Life at Definian

CHICAGO, IL, January 29, 2025 — Premiere International (Now Definian), a global leader in technology and data solutions, today announced the acquisition of Analytiks, an advanced data analytics firm. The strategic acquisition expands Definian's capabilities in transforming complex enterprise data into actionable business value.

Analytiks, a Colorado-based business intelligence and data analytics company, has established itself as a trusted partner in helping organizations harness their data assets to drive growth and operational excellence. The company's expertise spans data visualization, data science, business intelligence, data integration, and governance frameworks that enable real-time decision-making for enterprise clients.

The integration will strengthen Premier International (Now Definian)analytics practice, with Analytiks' CEO Mathieu Stark assuming the role of Practice Lead for Data Value Realization. Under Premier International's (Now Definian) umbrella, the combined organization will continue serving Analytiks' prestigious client portfolio, which includes leading global technology enterprises.

"This acquisition represents a significant milestone in Premier International (Now Definian) mission to help clients unlock the full potential of their data assets," said Craig Wood, CEO of Premier International (Now Definian). "Analytiks' proven expertise in real-time analytics and data visualization complements our existing capabilities, enabling us to deliver even more comprehensive, innovative solutions to our global client base. We are thrilled to welcome Mathieu and the Analytiks team to Definian."

Mathieu Stark, Founder and CEO of Analytiks, added, "By joining forces with Premiere International (Now Definian), we can dramatically scale our impact and deliver enhanced value to clients worldwide. Our shared vision of data-driven transformation and core values makes this partnership particularly compelling, and I'm excited to lead the Data Value Realization practice in this next phase of growth."

The acquisition follows Premiere International's (Now Definian) successful integration of Information Asset in 2023, further solidifying the company's position as a comprehensive provider of data value chain solutions for enterprises globally.

Jane Buckley, Vice President of Renovus Capital Partners ,Premier International's (Now Definian) growth capital partner, noted, "This strategic acquisition aligns perfectly with our vision of establishing Definian as the market leader in enterprise data solutions. The newly combined entity creates a formidable player in the data space that will drive significant value for clients."

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For more information on Premier International (Now Definian) Data Value Realization offering, please visit this page on our website.

About Premier International (Now Definian)

Premier International (Now Definian) helps organizations unleash the full potential of their data. Our expertise in data-led business transformation, data fundamentals and migration, risk management and data value realization helps companies maximize the value of their data, empowering them to achieve success across the entire data value chain. Having successfully completed thousands of projects since our founding in 1985, many of the world’s leading brands, technology companies, and system integrators rely on Premier International (Now Definian) to solve their most complex data challenges. For more information, please visit premier-international.com.

About Renovus Capital Partners

Founded in 2010, Renovus Capital Partners is a lower middle market private equity firm specializing in the Knowledge and Talent industries. From its base in the Philadelphia area, Renovus manages over $1 billion across its three sector focused funds and other strategies. The firm’s current portfolio includes over 25 U.S. based businesses specializing in education and training, healthcare services, technology services and professional services. Renovus typically partners with founder-led businesses, leveraging its experience within the industry and access to debt and equity capital to make operational improvements, recruit top talent, pursue add-on acquisitions and oversee strategic growth initiatives. For more information, please visit renovuscapital.com.

‍Definian Makes the 2024 Inc. 5000, Through Continued Growth and Success

NEW YORK, August 13, 2024 – Inc. revealed today that Premier International (Now Definian) ranks No. 3604 on the 2024 Inc. 5000, its annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Under Armour, Timberland, Oracle, Patagonia, and many other household-name brands gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.  

"Making the Inc. 5000 list for the second time is a testament to the value we deliver to our clients and the dedication and expertise of our team at Definian,” states Craig Wood, CEO of Definian. “This achievement is exceptionally rare for a 39-year-old company and underscores our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional data services across the entire data value chain that drive success for our clients. We are honored to be recognized among such esteemed companies and will continue to prioritize excellence and innovation, ensuring our clients achieve their goals with the support of our talented team."  

The Inc. 5000 class of 2024 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges. Among this year’s top 500 companies, the average median three-year revenue growth rate is 1,637 percent. In all, this year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 874,458 jobs to the economy over the past three years.  

For complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, location, and other criteria, go to www.inc.com/inc5000.

“One of the greatest joys of my job is going through the Inc. 5000 list,” says Mike Hofman, who recently joined Inc. as editor-in-chief. “To see all of the intriguing and surprising ways that companies are transforming sectors, from health care and AI to apparel and pet food, is fascinating for me as a journalist and storyteller. Congratulations to this year’s honorees, as well, for growing their businesses fast despite the economic disruption we all faced over the past three years, from supply chain woes to inflation to changes in the workforce.”  

‍About Definian

Definian is a data services company that helps organizations unleash the full potential of their data. The company delivers services across the entire data value chain, including data strategy, data value realization and the critical areas of data fundamentals that are the backbone of maximizing data value. Driven by our values which we refer to as “The Definian Way”, we are relentlessly focused on our clients and their success, and we have a great time working together to deliver on our promises. We believe that recruiting and retaining top talent are key to serving our clients and are proud to have our culture recognized by others as well. In addition to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies, Definian has been named one of The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in Chicago, one of Crain’s top 100 Best Places to Work in Chicago, and one of the Built In Best Places to Work, both in the US and Chicago.

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000  

‍Methodology  

Companies on the 2024 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2020 to 2023. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2020. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2023. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2020 is $100,000; the minimum for 2023 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places.  

‍About Inc.

Inc. Business Media is the leading multimedia brand for entrepreneurs. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of our community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating our future. Inc.’s award-winning work achieves a monthly brand footprint of more than 40 million across a variety of channels, including events, print, digital, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Its proprietary Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since its launch as the Inc. 100 in 1982, analyzes company data to rank the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The recognition that comes with inclusion on this and other prestigious Inc. lists, such as Female Founders and Power Partners, gives the founders of top businesses the opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com.  

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, to be held from October 16 to 18 in Palm Desert, California, please visit http://conference.inc.com/.  

We’ve got some amazing news to share. 🎉 Premier International(Now Definian) has been recognized by Built In, who just announced their 2024 Best Places to Work Awards! And guess what? We didn’t just make the list once—we’ve been recognized in multiple categories, showcasing our commitment to fostering an exceptional work environment and employee-centric culture.

The company has secured coveted positions in the following Built In Awards:

• Chicago's Best Midsize Places to Work (#5)
• Chicago's Best Places to Work (#14)
• US Best Midsize Places to Work (#31)
• US Best Places to Work (#59)

This is truly a testament to the incredible values-driven environment we’ve built together—a place where everyone feels valued, supported, and excited to come to work every day.

What got us here? Well, Built In’s criteria isn’t just about the perks (though our snack game is pretty strong). They look at everything—from how we compensate and support our team to the flexibility we offer and our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Built In determines the winners of Best Places to Work based on an algorithm, using company data about compensation and benefits. To reflect the benefits candidates are searching for more frequently on Built In, the program also weighs criteria like remote and flexible work opportunities, programs for DEI and other people-first cultural offerings.    

We believe that by attracting and retaining top talent, we are in the best position to serve the clients who rely on us to help with their mission critical data requirements. We are so proud of Built In’s validation of what we have created.

We are always looking for top talent to join our team, if you’re interested in exploring our current openings, please visit our careers page.

Today, we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of one of our Principals, Mike Mulhern. In addition to supporting dozens of end clients over his tenure, Mike bridged the gap between our consulting and software departments and guided the development of Applaud over the years. In our latest Premier International(Now Definian) ProFiles feature, Mike shares his experiences and insights.
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Q:     Mike, what brought you to Premier International(NowDefinian)? 

A:     This was my first real job out of college. I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1998 with a degree in Civil Engineering … but that wasn’t my passion. I had no idea what I wanted to do with myself when I grew up and suddenly, I was out of time to figure it out. Computers and programming, and optimization of anything were always hobbies. I love building things.

