Written by:  Kurt Frohlich – President

As I look back on the last calendar year, there are several notable changes and milestones that warrant further reflection.

On the personal side, it’s been almost six months without being dedicated to deliverables on a given project, which is the first time that’s happened since Apex was founded in 2001.  While Apex senior leadership and others have been advocating this change for years, it’s been difficult to turn into a reality for several reasons.  First, I love the work and the excitement of adding value to a client’s project because I know we make an impact wherever we’re assigned.  Second, Apex has always and continues to run lean, and I always felt pressure to cover operating expenses by being billable.  But as our book of work continues to expand, I finally realized that after being an individual contributor for 16 years while running a growing and successful company for 11 of those years, I needed to change my focus.  I now devote the majority of my time to supporting our teams, helping to manage our sponsors, and ensuring the quality of our services and deliverables.  This has not been an easy transition for me, but I’m fortunate to be surrounded by talented and dedicated people across the board who I really enjoy working with and helping where I can.  And I’m excited about the results so far and the company direction…most notably in the area of strategic consulting.

The Apex strategic vision has always been to develop long-term client relationships, learn as much as possible about their operations, systems and processes, and turn that hard-fought knowledge into a self-evident value proposition.  In our almost 10 years as a vendor with our largest client, this has happened over time but in isolated areas.  However, this has accelerated greatly into several other areas by solidifying our position as a strategic  partner.  When we see our previously presented “blue sky” cost-saving and strategic ideas make their way into their presentations as efforts to be undertaken, there’s no greater compliment.

As for the general health of the company; this year we crossed a staffing milestone of 50+ employees; we were nominated again as one of the Best Places to Work in Reno; we have maintained a desired level of profitability and growth during the worse economy since the Great Depression; we implemented a 401K and profit sharing program, and Apex remains debt-free.  We’ve also re-dedicated ourselves to raising our collective competence bar through a robust series of internal training events.  Our investment in a dedicated Apex Training Manager has really paid off this year.

Lastly, any update would be incomplete without mention of the great work that Tech is Good has done this year.  It became a 501C3 non-profit organization; our financial and computer equipment scholarship program helped fourteen more students who are attending the University of Nevada or TMCC this year; and we just concluded our Tech Teacher of the Year contest in which $8,000.00 will be awarded to Reno area teachers so they can purchase much needed technology/equipment for their classrooms (see http://techisgood.org/tech-teacher-of-the-year/).

In the course of taking stock and reflecting on the last 12 months, I hope you’re as impressed with our collective accomplishments as I am.  Great things are in store as we take advantage of the solid foundation that we have built through our teams’ dedication, time, energy, and enthusiasm.  I’m honored to work with such a great group of people, and for that I say a heartfelt “Thank You”!

Have a safe and happy Holiday Season!

All the best,

Kurt

I’ve always loved hiking, ever since I was a kid meandering through the forest pathways on the outskirts of my little Austrian town with my mom, dad, and sister in tow. Since then, I’ve hiked many more trails, some of the same ones over and over, and, looking back, have tried to figure out what it is about hiking that I enjoy so much.

First and foremost, it has to do with motion. I’m very comfortable being in motion, whether skiing, taking a long road trip, or backpacking – motion is the common theme. While a certain destination may be what is romanticized during the trip, in retrospect, it’s always the journey that leaves a lasting impression.

The journey can range from a solo jaunt filled with introspection, to a long trip with friends, where the conversation changes from serious discussion to light trail banter just as quickly as a heavy breeze pushes through the treetops before disappearing into stillness. I’ve shared the trail with people I love, people I see every day, and people I can no longer see.  I think that memories gathered on the trail are more solid because the experiences are so concentrated, unplugged, and unrestricted compared to normal day-to-day interactions.

Hiking is also a study in time, and changes that come with time, whether cyclical like changing leaves along the trail, and shadows of rocks and trees distorting around the sun, or unique changes that mark a point on a timeline with a definite start and end, like how my body feels on the same hike year over year.  The familiar contents of trusty day-pack are a glimpse back on the timeline: the hand warmer I received as a stocking stuffer so many Christmases past – still new in the package, but unlikely in working condition – a tradition now instead of a tool; the dark colored circle of fabric where a patch used to sit revealing the pre sun-bleached glory days of my pack; the tiny can of bear spray, luckily unused, a reminder of times I clutched it tightly in anticipation of imminent attack.

