SEI | Ron Alvesteffer

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Hire the Will, Teach the Skill

March 27, 2013 in Culture, SEI with 0 Comments

It’s a phrase I often use with leaders at SEI, particularly when they’re recruiting for talent at our organization.

Because SEI is a growing company with an exceptional culture, we’re fortunate that we attract applicants with a high level of skill and aptitude in their areas of expertise.

But we don’t just hire people who can do the job. By the time they’ve made it past our initial screening process, we’ve determined that they have both the skills and the aptitude to succeed. We also have many candidates who rise to the top because they have an advanced skill set.

Performance Measurement: Scorecards

February 6, 2013 in Culture, SEI with 4 Comments

Previously I’ve written about our company’s performance measurement system (also known as the SR5). To further explain how each element works, my next three blog entries will break down the components of our performance measurement system and describe each in detail.

Today, let’s talk scorecards.

What are Scorecards?

We like to think of scorecards as the story of our performance in graphic form. Each graph on the scorecard shows how we’re progressing against a specific goal over a number of months. Continue Reading…

Four Core Objectives: The SEI Way

January 30, 2013 in Culture, SEI with 1 Comment

At Service Express, we don’t shy away from talking about company culture. We’re committed to working hard, achieving results and having fun at the same time. And that means we not only take pride in meeting our customer needs and providing great service, but we also focus on creating a positive work environment for our employees.

A key philosophy that’s helped drive results, like our 98 percent customer retention rate and low 10 percent employee turnover, is our shared commitment to making decisions based on what we call our Four Core Objectives.

SEI’s Four Core Objectives are:

Revenue growth
Margin retention
Excellent customer service, and
Employee engagement.

Before we make any decision, we bounce it off each of our Four Core Objectives. If we can explain how the decision will positively affect each of the four objectives, we feel confident that we’re making a good choice.

Let me give an example. Continue Reading…

Vision: The SEI Way

January 24, 2013 in Culture, SEI with 1 Comment

At Service Express, Inc. (SEI), our company vision is the backbone of the work we do and the success we’ve achieved. It’s our purpose. And it’s simple:

As a company, we believe in surrounding ourselves with the right people and then inviting them to share their personal, professional and financial goals. After discussing goals with their manager during “Vision Talks,” employees put them on paper. This allows us to take a look at them and get to work helping them achieve their goals.

We believe our annual double-digit growth is a result of this philosophy. Continue Reading…

What Gets Measured, Gets Done

January 17, 2013 in Culture, SEI with 6 Comments

Employee engagement is an important investment a leader can make to ensure that they’re attracting and recruiting the right employees.

Another important characteristic of winning workplaces is a culture that measures performance.

At SEI, we believe that measuring employee performance gives us the information we need to drive success.

We refer to our performance measurement system as the “SR5.” It sounds a little complicated, but it’s really quite simple. Continue Reading…

Recently I was invited to be a panelist at a couple of Inc/ Small Giants Leadership Forums alongside Bo Burlingham and Paul Spiegelman.

In this clip, Bo, who is an Editor-at-Large for Inc Magazine and the author of the book Small Giants, asks me how SEI’s Vision to “work with our employees to help them achieve their personal, professional and financial goals,” impacts our customers.

If this video does not play, you can view it here

How SEI’s Unique Vision Impacts Customers

January 9, 2013 in Culture, SEI with 1 Comment

Recently I was invited to be a panelist at a couple of Inc/ Small Giants Leadership Forums alongside Bo Burlingham and Paul Spiegelman. In this clip, Bo, who is an Editor-at-Large for Inc Magazine and the author of the book Small Giants, asks me what it is that accounts for SEI’s tremendous growth. My answer may surprise you!

If this video does not appear in your email, you can view it here

On SEI’s Vision and Growth

December 26, 2012 in Culture, SEI with 0 Comments

SEI Named an Inc. 5000 Company; Big Deal, Right?

August 29, 2012 in Culture, SEI with 1 Comment

For the sixth consecutive year, Service Express has been named to the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies.

Big deal, right?

Actually, it is. Here’s why.

At our inception, Service Express was a risky proposition. Our co-owners risked everything to create a business that few were willing to bet on.

From our humble beginnings, when employees used cardboard boxes as desks, to the Y2K scare, if you had said that SEI would one day be included on such a list, many would likely have laughed at you.

Despite this, and despite challenging economic times, Inc. 5000 companies created their own economy even when others were facing declining revenue.

So why does recognition like the Inc. 5000 matter to our employees and to our customers? Here are 3 reasons.

1. Inc. 5000 Companies Have a Track-Record of Innovation

Charles Kettering once said “If you have always done it that way, it is probably wrong.” Continue Reading…

Investment Advice

June 10, 2012 in Quotes, SEI with 2 Comments

I wanted to share a post I saw on Facebook recently. It was written by Mike McCullough, SEI’s majority owner. I asked Mike’s permission to share it with you. I think he nailed it!

Investment Advice

(Proven personal experience)!

Over the past 15 years, an investment in a 401k, mutual fund or a stock has averaged, maybe 3%. And most real estate has lost money.

HOWEVER, so long as I was faithful to being a generous giver to my church and a variety of local charities and non-profits, I have been blessed beyond measure personally, professionally and financially.

Be generous, it works! IF we were all generous givers, there would no need for any more government programs, hand-outs or entitlements. We just need to take care of things ourselves!

I’m often asked what it takes to move up at SEI. We’re always looking for “A Players.” They look different and bring a new perspectives. But “A Players” have a few key characteristics. Here are a few that I’ve identified. I’d love to hear yours!