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INVESTING IN THE REGION
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By Debra Solomon Baker
 TAMI MARTENS
principal and chief business development officer,
CI Select
A sophomore at Christian Brothers College sinks in his chair, about to begin a math exam. Miles away, a Forest Park sprinter relaxes at a park bench, while an administrative assistant at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center returns to her desk after lunch.
It may seem odd that a company called Corporate Interiors supplied the seats for the individuals at these three locales, none of which fall into the “corporate” category.
Therein rests the rationale for a name change.
After twenty years in business, Corporate Interiors, a full-service furnishing dealership in the office, educational, and government marketplace, has adopted the name CI Select.
“CI Select was a natural choice,” says Tami Martens, principal and chief business development officer. “We currently use that name for our audio-visual business, and we liked it enough that we decided to make it our new brand.
“Having the ciselect.com domain name will make it easier for our customers to find us in this ever-changing era of the World Wide Web.”
Martens has witnessed a “little homespun story” grow into a major success. The company survived the post 9/11 furniture slump, boldly made acquisitions during periods of recession, and now stands as
St. Louis’s second largest in commercial furniture. It is also recognized as a leader in the K-12 education market, providing furniture for every room in a school, interactive classroom audio-visual equipment, and digital surveillance.
This year’s purchase of The Invironmentalists, a commercial flooring company, from Koch Industries in Wichita, Kan., added about $11 million to Corporate Interior’s already $26 million business and brought in about 70 employees.
Now, CI Select has six divisions (flooring, office, audio visual, education, healthcare, and government) and, according to Martens, it is this diversification which differentiates them from the competition.
“We have structured our company around each individual market we serve,” she says. “We have created our teams to provide products and services tailored specifically to meet the needs of each market area.”
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE INSIGHTS
WHICH PROFESSIONAL BOOK WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO YOUR COLLEAGUES, AND WHY?
“My pick would be ‘Money Ball’ by Michael Lewis. It is a great story describing why Billy Beane and the Oakland A’s are so good with such a low payroll.
Also, it is a great business case in showing how one can sort through myth and
preconceptions to focus on what really
determines success.”
DAVID KEMPER
chairman, president and CEO,
Commerce Bancshares Inc.
“‘Built to Last’ by Jim Collins. The book is a ‘how to’ explanation for discovering your core purpose and values as an organization and also inspiring your employees with the long-term future direction of the company. Loaded with real-life examples and anecdotes, the book also answers the question ‘why install core purpose and values at your company?’ Mr. Collins makes a convincing case for organizations that wish to prosper and enjoy long-term success.”
MATT MATTHEWS
president and CEO,
Crown Optical
“A recent book that I just read is ‘If you’re Not Out Selling you’re being Outsold’ written by Michael St. Lawrence and Steve Johnson. It is a good book that gives you a strong insight on how to sell your ideas with a positive attitude and confidence in your product and your skills.”
PETER J. GENOVESE
CEO,
UMB Bank St. Louis |
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