I encourage everyone to find their own familiar trail, use it as their own benchmark, their own escape from the norm, their own laboratory for introspection and forum for gathering memories and, hopefully, gain the same overall enjoyment that I’ve experienced.

Written By: Christina Williams

I was about to enter my last semester of college and was finishing up my time as an intern at Microsoft Licensing. Like most college students who were soon to be graduating, I had come to the realization that it was time to enter the working world full time.  This seemed terrifying to me. Was I really a grown up? Already?

I had created a plan for myself quite a few years earlier. I was going to finish my degree and apply to Certified Public Accounting firms. After spending my required two years at a firm I would leave as a CPA and try applying for accounting and finance jobs in the industry. But as that time drew nearer I began to question if that was something I was truly passionate about. And, if not, what was I truly passionate about? I didn’t know how to answer this question, so I stayed true to my excessively Type A personality and did what I always do when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I made a list. I wrote down all of the things I thought were important qualities in a career. After reviewing the list I decided that one of the most important things I was looking for in a career was to look forward to coming to work. It was at that point that I knew accounting wasn’t my passion. I enjoyed the work and it came fairly easily to me, but it wasn’t something that excited me.

So now that I was sure of what I didn’t want to do it was time to decide what career I did want to pursue. As I mentioned earlier I had spent several months as an intern at Microsoft Licensing. During this time I was exposed to the operational side of the business. This was something that was brand new to me but the fast-paced and ever changing atmosphere was something that I found appealing. I decided to try to learn more and see if this was something I might be interested in pursuing. I began to meet with several people in the operational side of the business and asked them various questions about their experiences. I asked questions about what their job entailed and what they liked/dislike about operations. Everyone was open and honest with me and I greatly appreciated their candidness. The general consensus was that everyone seemed passionate about their career and seemed to love what they were doing, however they didn’t shy away from the fact that it could at times be challenging. Their descriptions were aligned with many of my desired qualities in a career and I was excited to have found something that I wanted to pursue.

The only problem now was how to make this possible. I confided in a co-worker and they suggested I meet with Kurt Frohlich to learn about Apex and the operational services they provided to their clients. I took their advice and requested a meeting with Kurt. I researched the company before our meeting. I was pleased to learn about the company’s history, its nomination for “Best Places to Work” in the Reno-Tahoe area, as well as their philanthropic endeavor Tech is Good. I met with Kurt and was immediately pleased with his enthusiasm for the business, its employees, and its clients. I submitted my resume shortly after and hoped that an opportunity I was suited for would present itself. I received an email soon after requesting an interview. I was so excited for the opportunity. After a couple rounds of interviews I was offered a position. I accepted immediately and was thrilled, but I was also a little nervous.

Starting any new job is nerve-racking; there is a new team of people to meet, things to learn about the business, and adjusting to a new company environment and culture. Luckily everyone at Apex and the client were so friendly and kind. The HR manager Diane welcomed me on my first day and made sure I had everything I needed. We also had a meeting with Kurt and the team I would be working with to facilitate formal introductions and discuss the project I was currently assigned. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the president of the company was so involved and happy to help. Diane and Kurt and the entire Apex team have continued to set me up for success as they are always asking “Is there anything you need help with?” “Can I get you anything?” “Is there any training you need?” and on one late Friday afternoon, “Do you need a caffeine boost? I can get you a Starbucks card.” I have felt so welcomed by everyone and couldn’t be happier in my choice to pursue Operations. I enjoy coming to work every day which is something not everyone experiences and which I will never take for granted. Apex was definitely the right choice for me.

Written By: Jordan Worley

As I reflect on what the essence of working for Apex is, keyboard clacking and muffled conference calls fill the air.  Life is full of this minutia despite the impressions we may gain from Facebook.  But with all this regularity, what actually makes Apex different?

