Gala Honoree Spotlight: Innovative Business Solutions — Small/Medium Business of the Year

When Payroll and HR automation services company Innovative Business Solutions, Inc. (IBS) was established in 1991, one of their first orders of business was to join the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce.

“We recognized early on that the Santa Rosa Chamber was the leading business organization in the County,” said Bob Reynolds, co-owner of IBS, “and that in order to get in front of business decision-makers, we needed to be actively involved in the Chamber. Our company was built on the ideal that if given the choice, most people who felt compelled to join the Chamber of Commerce might also tend to consider a local business service provider over a larger, national provider; especially if that service was better, more personal, and priced more competitively than the non-local alternatives.”

Today, 22 years later, that same ideal holds true. Innovative Business Solutions serves over 1,100 organizations throughout Sonoma County, ranging in size from one employee to over 1,000. They employ 35 people who sustain 35 families in our community. Those 35 families buy local goods and services, pay local taxes, and invite out-of-town guests to stay in local hotels and patronize local restaurants. “The decision to do business locally all gets paid forward,” continued Mr. Reynolds. “That’s the beauty of the Chamber business model.”

In addition to their focus on growing business locally, IBS gives back to the community by participating in county efforts to strengthen the local economy, particularly in the area of Workforce Development. IBS employees have served on various Chamber committees throughout their 22 years, including the Chamber Finance Committee, Special Events Committee, and Chamber Board of Directors and Executive Committees. Yet they are most proud of their contributions to the Chamber's Workforce Development Committee, having been founding sponsors of the Chamber WHEEL program and sponsors of the Business Education Recognition Breakfast.

IBS also gives back to the community through corporate participation in other endeavors throughout the County, including the California Human Development Corporation, Sonoma State University Career Center Executive Council, the Redwood Empire Food Bank, and Sonoma County Habitat for Humanity.

“As a company that supports a healthy economic climate for all local entities,” Mr. Reynolds summed up, “we’re honored to be recognized by the Chamber as it Excellence in Business Small/Medium Business of the Year.”

Innovative Business Solutions, Inc. and other 2013 award winners will be honored at the Chamber's Annual Gala on January 31st. This year's Chairman's Award winner (Ken Fischang, CHME, CMP, CTA, President/CEO, Sonoma County Tourism — Chairman's Award) will be highlighted next week. Read about the Large Business of the Year honoree here.

For more information or to register for the Gala, click here.