Providing Quality Technology Workers – In an Instant

By Julie McCoy
January 2010

Company:
Instant Technology

Founded: 2001
Industries served: technology staffing
Headquarters: Chicago
Revenue: $17 million in 2008
Website: www.instanttechnology.com

She's a courageous woman who isn't afraid to take risks. Rona Borre launched Chicago-based Instant Technology in November 2001, not long after the tech bubble burst and a mere two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

But even though the market conditions were far from ideal, Borre – who had been working at a global recruiting firm – decided it was time to branch off and start her own business.

Borre worked with many candidates at the global recruiting firm who liked her so much that they decided to follow her. So Instant Technology was able to get off to a good start, even in tough times. "The candidates are key to success," Borre explains.

IT Staffing Firm Serves Companies of All Sizes

In its eighth year in business, Instant Technology provides technology staffing to Fortune 1000 companies, as well as high-quality small and medium-sized firms. Its clients are in a number of industries, including: advertising, airline/aviation, banking/financial, consulting, consumer goods, education, entertainment, food, healthcare, legal, manufacturing, printing/publishing, retail, telecommunications and travel.

It Helps to Have a Niche

Instant Technology focuses strictly on technology staffing, and it helps to have a niche, Borre points out. "A lot of people try to be everything to everyone. We try to stay true to what we know and what we're good at. We know our space and industry. ... I think it [bodes] well to stay at what we're good at and try to grow the business that way."

The company is a certified woman-owned business enterprise with the City of Chicago, State of Illinois and Women's Business Enterprise National Council.

A Thriving Company with Plans for Future Growth

Instant Technology generated $17 million in 2008, and the goal was to hit the $20 million mark in 2009, according to Borre. She says her company doubled or tripled its revenue every year the first five years it was open, from 2002 to 2007.

Early this year Instant Technology opened a second office in Washington DC to accommodate its growth and because it has clients there. "We're trying to grow our organization and get into markets where we have existing clients," says Borre. "DC is a big area for us." And the plan is to expand the company's Chicago operations in 2010. "The goal is to be a number one tier supplier to the Chicago area," Borre explains.

Instant Technology is beefing up its staff to accommodate its growth. The company had about 33 people on staff this last summer and that number was expected to grow to between 56 and 83 people by year's end. "We're extremely busy right now," Borre says. "We're ready to bring in our next crop of people and develop them."

Landing on Inc. 5000 List Two Times in a Row

Instant Technology made the prestigious Inc. 5000 list this year and in 2008. Inc. magazine also named the company one of the Top 100 Human Resources Companies in America this year and one of the Top 50 Businesses in Chicagoland in 2008.

This past summer, Instant Technology also was recognized by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR) as one of the "Top 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" in Chicago.

Some of the factors that were considered in choosing the winners of the award included: communication, community initiatives, compensation and benefits, diversity and multiculturalism, employee education and development, employee engagement and commitment, recognition and retention, small business, recruitment and selection, and work-life balance. Winners were chosen from "hundreds" of nominations, according to Jennifer Kluge, NABR president. "The 101 best and brightest are companies that excel in all areas as it relates to people," she says. "Customer satisfaction is directly related to how they treat their employees."

Keys to Success

To what does Borre attribute her company's success? For one thing, Instant Technology listens to what clients want and responds to them, Borre says.

Borre points out that her company also makes an effort to get out and connect with people and build relationships – something that can be especially valuable in these tough economic times. "Hopefully, those relationships will foster and grow, and people will know you'll be there for them when things do turn around," she says.

Instant Technology also trains and motivates internal staff. The management team fosters, grows and develops staff, and the company's turnover rate among staff is under 15%, according to Borre. "We expect a lot of people," she says. "We also give them the tools they need to be successful. We don't expect them to do anything management wouldn't do. We're a very lead-by-example type of shop."

Hiring the Right People, Celebrating Victories

Liz DeFazio is VP of sales and operations for Instant Technology and was responsible for hiring staff when the company first got started. "If you don't have the right people internally and the right candidates, it doesn't matter what you sell," she points out. "You have to have solid relationships with your employees and your candidates."

DeFazio, who divides her time between the company's Chicago and Washington DC offices, likes that at Instant Technology, "We celebrate the victories. We have a bell, and when we make a placement or close a deal, we ring a bell. We have short-term contests that we tailor toward our demographics. It's about making it fun, keeping people positive."

Concludes DeFazio: "We're like a family here, and we take care of each other. We pull on people's strengths and not their weaknesses. We want to challenge people to do more because we are a small company. We really try to hone in on their strengths. ... We're very hands on. I think that's one of the things that separates us from other companies. We walk the walk."

Michael Gurican, sales manager for Instant Technology, joined the company in 2005 and quickly became its top producer. "When you close a deal, it's twice the fun, because you're making two parties happy," he says. "It's really a good feeling and a great business to be in."

