Visp.net
Quality of life, grew up here, the views, environment, the people
Location: Grants Pass (541) 955-6900
Owner: Todd Grannis Employees: 10 Click here to visit the Visp.net website The Visp.net website boldly proclaims, “Visp.net was the first to offer private label wholesale ISP services…” Turns out VISP is actually an acronym for Virtual Internet Service Provider – a business name, a term, a technology and business model that truly was invented by Visp.net founder Todd Grannis in Grants Pass in 1996. The concept allows Internet Providers to cut their costs while improving the services they offer to subscribers. Visp.net’s partnered ISPs are then better able to compete with national providers without the massive investment in equipment, circuits and staff.
The fact that Visp.net not only survived, but flourished through the dot-com technology bubble burst of the late 1990’s is testimony to a well-managed business that has longevity, innovation, creativity and sustainability embedded in its core. “Over half of our people are directly involved in research and development,” says Grannis. “We build and reinforce a culture of a lean, high performance company, by constantly eliminating waste and automating everything possible.”
Grannis takes the concepts of lean business seriously, joining the Southern Oregon High Performance Enterprise Consortium (SOHPEC) and serving in a leadership capacity there. Visp.net has won many awards and accolades, including RCC/SBDC Business of the Year and twice being named by the Portland Business Journal as one of the 100 fastest-growing businesses in Oregon. Grannis says the business has grown 11 of its 12 years in business. He says 2008 is on track to be the biggest year of growth in the company’s history.
Grannis hopes to grow his company to $10 million in gross revenue in the next five years. And by maintaining a very high revenue per employee ratio, he hopes to have some of the highest paid people in the Rogue Valley. It’s not all about profit and wages however. “I want our staff to have a high quality of life at work,” he says. “Most of our team invests more time at work than with their own families. So it’s important that Visp.net is a place our people enjoy.”
Grannis credits the company’s success to his dedicated staff, and a culture of creativity and innovation. A happy team translates to near zero turn-over and an attitude with customers that generates a steady stream of positive customer feedback. Listening to customers and constantly seeking ways to serve them better while cutting costs is a good formula for a successful business. “I truly enjoy working with the people that we have here,” Grannis says. “We are constantly inventing solutions that deliver value to our customers. Our customers love us.”
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