February 6, 2013 – Atlanta, Georgia – In 2006, three friends and co-workers from the consulting industry did what many considered unthinkable: They walked away from successful careers with a big firm and started over. Founding partners Brian Betkowski, Nigel Zelcer, and Chris Reinking launched Jabian Consulting in Atlanta with the idea of creating the firm they wished existed – the one they would work for if they could, the one they thought clients were waiting for.
“It was a gamble,” Zelcer says, “but one that was definitely worth it.” Here’s a look back:
2006 – The company hit several milestones within that first year: Jabian began serving three Fortune 500 clients; it defined its now well-known Jabian Foundation MethodologyTM for Complex Software Delivery; and by the end of 2006, it had doubled in size.
2007 – The second year proved to be equally exciting, as Jabian began serving two additional Fortune 500 clients, enhanced its Services Portfolio to include Demand Management, and, by the end of the year, doubled in size yet again.
2008 – Jabian continued major development within the firm while also setting new goals for involvement in the Atlanta community. 2008 brought a new office in Atlanta, additional service offerings for clients, and membership on the boards of multiple Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) societies. The employee count increased to 20. In community outreach projects, Jabian joined Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and also packaged over 1,000 meals for the hungry through Project Open Hand.
2009 – This was a year of continued recognition for Jabian, named by Consulting Magazine and Georgia Trend as a “Best Company to Work For,” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a “Best Place to Work,” and by Creative Growth Group as the recipient of the Client Advisors Award for community involvement. Jabian launched its employee-led charitable foundation, Jabian Cares, as well as an industry executive roundtable, the Atlanta Process Executives Roundtable (APER). Jabian employees became even more involved with the Technology Association of Georgia, supporting TAG with a platinum sponsorship and joining TAG’s Board of Directors. By the end of the year, Jabian had reached 40 employees.
2010 – The firm launched several exciting programs, including its Atlanta Marketing Executive Roundtable (MERt) and its Summer Internship program. The Association for Strategic Planning appointed Jabian to its Board of Directors. The TAG Education Collaborative appointed Jabian’s Chris Reinking to its Board of Directors, and Jabian partnered with TAG to launch its International Business Society, chaired by Jabian. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) invited Jabian to present at its 20th Annual Atlanta Conference. Consulting Magazine selected Jabian to speak about its industry-leading experience with governance and also ranked the firm 12th nationwide as a “Best Small Firm to Work For.” Jabian received the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Pacesetter Award” for a second time. The Atlanta Business Chronicle also named Jabian’s Brian Betkowski one of Atlanta’s “40 Up and Comers Under 40”.
2011-2012 – The last two years were very busy for Jabian. In 2011, the firm launched its Atlanta Change Management Executive Roundtable (CMert). Also in 2011, Jabian Cares raised more than $10,000 in its first-ever fundraising event, the Jabian Healthy Heart Challenge. The firm’s growth, leadership, and success were again recognized multiple times: National Association of Business Resources “Best & Brightest” Elite Award in 2011 and 2012; IMPACT Award Finalist for “Outstanding Corporate Volunteer Program” for Jabian Cares in 2011 and 2012;Business Leader Magazine’s Top Small Business in Atlanta in 2011 and 2012;Consulting Magazine’s 8th nationwide “Best Small Firms to Work For” in 2011 and “Seven to Watch” in 2012; Vault’s Top 50 Firms nationwide in both 2011 and 2012; one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Best Places to Work” in 2011 and 2012.
Last year, in 2012, Jabian reached one of its biggest milestones yet – launching an office in Dallas, Texas. There, the company plans not only to expand the consulting business, but also to get to know the local community and extend the Jabian Cares program. “We are really excited about our involvement with several Dallas-area organizations: the Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Dallas, and Tech Wildcatters – where our staff will play a mentoring role,” says Betkowski.
“We are proud of the dedicated employees who make up the Jabian family, as well as grateful to the local communities where we’ve had the opportunity to serve,” adds Betkowski. With close to 90 employees, and two U.S. locations, year number eight should be another good one.