Chamber recognizes John Miles of integritive as Entrepreneur of the Month
April 2, 2012
The Chamber is pleased to recognize Entrepreneur of the Month John Miles of integritive for being a critical piece of building the entrepreneurial scene in Asheville.
“We have watched integritive continue to grow and thrive despite a difficult economy,” said Pam Lewis, the Chamber’s Director of Entrepreneurship. “We are proud to have John Miles firmly rooted in the Asheville community and helping build the bigger brand of creative talent in Asheville.”
John launched integritive in 2001 as an Asheville firm specializing in integrated online strategies which includes web design and development, strategic planning, social media and e-marketing. Since then, the company has grown to 24 living wage certified jobs with local and global clients including The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, Mission Health and the Asheville Regional Airport locally and, on a global scale, long-standing client blues legend Taj Mahal.
“Ten years ago, I wanted to start a different kind of company,” John said. “One that would not only provide a job for me and a few others, but a company that would create, and uphold, a values-driven culture able to deliver exceptional outcomes to our clients. I’m particularly proud of the fact that we have surpassed those initial goals, employing over 24 effective, positive and collaborative individuals that have helped me co-create an incredibly happy work place for all.”
John has infused values into every aspect of the company, starting with the name: “‘Integritive’ comes from combining ‘integration’ (lots of services under one roof) with ‘integrity’ (an all-too-rare commodity in marketing).” But being a values-driven organization goes way beyond a name.
With a company tagline of “how we do anything is how we do everything,” integritive is dedicated to sustainability (from solar web hosting and a green facility to staff commuting via alternative transportation) and has a strong commitment to service.
“We’re committed to service not because it pays the bills. And not because you expect it. But simply because it’s what we expect of ourselves.”
“Everyone at integritive has an entrepreneur mindset,” John said. “We are all responsible for innovative solutions to client riddles. Everyone understands that if we find solutions for our clients, we are helping them grow and in return, so do we.”
That inclusive approach earned integritive recent recognition on the WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces alongside companies such as Groupon, Zappos.com and hulu. The WorldBlu List is a global list honoring organizations that operate according to ten principles of organizational democracy, such as transparency and accountability.
What’s next on the horizon? “It’s all about adding value to the community and sustaining the mindful, purposeful growth we’ve identified as our path,” John said. “We’ve adopted a long term focus in our strategy that doesn’t echo the ‘fast growth’ mindset so often found in tech or web companies. We’re in it for the long haul and we’re on track to grow in the strategy, web design and development, social media/online PR, and mobile spaces.”