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 Company: eCommerce Industries (ECi), Fort Worth, TX
Company Description: ECi is a leading provider of business management & e-commerce software for growing & mid-size companies in niche markets. ECi solutions are known for a combination of technological innovation & top-ranked customer support; these strengths fuel the efficiency and expansion of companies in retail & distribution-oriented industries such as hardware, janitorial/sanitation & office supplies.
Nomination Category: Management Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Executive - Computer Software
Nomination Title: Ron Books: A Case Study in Effective Leadership
- Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2007 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
If a man is judged by his effects, then consider the resume of Ron Books, COO
for eCommerce Industries (ECi). In his 9-year tenure, Mr. Books has transformed
ECi:
• From a company whose development department was housed in a barn, to an IT
conglomerate with subsidiaries in five countries and customers on four
continents
• From 50 employees to over 1200
• From a company whose operating budget consisted of whatever was in the
owner’s pocket, to a technology property that last year sparked a three-way
bidding war between high-profile capital groups
• From a software start-up, to an undeniable force in the dozen industries we
serve — overall, a company poised to become the SAP of the specialty business
world
It is a change that is undeniable, and one that many in this company attribute
primarily to the soft-spoken, engaged leadership of Mr. Books. For in a results-
driven world, Mr. Books was the chief architect of a growth strategy that has
steadily increased ECi market share throughout the last decade. Ron Books and
his team led ECi to a banner year in 2007, with more than double the sales of
our nearest competitor.
ECi’s growth strategy is this: seek out and acquire industry-specific software
properties with untapped potential. But through acquisitions that act more as
supportive partnerships, ECi shifts the focus of these companies from mere
survival to a higher aspiration: to become the best technology provider in
their industry. In terms of the software itself, this means a massive influx
of capital, doubling and often tripling development budgets to bring next-
generation systems to market swiftly. ECi also enhances current systems with
the best that modern technology has to offer: e-commerce, business
intelligence, mobile logistics, etc.
But more than just capital backing, ECi offers its subsidiaries the guidance of
a world leader in technology. Where management practices were lacking, Mr.
Books carried out top-to-bottom review of operations, personally ushering them
into efficiency. Where technical support teams lacked accountability, ECi
instituted customer feedback programs that have steadily improved customer
satisfaction.
And where promotional campaigns were low quality and sporadic, Mr. Books has
lent these companies the full force of ECi’s marketing division. ECi
subsidiaries benefit from intensely targeted coverage of all relevant print
media, industry events, direct mail, out-bound telemarketing, webinar
resources, and training conferences that consistently yield after-market
prospects. And because a technology company cannot afford to lag in high-tech
marketing, ECi aggressively pursues early-adopters through paid search and
targeted dialogue email — all streamlined by a Web-based lead qualification
system.
And all of it achieved through the initiative of Mr. Books.
His effects are undeniable. As Mr. Books coordinated the management of
four new subsidiaries last year, ECi revenues more than doubled since 2006.
And, as the lynchpin of a leadership team that carried this company through the
depths of the dot-com bust, ECi’s growth horizon remains strong, now and for
decades to come.
- List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
1: http://www.ofdmag.com/NewsLetterStory.asp?
ID=5929&TYPE=NL&NLID=5012&ENID=522
2: http://www.idealercentral.com/archives/id_mar08.pdf
3: http://www.eci2.com/company/news/pressrel/prdetail.asp?id=157
4: http://www.imagesourcemag.com/article.asp?id=2000&type=article
5: http://www.eci2.com/assets/support/supportsurveyreport.mht
- Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:
As Chief Operating Officer of ECi, Ron oversees internal operations, management
and development. Previously with Lucent Technologies, Ron joined ECi‘s Online
Office Supplies business unit in late 1999. Ron was promoted to President of
OOSC in 2000 before successfully selling off that unit in 2001. He served as
Vice President of Sales for ECi, and was promoted to Senior Vice President of
Operations in 2003. Ron holds a B.A. in Accounting from University of Dayton.
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