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We asked all our women bosses here at BGSF if they had any fun quarantine stories about motherhood. We’ve collected the best stories that came our way to share with everyone. As hard as this pandemic has been, we’re still able to celebrate the small things, and for some, socially distant celebrating the BiG things: HOME OFFICE STORY My daughter and son-in-law are expecting their first child.  We attended their gender reveal in person, socially distanced, as siblings and friends watched the event live on Zoom!  We guessed the gender of the baby before the ceremony, and we were right!  It’s a girl – due Sept. 17!!  Blessings still abound in this crazy time we are experiencing. BG MULTIFAMILY STORY We have teenagers here, and it’s rough.  My favorite moment from quarantine so far happened one evening after a particularly hard day with kids.  I took a glass of wine out to the back porch and sat for about five minutes just to have some peace and collect my thoughts. When I decided to re-enter the house, I passed my husband in the garage.  Me, with my wine, and him, with an empty bottle of Jim Beam. Neither of us spoke, but we made eye contact and words just weren’t necessary. ZYCRON STORY Here’s my funny co-worker story. I’m new to BG and Zycron – have been here under 2 months. (What a blessing to start a new position during these crazy COVID times!) Due to COVID, my four-year-old, Evie, was home for the first 6 weeks of the job, and just went back to school this week (WAHOO!) About a week and a half into my new position, I was on the phone with a fellow recruiter for some training on BullHorn. Truth be told, my kiddo was being absolutely crazy that day and I was hiding in my closet to speak to my co-worker. I was watching the security app on my cell phone to make sure Evie didn’t escape the house, but I realized she’d been very quiet for several minutes. I asked Patrick to hold on a moment, came out to the living room, and found Evie with a half-gallon of ice cream just eating away and living her best life. I chose to pick my battles that day…. She was being quiet, actually not making a mess, and wasn’t terrorizing our dogs… so I let her continue eating ice cream while I finished up my call. DONWAT STORY Mother’s Day weekend is always a special one, I love my mother with everything I’ve got, and we were able to make her day special by buying her flowers, getting her headphones and getting her favorite food. So Sunday was a special and very relaxed day, on Saturday we really wanted to extend and show appreciation to all of the mothers in our family, so we bought flowers and created our own family flower packages for all of my aunt’s and Grandmothers and we delivered them safely to their respective houses, we just wanted to show love to all of the special women in our lives. HOME OFFICE STORY I haven’t seen my mom since the new year before all of this started, but we got to spend a little time on Mother’s Day on a socially distant picnic. Gloves were donned, face masks were worn for the sharing of the food. But the best part is that I got to yell-talk to my mom across a six feet patch of grass, and it’s made my entire year. Being an only child, it’s been difficult to not go near my parents as I’m at high risk and so are they. We’ve already planned our next social distant picnic with my aunt on her front lawn…It’s the little things! Oh, and tacos, those are good too. Happy Mother’s Day from us to you!

Given the impact of COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, it’s likely that your next interview could be a video interview. Make sure you’re ready by following these tips for making your video interview successful. Dress for success: Make sure you dress as you would for an in-person interview. Professional attire is always the best practice when going to an interview and nothing should be different when doing a video interview.Test out the technology: Make sure you test everything out a day or two before the interview. That way you won’t have to panic the day of, should something were to go wrong. Early Bird Gets the Worm: Make sure you log in at least 10-15 minutes prior to the interview. It also helps to have a printout of your resume (if possible), the job description, and something to take notes just as you would for an in-person interview. Eye Contact & Firmly Speaking: With Zoom, Teams, Skype, etc. sometimes it can be distracting if someone is speaking too softly or mumbling. Remember that sometimes technology is not full proof so do your part to speak loud enough and to speak clearly. Also, be cognizant of where you are looking, it is a good idea to look into the camera and not just the screen. Right Environment: Utilize a location in your home that is free from background noises, distractions, etc. Just as important make sure the background of where you will be sitting is presentable. Avoid having the camera face an area that is cluttered or has poor lighting. Do your part to also shut off any potential distractions; phone, email, tv, etc. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and we are here for you! Contact our team of professionals today to get you set up for success!

Let Your Personality Come Through You are more than just a resume. Hiring managers seriously consider personality and cultural fit when hiring, so let yours shine. In part, this means relaxing during your interview, showing enthusiasm when talking about your ideas, and highlighting your successes, goals, and achievements. It’s also important to give examples of the difficult situations you have faced and how you came up with the solutions and delivered. There are always challenges on projects and showcasing how you’ve worked through such times speaks to the type of person you are. Provide links to your portfolios and social media profiles. Be upfront with all the information and make sure your social media profiles are clean.

