MICHIGAN 50 COMPANIES TO WATCH-
                     AWARD WINNER

Project Service Inc. was a recipient of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch award in Lansing, MI. This is an awards program celebrating second-stage entrepreneurs in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation.

Snapshot:

Project Service, Inc. (PSI) a provider of security services, labor outsourcing and product sales to industrial and commercial customers, was originally funded with personal savings and a business bank loan. By offering all these services under one roof, PSI reduces its customer's costs and allows them to consolidate their purchase orders and accounts payable.

The Push to Diversify:

PSI's growth is being fueled by the trend of large businesses adopting the "do what we do best and outsource the rest" philosophy. It began by changing air filters for an industrial customer and expanded by providing building maintenance and other janitorial services. It eventually opened a labor outsourcing division. Its security division, which PSI launched in 1995 with the goal of providing an integrated service package to customers, was so successful that by 2003 PSI became the largest security firm based in Upper Michigan. The company entered another market in 2002 by acquiring a paper products and restaurant supply business.

More Value, Less Cost:

The company's diverse mix of services provides its clients with added value at lower cost. The mix can eliminate duplicative costs such as phone lines, on-site supervision and office trailers. PSI's strategy is to serve clients within a 500-mile radius of its Iron Mountain base of operations. "We always hire from the local areas we service," says Cini. "That helps foster community support and finds us even more opportunities."

Weekly Updates:

PSI's management regularly shares financial information and other business developments with all employees. Managers write an internal newsletter called The A Street Journal - a report that keeps employees informed about the company highlights for the just-concluded week. "It's a great communication tool and keeps everyone excited about new opportunities," says Cini.

Connecting Online:

Employees at all of the company's work sites communicate via the Internet, which also facilitates efficient reporting on client assignments. Managers use the Web to announce changes in company policy or safety rules so that field workers can access and apply the information quickly.

The Role of Technology:

Even though the company provides some low-tech services such as janitorial work, technology pervades every aspect of the business. Software helps PSI control inventory levels; automatic reordering keeps important products on hand. Security guards use technology when making rounds at clients' facilities, logging checkpoints and downloading the information to a central database. And billing software reduces time on invoices and helps the company monitor accounts payable.

 

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psi@projectserviceinc.com

180 Traders Mine Road
P.O. Box 1016
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
Phone: (906) 779-2351
Fax: (906) 779-2350

1-800-962-5615 Ext. PSI