Honored
Leader: Michael Lacey, CEO/President
Company Name: Digineer, Inc.
Location: St. Louis Park, Minn.
Nature of Business: Technology consulting
Founded: 1998
Revenue: $7.6 million
Growth Rate (2005): 77 percent
Number of Employees: 68
Average Tenure: 3.5 years
Digineer is a technology consulting firm started in 1998 by then-29-year-old Michael Lacey. Unlike many technology consulting firms, Digineer pays its consultants a salary rather than a project-based fee. Because employees spend most of their time at the client's location, Lacey realized he needed to build a sense of team, allegiance and belonging among his dispersed workforce. To achieve this, Digineer dedicates more than $100,000 a year for education, training and social events for its 89 employees. For example, "Digi-U" is a virtual university providing computer training and technology certification as well as classes in time management, health and wellness and other non-tech topics. Lacey fosters a sense of team and community through activities like an Iron Chef competition, snow tubing and family picnics.