In the Avengers, each character brings to the table extraordinary powers and spectacular talents.
No superheroes are exactly the same and the key is this: when “Avengers assemble” they become an extraordinary force to be reckoned with.
Drax has brute strength. Antman has that amazing shrinking ability – enabling him to go anywhere and do anything without being seen. Black Panther has genius-level intellect, superhuman strength and really sharp claws.
But what kind of special powers does it take to succeed at Plexxis?
After all, as a team, each one of us possesses a special talent that makes us all bigger, faster, better – and unbeatable. Ask anyone in our company and they will tell you how we are all unique individuals, but we are stronger together!
We asked some of our own Plexxis Avengers to expand a little on what it really takes to make it here.
Taking pride in your work – and helping your team succeed
Another quality that characterizes Plexxis superheroes is a drive to produce the very best quality work. No clock watchers, time wasters or prima donnas here. Everyone is motived to put their best foot forward on behalf of their team.
“If you’re looking for a job, but want to work nine to five, clocking in, doing your hours and clocking out, you’re not going to make it here, says Mike Atkins, Field & Estimating Specialist.
“You have to take pride in your work. And when you’re done your work, you have to take pride in your team’s work too. Everybody’s looking around and I’m going down the hallway and seeing what others are doing and helping them out. You have to want to help.”
Hunger for challenge. Fearlessness in the face of adversity
Plexxis is no workplace for the “easily discouraged.” People here look at every obstacle as an opportunity – and also own up if they fall short. Our Solutions Specialist, Elizabeth Barton, remarks on that spirit of fortitude and soul of truthfulness that every Plexxis employee must possess.
“I think it takes a lot of internal drive. You want to always be the kind of person who’s pushing the limit, who always wants to do more, do better – and truly excel,” says Elizabeth.
“It takes someone who finds a lot of enjoyment in difficult challenges –having the opportunity to solve them with excitement and enthusiasm.
“But the right fit at Plexxis is also someone who values strong and really open relationships with their coworkers. At the end of the day, if you make a mistake, it’s that someone who is going to own up and acknowledge it, then move on and learn from it.”
Taking chances. Reaching for opportunity
Are you a risk taker? Someone who seeks out new opportunities and is willing to go out on a limb, even risking failure? Then you might have what it takes to join the Plexxis team. Kyle Porter, our Full Stack JavaScript Developer, weighs in on this:
Have you got what it takes to join forces with Plexxis?
Beautiful melodies. A driving beat. And total synchronicity.
The Plexxis culture is anchored in a superhero attitude – trust, hard work, honesty, camaraderie and collaboration. And metaphorically speaking, music certainly plays a role in our superhero universe… just as it does in the Marvel world.
Take the X-Men’s Dazzler. She entered the scene as a disco-singing hero. Born a mutant with the ability to transform sound into powerful blasts of light, singer Alison Blaire (aka “Dazzler”) uses her superpower to enhance her performances.
And if you follow Marvel, you’re sure to be familiar with Theresa Cassidy (known her as “Siryn”) – the mutant daughter Banshee of the X-Men. The two superheroes share the same mutant gift of a “sonic scream” which enables them to generate powerful sound waves that can shatter buildings. The ability to shriek certainly translates into some fine singing skills… well at least a sound that is undeniable and memorable!
When you join the Plexxis team as a superhero, you certainly won’t have to sing or play an instrument. In all likelihood, though, you may enjoy and appreciate music.
After all, this is a culture that puts an emphasis on working in harmony. Striking the right chord with our clients. Building and deploying our innovative software in perfect syncopation. Most importantly, you’ll be performing alongside a band of talented players who together produce uplifting and inspiring results. In many ways, we are a bit like a symphonic orchestra, each with an essential part to play to produce a great concert.
But what type of music would Plexxis be…if Plexxis were music, that is? A hard-hitting rock song, a crooner classic or an Italian opera? Maybe something altogether different?
Most importantly, will it be your vibe to work at Plexxis?
We asked some of our gifted band members to chime in:
All that jazz.
“I was a band geek in high school… in the classical band, and the jazz band,” says Kyle Porter, Full Stack JavaScript Developer.
Techno dance party.
“It would have to be some electronic or techno, says Mike Atkins, Field & Estimating Specialist.
“You have different elements that make up a song. Elements that if heard on their own, would certainly have a particular quality to them, but they’re not going to sound great. But those things come together and make an actual song that sounds good, has great energy, and actually gets people going and ready to move.”
Organic sounds from nature.
“If Plexxis, was music, it would be low-fi or low fidelity music. Low-fi music captures natural things that happen in the world — sound of the wind, chirping birds or the scratch on a record,” says Elizabeth Barton, Solutions Specialist.
A mega hit compilation.
Finally, there is the uniqueness that is Plexxis. A one-of-a-kind culture. For Mike Stade, our Infrastructure Specialist, that’s the tune we play:
“Its bluegrass. It’s unique. It’s like nothing else. And it hits really high notes,” says Mike.
Ultimately, the musical style of Plexxis is however you might choose to hear it. One thing is certain: Working here allows you the opportunity to create pleasing results as part of a supportive group of talented team players.
Does working at Plexxis sound like music to your ears?
In the Marvel world, superheroes never give up. There is something deep inside them that drives them, motivates them, and keeps them pressing on to the very last breath.
What fuels these super beings? It’s this: they live and serve according to a set of high-minded core values. These may vary from hero to hero, but they all embrace: perseverance, integrity, intelligence, strength of character – and loyalty. These values both guide and inspire all their critical “save the world” missions.
