Interview by Sigrid Tornquist

How do you balance meeting deadlines and running the company within the reasonable hours of the day?

You have to realize that there’s life outside the company, and as soon as you fail to see that, something’s going to suffer. The best way to address that challenge is by proper planning and design. You can design things to be complicated or you can design things to be simple. I think simple is often the best answer.

How do you garner business from architects and contractors?

Architects and contractors are usually aware of what’s being put up in their city. They might see a structure they like that’s got your name on it and they approach you. Your quality speaks for itself. There are many times we are called by contractors to brainstorm and help them with issues with some of our products. Show them your portfolio and give them advice based on the experience you do have.

Sigrid Tornquist is a freelance author and editor based in St. Paul, Minn. She is also the associate editor of InTents magazine, a publication of the Advanced Textiles Association.