The Dynamic Dozen will never be the same – not after the 2011 edition March 4 at the Gillioz Theatre downtown, where Springfield Business Journal honored the 12 fastest-growing companies in the Springfield area.
There were plenty of clever quips and some sound business advice amid the energy – and beach balls – bouncing around on stage.
If you weren’t there, here are a dozen things I observed from my back-row theater seat:
• Wayne Morelock of Morelock-Ross Cos., the No. 9 company, let out the secret (in jest) that the company’s employees are mere robots hidden under flesh-tone facades.
• If Allied Roofing’s crews were any better, they’d be wearing capes, said owner Clint Tackitt, who described No. 8 Allied as “a company that outsmarts water.”
After the event, news spread about Allied’s purchase of the former Hawkins Mill and, more recently, Aqua Terra Gardens building at Kansas Expressway and College Street; crews are renovating it for a pending office move. Early reports are that, though old, the structure is sound and built with solid oak.
• Funny man Chad Harris, who proved his worth as the evening’s master of ceremonies, said he’d planned to enter the Gillioz stage in an oversized egg, but Lady Gaga beat him to it earlier in the week at the Grammy Awards.
• Morelock gave the best introduction of the night: “The man known by one name, like Madonna,” speaking of partner Kirk Elmquist.
• An unfortunate moment when a Professional Massage Training Center employee tripped and fell face first on stage turned into a laugh for all, including the victim. After checking on her staffer, owner Juliet Mee quipped, “She falls all the time at work.” Mee then credited PMTC’s business-to-business partnerships during the tough economic stretch:
“We are distinguished by what we did and did not do, and who we aligned with.”
• As many companies gave credit to their means of financing, Guaranty Bank kept getting nods. The irony, of course, was that Guaranty Bank is the institution that recently called the note on the very property where the event was held.
• Harris announced the awards (blown glass shaped like shells by Springfield Hot Glass Studio) were handpicked out of the James River.
• Russell Cellular Operations Vice President Darin Wray danced on stage to Lady Gaga’s “Telephone.” After his jig, Wray said Dynamic Dozen was a highlight for him each year because it’s encouraging to hear about successful businesses, especially in tough times.
• Red Monkey Foods owner Jeff Brinkhoff said the company name was developed one night in college with lots of beer involved. Just kidding, I think.
While heaping credit on to his staff, he said he barks orders and gets darts thrown in his face, so if you want to see a sitcom, come by Red Monkey’s Mount Vernon office. “Yeah, it’s crazy,” Brinkhoff said, with Kool and The Gang’s “Jungle Boogie” playing through the house speakers.
• Bobby Robertson, CEO of No. 2 company Healthcarefirst gave high-fives to some 40 staff members he brought with him on stage, before offering some lessons learned in business: 1. Believe in the product. 2. Be well capitalized. 3. Surround yourself with great people.
• Accepting the top award for Electronic Check Services, President Derron Winfrey said last year as runner up, he shook 2010 winner Jeff Russell’s hand and said, “I’m coming for your spot.” This year, he looked at Robertson and said, “The No. 2 company buys drinks.”
• Derron Winfrey also told how his dad started the company with the intention of building it up enough for a retirement fund. “Sorry to disappoint you, Dad. We had other ideas.” Eighty-two million (2010 revenues) of them.
Getting his time on the microphone, the elder Winfrey, Dennis, reminisced about the company’s humble beginnings: “We came here with the shirts on our back and a couple of U-Hauls.” And the first two employees started out working for free, simply on a handshake that Winfrey would make good later. Both still work there today.
Springfield Business Journal Editor Eric Olson can be reached at eolson@sbj.net.[[In-content Ad]]
