Focusing on the big picture in CEO Next

Focusing on the big picture in CEO Next

Minuteman Press Uptown is doing great. It’s the largest black-owned printer in Minnesota, the only BIPIOC-owned union print shop in the Upper Midwest and the second-largest Minuteman Press franchise in the country. But owner Frank Brown is he’s looking to do better.

When owner Frank acquired the company, he plugged in his own values, raised wages, developed a union among his employees and took it from $200,000 in sales to $1 million in just three years. He recently moved into a new space in Northeast Minneapolis that has ample room for all manner of cutting-edge printing equipment and space to grow.

Not happy to rest on his laurels, Frank said he is pushing for further growth. He joined CEO Next with some seriously ambitious revenue goals for the year and big plans for the future of his company.

“If you think you’re doing great, you can do better. You can always do better and CEO Next helped me do better,” said Frank.

Marketing was one thing he looked to his peers and researchers from the Edward Lowe Foundation to help him figure out. Like many business owners, there were plenty of day-to-day issues and opportunities that sidetracked his marketing work, so it was never something he could really get ahead of. He even hired consultants to enhance his marketing capacity—they provided some nice presentations, but not enough technical guidance.

That all changed in one session from CEO Next speaker Linda Hofflander, a business consultant with deep marketing experience. Her guidance and the overall CEO Next coursework and research helped Frank step back and work toward his big goals.

“I think she influenced my business more than anybody, really,” said Frank. “I can find myself busy in my day-to-day and marketing is not getting touched or sales and that's where I need to focus because that's what the business needs right now. I think CEO Next gave me more focus. It’s helped me separate from the day-to-day.”

He said a new marketing hire is already implementing all kinds of strategies developed during the training and uncovered in deep research and consulting from The Edward Lowe Foundation, which partners with Hennepin County to work with CEO Next cohort members.

Frank said the facilitated group discussions with fellow business leaders were also valuable.

“There are a lot of people that have a lot of experience who brought that to the table,” said Frank. “You’re talking to people that are actually going through the same things you are and you're trying to help them out too.”

He called out MBMentors, an Elevate Hennepin advisor that leads the CEO Next meetings, as great facilitators who “really know how to run a meeting.” That was important for Frank, who wanted to get to the key information, not just chit chat.

MBMentors co-founder Art Shore said it was a great group with a lot to talk about.

"MBMentors is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with these second-stage CEOs on their growth journey,” said Art. “Our volunteer facilitators do an outstanding job of guiding the monthly peer-to-peer roundtables. Providing the opportunity for everyone to learn, share and contribute to each session.”

Frank is on track to meet his big revenue goals for the year and has bigger plans for next year. His advice for other successful CEOs and business leaders: get into CEO Next.

“CEO Next is just a no brainer. Just do it,” said Frank. “You’re going to get a lot out of it.”