Provide a candidate one job search tip (especially during this time period): Keep your options open. I’ve seen many candidates get invested in one opportunity, put their job search on hold, and if it doesn’t pan out have to start all over again.  When starting your job search utilize all your resources, networking, job boards, applying directly, and working with a trusted recruitment firm.  Keep applying and interviewing until you have an offer and a start date. What would you tell a candidate/ tip for updating their resume post-COVID/if they have been affected by layoffs etc: If you’ve been affected by a layoff you can add a section to your resume covering the time of not working by highlighting any continued education coursework, certifications you received, or freelance projects you’ve completed during the time you were off.  I feel that employers are becoming more understanding about employment gaps in the current market, and the most important thing when updated your resume is highlighting your experience and qualifications. What advice/interview prep would you give a candidate now that interviews are over zoom or webex? How do you still stand out and make a great first impression when it is not in person? Treat a video interview the same you would treat an in-person interview.  Many of the professional courtesies of an in-person interview can be carried over to a video call. Dress professionally, be prepared with detailed answers on your experience and thought out questions to ask the interviewer in regards to the company and the role, make sure you’re in an area with a good connection and no background noise or distraction, and let them know it was nice to meet them and thank them for their time.

In this day and age, there are so many uncertainties. COVID-19, the political climate, economic forecast, and movement for equality have dominated headlines over the past several months. Being in the multifamily industry, we are no stranger to a crisis- whether large scale or something that hits a bit closer to home, whether it be death on the property, disgruntled employee, management change or company layoffs. When faced with challenges such as these, how do you respond in a way that is both honest and uplifting to the people around you? As leaders, how we respond matters. Keep reading for some tips on how to keep your team motivated, engaged, and excited amid a crisis- no matter how large or small that crisis may be. Have clear lines of communication. The biggest frustration for employees during uncertain or shaky times is the lack of communication from corporate or upper management. Being able to make it clear to your employees that your door is always open for them makes a big difference in the comfort they feel in their role. Communicating the situation as it develops is also a huge key in making sure your team feels secure. If you aren’t sure how to deliver this message, talk to your regional or vice president for direction- and practice your delivery. Being honest about the crisis, even if it’s a sticky one, is better than keeping your team in the dark. Be careful not to over-communicate here and keep the information clear, concise, and on a need-to-know basis. Don’t just deliver the bad news- have a solution ready. Anyone can announce a catastrophe. How we follow it up with an actionable solution is what separates leaders from everyone else. Increasing the frequency of your team meetings might be a good idea during this time, especially so you can continue to talk through the plan of action for controlling the crisis. Giving your employees ownership and accountability over some of these items is also a great way to make sure everyone stays involved and feels valued. You set the tone. In your role, no matter if you have people who report to you or not, you set the tone for the people around you. During a crisis, employees are usually looking to their peers for reactions and emotional responses. It’s a natural part of dealing with change. When we can approach a crisis with understanding, compassion for others, and an optimistic outlook fueled by action, we can permit others to do the same. If you feel yourself start to become overwhelmed by the “what ifs”, take a deep breath, refer back to your action plan to handle the situation, and remind yourself that this too, shall pass. Celebrate small wins. Especially during tough times, teamwork really does make the dream work. Whether it’s completing a part of your action plan, receiving kudos from a resident, recognition from your home office, or even getting that delinquency report done on time, celebrate with your team every step of the way. And recognize their small wins, too! A pat on the back, afternoon latte from Starbucks, their favorite candy, or handwritten “thank you”, can go a long way in making your employees and colleagues feel valued and appreciated. That, in turn, can lead to higher work efficiency, more satisfaction in their role, and a more positive outlook in any situation. Everything rolls downhill. When the crisis is large scale and encompasses more than just your community, make sure that the communication from your home office is passed along to your team. Share an encouraging email from the CEO, pass along an uplifting note from your VP or regional, and don’t forget to let them know how your team is doing as well. Call out your colleagues for their successes during your challenging time and know that we all win when we can encourage each other. Whether COVID-19 has your community handling things a bit different, an owner change is in effect, or even if you just want to be prepared for whatever comes next, BG Multifamily has your next great hire ready. From social distancing attendants, elevator concierges, additional make-ready techs, and superstar leasing professionals, you can be ready to tackle any situation with BG Multifamily. Contact your local branch today to learn more about our services.

