It’s been two months since I joined On Location and here are 6 observations and in no particular order.   

OLI  

  • On Location Inc. tends to get shortened into OLI and I keep thinking we have an opportunity to create a mascot or character.  Feels like McGyver’s cousin with a pinch of Norm from Cheers.  A fun person who knows how to get stuff done.   

Integrity 

  • I have often used the phrase, “there is what you can do and what you should do”.  During week four I attended a company wide Operations meeting in Las Vegas and was insanely impressed hearing the team discuss the approach to handling jobs when completing the task at hand in fewer hours than estimated.  One team member described time at a different company where it was encouraged to go into slow down mode to “get all the hours”.  The OLI team said, nope – not here.  Get the job done right so that client comes back again and again.  Long term thinking in a fast paced world ie, do what you should, period. 

Age 

  • I have participated in the #EDPA Future Work Force committee to help shine a light on the Live Event space because let’s face it, the average age of our industry has been leaning toward retirement age.  A very refreshing observation is how young our team is.  Yep, we have our grey haired veterans, but we also have many 30 year olds who have grown up in the industry.  Our team is incredibly well positioned to guide and mentor the current and future generation of leaders.   

Punctuality 

  • During our Ops meeting, the team was asked, if the job starts at 8:30 am, what time should you arrive?  In my head, I answered 8:20 / 8:25 and they may be right as a sales guy, but whoa was I wrong from the Lead / Supervisor perspective.  Consensus was 7:30 am and the logic was sound.  “I need to inspect the work area, check equipment and supplies, connect with the team, review prints / progress from the day prior”….  “Our clients expect us to WORK as soon as soon as we are on the clock and that is what we do”.  So when breakfast started at 8:00 am the following day, I walked in at 7:30 to a room of 30+ people who were ready to get after the day.   

Sense of Urgency.   

  • The drive or “intensity” that lives within the OLI organization is unmistakable and greets you at the front door.  The OLI way is about meeting each day with the desire to literally “get er done”.  There is no dilly dallying or waiting for the rain clouds to pass – to the person, we have work to do and customers counting on us.  The sense of urgency reminds me of working at a start up and knowing we need to make each day count and each customer properly informed and satisfied.   

Client decision process 

  • This is where you come in and I would appreciate you answering the questions below.  I understand that “cost” always plays a role in determining who wins a project / account, but there is always more.  So please help me out an take a moment to answer the following. 
    • Excluding price, what are three criteria you utilize when deciding on a Labor partner? 
    • Do you have any comments you feel would help me understand your needs better. 

About On Location Founded in 1991, On Location provides nationwide labor and management services for exhibits, events, and environments. The company delivers a true client-centric experience by offering consistent, hands-on service before, during, and after each project. As a leading Exhibitor Appointed Contractor (EAC), On Location ensures each client receives a tailored plan that is executed on time and on budget—delivering a measurable Return on Experience (ROE). Learn more at onlocationind.com.