Pacesetter Awards: Birdsey Group CEO says don't fear bold moves

The Chronicle, in advance of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Pacesetter Awards on April 27, asked the 100 fastest growing companies what led to their success.

Sandford Birdsey, CEO of commercial real estate consultancy Birdsey Group, said that personal attention is key to meeting the needs of clients.

How did your business grow so fast? We have diversified across the real estate industry to offer a wide range of products from financial services, to construction and residential and commercial sectors. Our clients told us what they wanted and we built a solution to meet their needs.

What are your company's current growth strategies? We spend time finding out what the needs of institutional investors are, their problems and how our firm can add value to their investment strategies. We built several subsidiaries to provide services on a large scale in the U.S.

What challenges have your company faced, and how did you overcome them (or do you intend to overcome them)? Finding the right people who will buy into the culture is the biggest challenge. We also need to keep a constant focus on quality, urgency and commitment to our mission. Interest rates are a problem for us because our business is transactional. We're fortunate to have diversified into sectors such as asset management and service support, which are more active during down markets.

What are the future goals of your company? What are your future goals for your company?

What advice would you give to companies that are looking to expand? Do not be afraid to make major operational changes during busy periods. Although it's a cliché that you can't change your jet engine from 30,000 feet up, this is often what you need to do when your business grows rapidly. Don't be afraid to take risks and have fun.