Helpful interview questions answered by a recruiter: “Tell me about yourself” This is probably the most commonly asked first question by an interviewer and the most common incorrectly answered question in an interview. Interviewers ask this question so that they can measure how your attitude matches their company culture. Most of the time folks make the mistake of saying they are good at something. Instead, make sure to back it up with specific evidence, e.g. “I am always working towards learning more about the profession I work in. For example, I enrolled in a training course for XYZ.” “What’s your greatest weakness?” Most people are tempted to say something like, “I’m a perfectionist.” I wouldn’t. They have probably heard that by now. Being honest about yourself is more likely to resonate with the interviewer. While being a perfectionist may be a truthful answer you can say it like “I have difficulty letting go of projects if I feel I haven’t done my best.” That highlights the issue, while maintaining an honest answer. Make sure that you talk about the steps you have taken to address the issues you mentioned. Everyone appreciates real people, how they handle situations firsthand, and how they have grown since. “What’s your greatest strength?” Do. Not. Hesitate. Before. Answering. The reason for an interview in the first place is to sell yourself to the person interviewing you. If you aren’t sure what your strengths are, you will look unprepared. Make a list of a few before your interview starts and be sure to back it up with specific examples of how it helped in your past role. “Why should we hire you?” Be confident in this answer and again, be sure to back it up with specific examples. A great way to frame this is to show your ability to grow, and mature in a role. For example, “I’m a quick learner. I may not have all the skills you require now, but I’m confident in my ability to adapt and learn. [Insert example here].” And so on. “Why did you leave your last job?” You must tread lightly with this one. Answering something like “I didn’t get along with my coworkers” will plant the idea in your potential employer’s head that you may not get along with the existing staff. Be honest, and if there were issues with your coworkers or managers, then make sure you explain the ways you tried to overcome the issues before deciding to leave. “Why do you want to work for us?” This question is where people slip a lot. When an employer asks you this question, it’s because they want to see that you have done your research on the company, culture, and team that works there. You should know if it’s a company that is growing fast, what their new trends are, etc. A great idea is to scope out their website and write down talking points. “Describe how you have overcome a difficult work situation?” This is the question that people seem to be least prepared for, so always make sure you prepare an answer for yourself. Make sure it’s relevant to the role you’re applying for. Things like learning a new skill, managing a distraught client, or perhaps adapting to a stressful week all may be good places to start. “Do you have any questions for me?” Before your interview starts, you should have already written down a handful of questions to ask the interviewer. This goes back to doing research on the company beforehand, you can ask relevant questions concerning their culture, benefits, and team members. However, make sure you write down several questions as it is likely most will be answered during the rest of the interview. Don’t ask questions that can be answered online by a google search, go deeper than that. Try to be more insightful and ask questions that will help paint a picture of the company and their culture. ~ Alyssa Toth, Delivery Manager

Let’s face it- resident events can be hard. Even the most successful, well-attended event can have some sweat and a few tears behind it. But, like so many resident activities, events are crucial in the resident lifecycle. Whether a resident is meeting their neighbors for the first time or the 20th, that emotional connection during an event is sometimes the key that will unlock that renewal time and time again, not to mention the referrals to their own friends and family. But how do we host a slam-dunk resident event in the age of COVID-19? With the current social distancing suggestions and so many states going back to “safer at home” orders, an unforgettable resident event seems almost impossible to pull off. Almost. Keep reading for five tried-and-true resident event ideas- from the socially distant to virtual- that you can put in place TODAY to get your residents to remember why your community is the place they chose to call home. Namaste outside. Gyms are probably closed where you are, and with the abundance of quarantine snacks, there’s a reason there are so many memes about gaining weight during the stay at home orders. There’s good news there, though! Trainers, fitness instructors, yogis, and nutritionists are looking for side hustles. Reach out to a local or independently owned studio or gym and ask if they can do outdoor sweat sessions where residents can keep 6 feet apart from each other. Announce it on your social media pages, get those RSVP’s, and have a cooler of bottles of water ready to go for attendees. Limited on space? Try a smaller group two or three times a week. Plan to use a grassy area, an empty parking lot where people can bring yoga mats, or even an interior