Photo credit: WILLIAM DESHAZER
From Louisville Business First
Business of the Year Winner: Alliance Cost Containment
Alliance Cost Containment LLC
Year founded: 1992
Organization description: Cost-reduction firm
Address: 10503 Timberwood Circle, Louisville, KY
Top executive: Miles Lee, CEO
Just 11 years ago, Alliance Cost Containment LLC was a one-person operation with revenue of less than $100,000. But today, the company employs 36 across four field offices —28 here in Louisville — and it expects to top $5 million in revenue.
What’s the secret to the success? Thinking big and taking risks.
CEO Miles Lee, who bought the company in 2007, cashed in retirement funds and went without pay for a while to get the company on its feet.
Lee saw the potential of ACC, which helps companies improve their bottom lines by reducing indirect expenses. ACC reviews dozens of common costs for companies and then works to help the companies decrease those expenditures.
Another business model combines spending and negotiates deals for industry groups. “Through contract negotiations and group purchasing power, we lower cost on fitness equipment, office supplies, janitorial and many other expense areas to provide industry groups with more dollars to invest in their programs and communities,” said Kelly Gold, the company’s director of marketing and branding.
Over the last year, ACC hired 10 new employees, while simultaneously invigorating company culture — one of its proudest accomplishments.
“The ACC office is — and has been — a place where people feel comfortable and able to express their thoughts and ideas on how we can better grow and serve our clients,” Gold said.
This year, Louisville Business First recognized the company as one of the Best Places to Work in Greater Louisville.
It’s partly because ACC encourages employees to be involved in local nonprofits and offers a flexible time-off policy.
“The policy also allows employees to work from home if they feel they can be more productive in that environment, or if they just need a change of scenery for a day,” Gold said. “The program makes a noticeable difference in employee enthusiasm and productivity.”
Employee retention is improving as the company learns how to best integrate new workers, while juggling the quick turnarounds clients expect.
Gold said the company has started using the “Predictive Index” to identify candidates strengths so that ACC can hire the right people for the right jobs.
And that’s good because there’s more expansion coming.
Gold said there is a push for bottom-line growth over the next three years for the company.
“This will be accomplished by the continued aggressive hiring of talented, resourceful and engaging team members who help ACC continue to build in the key client spaces we have spent the past few years refining,” she said. “We will examine other business opportunities as the economic landscape evolves and client needs mature.”
The company prides itself on being nimble and open to anything to improve their business, meet client challenges and exceed expectations.
“The more we grow, the more efficient we will be at helping clients reduce costs, raise their bottom line and increase their valuations,” Gold said.