The 2022 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, Health Care, Restaurants

Consulting Service Lines: Financial Advisory, Interim Management, CRO/Bankruptcy, Performance Improvement, Litigation and Fiduciary Support

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

Living our firm's values. We strive for and achieve excellent results for clients and ourselves and do so in an environment of integrity, trust and respect, empathy, and authenticity. We value professional development and fast growth, merit-based compensation, and a team approach to business development and delivery. We genuinely like the people we work with and respect the need for a balanced work and personal life.

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

Our twice-a-year company conferences bring everyone together in person to bond as colleagues and a firm with fun outings while also participating in learning events.

Full company update video calls weekly to share and discuss firm activities, case studies, accomplishments, and personal celebrations. Continuous professional and personal development is at our core through our mentoring program, providing real-time feedback, acknowledging interaction styles, measuring, and leveraging individual strengths, and providing training.

CMAG: What's unique about your firm? What sets it apart?

We are family. Employees' well-being is valued as much as work success. We gather as a family/firm, including significant others, every summer in a unique place as a way to stay connected, catch up and support life's celebrations and challenges.

CR3 in practice does the right thing to help our clients. Period. We are proud that we truly put the client first and although we are a mid-size firm, we have an excellent national reputation.

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

Prepare for anticipated and significant growth. Client businesses are struggling to remain profitable and grow given low unemployment rates, increasing interest rates, supply chain issues and continuing market and economic challenges. While private equity and lenders have stood still during the disruptive covid years, requiring businesses to take action to improve business results and restructure for the future are likely to increase.

CMAG: When you look at the remainder of this year and 2023, what excites you? What opportunities do you see in your future?

Ensuring we are recognizing and taking action to address the ever- changing expectations of our people and our clients. Having the right people, with the right technical and soft skills, available to work side- by-side with our client teams to make step level improvements in our client's businesses.

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

We are reminded what makes our firm and our people special and the place to learn, grow, and enjoy working. Touting our results can help recruiting efforts and helps build trust with our clients that our people and our culture can mesh with theirs to achieve great results together.

CMAG: Thank you again and congratulations!