courtyard- heck, your residents can even participate from their balcony! No outdoor space? Ask the instructor to set up a free Zoom or Skype event and pass the login information along to your residents. Deliver a bottle of water and handwritten note to their door before the session begins! Jam on. Who isn’t missing concerts right now? Plan a social distancing open-air concert and line up a local musician. Acoustic guitar(s), a small amp and a mike, and you’ve got yourself a party in the middle of your parking lot or courtyard area. Step up the concert game and deliver cold drinks and snacks to your residents who come out to listen to the music on their balcony or in the outdoor space. Do you have residents who want to join in virtually? Host the concert on your community’s social media pages using Facebook Live and get all your residents to join in and invite their friends to watch! Learn something new. Wine and paint nights are always nice, but what about learning how to make clay earrings, chunky blankets, dream catchers, or charcuterie boards? Enter in Craft Happy Co., an interactive workshop company, seeking to “curate locally-sourced community experiences that spark curiosity and inspire connection.” Dana Pate and Kristin Dixon, co-founders of Craft Happy, wanted to connect local artists to their surrounding multifamily communities. When COVID-19 hit, Craft Happy pivoted and Craft Happy At Home was born. Virtual workshops, where craft kits are delivered directly to the resident, are hosted when you want to schedule them, and RSVPs are collected through an EventBrite link. Budget-conscious these days (who isn’t)? There’s an option for you too! “We wanted to fill that (cost) gap, and out of that, we birthed CHTV. CHTV features a monthly episode LIVE on the second Wednesday of every month and features a different artist and craft each month via Zoom broadcast. Attendees receive a shopping list upon registration so they can interact with the artist via chat/Q&A features and actually make something with them hands-on (and all their neighbors!)” says Pate. For more information about Craft Happy and Craft Happy At Home, visit CraftHappyCo.com. Get the buzzer ready. Trivia Night reaches a new level when it’s virtual! Encourage your residents to pick their teams and create a team name. You can either create your own trivia questions or grab some online! Not wanting to do any legwork? Hire someone to host it for you! Online trivia services like Trivia Hub will provide someone to host trivia for you and keep tabs on who’s winning. Put together a prize pack for the winning team- may be some community swag, extra quarantine snacks, or a gift card- and cheer your residents on. Is trivia not your residents’ thing? Try BINGO, virtual Jeopardy, or a multitude of online games. Check out another list here! Be present, even if you’re not there. As we navigate new information about COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to remind residents that you’re there for them. Maybe it’s a basket of dog treats in the office, a bag of (individually wrapped) candy on their doorstep, or a basket of snacks in the fitness center. We have the unique opportunity to care for our residents in new ways. And when this is all over, we’ll be even more grateful for the resident visits, hugs, and high-fives.

Darrell Freeman, ever patient, and ever-learning from the moment the interview started or rather started with technical difficulties was there to do the video interview the right way. As this being our first introduction, we found this moment to have some of the most potency when seen in conjunction with his words. Here he was taking the time to learn a new skill, with a new video meeting format, and all the while insisting to it the way we originally intended. A great first impression of an already impressive businessman well known within the community for his business prowess, generosity, and leadership. Emily Burroughs, BGSF’s Vice President of Marketing, was lucky enough to pick his brain for an hour or so and get some wonderful insight into what success can mean to someone so unique in his approach: Emily Burroughs: You founded Zycron in 1991, which would later become a division of BGSF in 2017, what made you take the leap? Darrell Freeman: Well, I was working for a relatively small company and I could see the contributions I was making to their Profit and Loss Statement, and I wasn’t receiving that value as a team member/employee. And so I thought, I could better control my financial destiny if I started my own company. And so that played a lot into it. And then America is built on entrepreneurship. And so I thought I’d give it a shot. And my wife at the time said, “Hey, if you’re gonna try this, do it now, I don’t want you to have any regrets.” And same wife I have now, been married almost 29 years next month. But part of taking more of an advantage of the American dream, and also taking some risk, and also having a skill set that I thought was marketable and that I saw was marketable in the industry. So, working for that small company and it helped me realize the value that I can contribute to the marketplace. EB: I’ve read that you’re fond of the statement “failing into success,” would that still be your advice to those that look up to you and your success? DF: Well, I think we all should embrace failure. Because, failures, I’ve learned more from my failures than I’ve learned from my successes. And so, failures are great