FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS SEES CONTINUED GROWTH, HIRES VICE PRESIDENT
Business Strategy, Inc. Employment on the Rise, Believes Grand Rapids is Not a Dying City
Grand Rapids, MI – July 5, 2011. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data recently outlined a turnaround in Michigan’s poor economic performance, reporting that Michigan’s economy grew at a rate higher than the national average. One Grand Rapids based company is leading that charge and continuing its steady growth. Business Strategy, Inc. has not only been surviving the rough economic season, but has seen continued significant growth. Since January 2010 Business Strategy has hired thirty new associates, seven who have joined in the first six months of 2011, and nearly half of the hires have been placed into new positions created due to company growth. Today Business Strategy announced another new addition to their team; Teri Harkins joins Business Strategy as Vice President of Sales.
Today’s announcement is twofold as this position is both newly created and filled. Teri Harkins, a graduate of Idaho State University, brings to Business Strategy fourteen years experience in the procure-to-pay recovery audit industry. Harkins has worked for multiple competitive procure-to-pay companies, most recently serving as Manager of Business Development for a firm headquartered in the Greater Atlanta area. Harkins’ focus will be on supporting the continued growth of the organization and managing the existing multi-region sales force. The position required a seasoned and innovative candidate with depth of knowledge, yet fresh ideas. “Teri is exactly what we were looking for to help sustain – and build upon – our company’s success and growth,” stated Charlie Fayon, Business Strategy’s CEO. “We are pleased to welcome her to our team.”
The news of these additional positions comes just a few months after Newsweek.com listed Grand Rapids as one of ten “Dying Cities,” and only a few weeks after Business Strategy was named to the Michigan Business & Professional Association’s “West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For,” an annual honor that is highly sought after by businesses throughout the region. This marks the fifth consecutive year Business Strategy, Inc. has made the list.
Business Strategy has been partnering with other businesses to improve and streamline operations for over two decades. Business Strategy provides procure-to-pay audit recovery and process enhancements through contingency-based post audit review and AP automation solutions. Business Strategy has assisted more than a thousand companies with improving their business processes and bottom line. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Business Strategy, Inc. employs associates around the country with sales offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, and Phoenix. Harkins will be working out of the Southern California regional office. Business Strategy is privately owned and employs more than 130 professional associates.
It comes as no surprise to the associates of Business Strategy that the company continued to thrive even through Michigan’s tough economic times. Business Strategy has gained nation-wide recognition within the industry with an impressive list of clients by simply improving back office operations, but their strength has always been their people. Recently hired Automation Sales Advisor, Joel Blanchard, commented, “It quickly became obvious that Business Strategy works very hard to create a great environment and employees display a culture of unity – multiple members of one team working toward a common goal.”
“For most of our associates, Business Strategy feels like family,” says Dan Geelhoed, President & COO. “We have so many associates that have been here for multiple years and each one points to the environment and their fellow associates as the main reasons they work here.” Geelhoed adds, “We are sure Teri is going to be a very welcomed addition to the Business Strategy team.”
Harkins began her duties as Vice President of Sales today. Harkins will be working temporarily out of the Grand Rapids, Michigan headquarters.
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Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Business Strategy, Inc. employs more than 130 people and focuses on the Procure-to-Pay cycle (P2P) and improving process automation. Business Strategy has seen continued growth, even in these tough economic times and has hired 10 new associates in the fourth quarter of 2010. Business Strategy builds strategic partnerships with other organizations to focus on P2P processes and vendor contract compliance; as well as implementing controls and process automation to streamline systems and improve the organization’s bottom line. Visit them online at www.businessstrategy.com
For more information about Business Strategy, or to schedule an interview with a Business Strategy Partner, please call Chris Koens at 616-257-6314 or e-mail Chris at ckoens@BusinessStrategy.com
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