Anticipating web 3.0, local Internet marketing firm beefs up talent and creativity

John Rumery MINDSCAPE at Hanon McKendry recently completed an acquisition of Venux.net, a Grand Rapids-based firm with expertise in custom web and mobile applications software.  According to Pete Brand, the Co-Founder of MINDSCAPE at Hanon McKendry, the acquisition of Venux.Net is really a sign of the times.   In Brand’s opinion, technology is changing so rapidly that organizations can’t “take a week off of learning.” For MINDSCAPE, “it was time to bring custom programming in-house,” states Brand.   By adding the Venux.net team, their firm now has in-house expertise to rapidly meet the demands brought on by new technology.  Trending fast is the explosion in mobile technology. Many businesses are trying to figure out the best way to optimize an existing web site for a mobile device, or improve the engagement and transactions through a smart phone or tablet such as the iPad. Despite the tough economy, Brand indicates his firm has been able to grow at about 30% for the last five years.    “One reason for our growth is we are very diverse in the companies that we serve; we’re really not focused on any one niche,” he says. “Venux.net not only brings outstanding talent, but also adds to our geographic diversity with a concentration of clients outside of West Michigan. ” Venux.net’s “incredible, talented team” is an example of what Brand feels is a strength of West Michigan’s workforce. “There is a tremendous creative community (of) designers, creative marketing people, in the area,” he says. However, Brand cautions that “hardcore tech talent” can be a bit more difficult to find with some of these individuals having left town. As the knowledge economy continues to expand, Brand’s advice to those in career transition is “to become an all-star.” He stresses the need to “be extremely passionate about the industry and be a voracious learner. Everything changes.” As an example, Brand points out that Google recently introduced “Google Instant,” which he says is a game changer that will have a tremendous impact in search engine optimization.  “Organizations and individuals have to be flexible and adaptable,” he says. John Rumery is the Innovation and Jobs Editor for Rapid Growth Media. He is an educator, board member of AimWest, WYCE music programmer, entrepreneur, raconteur and competitive barbecuer living in Grand Rapids, MI.  He can be reached at InnovationandJobs@RapidGrowthMedia.com  For story tips you can e-mail info@rapidgrowthmedia.com