teachers, they teach great lessons, and oftentimes those lessons are painful, and those are the ones that you remember the most. I have failed more than I have succeeded by a long shot. What the difference is, I’m standing on top of my failure, my failures are not standing on top of me. I tell anyone, whether you’re in corporate America, whether you’re an entrepreneur, embrace failure, learn from those failures and come back and be better the next day. Not that I love failing, but I love the lessons that I’ve learned from failing, and I love the knowledge that I’ve gotten from failures. And I love what those failures do to help you become successful. So, I’m a big failure. EB: So, with your failures, what have you learned over the years that maybe you did not think about when you were first starting out? DF: One thing that I thought I knew that I’ve learned. When I was much younger, I was in a hurry, I was in a rush, and I thought business could be done quickly. And so what I learned as I’ve grown older is to be patient, to be persistent, and that the deal or the opportunity may not happen today, but it may take a year, or it may take three years. That’s the takeaway, is being more patient, but also still being persistent. When you’re in your early 20s, you want everything to happen like right now. My mindset and my view, which I take a longer-term view than I did when I was in my 20’s and in my 30’s. So, it’s kind of like Rome wasn’t built in a day. EB: Has learning these lessons in life, changed your business philosophy? DF: No, my business philosophy has not changed, I think it’s… I was very fortunate early on when we built Zycron. My business philosophy is to hire good people, build a good team, and as the entrepreneur or the leader of the organization, you need to shrink yourself down and let those people grow and build. I always wanted to be the smallest person in the organization. So the other folks around me could take on big roles. Small things like in the boardroom, I never sat at the head of the table, I always sat on the side. I wanted the people around the table to know that, hey, their roles are equal to or bigger than mine. My philosophy has always been to hire good people and get out of the way. That’s been the basis of our success over the years and in every business, I’ve been involved with. When you hire good people and get out of the way, you got a great chance of success. EB: Because you’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with. DF: You’re only as good as the people around you. Yep, that’s it. EB: Certainly, I think all leaders must have patience for every brick to be laid with skill, and knowing the difference between waiting, or patiently pursuing. DF: Exactly. So, you’re not at the office, right? EB: No, we are not. One of the things that Beth did right before everything started opening back up back in June, she wanted to hear from our team and so she sent out a survey and as you can imagine, the results were extremely telling. You had some team members that wanted to go back to the office, and many that were not quite ready…therefore, for the brands that were working from home, return to the office is completely voluntary as their safety is her number one concern. DF: I want to applaud Beth for her leadership in that area of letting people work from home and being more focused on people’s safety than anything else and not going with the status quo of, “Yes, the country’s opened back up, everybody back to work.” She used her own judgment and that’s… And I think people are a lot… BG’s a lot safer, the employees are a lot safer, the team members are a lot safer because she made that decision. And then not only did she close the offices, when a lot of the states were going back into offices, she extended it because the data said, the science said, this is a terrible disease and let’s keep our people safe. That’s a great leadership move on her part. And, I think oftentimes CEOs, they do what makes cents, but they don’t do what makes sense, and it’s a play on words. They do what makes cents C-E-N-T-S, not what makes sense, S-E-N-S-E. She’s doing what makes sense, which eventually will make cents. A Bit About Darrell Freeman: Darrell Freeman, the Executive Managing Director of Zycron, an information technology services and solutions firm he founded in 1991 and later sold to BGSF in 2017. Zycron became a division of BGSF. Freeman also co-founded Tennessee-based Reliant Bank in 2006 and has served as a board member and a member of the audit and compensation committees of Commerce Union Bancshares, Inc., the holding company for Reliant Bank, since its inception. Additionally, in 2007 Mr. Freeman co-founded Pinnacle Construction Partners, a construction management firm, and has served as the chairman since 2007. Since 2016, Mr. Freeman has also served as the chairman of the board of directors of S3 Asset Management, a technology, and medical equipment recycling company. Most recently, he was added to the Board of BCBS Tennessee. Mr. Freeman holds a B.S. in Industrial Technology and a master’s degree in Industrial Studies, both from Middle Tennessee State University. While he still maintains a smaller, consulting role now to Zycron, he spends his time investing in his community, as well as improving the educational system. When he’s not investing in dreams or new businesses, you’re likely to find him flying his plane, where he hosts his YouTube series, “Cockpit Conversations.”

