It's important to get to know the people who make things happen in your community, which is exactly why the staff at Northwest Michigan Second Wave decided to start a new series called
10 Minutes. The concept is basic, but important--talk to forward-thinking people in the region and give you, our readers, an idea of who is helping create jobs, change and progress in your communities.
Our first
10 Minutes is with Lisa Wehr, the founder and CEO of Oneupweb. To say she's a mover or a shaker is an understatement, for sure. She's more of a game changer. Wehr knows her way around the business of marketing. Her specialty? Making it easy for businesses to reach their customers and vice versa. What's more is she makes those businesses go viral--people can find them at ease online and, in turn, find their products.
Wehr built her business from the ground up. It started as a team of one, and now it's a team of 50-plus and growing.
NWSW: It's pretty clear you love this region. Are you from here originally? If so, why did you end up staying? If not, what convinced you to move here?
LW: Yes, I do. You can’t beat the summers and I love the community. While I’m not from here originally, I lived nearby for a few years prior to moving to Alaska for 10 years. I moved back once my son was born so he could grow up near family living in Charlevoix at the time.
NWSW: Tell me what your favorite thing about living and working in Northwest Michigan is.
LW: I love the Midwest and the fundamental "goodness" that people from the region possess. As for northern Michigan, it’s a mindset, work ethic, and general down-to-earth, help-your-neighbor lifestyle that I appreciate most. Not to mention the beauty of the area and all of the outdoor activity that it brings.
NWSW: Tell me about the founding of Oneupweb. From what I understand, you started this company in your house and now you're quite a bit bigger than that with 50 or so employees. Was that what you envisioned when you started this company?
LW: I moved to TC in 2000 after selling a successful web design business in Alaska. At that time I started over offering search marketing services and it was a tough market. I had to educate prospects that we could indeed affect where their site came up in search results. In 2000 we had a small office location in TC but a year or so later moved the business into my basement in Suttons Bay to reduce expenses. Since the time in the basement, we’ve moved to three different locations as we outgrew our venues. I anticipate our location on Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, where we are now, will be our last move.
NWSW: What is your favorite part about waking up and going to work everyday?
LW: I still dig the industry. I’m an entrepreneur at heart and with that typically comes a quest to create the next business or new discovery. But, because of the speed at which the internet and technology change, I’m satisfied that each day I can work with great people and discover those new opportunities at Oneupweb without having to start another business. At times I feel that as we grow and add new capabilities, we have several businesses under this one roof.
NWSW: There is no doubt a company like this could survive anywhere, especially with today's ability to communicate instantly from virtually any corner of the globe. Have you ever thought of picking up and moving Oneupweb, or maybe opening an additional office elsewhere to support this one?
LW: I have and each time it’s entered my mind, I’ve exorcized the thought. There’s no need. I’m about to turn 50 and different things matter today to me than mattered when I was 30: My son, our quality of life, loving where we live--they mean more than conquering the world. I want to enjoy my life, have employees that appreciate the same things, and enjoy coming to work each day.
NWSW: What got you interested in building webpages in the first place? Do you recall some of the first you ever designed? Any of those early creations still lurking around on the Internet?
LW: It was a challenge initially. I hadn’t even touched a computer prior to teaching myself how to design sites while living in Alaska. Most of my early clients (in 1995) were small, independent travel and tourism clients. Not sure if any of them are still around.
NWSW: Who are some of the early customers you had that are still with you today? Have they grown right along with you?
LW: We have many clients that have been with us for a number of years and, yes, they have grown with us. These clients are a little nearer and dearer to my heart--they were a vital part of our success.
NWSW: BRIM is an event that Oneupweb created last year and had what seemed to be quite a bit of success with it. What was the focus of BRIM and why should business leaders make a point of attending this year?
LW: The point was to help businesses in our community and the state better understand the opportunities that exist which can help them grow their business. I know that as a business owner and CEO, tunnel vision can set in because we become engulfed in our day-to-day survival. Our goal was to set one day aside--something everyone can afford--and pull in other business leaders who have successful stories and advice to share. We wanted to do it in a free flowing format that allowed attendees to get specific about their challenges. The knowledge transfer was a concentrated cocktail of great, actionable advice.
NWSW: In the past 16 years, you've watched this company grow and prosper. What do you hope is on the horizon for the next 16? Any big plans everyone should be watching for?
LW: My plan is to give those in my company a chance to spread their wings and grow the business into the next decade. I plan to back away from the daily management over the next two years and allow other talents on my team to run the show. They’ve worked hard and deserve the opportunity.
NWSW: Any suggestion for those looking to start their own business and make a go of it?
If you have the drive and determination to make something happen--you can likely succeed if you set your goal, do what you say you’re going to do, and do it better than most. And most importantly: don’t blame others for your mistakes. Own them and learn from them. It’ll keep you humble.
Sam Eggleston is the managing editor for Northwest Michigan Second Wave. He was born and raised in Michigan but, like Lisa Wehr, lived in Alaska for a time. He can be reached via email.
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