Huston Patterson, LPC Merge Cultures In A Transformed Business In 2022, Lewisburg Printing Company (LPC) merged with Huston Patterson (HP), allowing them to focus on custom- ers’ wants and needs while maintaining their core business model. Creating and sustaining a united front with a strate- gic business model that continues to build an innovative, reliable, and motivating culture has been no small task. LPC & HP rose to the challenge by strengthening their team’s growth in the industry by implementing a comple- mentary value system and combined business practices to build and maintain a strong foundation. Merging your company with another can be an excit- ing experience that leads to further success and growth if done correctly. Instead of preserving your company’s old values, look for ways to transform your business to reach new heights while applying community values, transparent communications, cohesive technology, strategic hiring, and the overall blending of company standards. Employ these five tactics to successfully combine the mission statements of your transformed company and, more importantly, learn how to unify your cultures to cre- ate an impenetrable business model that stands the test of time. 1. Building Community For most companies, the framework for success relies on how much they promote and value community. LPC and HP aim to motivate employees by creating transpar- ent messaging for the entire company. Building community does not happen overnight, but keeping every employee informed of changes, events, and policies is a great place to start. Hale Hawkins, CEO of Lewisburg Printing Company, de- scribed LPC’s culture as one that puts the wants and needs of the customer first, saying, “We have built a strong and hardworking team that makes that happen through world- class service.” Tonya Kowa-Morelli, Chief Operations Officer of Huston Patterson and Lewisburg Printing, added to that sense of community and service, saying, “We have always operated Huston Patterson as a small to mid-size company with the values of a family-owned business but with the drive and organization of a large company. Since merging with LPC, we have built an even stronger foundation. The values be- tween both organizations are very similar, giving us a lot to build upon.” Consider implementing the following modes of commu- nication to ensure your business community is always on the same page: • Social Media Presence: Showcase real people through videos and .gifs. For example, LPC utilizes LinkedIn by highlighting packaging, while HP highlights its employ- ees in its digital content. • Company newsletters: Create and promote human in- terest articles and community outreach opportunities to
help foster connections and keep employees informed. • Digital TV Screens: To keep employees who have a second shift later in the day in the know, TV screens can spotlight company updates, including marketing campaigns, important announcements, and sign-on bonus opportunities when offering referrals. • Events: Company events are a great way to build com- munity! For example, LPC and HP held a chili cookoff encouraging employees to put a dollar in a jar for a local charitable organization. The ownership then matched the donation, and the total funds supported their community giving efforts. Building a corporate community creates a strong sense of unity and comradery, so everyone feels welcomed, in- When merging companies, it’s essential to establish transparency from the beginning of the process. To do this, a company should highlight its wins to its employees, its shortcomings to showcase how merging will help fill gaps, and its plans to bring the company cultures together to make them stronger than before. When it came time for LPC and HP to merge, Kowa-Mo- relli of HP provided transparency through numbers, up-to- date knowledge to people working on the floor, communi- ty resources, and customer support. Hawkins of LPC said, “working with Radical Equity Partners on the merger gave us an added layer of experience, expertise, and support that allowed our team to continue growing our compa- nies throughout the process.” Through collaboration and keeping lines of communication open, transparency also helped keep the entire team accountable and aware of merger updates throughout their departments. By establishing transparency from day one, relation- ships with employees stayed intact because of a built-in awareness – providing an opportunity for all employees to discover how company cultures can band together to create a solid foundation that benefits all. 3. Streamlining Technology In today’s technologically advanced world, streamlining technology throughout a company has become essential – a merger is no exception. Establishing a streamlined pro- cess for how technology is used throughout the company is vital, with consistent messaging being paramount. Con- sider these different messaging systems to develop and sustain connections within your workforce: cluded, and part of the team. 2. Establishing Transparency • Salesforce and IM/Bulletin Board: This messaging can be used by all employees to receive postings of what’s going on. Such communications can include how to use machines, ways to apply for benefits, and bulletin messages to start or end the workday. • Connect with HR: Easily connect with employees by creating a simple process to sign up for employee ben- efits, schedule meetings, etc. • Marketing and Innovation: Establish consistent mes- saging regarding company communications, such as CONTINUED ON PAGE 66
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September 18, 2023
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