After moving to Chicago upon graduation, I picked up a newspaper and sent out resumes to ten companies. Premier International(Now Definian) responded! I didn’t make the connection until recently, but this is kind of prophetic. I had a summer internship at the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety during which I assisted one of the engineers in analyzing some data from a radiation detector. We parsed the data with QBasic and then fed it into a program called PSI Plot. PSI Plot was outrageously slow, so I moved the installation to a RAM drive making the analysis possible. Little did I know I’d spend 20 years parsing, reformatting, and analyzing data in addition to figuring out how to make things go faster.
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Q:     How has your role evolved over time since you’ve been here? 

A:     When I started, I was your typical entry level Associate Consultant learning Applaud wondering what I was getting into. My first projects involved updating systems for Y2K, then it was maintenance and development of HR benefits systems followed by a full blown data migration. 

The first 2-3 years carried a steep learning curve, but soon I was leading projects. By about 2007 I was delivering data migration projects for clients with no one in the office really even aware of what I was doing day-to-day. The autonomy was great, and I got to work with and learn from some really fantastic consultants with very different backgrounds outside of Premier International(Now Definian). I was also very interested in the Applaud software and knowing exactly what it was doing. That led to greater involvement with the software team and some great collaborations on features. Eventually, I even got the privilege of managing the software team, which was one of the more rewarding things I’ve done here.  

In parallel to all of that was IT. When I started, there was really no one doing anything IT related, so I picked it up as a side task. We had 2 servers and a bunch of desktop machines. About 19 years in, it became more than a full-time job managing IT policies, infrastructure, services, inventory, and information security. Shout outs to Don Brown and Jonathan Garcia for helping to keep me sane.
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Q:     What are your goals for the next few months/years? 

A:     Premier International(Now Definian) is primed for expansion right now and looking to expand our international footprint. I need to elevate our IT support structure to accommodate that growth and ensure compliance. We’re also targeting some automations to eliminate some of our manual processes allowing us to better scale. Beyond that, there’s some “continual improvement” goals on a number of fronts, including security and information security awareness. 
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Q:     What is your favorite part of working at Premier International(Now Definian)? 

A:     I really enjoy the variety of things I get to do here, the continual influx of problems to solve and the freedom to approach them in my own way. I’m not a person who could do the same thing every day or follow someone else’s script. I need to be mentally engaged, figuring something out, and producing something that I feel is valued by others. 
 
One day I’m writing a script to interact with a web service. The next day I’m troubleshooting a software problem. After that I’m developing security training and writing an IT policy. The next day I’m collaborating on a new software feature or teaching a consultant how to do something that I did 10-15 years ago. I’m always eager to learn something new, to figure out how to make something work, or to create something. The variety keeps it interesting. 
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Q:     What piece of advice would you give to your younger self? 

A:     Buy and hold, Nvidia, Google, Apple, and Microsoft. Seriously, there are 2 things that immediately come to mind. 

The first would be to “Ask more questions”. In general, everyone is afraid to look dumb by asking the wrong question, but if you don’t ask, you won’t ever know. If you ask a lot of questions and strive to understand a client’s problem, you can often produce a better solution than what you were originally asked for and deliver it faster with less re-work. Everyone wins!

The second would be to “Underreact” to adversity. Adversity in this case being either seemingly ridiculous/misguided requests or attacks from others. This is something I learned from our founder Jim Hempleman, that I’m admittedly not always good at. It’s usually better to listen, express concerns about something you disagree with, and then later come back with a well thought out response than it is to come out swinging or walk back a knee jerk reaction. While there are times when need to speak out loudly, that person who hated you may end up your friend once you prove that you have the same interests at heart. 
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Q:     If you could have any superpower, what would it be? 

A:     I would like to a be human lie detector. Life would be a lot more fun if you knew who was being honest. 
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Q:     What’s the last song you listened to? 

A:     “Other Side of the Rainbow” by Extreme. Extreme was popular in the late 80s/early 90s and kind of fell off my radar after that. Last year, they put out an album called “Six” which is really good.  The songs are great but cross some genre boundaries. “Other side of the Rainbow” is a very catchy ballad that will stick in your head. 
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Q:     What, if anything, are you currently binge-watching? Or reading? 

A:     Over the last few years, I have binge re-watched all the different Star Trek series, Babylon 5, the Stargates, Firefly, and everything Star Wars related. I’m a sci-fi junkie. I’m currently watching “The Witcher” on Netflix which is a departure from the theme but very good! 
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Thanks for chatting with us Mike, and congratulations on 25 years at Premier International(Now Definian). We are so glad you are part of our team! 

