Two bits of exciting news to share with everyone today.

First, we’ve won SE Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For for the fourth year in a row.  We’re excited about that, because no matter what  we do or why we do it, it’s not worth it if the work experience (and, by extension, the client experience) isn’t strong and worthwhile.  Four consecutive years in a row of winning this award has taught us one thing: the investment you make in your employees, culture and customer experience matters.  It’s not always easy, and in the swirl of difficulty and chaos it can be easy to lose sight of, but I’m proud to say we haven’t.  I’m sure the crew here at MIPRO Consulting would agree.

Second, we have won Crain Detroit Business’s Cool Places to Work in Tough Times, which is a recession-adjusted version of their excellent Crain’s Cool Places to Work award.  Again, we’re honored.   While we have had to make decisions to accommodate and weather the financial turbulence like everyone else, I’m happy to say we’ve done so while maintaining employee engagement, increasing communication levels and very carefully weighing cost-saving options for employee and cultural impact.  These exercise aren’t easy, nor are they always fun.  In the end, we persevered — or more accurately, what we set out to build in the first place persevered.  That’s a big thing.  You start losing that, and you start losing your organizational soul.

In the best of all worlds, of course, we wouldn’t be seeing awards with qualifiers like “tough times” suffixed to the titles.  But that’s the reality; that’s where we are.  And as we often say, if you can’t acknowledge where you are, it’s hard to ascertain where you’re going.

So, to the Michigan Business & Professional Association and Crain’s Detroit, thank you.  We’re thrilled.