involved in the community . From winning the Holly Hill Corporate Citizen of the Year award to serving on various boards in community groups , he helped to weave a tight knit connection around the county .
Getting to know the people you serve and being a part of the community strengthens the bonds , creates loyal customers , and helps you keep a pulse on what the people want and need .
in Daytona Beach , knows all too well how important being able to change and adapt is to business sustainability . The company , started in 1945 , has always focused on technology . They started out producing coin operated chairside radios for hotel chains across the country . As times changed , so too did their offerings . If they hadn ’ t stayed ahead of the curve , they would still be making AM radios . Dawson , who found the transition to taking over the family business to be smooth , did something that may surprise many – he hired a president to run the daily operations of the family business .
Brian Dawson , Chief Executive Officer of SilverSphere
Sheryl Cook , Owner of Tom Cook Jeweler
“ Our emphasis is on customer service as well as involvement in the community ,” explains Sheryl Cook , owner of Tom Cook Jeweler in Daytona Beach . “ Our family has continued to believe that customer service is key to being a successful business and that you give of your time , talents and treasures to the community that supports you .”
Tom Cook Jeweler has been in business for 125 years . They were also one of the businesses that received major damage during Hurricane Irma , and despite that challenge , they keep going strong .
“ The best part of being 125 is growing with our customers , and evolving to meet the needs of the new generations ,” added Cook . “ Being a multi-generational company has helped us to maintain classic styles with modern sensibilities in fitting with our customers ’ tastes .”
“ People give me a lot of credit for making a bold decision on that , but honestly it wasn ’ t planned ,” he says , referring to his decision to hire Tom Hurlburt , current president of SilverSphere . “ When the opportunity presented itself , I was smart enough to recognize that Tom was exactly what our company needed to take us to the next level . I knew Tom had the skills and talents that I didn ’ t .”
Even though he felt the move was the right decision to sustain the company , he still wrestled internally with his choice . He questioned having an outsider run the family business , and he worried about resistance from his employees , some of which had been with the company over 20 years . Yet what he found was that there was zero resistance to the change and everything he had been concerned about turned out to be a non-issue .
“ There are three things that are the secret to long term success ,” shares Dawson . “ Great employees , creating an entrepreneurship culture , so the CEO is not the only one continually thinking about what ’ s next , and just enough luck to keep you humble .”
GOING WITH THE FLOW
Brian Dawson , chief executive officer of SilverSphere , located
Sources : https :// www . sba . gov / sites / default / files / advocacy / SB-FAQ-2017-WEB . pdf ; John S . Anderson Chapter Chair / Certified Mentor ; Sheryl Cook Tom Cook Jeweler ; Sylvain Daudel Director Family Enterprise Center ; Brian Dawson Silvershphere ; Stacy Cunningham Welch , president , Patricia Culler , owner , Cunningham Oil
Jacqueline Bodnar is a Volusia County-based writer , who has a master ’ s degree in professional writing , has had over 3,000 articles published around the world , has written seven books , completed thousands of copywriting projects , and owns several blogs . She can be reached at : www . JacquelineBodnar . com .
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