Amish Mehta
I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of working under Ken’s Leadership and guidance for 8+ years. Unlike most entrepreneurs who tend to be only marketing or technically oriented, Ken is truly a generalist in its purest sense. He really understands that marketing leadership must be tempered with marketing discipline so you do not waste time working on wrong products or services. People who have worked with & for Ken know not to ask him to make something unless they can prove that it is saleable to a customer. His business management acumen has been sharpened from many years of both big & small-company experiences, coupled with his keen interest in continuous learning and improvement. He is unquestionably one of the most voracious readers I have ever met! His personal energy and drive is insane; if that could be bottled & sold, it would be a top-selling “product” for sure!
Ken’s focus on the customer is spot on and has said many, many times “If we take care of the customer, the rest will follow.” He developed a culture that understands that all operations are here to serve the customer. What I admire most about Ken is his compassion for and unwavering commitment to our employees and the brave men & women who serve our great country. For the past 8 years, I have seen Ken walk around the company every morning to say “Good Morning” to each and every employee. He knows each employee by name and takes the time (every morning) to stop and listen to concerns. His support for many charitable organizations that help our veterans is simply inspiring. On Veterans Day, Memorial Day and 4th July Holidays, Ken sends news releases of note commemorating the day and emphasizing the meaning & importance of the Day. Ken never let us forget why we do what we do in the company.
Ken is the creator of LAUNCH™(Listen, Ask, Understand, Need, Create, Holistic) – a business paradigm / mindset that focuses on listening first to understand the other person’s pain / needs before we offer a solution. In essence, unlike more traditional sales, one asks questions to better understand the other person as opposed to talking and talking about the product or service that you are trying to get the other person to buy. The LAUNCH mindset is applicable in both business and personal interactions; its inherent simplicity is indeed genius.
Bottom line, Ken is demanding, his standards are high, and he is a self-aware man of the highest integrity. Like the rest of us, he has his flaws and it’s these flaws that complete the man and make him real. On a personal note, Ken has changed my life for the better in more ways than I can put into words; I am undoubtedly a more effective manager, leader and a better person for having known him. I hope that I have the wisdom to learn from the many lessons that he has graciously given me.