CHICAGO, July 22, 2023, Premier International(Now Definian), a technology consulting firm specializing in solutions that reduce the risk associated with complex data challenges, today announced the strategic acquisition of Information Asset (“the Company”), one of the nation’s top data governance and risk management firms. Premier International(Now Definian) is a portfolio company of Renovus Capital Partners.

Founded in 2012, Information Asset primarily focuses on data risk, privacy, governance and monetization. Its solutions enable enterprises to evolve data governance from a conceptual idea to practical implementation, which helps foster more accurate, faster and overall improved decision-making for their clients. Information Asset serves a roster of well-known Fortune 1000 customers across various industries, including financial services and healthcare, among others. The Company also has deep relationships and partnerships with leading software platforms such as Informatica, Alation, BigID and Collibra.

Premier International(Now Definian) offers innovative technology and consulting services through its team of business consultants, software developers, subject matter experts, and its proprietary software tool Applaud®. The combined capabilities of Premier International(Now Definian)and Information Asset will enable customers of both organizations to access enhanced offerings, as well as streamlined efficiency from having their data needs handled by a single partner.

“The addition of Information Asset to Premier International(Now Definian) significantly expands the depth and breadth of our capabilities, enabling organizations to unlock the full potential of their data,” said Craig Wood, CEO of Premier International(Now Definian). “Our combined expertise and software solutions in data migration, data risk management, and data governance will reshape norms by delivering comprehensive solutions that boost value while minimizing risks. We are thrilled to welcome Sanjeev and the Information Asset team to Premier International(Now Definian).”

Sanjeev Varma, CEO of Information Asset, added, “We are very excited to combine forces with the Premier International(Now Definian) team, allowing us to provide enhanced solutions for our customers across the entire data value chain. Together, we will further the value we provide customers each day by helping them drive business growth, innovation, and competitive advantage. Our team is enthusiastic about what’s next and what’s possible as part of Premier International(Now Definian).”

As a platform portfolio company for Renovus, Premier International(Now Definian) has been actively identifying acquisitions that will help expand its current product and service offerings. Manan Shah, a Partner at Renovus Capital Partners, noted, “We are excited about Premier International's( Now Definian) strategic acquisition of Information Asset. Adding a trusted and experienced offshore delivery team has been a major goal forPremier International(Now Definian), and the acquisition brings complementary, high-value capabilities by providing customers with new offerings across the data lifecycle.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Read more about the powerful advantages of this strategic combination HERE.

About Premier International (Now Definian)

Premier International(Now Definian) is a Chicago-based technology consulting firm offering solutions that reduce the risk associated with complex data challenges through innovative technology and consulting services. The company's innovative services and Applaud® software reduce the overall risk in a technology transformation and ensure projects remain on track in even the most complex environments. Founded in 1985 and with over three decades of successful execution,Premier International's(Now Definian) solutions have a proven track record across various industries and applications. For more information, please visit premier-international.com.

About Renovus Capital Partners

Founded in 2010, Renovus Capital Partners is a lower middle market private equity firm specializing in the Knowledge and Talent industries. From its base in the Philadelphia area, Renovus manages over $1 billion across its three sector focused funds and other strategies. The firm’s current portfolio includes over 25 U.S. based businesses specializing in education and training, healthcare services, technology services and professional services. Renovus typically partners with founder-led businesses, leveraging its experience within the industry and access to debt and equity capital to make operational improvements, recruit top talent, pursue add-on acquisitions and oversee strategic growth initiatives. For more information, please visit renovuscapital.com.

CHICAGO, October 11, 2022 — Renovus Capital Partners (“Renovus”), a Philadelphia-area based investment firm, announced today that it has acquired a majority stake in Premier International(Now Definian) Enterprises, LLC (“Definian” or “the Company”). Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Chicago, IL,Premier International(Now Definian)is a technology services firm offering solutions that reduce the risk associated with complex data challenges through innovative technology and consulting services.Premier International(Now Definian) leverages its proprietary software tool and team of business consultants, software developers, and subject matter experts to deliver its data-related services to the Company’s deep customer base of large enterprises.