A position that wasn’t in existence a few months ago, BG Real Estate introduced the Social Distance Attendant and Elevator Concierge roles in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, knowing that most apartment communities would need to flex to accommodate residents’ use of their amenities. So what does a Social Distance Attendant actually DO? We’re so glad you asked! Keep reading for a few tasks that SDs are responsible for while working, as well as a handy dandy decision-making guide to use when considering whether or not to hire a social distance attendant. They help keep communal spaces clean. Fitness centers, elevator banks, coffee stations, and business centers can still operate, but not to full capacity in most areas. Social distance attendants are there to make sure that these areas are sanitized, wiped down, stay clean and sparkling for the next resident. If your community is operating on a one-in, one-out rotation for any amenities, a social distance attendant can help with making sure people abide by any time limits and occupancy counts. They assist in spacing out seating. It’s pool season! For the communities that have open pools and courtyard areas, social distance attendants can not only keep these seating areas clean but also ensure that a full six feet are kept between seats. That way, your residents won’t have to shift and move when they come to lounge by the poolside on a hot day. They can deliver items to residents. Packages don’t stop during a pandemic, and one might say that they’ve increased with the amount of time people are spending at home and not out at grocery stores and shops. Social distance attendants can jump in and help deliver packages to residents’ doors- not only does this help keep a mass of residents out of your office, but it makes your team’s day a bit easier with one less thing to handle and manage. They help with scheduling out amenity times. Some communities are allowing residents to book a slot in the fitness center, game lounge, or business center as a way to assist with keeping the headcount down in communal areas. Social distance attendants can manage these bookings, including calling residents to confirm their slot, letting a resident know when their time is up, and cleaning the space in-between visits. They assist with any virtual or in-person resident event. Resident events can still be in full swing if you look at the great ways to connect with residents virtually or even in-person, staying socially distant. A social distance attendant can help execute a resident event by delivering refreshments or items beforehand for a virtual event or assisting in setting up for an in-person event. Whether it’s stocking extra masks or gloves, arranging prepackaged snacks and individually bottled drinks, or making sure everyone is having a good time, our social distance attendants can help with anything you need to make sure everyone is staying safe. Did you miss our last blog post about resident event ideas during COVID-19? Check it out here! BGRE is here for the talent you need to keep your community clean and socially distant while we weather this pandemic together. Contact your local office today to learn more about the candidates we have ready to assist you in your community!

As the world goes through an unprecedented time and countless projects have been pushed back, there’s a saturation of available, qualified consultants. Interviewing and perfecting your resume has always been hard but with our current situation, landing a job is even harder. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to set yourself apart from other applicants and help you land your next role: Be More Flexible With less positions available during these times, it may be necessary to consider taking a role that’s slightly lesser than your experience provides for or think about working for a company you may not have considered before. There may be a certain company you didn’t take a job with because of travel demands. With most roles being fully remote now, this company could be an option now. We can agree that while these options aren’t perfect, they may be necessary for the time being and in the long run, could help you land that dream job later down the road. Keep Your Skills Sharp This is likely the first extended period of downtime folks have had in a long time.  If you find yourself with more time on your hands, you can use this time to bulk up your resume to set you apart by expanding your skillset. You could pick up formal training on the new emerging technology you have been looking into, gain a certification you maybe never had time for before, or train in a new module being released. Showing companies that you have the drive and ability to pick up these rarer skills can make you significantly more marketable. Stay Connected to Your Network Basically, everything’s virtual now! Keeping up with colleagues and friends you have made along your journey can give you integral market info on where and what projects are picking up. These connections and even your recruiter’s connections could be the key to unlocking a position or project you might have never known about. Even if you don’t have any viable connections, just let your recruiter know, and they can use their network to help fast track you to a position. Truly, it’s about open communication and a willingness to work together that will get the job done!

