Company address: 408 S. Third St., Milwaukee
Web site: www.chamnessgroup.com and www.dianeonbusiness.com
Industry: Business and management consulting
Number of employees: 8
Company’s annual revenues: “Enough to do the right things and have the right tools but not enough to retire to Jamaica.”
Education: B.A. in business management and B.A. in professional communications at Alverno College
Family: Husband, George Lawrence
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past yearω
“The first was to restructure the team to eliminate almost all of the hierarchy. This allows staff to play in different roles depending on the project, forces them to learn and grow, and helps them to have the experiences and involvement that makes them excited to be at work each day – and a joy to work with. Something most bosses don’t crow about! At the same time, this new model helps to serve clients in a better way. The other was to take the staff to Jamaica for our strategic planning. It wasn’t as costly as it sounds and the benefits – the bonding, the planning work we did together and the opportunity to just be everyday people with each other – reaped rewards way beyond the costs.”
What’s new at your companyω
We have a new name, brand and tagline – Chamness Group – ‘Where Your Business Goes from Here.’ We have also expanded our services to include diversity initiatives and programs, broader work with non-profits and public entities and more extensive research capabilities.
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next yearω
“2007 brings a complete upgrade in computers and our server, a new database program and more training. Currently, we are also looking for one or two new team members. These would be persons who are smart, energetic, proactive thinkers and strong communicators. Preferably people that have skills in marketing, planning, research or PR. People who want to work in a flexible, fun, non political and professional environment with other people who really like what they do.”
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next yearω
“The same challenge we have every year and one that all businesses share – keeping a steady flow of work while maintaining a high level of customer service and professional delivery.”
What’s the hottest trend in your industryω
“Everyone is a consultant these days! Each day, there are more and more people setting up shop while they are unemployed, burned out or trying to determine next steps. For us, we chose to be consultants, and each day for more than 18 years we work at refining our skills and knowledge base to be good coaches, mentors and planners and to support our clients.”
Do you have a business mantraω
“I have many (I can hear the staff groaning as they read this) but my favorites are: Never forget what it was like to be an employee. And never assume that others think the way you do. John MacGregor at Irgens gave me this one when we worked together at Zimmerman Design Group. A critical piece when working closely with owners, like I do.”
From a business standpoint, who do you look up toω
“Each one of our clients. As a consultant, I get to see, in a way that most others don’t, just how hard they work, how much they really care about their clients and staff, the weight of the decisions they have to make, their brilliance and their unique talents. I am humbled by them and so appreciate that I get to work in this way with them.”
What was the best advice you ever receivedω
“To trust.”
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you in your careerω
“It wasn’t funny at the time, but years ago I lived in a warehouse-type loft and had our office in part of the space. The construction wasn’t great, and you could easily hear talking and sounds from the adjacent unit. I was hosting a meeting with key people from the city and some members of a client’s firm, when the gentleman next door decided to engage in a romantic afternoon tryst with his fiancé. Needless to say, every sound transferred through the walls to our meeting. Even though I wanted to crawl in a hole and die with embarrassment, my guests got a great laugh out of it, and we moved the meeting upstairs to my dining room.”
