The 2021 Best Small Firms to Work For: CR3 Partners

Client Industries Served: Automotive, Agriculture, Energy, Oil & Gas, Business Services, Construction, Hospitality & Entertainment, Manufacturing, Distribution, Transportation & Logistics, Retail, Consumer Products, Healthcare, Restaurants

Consulting Service Lines: Restructuring & Turnaround Consulting, Financial Advisory (Debtor and Creditor Advisory), Performance Improvement, Interim Management, Fiduciary & Litigation Support Services

View CR3 Partners video interview here.

CMAG: How would you say you've managed to stay among the industry's Best Small Firms to Work For amid these unprecedented times?

The cornerstone of our philosophy at CR3 is to provide real value to our clients. Our clients can and are in real distress and it's not overstating when we say that what we do impacts the client significantly and we take that responsibility very seriously. Second, we respect each other immensely here at CR3. We understand that people have different strengths and weaknesses and try to put the right group of people together that can support each other in each situation to deliver the highest quality work for our clients. A lot of that is driven by a culture of transparency – since nothing is off-limits for discussion, it is never "taboo" or "wrong", it is just a development point.

CMAG: Were there any specific programs or initiatives (internal or external) that contributed to you being a Best Small Firm to Work For?

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we continued to find ways to support our people in their careers and in finding different ways to connect with each other and with our clients and friends of the firm. For example, we held and continue to hold monthly training sessions for all employees. It could be to learn about some aspect of delivering work, how to be effective with clients and each other, or it could be just learning some new Excel tricks. Regarding the latter, it's often our junior folks who teach that, because, a. they know it, ad b. we want them to know that we all have something to learn and to teach.

We also held some unique Zoom events for our clients, friends of the firm AND their families. We had a Zoom event where Darci Lynne performed, and it was amazing. She is the ventriloquist singer who won America's Got Talent back in 2017. We had a Zoom event with the magician Justin Willman. The feedback we got for both of these events was overwhelmingly positive and folks appreciated that it wasn't the same old Zoom happy hour.

CMAG: What is unique about your firm? What sets it apart?

Our client teams are generally small, 2-4 people, so each person's work is critical to the larger goal of helping a company get through turbulent times in an often-compressed time frame. I think our people really love that challenge and to know that their work is important and makes a difference. Related to this, we know that we are successful as a firm when everyone contributes, which means everyone learns and shares. There is a culture of sharing and mentoring that is invaluable to those at any point in their careers.

CMAG: What's the top priority over the next 6 to 12 months?

Our top priority is to continue to find great people. Since each client is unique – they are in different industries, face unique challenges – we need people who have a good head on their shoulders are curious, can apply what they have learned and build trust with the client.

CMAG: When you look at the remainder of this year and 2022, what excites you? What opportunities do you see in your markets?

Believe it or not, I think most of us are looking forward to getting back out on the road. We typically work at the client site, and it was a struggle to be efficient remotely. I think we did a good job adapting to working from home, but it just isn't the same as being able to walk down the hall to someone's office or out on the shop floor to really see what and how the business is doing.

CMAG: What impact do you think being a Best Small Firm to Work For has on the firm? Employees? Clients?

Receiving this award shines the spotlight on who CR3 is and the capabilities that define and differentiate CR3 from our competitors. It's another testament to the CR3 culture and our talented professionals. I am happy for our folks to get the recognition they deserve. This is a people business, and we have great people.