Last Feature Friday, we heard from Darrell Freeman and his thoughts on how to be successful by holding you and your employees to an honest, kind standard. We loved his insight so much we asked him to expand on just how an honest business can drive you to invest in people personally and professionally, and how those both drive better decisions for you and better lives for others. Take a look at his conversation with our Vice President of Marketing, Emily Burroughs: Emily Burroughs: You’ve sold companies, started new ones, continued to consult for Zycron, and been named to several boards of directors, all while as you say, “failing to success,” apart from these titles how would you define success? Darrell Freeman: Well, three ways. When I was going into the office every day, success was when I would hear the laughter. When I would hear people having a good time. That was a sign of success for me because I always wanted to have a company where people enjoyed what they were doing. They were performing, but they were having a good time. But, financially, success is the bottom line. Are we adding value to the bottom line? But then also my third, and almost equally as important as the first two which is, what are we doing for our community? And so, how are we giving back? Are we helping people get an education? Are we helping people to get jobs? Are we helping people in our community to be better? And so I always had two bottom lines. Profitability was one, of course, that’s important. But number two was, what are we doing for our communities? Those are three important ones for me, taking care of the people, being profitable, and then understanding what we do for our community. EB: Absolutely, community has been one of BGSF’s main focus, it’s the end of what we like to call the “ripple” effect. What causes have you found yourself giving to lately? DF:  I’m spending a lot of time with 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee. I’m spending a lot of time with the Entrepreneurs Center, serving on their board. And we’re contributing. My wife and I are contributing to just various organizations EB: I know you spend a good bit of your time giving back when you’re not working. Could you give us a brief window into what you’ve done? DF: Yes, I’ve taken seven trips to the Bahamas, taking supplies to the folks who were impacted by the hurricane. I’ve taken trips to San Juan, taking supplies to people who were impacted by the hurricane. I’ve been involved in Angel Flight and COVID relief, flying COVID samples from people in Georgia, so that they can get their samples back quickly. Just a variety of ways… I’m finding ways to give back, and I think what we have, what I have is only justified by what I share, and so I’ve never wanted to be a successful person, a successful, stingy person. I wanted to be a successful person that shares and gives. I’m in a position to do that, and the beautiful part about the relationship with BGSF is they understand that. That’s my mission. I may fly to the Bahamas four or five times in a month taking supplies, but, that’s who I am, that’s what I’m gonna do. I’ve been in to pretty much every hurricane there has been, from the earthquakes of Haiti to San Juan, Hurricane Mike in Florida, Hurricane Katrina. EB: Obviously, you invest a large part of your time giving back, what would you say is the one thing you can never over-invest in, and how does that bring about success? DF: People. You can’t ever over-invest in people. I’m still an entrepreneur. I’m still involved in several companies that I’m invested in, several that I’m helping to grow. And you can’t over-invest in people, because when you have good people in your team and you invest in them, you get a great return, and it’s not just a return for the company and the bottom line, but it’s a great return for them. They improve themselves. They improve their value, and what they’re able to contribute, not only to the company, but what they’re able to contribute to their families, and to their community. So, I think investing in people is a huge opportunity and I’ve spent my years doing that. And investing in people who may have been traditionally overlooked. I’ve done that numerous times and investing based on what my gut said versus what their resume said. Based on what their personality said versus what their experience said.  I like investing in people and I also like stretching people to be more than what they ever thought they could be. EB: 100%. DF: You can’t over-invest. Because people have huge potential, and oftentimes, we live below our potential. But if you ran into the right person, they will stretch you and help you get closer to what your potential is. And so I’m always stretching people. And I also like being stretched, and so there are still people in my life today that they question whether or not I’m being my best, am I doing my best. And so there’s always a balance, if you will, or are you living up to your potential. And the scariest thing, not the scariest thing, I mean I’m scared of heights and all that stuff. But one of the scary things is not living up to your potential. That should scare everybody. EB: With that, what advantage does investing in others to help them reach their goals and dreams have for them? DF: I always say that everybody is born with a seed for success inside of them. But oftentimes, based on where they’re born, the circumstances in which they’re born into, that seed may not grow and prosper. And so, unfortunately in our country, there are some segments of our society where if you’re born in poverty, your seed for success may not grow and prosper. If you’re born on the wrong side of the tracks, your seed for success may not have a chance to grow and prosper. If you’re born in a place where educational opportunities are not presented, your seed for success may not grow and prosper. And so what I try to do with my success is be an influence in those areas, to take that young man or that young woman who’s growing up in poverty and saying, “Hey, let me invest in you, let me invest in making you… So that your seed for success can grow and prosper,” and then when you do that, I ask them to turn around and invest in other people, so it’s then having them pay it forward. We all need help, and the reason why I know that is because I grew up in a