When you’re in high school you always get asked the question, “What do you want do when you grow up?”   I was never really sure how to answer this and I am not entirely sure I could even answer this now.  Looking back, that is totally the wrong question to ask.  It puts the expectation that person answers with something extravagant while detracting from the things that really matter.  I think the reason why the question was so hard for me and others as well is we ultimately knew the answer we gave was not really where our heart was.  I mean when I was in high school, I would have been perfectly content discussing philosophy at the local coffee shop and skiing.  But I also knew you could not tell an adult that, so I always gave some socially typical answer; stock broker, engineer, etc.  The core motivations behind giving those answers were not composed of the things that matter most.

To go back to the all too typical high school question, it should be reframed to as, “What do you value in life?”  Now that is something I can answer, I value people because people matter in a big way.  And if anything sets Apex a part from the minutia, it is that they too believe people matter.  Whether it is our morale events or being able to sync up with management to receive guidance, Apex knows putting people first is what builds a strong company.  While I am not working with super models or designing the latest smart phone, I am stoked to be working with a company who share my same values.

When I got out of the service in 2004, the post service Veterans Affairs Career Counselor  told me that based upon my qualifications, I could have the fast track for a position as a civilian prison guard.  There’s nothing wrong with being a prison guard; however, I was looking forward to a career with a little more cognitive development.  Even though I have always struggled with academic pursuits, I decided to move forward with a business degree.

Four very long years later, I ended up receiving an Economics Degree and minor in Information Systems.  At the time, I was filled with excitement.  Where would this knowledge take me? Over the course of several months, I searched high and low for a firm in Reno willing to onboard someone with a fresh perspective and a brain full of economics ideology.  Unfortunately, in 2008, as many know, this was the absolutely worst time to try to start a new career.   I was certainly competing with folks with master’s degrees and many more years’ experience.  And almost certainly, there was a shortage of employment for anyone who recently graduated college.   You would think someone with an economics degree would understand this kind of stuff…  Right?  Well apparently not.

As a result, I wandered aimlessly from part time job to part time job.  I wore many different shoes: I was an enumerator for the census, a European wine salesman, a trivia host, wedding DJ, the list goes on.  My tenure in these careers were ephemeral.  I felt as though I was getting nowhere in life; however, there was value in these positions as I quickly realized what I did not want to do for the rest of my life.  During this time, I began to understand that I had an innate passion for technology and computing (pushes coke bottle glasses back up on bridge of nose).  I decided to go back to school to finish my Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems.

Last year, while finishing this Bachelor’s degree, I was fortunate enough to hop on board with one of Apex’s clients.  During this time, I was able to fully utilize some of the skills I had learned in school.  Given that Apex’s projects were intertwined with my deliverables at that time, it was inevitable that I would touch base with their employees on a daily basis.   This company certainly stood out amongst the rest on site.  I noticed that most of the employees of this company were professional, well dressed, on time, well-spoken and educated.  It was only natural that my next step was to pursue employment with this group.

After all is said and done, this opportunity has provided many benefits where I would not otherwise have access.  I’ve decided to move forward with my Master’s Degree in IS (winks at framed picture of Captain Jean Luc Picard). During this stage of personal development, Apex has delivered a symbiotic relationship for my degree program.  I have the ability to work in an IT environment where I can deploy skills obtained in the classroom.  I’m excited to exist in an environment where I have the freedom to work with a myriad of software suites at my disposal, combined with guidance from knowledgeable industry professionals.   For me, Apex Performance Solutions is the right place, at the right time.

Since the Summer Olympics only roll around every 4 years, Diane thought it would be great for us to celebrate in style… by hosting our own Apex Olympics, of course!  Amy and I set to work researching games and testing (this was mostly my job) each one for user experience.  Some passed, and some did not, and we narrowed it down to 12 silly, fun games to complete our Apex Olympics.  We were hoping people would want to participate because we know it can be hard to let loose around coworkers and supervisors… and MAN, OH MAN, did the Apex team deliver!!!! (We should never have been concerned!)  What an absolute BLAST this event turned out to be!

