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brand that captures all that business and makes us a one-stop shop.” In 2003, HRG eclipsed the million-dollar mark in annual revenue. Today, the company is valued at almost triple that, with Event Solutions ac- counting for roughly 61 percent of compa- ny earnings, compared with STS’ 28 percent and Allegis’ 11 percent.
Getting Through Tough Times
Though Sanders estimates the company has experienced a steady growth of about 6 to 10 percent each year, there have been lean periods along the way.
The aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist at- tacks and the stock market crash of 2008 were some of the worst times to be in the events business—but neither was enough to crush HRG. The business stayed afloat through both tragedies, with Sanders able to retain his entire staff.
“After 9/11, all the training we had on the books was cancelled,” Sanders recalls. “People were afraid to fly, and they weren’t sure if they should have a black-tie gala while this was going on in the country. They didn’t want to send the wrong message.”
As for the stock market crash, “It was a big deal for us,” says Sanders, who esti- mates HRG lost $100,000 in revenue during that time. “A very different scenario than 9/11, but all corporate spending was being scrutinized, and companies started cutting back, especially on the training side.”
Interestingly, it was the strength of the nonprofit business that allowed HRG to weather those economic storms, and Sanders says the lost revenue was gained back within six to eight months. “Even in uncertain times, nonprofits still have to do fundraising events,” he explains.
Now, with more than 200 clients around the country and the world—including places like France and Belgium—HRG is looking at various digital initiatives it considers key to its continued success, including making its website more interactive and interfacing for clients, starting a blog, working on search- engine optimization and expanding its pres- ence on social media.
While Sanders is proud of his company’s evolution, he wants to keep HRG a small busi- ness with a commitment to excellence and personal, strategic partnerships with clients. “Over the last 19 years, we’ve had exponential growth,” he says. “We are constantly growing, but it’s controlled growth, because we want to keep the company small and boutique. We have a great team, and we have fun.”•
Freelance writer Mary Sue Iarocci is a former staff reporter for Westfair Communications and The Journal News.
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