pivot 2016 Archives

Insights from Pivot Indiana

It is almost time for the next Pivot Indiana Conference. We wanted to take a look back at one of our favorite Pivot Indiana Conferences…

Fantastic. Excellent. Insightful. Broad. These are just some of the great reviews guests gave on this year’s Pivot Indiana 2016 conference. Those that attended left with insights and new ideas on how to pivot their business toward their goals. The conference had a whole array of people speaking on the topic of innovation. From experts in the marketing field such as Jim Ittenbach from SMARI Research, to America’s Favorite Survivor Rupert Boneham, each had a unique way of looking at a problem and how to move forward. One attendee mentioned how they thought it was beneficial to see how people are confronting challenges and opportunities all from different perspectives.

Here is more about the four most memorable talks:

Tamika Catchings: Shining through Adversity to Become a Champion

Four times Olympic gold medalist, Tamika Catchings was one of the favorite talks of the day. She shared the challenges she faced in her basketball career, but how the help and guidance from good leaders gave her the ability to rise above and become an effective leader on and off the court. Catchings challenged everyone to take those steps to accomplish their goal; a couple times she even had the audience get up and “pivot” towards their goals in 2017.

Panel Discussion: So You Want to Start an Evolution

The panel discussion of the day included President of SMARI Reasearch Jim Ittenbach, President of Perfecto Tool and Engineering Andy Skaggs and Superintendent of Hamilton Southeastern Schools Dr. Allen Bourff. Moderating was Lindsey Erdody, a reporter from the Indianapolis Business Journal. By answering the questions from the moderator and audience the panel elaborated on what it takes to be an effective leader in the ever-changing environment of today. Another piece of advice the panel had for the audience was that in order to be an effective leader or company, trying new things without the fear of failure is vital.

Ed Frederici: Leveraging Technology to Compete On and Off the Court

Ed Frederici shared his experiences and stories from working for the Indiana Pacers Sports and Entertainment. He really drove home how creative innovation is vital in being successful not only in the entertainment business, but also for any business hoping to move forward. Guests were able to take away the benefits from looking at a problem in a more creative way.

Scott Fadness: Mayor of Fishers, Indiana

Mayor Scott Fadness, talked briefly about the challenges he faces in his role as mayor of Fishers, Indiana. When he started as mayor, Fishers Indiana wasn’t even on the map so to speak, but now it has been named as one of the best places to live by Money Magazine.

Participants of Pivot 2016 left motivated and full of ideas for their business. In fact, it was almost impossible not to with such an inspirational line up of speakers. Networking breaks also kept the conversation going during the conference, furthering the connections and ideas at Pivot. Stay tuned for how you can join in on the conversation at the next Pivot event.

Gary Thomas on “Focusing On The Next 86 Years” of LEAP Managed IT

Gary Thomas has been a part of LEAP Managed IT’s 86-year-old story for almost a quarter of a century.

During this time, he had the courage to make bold moves and encourage change. But he also stayed true to the company’s core values and channeled his efforts towards increasing customer satisfaction.

Want to know more?

Here’s an insightful interview with LEAP Managed IT’s president, Gary Thomas. Read on to find out more about what has kept them in business for almost a century.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your professional journey from Sales Representative at Thomas Office Machines to Partner at LEAP Managed IT.

A: It’s been a great journey and a natural progression. I was blessed enough to work with some great people including Michael and my father, Wayne when he was working day-to-day in the business.

He was always so focused on the customer, it was like second nature. He said: “Always run at a customer, never away.”

Meaning a face-to-face conversation is always better than email, phone or ignoring them.

At the end of the day, we do business with people, and that’s what I’ve truly enjoyed from sales rep to partner.

Q: How has the company changed in the 22 years you have been part of it?

A: The technology deliverable changes right off the bat have been mind-blowing. From analog copiers to digital, to the new threats in IT security, it’s changed a ton.

The number one change is collaboration. It’s no disrespect for how we worked 15 plus years ago, but it’s no shock to say that business has become more complicated.

We collaborate better as a team, with partners, with clients better than we ever have. It’s necessary to see projects through to the end with the greatest success.

Q: Your business has managed to stay on the market for over 85 years. What do you consider are the main reasons you are still a successful business?

A: The core of our success revolves around supporting the customer. The technologies are always going to change, but being committed to communicating well, setting reasonable expectations and being creative in solving opportunities is critical.

Q: What are some major changes you’ve noticed in your mindset and everyday work compared to five years ago?

A: My mindset compared to five years ago is 180 degrees different. If we just look at managing technology for our clients, we not only have to look at today’s opportunities, budgets, and challenges but have a crystal ball to make foundational decisions for the short term plus 3, 5 and 10 years down the road.

I look at every solution and business decision that helps a client with a personal decision like I’m making it for our own organization.

Q: What motivated the team behind the business to change from Thomas Office to LEAP Managed IT?

