Dear leader,
After years of intellectual struggle, I am finally able to say, welcome to my blog. I've been a leader for most of my life, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. Yet, until five years ago, I never reflected upon the reasons for choosing and being chosen to lead. Now, through this reflective stage, I can consciously verbalize why people are willing to let me have influence on their lives. Thus, the intention of this blog is to share these insights with you because the decisions made through our influence as leaders is important to you, our families, and our communities. I want to help, and I trust this blog will provide some guidance along your journey. -Kirk
ABOUT KIRK
I assumed leadership of a $4m family owned business in 1997, at the age of 26, after completing my undergraduate work at The Citadel and an MBA in Entrepreneurship at Kennesaw State University. My father (founder) offered his “point of view” on a regular basis, and I was naturally cognizant that I had been given the keys to the family’s assets and granted full authority to operate the business.
As the second generation leader, my strategic vision was to establish the company as a premier choice for the southeast, and achieving sustainable organic growth via:
- Acquiring market share focused on integrity and mission, vision and values alignment
- Developing a customer oriented culture driven by dependability, variety and service excellence
- Motivating employees to be committed to integrity and trusting relationships with customers
My initial decisions and steps to be made were:
- How to brand a company that was relatively unknown outside of Atlanta
- Balancing the long-term strategic plans with short-term tactical needs
- Establishing and directing priorities
- Maintaining our core strength while changing the culture
We began acquiring new customers within thirty days of initial customer contact. Within 1 year we established interstate operations, and we passed $10 million in sales in the 2nd year. By 2009 we had reached $50 million in sales.
Until 2008, no infusion of capital was required to achieve this organic growth – just visionary leadership and management with integrity across everything we did. Our growth came at the expense of our competitors – by taking market share fueled by our passionate pursuit of operational excellence and grounded in unyielding integrity.
In 2005 I came to believe that a national redistribution network of regional companies would further strengthen our business through a national reach. I facilitated the development of the network with five regional companies, with combined revenues of +600m. We each retained ownership in our companies, but benefited through buying arrangements and national contracts. I was elected President, and served from 2006-2009.
In 2007 our company was approached for acquisition by a member of our redistribution network. With the family’s encouragement I facilitated the negotiation of the proposal. While the final offer was three times higher than most acquisition deals at the time, in the end the family decided against.
In 2008 I began a succession plan to turn over the company to my younger brother. I installed him as President in 2009, while I served as CFO to remain close. We completed the transition at the end of 2009, and I left to pursue my own Chapter Two.
Since then I have been taking advantage of the opportunity to explore my career options. I have completed a year of doctorate work in business, and consulted with small to mid-market companies. I have also initiated an executive development framework specifically focused on next generation leaders and business owners of privately held firms ranging from start-ups to $300m in revenues. Currently, the framework is embraced by an international organization with 27 chapters worldwide.
Kirk McMillan is a member of the following associations and organizations:
- Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership
- CEO Netweavers – Atlanta, Georgia
- International Family Enterprise Research Association
- Academy of Management
- Technology Association of Georgia
- Cox Family Enterprise Center
