John Lauber started with the single, basic idea that businesses need the financial counsel and outlook of an experienced chief financial officer if they want to grow.
Executives agreed, and what started as Lauber providing part-time CFOs to area businesses turned into 25 employees responding to a need for CFOs in a variety of positions, including full-time interim assignments, full-time project work and search and placement for financial executives.
Part of the key to Lauber’s success is choosing the right people for the job, and he believes client engagement is a crucial component of the hiring process.
“I never just want to be billing somebody,” he said. “I think about what can we do to help assist this client’s company, to make them better, to make them more profitable and help that client make better business decisions.”
Lauber is confident those interactions will help his business grow even more in the future, despite the down economy. His company is looking to increase communication with referral networks and the implementation of a direct marketing program.
Lauber also believes there are segments of the market, especially with some larger companies, that have good control of day-to-day aspects, but may not have developed to the point where they can provide strategic financial counsel from a broader outlook. He sees those companies as a growth area for his firm.
“I’m optimistic about the future,” Lauber said. “My mantra is, if I work twice as hard and only get half as much, we’re going to be OK.”
Address: 6737 W. Washington Ave., West Allis
Web Site: www.laubercfos.com
Industry: Financial management services
Revenues: $2 million
Employees: 25
