Challenge

Having taken over the family business from her mother in 2012, Tara Macdonald had seen Biologica grow from a small team of four to a highly successful and sought after lab with over 30 employees. They were smart, keen, and passionate but, as demand for their work continued to grow and revenue increased, profits kept shrinking. New processes and organizational structure needed to be implemented to achieve a sustainable growth model for the company. In addition, up until recently Tara had been the only leader in the organization, but it was becoming apparent that scaling this business needed more resources and support than one person could provide.

Tara’s goals included:

  • Increase net profitability by 5-10%.
  • Double annual revenue over the next five years.
  • Define a vision and comprehensive plan for sustainable business growth.
  • Implement an optimized organizational structure and core business processes to effectively support the growth of the business.
  • Achieve better work-life balance by freeing up Tara from operational commitments.

Solution

As a first step, Biologica engaged Bellrock for strategic planning which uncovered the need for implementation of foundational systems throughout the business.

Strategic Planning

Biologica engaged with Bellrock to lead their annual strategic planning and facilitate ongoing quarterly sessions. This collaboration ensured the leadership team stayed focused on top priorities and made critical decisions effectively.

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Implementation

Bellrock worked with the Biologica team for approximately six months to assist with the development and implementation of foundational systems. We:

  • Refined the organizational structure to clarify new leadership roles and succession pathways for the team.
  • Developed a company-wide process flowchart that clarified staff responsibilities, identified gaps, and guided the team in documenting essential processes and procedures. We supported the team in creating additional flows for other key processes within the organization.
  • Created job descriptions for all senior positions and facilitated the implementation of standardized, accurate job descriptions throughout the organization.
  • Implemented a revised recruiting, onboarding, and performance management system to enhance employee engagement and effectiveness.
  • Defined a comprehensive compensation philosophy.
  • Established communication systems to enhance information sharing and provide a platform for effective decision-making.
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Management Training

The newly minted Biologica leadership team attended Bellrock’s Management Foundations and Advanced Management training programs, and new and upcoming managers continue to attend the program. The tools and concepts presented in this training form the foundation of a shared language and toolkit for Biologica managers to use when working together to achieve company goals.

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Results

One Year Later

  • A 12% increase in revenue year over year.
  • Improved project management processes, resulting in meeting deadlines 99% of the time, achieving high quality control rates, and greater project profitability.
  • A fully implemented leadership team to support Tara and Biologica in the next phase of growth. The right people in the right management seats for each department with structured strategic planning and performance management systems to keep them all on track and accountable to the right results.
  • A robust communication system, including highly functional meetings that result in clear decisions and tactical action plans.

“Initially skeptical of business consultants, I only met with Gabe out of respect for a friend’s referral. I’m so glad I did! The Bellrock team has exceeded my expectations, continually challenging me and my team to improve. Their expertise in strategic planning has been invaluable, allowing us to tackle key issues while gaining new perspectives. Afterwards, their guidance in implementation eliminated the distracting “noise” and helped us focus on making the needed improvements to our systems. And their training has spurred both professional and personal growth within our management team. Investing in my business through Bellrock has been the most impactful decision I’ve made as a business owner. I’m transitioning from being an overworked business owner to focusing on my strengths as a visionary, uniting my team, and shaping our future. Thank you, Bellrock!”

Tara Macdonald, President, Biologica

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