A: Our name change was a natural evolution in our 86-year-old history. We aren’t the same organization from a technical deliverable point-of-view, but we are the same for taking care of clients’ needs.

We are in the people business and that will never change. Our motivation for change is focusing on the next 86 years and it’s giving us a platform to tell our story.

We have amazing, smart people on our team solving business problems we would have never dreamed about 10 years ago. Clients rely on us to serve their clients and operate a profitable organization. We are a part of their success and that’s what makes it awesome.

Q: If you could offer three pieces of advice to managers of organizations who don’t know if they should pivot or not, what would they be?

A: If you don’t pivot at the right moment, the marketplace will change around you and it will make it harder to lead. Investing in your organization is priority number one in having the opportunity to be successful.

We can’t dictate what our competition is doing and, frankly, I’m not even concerned in what they are doing. If we take care of ourselves, make tough decisions, work on the process of continually improving, then everything else takes care of itself.

Secondly, your workforce doesn’t only want to be competitive but they want to win. Everyone wants to be on a winning team leading new ideas and innovations in the marketplace. If you aren’t challenging them to grow, change and solve problems, then they will leave. It’s not all about the paycheck.

The last part is about looking internally as a business leader:

What do you want?
What stamp do you want to leave on your business, employees, clients, and community?

We can look at examples of half-hearted relationships and businesses. Complaints that business is down because of road construction, or it’s hard to find the right people or whatever the next excuse is.

We all have that stuff in our businesses, and as a leader, it’s our job to look at everything as an opportunity.

Change before you have to, be committed to the process, grind it out, give 100%, don’t assume, be a better friend, be a great business partner, deliver ‘Wow!’ and have a blast.

Don’t Miss Out on the Chance to Meet Gary Thomas at PIVOT 2016

Gary Thomas will share more of his knowledge at PIVOT 2016 – Indiana’s conference for entrepreneurs, business professionals, and community leaders.

He’ll get into detail about his experience when it comes to change and pivoting in a session called “Lessons from an 85-Year-Old Start-up”.

The session will be presented together with his brother and business partner Michael Thomas.

If you’re looking forward to learning more from LEAP Managed IT’s leaders and other seasoned professionals, head over to www.pivotindiana.com and get your early-bird tickets today.

PIVOT 2016 Speakers: Interview with Jim Ittenbach, President of SMARI Research

PIVOT 2016 – Indiana’s business event of the year – is just around the corner.

Well, we decided to get in touch with one of the speakers, namely Jim Ittenbach. This way, you get to know more about the person behind the presentation.

He founded SMARI, a custom market research company based in Indianapolis. He’s a businessman and entrepreneur with over 44 years of experience.

Read on to find out what Jim Ittenbach has to say about his extended professional experience and the challenges he faced.

1. You began your career in 1972. What skills did your time at Herron Associates teach you, and how did it influence your professional view in the long run?

Herron Associates was my first job out of college, following a brief military adventure. While I had a personal interest in marketing, my work experience taught me the fundamental importance of inviting the consumer to participate whenever you are dealing with go-to-market decision making.

2. What was the main driving force behind SMARI?

The essence of SMARI is embedded within an acute desire to understand the consumer dynamic – we dogmatically seek to discover the motivating mysteries driving consumerism; with a perceptive focus on measuring the abilities of our clients to deliver a meaningful and rewarding customer experience.

3. You’ve been a senior partner at SMARI LLC for over 21 years. How did it shape your skills, career, and knowledge over the years?

As a senior partner, I have enjoyed working with very bright and talented individuals who constantly challenge and direct my ability to guide and deliver career opportunities that essentially reward our clients, our associates, and the company’s stakeholders.

Mindful that I must remain relevant, and to keep pace, continuous learning became a requisite and mentor support a rewarding necessity.

4. How hard was it to successfully lead the LBO (Leveraged Buyout) of SMARI from the Associated Insurance Company? What influenced you to make this decision?

My experience at Associated Insurance Company, Anthem BCBS, was exceptionally rewarding. During my 10 years, our organization grew from a regional player to a Fortune 250 global enterprise.

Market drivers triggered a corporate decision to dramatically shift strategy from decentralization and diversification to consolidation and share dominance within the healthcare industry.

As such, entities within the overall corporate structure, that were not mission critical, were up for divestiture. I took advantage of this opportunity to position SMARI for divestiture and was fortunate to do so with a supporting LBO.

5. How did SMARI change since the LBO?

Post LBO, SMARI became a hybrid. Departing from a major corporate structure enabled us to keep in place the rigorous management tools and governance of big business, but allowed us to adopt the agility and mindset of an entrepreneurial smaller entity.

Yet, the reality that all you are and all that you have are at risk every day keep me highly focused and frequently exhausted.

6. What’s your biggest achievement as President of SMARI LLC?

Gathering and working with a talented pool of individuals that truly make a difference supporting the marketing and research needs of our clients. The result is a 95% client retention rate.