The Huffaker Park Pavilion and food from Famous Dave’s, along with our traditional Costco cake (Diane caught my moment of dyslexia… The cake said 2021 Apex Olympics! I was pretty high and mighty about taking it back to get fixed until I realized I wrote it wrong on the form… must have been from all the excitement!), were perfect for our afternoon of fun!  The weather cooperated too, and just when it got too hot in the full sun, we went into the shade of the pavilion for some Minute to Win It games! We played our National Anthem during each medal ceremony to make things legit, and we awarded each of our winners their very own gold medal.   The only thing missing was plastic flower bouquets.  Maybe we will remember those for the next Apex Games!

I have to say, we were blown away by how much fun everyone had.  I haven’t heard that much laughter at an Apex morale event in 2 years!  We would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone for participating in our games, whether as a contestant or an active crowd member!  It was a great way to get everyone out of the office, have a little fun, and get ready to cheer on the USA in London!

Congratulations to our Gold Medalists!

Frisbee Discus: Paul Casey

Pool Noodle Javelin: Orland Outland

Baked Bean Shot Put: Cody Wallis

Football Toss: Anne Paine

Hula Hoop Contest: Cody Wallis

Ladder Ball: Patricia Hockenbury

Ball-Between-the-knees Relay: Alane Schnelker and Philip Goon

Minute-to-Win It Cookie Challenge: Van Fortier

Bucket on Your Head Challenge: Melissa Hicks and Karin Paul

Booty Ball Shake: Philip Goon

Potato Sack Race — Team: Alane Schnelker and Karin Paul

Potato Sack Race — Individual: Joe Covington

[Show as slideshow]

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Eight years ago, the time came for me to do something I said I would never do… move back to Reno.

Although I had spent my school years here, I had moved to San Jose after high school and been living there for 9 years, working as a Compliance Analyst for Novell.  In 2003, Novell decided to move all of their operations to the East Coast and many of my co-workers, teammates and friends were going with them.

To top that off, my dad and his wife had recently left San Jose to live in Florida and my mom and her husband lived 200 miles away, in Gardnerville.

For the first time in my life, I felt truly alone.

The time had come to move “home”.

But first, I had to find a new job!  A friend suggested that I interview with Ernst & Young in Reno.  E&Y did accounting work for Novell.  I knew the whole team and had a great support and referral system.  I was able to arrange a very informal interview over the Christmas holiday.   But, nine months later, I was still waiting to hear back from them.  Just when I had decided to put my move to Reno on hold, I got a job offer from E&Y and 3 chaotic weeks later, I was “home”.

I was close to family. I had new teammates. I made new friends.  Life was good!

Then, in December of 2011 the contract E&Y had been working on for the past 7+ years was put out for bid and our firm ultimately lost the work. I was devastated, scared and honestly, a bit angry.  E&Y didn’t have any other local projects, so my choices were to leave home every week to travel to a project or to take an internal, non-client facing position, working from home, on my own.  That lonely feeling started taking hold of me again…

During this time, I ran into my old office neighbor Diane.  Diane and I chatted for a bit and I shared my fears with her.  She promised to keep her ear out for a position I would be a good fit for.  I couldn’t believe it when, just a few weeks later, Diane sent me an email asking me to come in for an interview for a role at Apex.  I was excited but I was also freaked out!

When I arrived at the office, I was greeted by Alane, and then had my first round interview with Amy.  Everyone was so fabulous, friendly and full of positive energy!  It was contagious! On to the next step, the panel interview.  I was relieved to find that several of the faces in the room were familiar.   It made for a much less stressful interview!  A few days later I got an offer from Apex.

Now, I had a big decision to make – stay with E&Y or take on this new opportunity with Apex.  It was a tough decision, but after talking with my family (and pretty much anyone else who would listen!), I realized that what I always liked about my various work places was having a family…or a team.  A team that worked closely together.  One that you could rely on for support and ideas. The idea of working with great people, who are local, and like family, is what finally convinced me to come and work at Apex, and I am so happy that I did!

I am now in month 6 and realize each and every day how lucky I am to be part of such an amazing family!

I really have come “home”.