 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Just for
fun:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hours: 8
AM-4:30 PM |
|
|
AAA FIRE : A LOCALLY
OWNED COMPANY SERVING SEATTLE & WESTERN WASHINGTON SINCE 1953
An Affordable
Full Service Solution For All Your
Fire
Protection &
First Aid
Needs.
Commercial ~ Industrial ~
Restaurant
Fire and Safety Equipment, Supplies & Support
|
FIREWATCH
! Article page 2 |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Seattle, as with many cities around the country, is at full employment, and AAA Fire & Safety has adopted a tactic to keep good employees. It is based on a lesson Brian remembers from a NAFED conference many years ago. Although he doesn't remember the speaker's name, or even the topic, he has remembered his key point: "Pay people above the going rate, and you will get problem solvers rather than problem creators." Brian recalls the speaker's story about an accounting department that was in a constant state of disarray. The speaker didn't have a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of |
||||
|
||||
| and as far down the chain of command as possible. I believe this gives people more of a challenge and a feeling of empowerment. It allows them to stretch their wings and show what they can do." | ||||
|
Education and training is a priority at
AAA Fire & Safety. "We require each technician to demonstrate
competency in his or her particular job. Where needed, we
send our technicians to manufacturers' schools. In addition,
they are required to pass the appropriate City of Seattle
Licensing test." Brian has an MBA from the University
of Washington. "My MBA not only gave me the knowledge
needed to put together the financing to purchase the company, but
it gave me the confidence to do it as well. It was also
invaluable by giving me the skills I needed to analyze the
company's performance and to set financial goals."
Although Brian found his degree helpful, he wouldn't necessarily
recommend pursuing an MBA to small business owners. "I
think a lot of people who end up owning companies grow up in a
family business or in families that are very business
oriented. Often times, this gives them the equivalent of an
MBA. My parents both worked in state government, so the
world of business (covering a payroll, making a profit) was
foreign to me. My MBA education, along with my cable
business experience, gave me the necessary tools." Adding another education element, Brian's brother Jim, who also holds an MBA, is AAA Fire & Safety's point person on industry issues. As a former NAFED board member and now as treasurer of the association, Jim has been involved in developing and commenting on proposed regulations in Oregon and Washington. He has testified on behalf of AAA Fire & Safety and NAFED before numerous committees at the state and local levels. Brian believes that "establishing a state "AFED would be a positive thing, because most of the legislative and regulatory action happens at the state and local levels. A State "AFED would be better positioned to deal with these localized issues." He is concerned that some state fire marshals do not want annual inspection of fire extinguishers. "I think our association can and should do more to educate and influence these people. I believe that NAFED should create a mailing list consisting of all the authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), and using fax, email, or even regular old-fashioned U.S. Mail, send everyone on the list regular mailings about changing regulations and issues of concern." AAA Fire & Safety is also looking toward the future. It has a great interactive website with an info request form, online ordering, and a list of satisfied customers for references. "A point of pride we are staying on the cutting edge of technology. Our website www.aaafire.com brings in additional business every week and, while the numbers are not huge, the type of customer we reach is the type we are seeking. Examples include soft-ware companies, legal firms, large manufacturing companies, and surprisingly-- other service companies. I believe that, in five years, more people will find service companies like AAA Fire & Safety via the internet rather than from the yellow pages." Brian credits three things for growing AAA Fire & Safety into the success it is today. Once, he has hired experienced managers, delegated authority to them, and challenged them with the mission to grow the company. Two, he has provided incentives like bonuses for meeting specific growth and profit targets. And three, he has stayed out of the way and allowed them the room to try new ways of doing things or to explore new business opportunities. "I believe the key to AAA Fire & Safety's success has been our ability to attract and keep quality people. I believe we have done this not just by compensating them well, but by empowering them with an enormous amount of individual discretion over their particular job responsibilities." By giving his employees latitude and flexible hours, he feels that they can more easily integrate their personal lives with their professional lives. "I believe this gives people a better feeling about their work environment and creates good morale, and it seems to be working." We think so too. ~~~~ |
||||