7. What are three of the most important aspects any entrepreneur should know?

Never stop learning.
Never stop improving.
Always reward those who empower your success.

8. Are you excited for the upcoming PIVOT conference? What can the audience expect from your presentation?

PIVOT 2016 offers me an excellent opportunity to share in a learning experience with energetic leaders and aspiring individuals from a variety of careers – truly a rare opportunity.

I hope to share with the audience the energy that can be realized through discovery.

Thank you for your time.

You Can Learn More from Jim Ittenbach on November 16th, at PIVOT 2016

Jim Ittenbach will participating in a panel discussion called “So You Want to Start an Evolution”.

His partners will be Andy Skaggs, President at Perfecto Tool and Engineering, and Dr. Allen Bourff, Superintendent at Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

Here are the rest of the sessions you will surely find insightful:

“Lessons from an 85-Year-Old Startup” by Michael Thomas & Gary Thomas of LEAP Managed IT
“Driving Big Innovation” by Michael Goldsby, Chief Entrepreneurship Officer at Ball State University Sales Training
“Shining through Adversity to Become a Champion” by TAMIKA CATCHINGS 4 Time Olympic Gold Medalist, WNBA MVP

The sessions will discuss topics such as sales, entrepreneurship, innovation, and much more. For the full schedule of the conference, check out this link.

PIVOT 2016 takes place on 11/16/2016, at Launch Fishers 12175 Visionary Way, Fishers, IN 46038.

Get your early-bird tickets while they are still available.

PIVOT 2016 – Here’s What You Need to Know About the Upcoming Conference

Leap forward and grow your organization – this is one of the mottos of PIVOT 2016. This year’s conference is shaping up to be one of the main events for Indiana’s entrepreneurs, business owners, and non-profit leaders.

Experienced speakers with decades of experience will share their insightful know-how on finding new business directions and shifting strategy.

You may be wondering why this is important and why could it be of use to you. This is what this article will help you with.

Read on to find out more details about the conference.

Understanding the Connection between PIVOT 2016 and the Unicorn Club

To learn more on this topic and the conference itself, we need to look at the Unicorn Club. It’s a name attributed by Cowboy Ventures to U.S. based tech start-ups launched between 2003 and 2013 and that were valued at over 1 billion dollars at that time.

Think along the lines of Facebook and LinkedIn. Thirty-nine companies made it to the Unicorn Club. They represent the top .07% of all companies. Facebook is considered to be a super-unicorn.

Another thing these unicorns had in common was pivoting. They all started with an untested hypothesis. They went out on the market and tested their premises. When they’ve discovered errors, they changed the hypothesis.

Long-story-short, they pivoted.

Why Should You Attend The Conference?

Pivots are essential to today’s businesses.

Still, some business owners assume a pivot is changing the product. However, a pivot can change many different things in your business model, such as:

Your customer segment
Your channel
Revenue model/pricing
Resources
Activities
Costs
Partners
Customer acquisitions

Participating gets you actionable information on how to get ahead of your competition and find the right focus for your business. This will help you grow your organization in a sustainable way.

Entrepreneurs, business professionals or community leaders can learn how to pivot from experienced presenters.

A Few Words about the Speakers and Sessions

Sessions will include topics such as:

Sales
Entrepreneurship
Technology
Innovation

Matt Nettleton from Sandler Sales Training will be the first speaker of the event. His session is titled “How to Turn the Sales Engine ON in Every Organization”.

Up next is a panel discussion entitled “So You Want to Start an Evolution” presented by:

Jim Ittenbach, President of SMARI Research
Andy Skaggs, President of Perfecto Tool and Engineering
Dr. Allen Bourff, Superintendent at Hamilton Southeastern Schools

Following is a session called “Lessons from an 85-Year-Old Start-Up” by Michael Thomas and Gary Thomas from LEAP Managed IT.

“Pacers Playbook: Leveraging Technology to Compete On and Off the Court” by Ed Frederici, the CTO at Pacers Sports & Entertainment, is up next.

The session titled “Driving Big Innovation” by Michael Goldsby, Chief Entrepreneurship Officer at Ball State University, will be among the final events.

Wrapping up the conference will be a panel discussion called “Getting Ready for 2020” and “Beer School: Business Insights from the Craft Industry” by Brian Graham, Founder of Four Day Ray Brewing.

Coffee breaks in between sessions are meant to jump start conversation and encourage networking.

Be sure to make room in your busy schedule for this event. You can find more information about PIVOT 2016 and the key speakers here.

When and Where Will PIVOT 2016 Take Place

The conference is intended to be a growth event for businesses around Indiana. The main purpose of the conference is to help your business hit the refresh button with zero doubts.

PIVOT 2016 will debut on the 16th November, at Launch Fishers 12175 Visionary Way Fishers, IN 46038.

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