Renovus’ investment comes during a period of exceptional growth at Premier International(Now Definian), which was recently named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. With Renovus’ support, Premier International(Now Definian) plans to use the investment to further improve its software product, pursue strategic acquisitions and enhance its service offerings to clients.

“Renovus brings significant experience investing in the technology services industry, and we are excited to leverage their knowledge to refine our strategy, scale our delivery resources, and expand our offerings both organically and inorganically,” said Craig Wood, CEO of Premier International(Now Definian). “We remain focused on accelerating the future for our clients by bringing transformative data solutions to them and we are confident Renovus and their investment will unleash the full potential of Premier International(Now Definian)to support that goal.”  

“As organizations scale and the market for big data grows, enterprises have been more and more focused on having clean, quality data in a centralized location,” said Atif Gilani, Founding Partner at Renovus. “Premier International(Now Definian) is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends due to its differentiated data migration offerings coupled with new capabilities recently introduced, including master data management and data governance.”

As a platform investment for the firm, Renovus is actively identifying potential acquisitions that will help expand the current product and service offerings of Premier International(Now Definian). “With Premier International’s(Now Definian)strong leadership team and clear vision for the future, we are excited to provide the necessary resources to accelerate the growth and success of the Company,” said Jane Buckley, Senior Associate at Renovus.

Ascent Advisory Partners served as financial advisor to Premier International(Now Definian). DLA Piper served as legal counsel to Renovus.

About Premier International(Now Definian) Enterprises

Premier International(Now Definian) Enterprises, LLC is a Chicago-based technology consulting firm specializing in data migration. The company's innovative services and Applaud® software reduce the overall risk in a technology transformation and ensure projects remain on track in even the most complex environments. Founded in 1985 and with over three decades of successful execution, our solutions have a proven track record across a wide array of industries and applications. We have the knowledge and understanding to provide our clients with tailored solutions to address their specific data migration challenges. For more information, please visit www.Definian-international.com.

About Renovus Capital Partners

Founded in 2010, Renovus Capital Partners is a lower middle-market private equity firm specializing in the Knowledge and Talent industries. From its base in the Philadelphia area, Renovus manages over $1billion across its three sector focused funds and other strategies. The firm’s current portfolio includes over 25 U.S. based businesses specializing in education and training, healthcare services, technology services and professional services. Renovus typically partners with founder-led businesses, leveraging its experience within the industry and access to debt and equity capital to make operational improvements, recruit top talent, pursue add-on acquisitions and oversee strategic growth initiatives.  More information can be found at www.renovuscapital.com.

CHICAGO, August 17, 2021 — Inc. magazine today revealed that Definian International is No. 2577 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year’s list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020’s unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years.

"We are thrilled to be ranked on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list this year," says Craig Wood, CEO of Definian International. "Over the past few years, we have received awards recognizing our company culture and now it's exciting to see our company performance celebrated as well. That's a credit to our incredible team at Definian and their commitment to our clients, our organization and each other."

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc., which will be available on newsstands on August 20.

“The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we’ve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.”

Inc. 5000 Methodology

Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this year’s Inc.5000.  Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000.

About Definian International

Definian International is a technology consulting firm based out of Chicago, Illinois specializing in data migration. The company's innovative services and Applaud® software ensure projects remain on track and reduce overall risk in even the most complex environments. With over three decades of successful execution, our solutions have a proven track record across a wide array of industries and applications. We have the knowledge and understanding to provide our clients with tailored solutions to address their specific data migration requirements.

‍About Inc. Media

The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including web sites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Vision Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Vision Conference, visit conference.inc.com.

Premier International(Now Definian)CEO Craig Wood was recently featured on the People Place Podcast with Karen Kimsey-Sward, a production from Dale Carnegie Chicago in which Chicagoland business leaders share knowledge gained over their amassed experiences. Craig imparts insights gathered on his own journey, including the importance of relationship building, candid communication, and empathetic leadership.

Discover the decisions made 36 years ago that are still having a positive impact on employee retention, culture, and performance at Premier International (Now Definian). Listen until the end for a frank discussion weighing the challenges and opportunities all companies face around inclusivity, COVID-19, differing leadership styles, and much more.

