Gorman Enterprises

When the survey was done, I got a lot out of it. The approach that American Management took kind of exposed our weaknesses, our strengths, and where to attack and fix the business. So it was very helpful. Well, I felt pretty comfortable with the initial contacts, and they made sense. And I knew, I felt I knew what was wrong with the business. I just didn't know how to attack it, fix it, implement it, all the t My company gained an awful lot from t Financial stability, we found out where were leaking money, bleeding money, actually, and put a course of correction in place with a pretty solid plan. Well, t Went through the expense side of the P&L, and where we had to improve some finite moves that worked. And over a three-year period, we discussed a $1. 8 million It's not a h It's a fact-finding, great educational, and it contributes to a success story. Don't be embarrassed. They don't embarrass you. They just put together a strategic plan that you can see implement, implemented pretty quick, and you can also see the results rather quick. Well, after we did the initial project in 1997, and it was very successful, We had to make some strategic moves, and one of the t And the American management came up and put together a package, second to none, that got us our refinancing done. It was a very difficult task that was made rather easy, and I couldn't have done it without them. We are in a position better than I've been in 35 years of business. The improvements were through, again, strategic cuts, strategic growth, and strategic efficiencies. So it's a combination, it's not just one the improvements that were initiated along with American management for our operation were quite simple, but quite complicated. I know that'sounding kind of funny there, but the fact of the matter is went back to the basics, where we rewarded people who were successful in implementing the plan by giving them incentive pay, and they all So went from a 55% efficiency in a shop up to an 87% efficiency wit And we rewarded other people in the staff for a quick turnaround in financial statements. It just gave me all the information I needed to make decisions. Were close to doing that before, but the biggest one came through the shop. The consultants were very professional, not intimidating, but forceful from the standpoint that these are the they put a sense of urgency into everyt Without that, I don't know if I would be here. Implement the program, I expect results. When we don't get results, we try to educate and get that person in a better position to succeed, and they're made accountable. Everyt The amount of money that I spent turned into what I had said earlier, $1. 8 million to the bottom line for a very small investment, comparatively. The accountability factor has really helped our operations from the standpoint we're not touc We're clear and decisive and precise on what we expect from our employees, what we expect from myself, so that it's not, why didn't you do t Here's your job, here's your task, here's what the owners And quite simply, that in itself makes today more productive from the standpoint you're not repeating yourself. One of the t I knew on a daily basis where we stood from the day before. I knew at the end of the month where we stand. We have production meetings and sales meetings that make everybody accountable to the success of the company. It's the magic formula making everybody accountable for what they're supposed to do. Our employees were a little reluctant to see change come over the company, but as the time went on and they saw that they had an opportunity to make more money, they had an opportunity to see the changes and how we could reinvest into the company, and also that leaders The biggest t So from a management style and standpoint, I wasn't leading the company correctly. So after they saw that it was a firm leaders We try to work really close with our customers. I've interviewed a few of them in a very casual manner. How are we doing? And they said a lot of people around me have gone out of business suffering from what we suffered with the economy, especially in New York State where half our business was cut away just because of budget cuts from the state and municipalities. And I just tell them we're very efficient in what we do and we make sure that we have more than one revenue source. And they shake their heads. They're amazed at what t And quite honestly, it's pretty easy and I haven't dealt with American management. Well, I would definitely So what you can expect and what I got out of it was when it came time for them to leave, I said, where are you going? And they said, you're doing it. We don't need to be here anymore. And quite honestly, I just figured if the amount of money I paid just improved our bottom line because now I wasn't paying them and I could do it all on my own. I would recommend the trouble is we just don't know how to fix it and it's not our expertise. Nobody is going to be as compassionate or passionate about your business as the owner. You got to learn how to teach the people to cut into the trenches with you and fix it. That's what American management did. I wouldn't be here and I guarantee you I would not be here without them.