TP: Whenever people visit the ISIS offices, they stop in the entryway to stare at the shelves full of old radios. You have quite a large collection.
Len: And they all work. Restoring those old tube radios is one of my hobbies. My oldest set is from 1924. Sometimes it can take a while to track down the parts to get them operating. Last year I expanded my interest when a neighbor gave me a 1954 RCA CT100 television set that was sitting in his garage. I don’t have it working yet, but I’m making progress.
TP: While we’re on the subject of garages and tracking down parts – those are also important in your other hobby.
Len: Yes. In June 2005, I purchased a 1987 Jaguar XHG VDP. It was running, but needed a lot of TLC. I’ve pulled out most of the interior and replaced it, found assorted rattles and fixed them. Keeping it running has definitely cut into my TV restoration time – and my retirement savings!
TP: You were one of the founders of The ISIS Group, Inc. How did that happen?
Len: Peter Hughes, a friend from my Grass Valley Group days, started a small broadcast equipment company called Target Technologies. He became ill, and asked me to consider buying the company. I knew other ex-Group managers who wanted to get back to the entrepreneurial spirit of the early days at the Group, and this was our opportunity. After 10 years, we still have one of the Target products – the MF800 changeover switcher – and people keep buying them.
TP: What do you like best about your work at ISIS, and what would you say is the most important thing to you?
Len: I most enjoy the interactions with the people I work with, our employees, our distributors and our customers. Many of them are long-time friends. What is important to me is the welfare and wellbeing of our people, along with being a good corporate citizen.
Over the years, we have built the Company on a solid foundation based on respect and honesty. All of my co-workers are loyal, dedicated, and good at their jobs and we all consider the success of our customers as our number one goal.
TP: How does ISIS fit in the industry today?
Len: ISIS Group is currently what the ‘big boys’ think of as a zit! I look at it this way – we’ve been here for 10 years and we’ve marked our territory. That territory will grow and as we increase our product portfolio, we will move from the zit to a Company holding respect from our bigger brothers.
ISIS products are built tough and are designed from ground up to perform to the highest possible performance parameters. One of our main differentiators is the fact that because we are small we are also agile and can turn on a dime to make things happen to satisfy the customers’ needs. Our commitment to customer support is second to none. This is one of the basic principles upon which the company and our employees operate. It’s easy to say that customers are number one. It’s a different thing to put that cliché into real and meaningful effect.
I’m often asked (especially at shows), “What makes you guys different?” My response never varies – you have to demonstrate respect, understanding, and commitment to the needs of the customer and the success of the customer. You have to take great care of the little things – like having a human answer the phone and making sure that the person answering the phone takes responsibility for seeing that the person calling is fully satisfied. Don’t over commit to something that you know you can’t deliver on but DO better than the agreed upon commitment. We all know and understand what the basics are and we believe in taking care of the basics in order to operate a successful business.
TP: What do you see as the future of ISIS?
Len: I expect that ISIS will continue to build on its solid foundation through the commitment of all involved. My expectation is that we will continue to grow through good business planning and controls. We will continue to launch new and exciting products into the market place under the ISIS Group and Graham-Patten brands while continuing to support our legacy products.
TP: You bring a wealth of industry background to ISIS. What has your career been like?
Len: After I got my BSEE from Blackburn Polytechnical College in the UK, I went to work in the Broadcast Division of EMI Electronics in the UK, where I spent 14 years as a project manager and systems design engineer doing major television installations in various countries. Then I spent four years as the Vice President responsible for managing the European operations for Richmond Hill Laboratories. I moved to Grass Valley Group as the European Sales Manager, where I set up the European sales and service channels. In 1977, Grass Valley Group moved me to California, and I’ve lived here since, except for a three-year stint in the UK as the VP for European operations. I managed international operations for Grass Valley Group for a total of 19 years.
Ten years ago, I helped found The ISIS Group, Inc., and I’ve been working to build it since then. In 2004, we purchased Graham-Patten Systems and integrated their audio products into our product lines. Today, I’m involved in every aspect of the business from sales and marketing through new product definition. I closely monitor any customer issues, and participate in diagnosing and solving problems. I’ve even been known to empty the trash!
TP: What about your personal life?
Len: I’ve been married for 41 years to my wife, Glennis. We have two grown daughters and four grandchildren. My personal heroes are my Dad and Mahatma Gandhi. Both of them spent their lives working to improve the lives of the underdog. Another hero of mine is Professor Eric Laithwaite. He was the most incredible teacher I ever encountered.
TP: What is your life philosophy?
Len: Treat every human being with respect and dignity.