Click on the image below to listen to the full podcast interview.

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Click on the image to listen to the full podcast

On the For Love of Team podcast with Winston Faircloth, Premier International(Now Definian) CEO Craig Wood provides a forthright account of Premier International's(Now Definian) history, employee culture, overarching value system, and approach when handling unforeseen circumstances. The listener gets a unique lens into the tools used by company leadership that have contributed to the organization’s growth and award-winning culture, such as the tenets of The Definian Way, radical candor, gratitude, and self-awareness.

Aligning with Premier International's(Now Definian) foundation and guiding principles, Craig celebrates Premier International's(Now Definian) founders for creating the company with such an intentional ethical groundwork that has solidified the precedent for today’s simultaneously employee-first and client-first culture.

Click on the image below to listen to the full podcast interview with Premier International(Now Definian) CEO Craig Wood.

Chicago, IL – March 9, 2020 – Premier International(Now Definian) has been named one of Crain’s 2020 Best Places to Work in Chicago. The complete list of winners, in alphabetical order, is available here.  The full Best Places to Work in Chicago ranking – plus a breakdown of the rankings based on company size – will be announced at a live event on April 17. The ranking of the 100 top employers will appear in the April 20 issue of Crain’s and online following the event at ChicagoBusiness.com/BestPlaces2020.

In partnership with Best Companies Group, Crain’s surveyed thousands of employees on the types of working conditions, benefits and corporate culture that make a company a great place to work. The awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the 100 best companies to work for in Chicago.

Winners were determined by the results of a weighted survey of employees and employers, conducted by Crain’s in partnership with Best Companies Group.

To be considered for participation, companies had to:

• Be a publicly or privately held business
• Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business, or government entity
• Have a facility in the Chicago area (including the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake in Illinois, Lake in Indiana, McHenry or Will)
• Have a minimum of 25 full-time or part-time employees working in Chicago
• Have been in business a minimum of one year

Determining the Best Places to Work in Chicago involved a two-step process. The first step consisted of evaluating each participating company’s workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of employee surveys aimed at assessing the experiences and attitudes of individual employees with respect to their workplace. This part was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the best companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process and analyzed the data and used its expertise to determine the final ranking.

Premier International(Now Definian) will be honored at the 2020 Best Places to Work in Chicago awards event on Friday, April 17 at the Hilton Chicago. Event details can be found here.

@CrainChicago #CrainsBPTW

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About Crain’s Chicago Business
Crain’s Chicago Business is the top source of news, analysis and information on business in metropolitan Chicago for decision-makers in the private and public sectors. Crain's publishes a weekly business magazine, providing deeper analysis, commentary, special reports and features. Crain's also produces databases, live events and sponsored content, all with the aim of deepening readers' understanding of local business. Crain’s Chicago Business is the leading source of information on Chicago’s economy, the companies, industries and institutions that operate here and the entrepreneurs and innovators who drive the city’s growth.

So, you’ve made contact with a company, whether online or at a career fair, and you’re moving on to the first stage: the phone interview. Whether this is your first phone interview or you’re practically a professional at this point, here are 7 tips for nailing your interview and securing a spot for yourself in the next round.

‍1. Come Prepared

Do your research on the company, position you are applying for, and the person interviewing you. Prepare a list of detailed, specific questions for your interviewer and take the time to test out the phone connection in the area in which you will be taking the phone interview.

‍2. Open with a strong introduction

Most phone interviews are the first step into the interview process. You might have met representatives at a career fair, but the person interviewing you likely has no idea who you are or what you’ve accomplished. Hit them with all your best highlights – where you grew up, your interests, why you chose your major. Relate it back to the job or company for major bonus points!

‍3. Questions, questions, and more questions

Prepared and thoughtful questions show us a lot – that you prepared for the phone interview, listened to what we told you during the interview, and most importantly, that you did your homework. Interviewers love it when a candidate brings up something discussed during a phone screen or previous interaction because it shows good listening skills and genuine interest.

