Celebrating Successes: Purcell I.T.

If you haven’t heard about succession planning, or don’t know yet that it is as important to a business owner as it is to the British monarchy, then this is a story for you.

Succession planning usually is seen from the viewpoint of a business owner, putting in place a strategy to exit his business in the best possible way; whether it be passing it to another generation, selling it externally, engaging an employee/management buyout, or simply removing assets and closing down, having earned a good living out of it. This story however is told from a different perspective.

Luke Nichols is a young Aussie, now fulfilling his dream of living in the champagne powder mecca of Golden BC. Having identified what he describes as a ‘1/4 life crisis’ he headed from Perth Australia for the Canadian Rockies and the East Kootenays in search of the best powder in the world, and with only fun in mind. He found both, but unlike many other Aussies chasing the snow, he also found, in Golden, a place he wanted to call home and a job that became a business opportunity.

As an employee of an I.T. company based in Golden, there was a paradigm shift of his objectives from fun to focusing on a challenge. At the same time, the owner of the company also identified his own desire to move on from running the business and made a proposal that Luke should take over the company and make it his own. Without hesitation that proposal was met with a resounding ‘yes’ as Luke already understood the business, and more importantly saw possibilities for its future.

Having never bought or run a business before, Luke took advantage of KRIC’s free business coaching program to find the advice he needed to navigate the purchase negotiations and formulate his own plan for the future of the business. This culminated in him completing the purchase of the business and re-launching Purcell I.T. on January 1^st, 2012 with a brand new identity, eye-catching logo and trajectory for the business.

Now in the hot seat, Luke still offers the traditional repair, servicing and network services to domestic homes, but is putting the spotlight on contract partnerships with key companies in Golden to facilitate their network and I.T. system management requirements. His attention to providing an efficient and responsive service ensures that Golden businesses keep on running smoothly, and the demand for the services of Purcell I.T. is increasing.

As a new business owner, Luke has identified the cons as well as the pros, and cites the management of an increase in demand for his services, additional paperwork and taking time to make sure he is working towards planned objectives and the big picture, rather than the just the detail of day-to-day operations. His KRIC business coach helps him to achieve that by encouraging him to plan projects and set deadlines, and providing regular reviews on those activities.

One thing is for sure that the succession plan of one business owner has not only provided a challenge for a previous employee which fits perfectly alongside his life goals, but has also spawned a revitalised business that contributes to the economy of the East Kootenays by providing important support to other businesses in a small town, and the potential for job creation in the near future.

Just to plug one of Luke's other passions, visit http://goldenactivetransportation.com