place where I needed help, and I haven’t forgotten that. And I think when you grow up poor, and your parents don’t have all of the things, the necessary tools that are required for you… My parents never did finish high school, but it had more to do with America than their own abilities. My parents went to segregated schools, I went to segregated schools, and so I understand that there are still kids today who are going to segregated schools, schools that don’t have good books, don’t have computers, don’t have all the things that my kids have today. I try to make an impact on their lives so that they can grow and be successful and have an impact on other folk’s lives. Growing up poor, you learn how to have empathy for people. And see, some people can’t have empathy for people, because they never experienced having their lights turned off or not having a meal, they don’t have empathy because they can’t feel that, everything’s already been handed to them. I think that’s one of the… I call empathy one of the pearls of poverty. While a pearl is valuable… Poverty is not a good place, but a pearl you can get from being in poverty is empathy, and some people don’t have it. EB: Who in your life saw your seed for success, and made a profound impact on you? DF: I would have to say my wife’s work in dealing with me all these years. [laughter] She’s put in a lot of work, and the strange thing is, she thought at some point I would stop taking risk, and I did stop for a little while, but I couldn’t take it, I’m addicted to it. But she continues to be by my side and continues to support me, and even though I’m invested in things that she may not know a lot about, but she asks the right questions and she works with me to think through various strategies. And we’ve got four kids, they’re successful kids because of her. Her work is impressive, and I couldn’t have done any of the stuff that I’ve done without the work she’s put in. Because I always knew that when I left home to go do business or to go create a partnership or to go to try to win a contract, when I left home, that I knew that the home front was gonna be taken care of, and I knew that regardless of what kind of day I had if I went in… If I went out to the office and I lost $200,000, and I was down and depressed, that when I got home, that she was gonna treat me the same. I also knew that if I went out and made a million dollars and came home to her, she’s gonna treat me the same. She’s still gonna say… If I came home saying, “I really closed this $10 million deal today, signed this $10 million contract,” she still may say, “Well, you left your underwear on the floor.” She’s helped to keep me in an even keel. She never let me get too high, and she never let me get too low, and I think that requires a lot of work. EB: She sees your value as a person outside of your value as a businessman, it’s always important to have those who bring us down to earth. But, what would you say gives a person overall value? DF: Honesty and integrity. That adds value to people. And then… Good people beget good people… And when I say, good people…over the years of hiring hundreds of people, in the early years I would hire people who I thought had the best skillset. But oftentimes I may hire the person with the best skill set, but they were not the best people. Hiring good people who have integrity, honesty, and kindness, all those things are important. EB: Okay, last question, how do you want to be remembered? How do you want to build your legacy? DF: As a giver. Yeah. That’s it, a giver. I wanna be a giver known to the community as a giver and to my family, to my kids and wife, I wanna be known as a good husband and a good father. But simply, yeah, that’s it. That wraps it up. I mean if that could be on my tombstone, I’d be good. A Bit About Darrell Freeman: Darrell Freeman, the Executive Managing Director of Zycron, an information technology services and solutions firm he founded in 1991 and later sold to BGSF in 2017. Zycron became a division of BGSF. Freeman also co-founded Tennessee-based Reliant Bank in 2006 and has served as a board member and a member of the audit and compensation committees of Commerce Union Bancshares, Inc., the holding company for Reliant Bank, since its inception. Additionally, in 2007 Mr. Freeman co-founded Pinnacle Construction Partners, a construction management firm, and has served as the chairman since 2007. Since 2016, Mr. Freeman has also served as the chairman of the board of directors of S3 Asset Management, a technology, and medical equipment recycling company. Most recently, he was added to the Board of BCBS Tennessee. Mr. Freeman holds a B.S. in Industrial Technology and a master’s degree in Industrial Studies, both from Middle Tennessee State University. While he still maintains a smaller, consulting role now to Zycron, he spends his time investing in his community, as well as improving the educational system. When he’s not investing in dreams or new businesses, you’re likely to find him flying his plane, where he hosts his YouTube series, “Cockpit Conversations.” 1 Response Honoring The Legacy of Darrell S. Freeman, Sr. - S3 Recycling Solutions | October 26, 2022 […] endeavors. He touched countless lives with his generosity and leadership. When asked in a 2020 interview how he wanted to be remembered, he responded: As a giver to the community, and a good husband and […]

Division August 10, 2023 Client Challenge Our client, a public university, had an annual revenue exceeding $575 million from discretionary awards, including grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements from federal, state, and private sponsors. Due to an expanding award portfolio, their resources fell short in handling the associated administrative tasks, resulting in a substantial backlog of accounts needing closure. Solutions Delivered BGSF was selected to manage this massive undertaking and partnered with our client to develop, manage, and execute a plan to address the backlog of accounts requiring closeout. Learn More Here Click here to download the full case study and learn about project results (including discovering $18 million of undetected, billable revenue!) and conclusions that were drawn from the experience. If you are facing a similar challenge in your organization, click here to talk to an expert today!