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.”
At the 115th Annual Meeting, the Chamber honored nine community members with our annual leadership awards. We will be highlighting one award winner each week. 
Ben has served on the Chamber Board of Directors since 2010. Over the past year, he has been instrumental in helping the Chamber improve its financial footing, providing solid financial guidance and working diligently with Chamber staff.
Hamrick is chief executive officer at Johnson Price Sprinkle PA, a leading accounting firm in Western North Carolina, providing innovative financial solutions created specifically for small to mid-sized businesses. He is active in numerous community organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Rotary and ABYSA.
