked No. 1,397 on the 2011 list and No. 1,835 on the 2010 list.

While he notes the positive press and recognition is helpful, Douglas says the most beneficial side effect of making local and national the fast-growth lists is building reputation and trust with other companies and businesspeople.

“Companies want to partner with organizations that are successful. When you partner with successful organizations and people, it’s good for everyone involved,” Douglas says. “I think, more than anything, it helps people to have a comfort level that they’re partnering and they’re trusting their technology and their business to a company that is successful and is not going to drop the ball, and is going to understand what it takes to grow business, focus on revenues, focus on quality and commitment to customers. It provides a level of comfort that they’re making the right choice.”[[In-content Ad]]