‍4. Take a moment, if needed

Stumped? If asked a question and the answer is far, far away in the back corner of your brain, don’t panic. We spent time on our questions and understand if you need a moment to regroup and think of an answer. Plus, it shows you want to provide a thoughtful answer, which is a valuable trait.

‍5. Be yourself

What are your hobbies? How do you spend your weekends? We are looking for candid responses. This is the perfect time for you to work some personality into the interview and it gives us a better understanding of cultural fit. ‍

6. Answering, is there anything else we should know about you?  

Here is your opportunity to give your final elevator pitch, so lay it on us! Reiterate why we should hire you and how you fit in with the company. If done right, you will come across as polished and having the go-getter attitude that companies look to hire. ‍

7. THANK YOU  

Send the interviewer a thank you via email or written note. We cannot stress how far this goes – it can even put you a step above a candidate who might be slightly more qualified. The thank you should indicate takeaways from the conversation and appreciation for time spent on the interview.  

Remember, an interview is not only a company’s chance to get to know you, but it is also an opportunity for you to get to know them and decide if that company is the right place for you to work. Good luck!

I remember the very first Definian lake house party at Cottonwood Lodge. It had only been a few months ago that I was newly married and looking for a place to start my career. I was trying to unravel the technical complexities of my project, learning to manage my newfound finances, and moving into an apartment when the lake house party – at Jim and Dune Hempleman’s own home – was announced. My expectation was another round of interviews, carried out in Hawaiian shirts, with just enough beer to make me less articulate but not enough to make me more confident. I was scared.

When the swarms of bugs grew large and the tiki torches grew dim, we headed inside Jim and Dune’s lake house. Over the course of the day I was able to shake off the nervousness I felt as Definian’s newest employee. Now, almost midnight, seeing everyone migrate indoors I knew that I passed the test and started to feel relief. 

My relief was cut short as Jim dragged a 48 inch leather wrapped foot locker between me and him. Kneeling down, he unlatches the case and reveals rhythm eggs, tambourines, triangles, cymbals,maracas, triangles, blocks, and even a rainstick. I am not certain what was said next, I do not know who distributed the instruments, and do not know who struck that first beat. But I do know that by the third beat I was all-in. As my smile grew, I could see Jim’s grow even bigger. Seeing such joy from our founder gave me confidence. My apprehension and preconceptions about a corporate picnic vanished as I realized the adventure that this place had in store for me. The only thing left for me to do was to keep playing, knowing that the folks around me will be there to back me up.

Not every one of Jim and Dune’s lake house parties has drum circles. But they always include something that pushes us to do things we never did before. Have you ever sung karaoke? Have you raced in a tricycle? Have you ever made beef tenderloin and your own Caesar salad dressing? If the answer is ‘No’, then great. If the answer is, ‘No, and I’m terrified of doing so at a company party,’ then even better!

Jim, Dune, and all the principals and managers at Definian pushed me to do things I did not realize I could do – face a tough client, learn a totally new scripting language, meet an aggressive deadline. At the lake house, sitting cross legged on the floor wildly shaking a tambourine, I learned that Definian is a place where I will be encouraged and pushed to succeed while having an entire company behind me, making sure to catch me when I fall.

This year Dune is welcoming not only me and my wife, but also my two sons into her home. The kids are eager for the tangibles – the boat ride, the bounce house, and the fireworks. But I am grateful they get to see the cultural center of a company like this, so that as they grow up they understand what a truly great company feels like.

Dune is the spiritual center of Definian and the driving force behind Definian’s culture. From the boundlessness of her hugs to the leadership she showed when Jim passed, Dune has guided us with dedication and complete selflessness. She also knew how to foster growth of the entire individual, asking me about career aspirations one minute and the next minute reminding me how lucky I am to have Tuyet as a wife.

Dune went out of her way to make sure she spent time with me during the first lake house party. I’ve seen Dune do the same thing with every new round of hires, getting to know who they are and what they aspire to and making them feel included. I’m looking forward to this year’s lake house party, where this warmth and encouragement will inspire new friends to do something beautiful and hilarious like race tricycles. Weeks from now, when they realize that this not only makes them better consultants, but also better people I’ll say, ‘I told you so.’

Then I’ll email Dune and thank her for creating a place where people have the freedom to do incredible things.