2-1 Approach Saves Clients Time

When it comes to reviewing resumes, Instant Technology knows that clients want quality rather than quantity. That's why the company uses a 2-1 approach. The company chooses and presents just two carefully matched candidates for each job opening. The idea is to present candidates that are such a good fit that clients only have to interview two to find the right person. When the pool is narrowed down to just two, it makes the client's life easier and saves the client time.

Satisfied Clients

Yury Dubinsky, IT director at Northfield IL-based Sawdust Investment Management, a privately owned investment management firm, works with Instant Technology when he has an opening.

"Every candidate that we interview in person we have hired," he says. "The first time I met them, I had a seemingly impossible role to fill. They actually found a guy. When we met him, we knew he was the right one. He turned out to be phenomenal. My experience with them has been tremendous."

Dubinsky, who also worked with Instant Technology when he was at Bank of America, says other staffing companies he's done business with were not as attentive to his needs and didn't care as much about him as a client. "They felt entitled to our business instead of working for it," he says. "Their general approach to me as a client has always been great. They're responsive. They're on the ball. They're easy to work with."

He recommends Instant Technology to executives in IT who are looking for candidates. "They seem to have some great relationships," he says. "They seem to really know what they're doing. Once they find people you want to bring in and interview, they're fantastic."

Paul Karras has worked with Instant Technology on and off for nine years, most recently as senior director of application services at US Cellular. "They're a reliable supplier of talent," says Karras, who is no longer with US Cellular. "I appreciate the fact that they take adequate time to understand what the requirements are, so they can match the type of person I'm looking for."

Instant Technology is able to go beyond a candidate's skills and truly understand what the client's culture is like, Karras points out. "That speaks to me a lot," he says. "They do show attention to detail. That also builds a level of trust."

On a scale of 1 to 10, Karras gives Instant Technology a 9 "for the level of trust, partnerships, knowledge in terms of space, bench of people available, and going above and beyond on attention to detail." Says Karras: "They've done the homework ahead of time. They know what you're looking for."

Happy Candidates, Too

Candidates are happy, too. Matthew Medlen, who has gotten work through Instant Technology on and off over the last couple of years, says the company has been able to quickly find him appropriate positions that fit his skills perfectly. "They haven't sent me on anything I wasn't qualified for, which is a great help. They've taken the time to get to know me prior to sending me out on miscellaneous jobs. In the long run, it really is a time saver. Now, they know you. It makes for much better representation that way."

Concludes Medlen: "They have a good handle on what I know and the things I can do. They only present me things that are a good fit. I don't think there's anything more they can do. They've given me a great pay rate. They're very flexible and open."

On a scale of one to 10, Medlen gives Instant Technology a 10. "They've been really good, really knowledgeable, really on top of it, constantly in contact with me, constantly keeping me in the loop [and] constantly keeping me updated. That's been really good. They've kept me informed. I give them excellent marks."

Sam Porras, who also has gotten work through Instant Technology, says he felt like a number with other staffing companies he's worked with, but that Instant Technology really took the time to find something he wanted and that was a good fit. "With Instant Technology, it's just a more comfortable feeling knowing that they have your best interests in mind... They know what I want, and they can help me get to that place."

Strong Community Involvement

Instant Technology believes in giving back to the community in which it operates, Borre points out. The staff has volunteered for the Chicago Park District and the Humane Society. They also have given time and money to such causes as Voices for Illinois Children and the Anti-Cruelty Society.

Additionally, Instant Technology hosted a benefit for breast cancer programs at the Cancer Health Alliance of Metropolitan Chicago.

And as if that isn't enough, this time of year Instant Technology also contributes to the Letters to Santa Program, which partners with the Chicago public school district to provide gifts to underprivileged children during the holidays.

Rewards, Challenges

The biggest reward of running Instant Technology is watching people grow, succeed and mature, Borre says. She points out that someone who started at the front desk now runs one of the company's largest accounts.

Meanwhile, one of the challenges is taking employees outside their comfort zone and giving them the confidence that they can do the job and try. Another challenge is the generational gap: People working for the company range in age from early 20s to mid-40s.

No Day Is the Same

How does Borre spend her time? A salesperson by heart, Borre is very involved in driving the sales of the organization. She also works with the leadership team and makes sure they're on track. Additionally, she works with the CFO on a daily basis, makes sure clients' needs are being met and attends strategy leadership meetings. "It's crazy," she says. "No day is the same. I pick up the slack wherever my staff needs me to."

IT Staffing Her Whole Career

During the 14 years Borre has been in the staffing industry, she hasn't done anything other than IT staffing. "I just think the quality of candidates and the people you work with are competent and smart," she says. "They're really smart people. They're teachable people."

Borre is passionate about what she does, and her staff and candidates are equally enthusiastic. And this makes for a winning combination at her company, where the goal is to provide quality technology workers – in an instant.