This is my eighth year-end report. Despite the economy, 2009 has been a good year for Quest Fore, Inc. It has been a year full of milestones, new product offerings and continued growth.

In our 34th year of operation, a tremendous amount of positive impact was accomplished as a direct result of our dedication to continuous improvement. The strategies we have articulated in past reports continue to bear fruit. Although our year-to-year numbers did not match the growth of the last several years, we did much better than our peers in a tough economic year. With national unemployment (those in the federal reporting system and those not) estimated to be near 20% we have seen some corporate entrenchment, tightening of budgets and delaying of marketing initiatives.

Needless to say, this environment has been harsh for many. Quest Fore has been blessed and we made sure we did a little extra this year to help those less fortunate. Some of the organizations we provided our time and talent to were:

Our continued success is the combined result of adding new clients, growing our business with existing, long-time friends and increasing our product offerings. Also, we were fortunate to add several exceptional new employees to our staff and develop a number of crucial strategic partnerships.

Additionally, we have taken key steps to invest in our future, ensuring our ability to move to the next level. We went live with a new enterprise software system on January 2nd of this year. Our financials, project management, time system, contact system, and reporting are now in one integrated system. This system provides more transparency of marketing campaigns and project status throughout our company. The software tracks Quest Fore projects and integrates well with our quality program. As part of this system we are now able to offer clients 24/7 online project and budget information if so desired.

Several years ago, we articulated our strategic goals. To review, our plan was to:

We are on track or making progress in each category.

We believe we are in a good position to meet whatever 2010 throws our way. This is a direct result of all the hard work we accomplished in 2009, of being a full-service company, remaining flexible, having a focused strategic plan, and maintaining a fierce dedication to customer satisfaction.

One of the most critical factors in the continued success of any organization will be how well it adapts to change. Driven by technology advancements, global competition, business and government restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, change is all around us. Perhaps more importantly, it is happening at an ever-increasing pace. An agile organization takes advantage of this change, recognizing opportunities for growth and sustainability presented by shifting markets, customer demands, increased competition, etc. There are really only two options for organizations: either adapt or die. We must be very flexible and capable of responding to unpredictable events in addition to the predictable ones.

One of our initiatives this year was to help clients better understand strategic planning in all of its breadth and depth. Business is tough work. It requires thought, research and strategic planning.

At Quest Fore, we do more than just design graphics, create a website or write copy for you. We also provide the strategic research and planning that show you how to best craft a website, why to write copy in a certain style, and where to promote the product or service.

As a way to enhance our partnership with you and help build your success, we created Quest Fore Success Building Cards. These cards offer behavioral best practices for employees that may be struggling in certain areas, or as a way to extol particular employees who are excelling in others. They delineate to your employees what is expected of them and let them know you are interested in fostering their professional growth. The cards help boost moral, which in turn will help boost your business.

The ideas contained in these cards are the building blocks upon which great work can be built. If you did not receive Quest Fore Success Building Cards, please let me know and I’ll immediately send you a deck.

The bottom line is we want to continue to work as your partner, helping your business grow and prosper, no matter what the current economic conditions or what they will be in the future.

Here are more Quest Fore highlights from 2009:

When we acquired Quest Fore ten years ago, we knew our clients were great and our staff was extremely talented. To this day, that hasn’t changed. We continue to work hard to make sure we have the right people in the right places. This is a dedicated effort. And we know we have to continue to improve. Rest assured, we’re still hungry for additional business and will continue to be client-focused in every way.

I hope this brief status report is helpful to you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or any of the Quest Fore staff. We’re looking forward to serving you in all of your marketing communication needs during 2010 and beyond.

Ken Cuccinelli,
Quest Fore Chairman