With great power comes great responsibility
Spider-Man is one example. At first glance, ordinary Peter Parker doesn’t seem at all like a superhero. Yet he becomes Spiderman, one of the most famous avengers of all, largely through his excellent values. His honesty, his mindset, and his dedication allowed him to redefine himself into this remarkable hero.
At the soul of Plexxis resides equally extraordinary values. Each and every one of our own superheroes, whatever their talents or job descriptions, wholeheartedly embrace them.
What does this really mean to the people who work here? Let’s find out in their own words:
“Plexxis resonates with my own personal values of hard work and showing up,” says Mike Stade, our Infrastructure Specialist.
Values that resonate personally
At Plexxis, it’s critical that every team member not merely adopt the company values, but actually embrace them in their heart. It is important that these values really resonate with everyone’s own personal credo.
More than specific skills, experience, and talents… we seek those very special people who share our values – and rally around a common purpose.
Our Full Stack JavaScript Developer. Kyle Porter sums this up well:
Values written in your own heart
These days, most companies, large or small, talk about values. It’s a corporate buzz word but the difference at Plexxis is that here they are genuine, actionable and at the very soul of our business. They are not just empty statements on a website, as Elizabeth Barton our Solutions Specialist explains:
“What makes our values unique is that they’re clear, concise, and they’re not whitewashed.”
“They express real actual values that we ourselves hold. When someone new joins Plexxis, they can see a plaque on the wall which has those values written down, giving them a clear indication of what we hold as important. I think, however, it quickly becomes clear that the more important place those values reside is inside each and every single one of us. There’s not a single person here who doesn’t espouse all of those values,” continues Elizabeth.
I was once asked if there was a value that I could live without using for one day. That was one of the hardest questions I’ve ever had to answer. Every single day, every single one is used by everyone!”
Values that help you innovate and impact lives
A final unexpected outcome of great values is that they empower everyone to do their best work. Grounded in principles of hard work, innovation, team play and truth, our Plexxis superheroes are able to pursue careers and accomplish their daring missions with momentum and meaning.
If we have a good idea or we think of an idea that can actually improve our daily life, we can bring it forward,” says Mike Atkins, Field & Estimating Specialist.
Do you also have strong values that include team play, pursuing innovation, and making a difference?
From the weird to the wonderful, the Marvel world is chock-full of fabulous stories about how superheroes got their powers. Many of these famous characters began their lives as common men and women, even nerds, before they broke through and transformed into their ultimate champion personas.
Take characters like UltraBoy (who first emerged as SuperBoy). His name was originally Jo-Nah, a normal guy from the planet Rimbor in the 30th century. One day, while flying through space in a starship, his vessel was swallowed by a “Space Whale.” This encounter with the beast completely changed his physiology, and he emerged transformed. Superhuman strength, speed, flight, and flash vision are among his many superpowers, but the catch is these powers can only be used one at a time.
But what about the origins of our own Plexxis superheroes? Most did not get here by taking a straightforward career path. They may not have been swallowed by a whale, but their stories are unusual, surprising – and serve as inspiring examples.
A philosopher’s dream job
For some, the seed for aspiring to greater things was sown in school – and it was Plexxis that allowed it to flower.
Elizabeth Barton, our deep-thinking Solutions Specialist, began her life as an academic, studying political and ancient philosophy at University.
“I was interested in asking the really big questions: what is good? what is justice? Philosophy was like “the eternal March around the walls of Jericho.” You’re always wanting to get to this final solution answer, but you can never quite get there, says Elizabeth.
“What really inspired me was bringing philosophy down from the heavens (as Cicero would say) back to the earth to be able to address the actual needs of people. I really wanted to be able to take what answers I had to those big questions and try and give them a practical application. I searched hard to find somewhere that would give me that opportunity.
When I read about all the things Plexxis is and does, it struck me immediately. I had to stop what I was doing and find out more about this company. The more I learned and was exposed to the people here, I realized that this was exactly where I could pursue those big questions… and make a real, actual differences in people’s lives.”
A caring attitude that shone through
In some cases, our Plexxis’ superheroes came to us from vastly different careers, via chance encounters where their special powers – and Plexxis “fit” — were unmistakable.
This was certainly the case with Mary Rivera, Accounts Receivable. She transitioned to Plexxis from a career in childcare.
Not the job I was looking for…
How an accountant became a software programmer
For many Plexxis employees, unexpected stories revolve around how they are hired for a job here requiring different skills than on their resume.
This was the case with Kyle Porter, an accounting professional who interviewed initially for a customer service position – but who was ultimately recruited for software development. He’s now a Full Stack JavaScript Developer and has been with Plexxis for more than five years.
“I mean, at first, I looked at, and thought there’s not a chance. I didn’t have a car, It was a 45-minute drive outside the city,” says Kyle. “
But I did the interview, went home, and thought it was okay. It was not a job that I was looking for.
Christmas Eve, I was visiting my parents. I got a phone call and it’s Chris, the Plexxis CEO on the line who says ‘Hey, I looked at your application and we want to get you in to interview again for a software position instead.’
I’m thinking, why do you want me for a software position? I’ve no experience. I have an accounting background. What am I going to do for you for software?
He told me that Plexxis has a better track record of taking people with accounting backgrounds and teaching them how to develop software than they do taking software developers and teaching them accounting.
I thought, all right, I’ll give it a chance. Years before I had done web design at college but nothing serious. One of my supervisors, Ali, has an accounting background and was their blueprint for pulling someone from accounting and putting them into software.
I sat with Ali for a little while and talked about what that transition was like and decided, yeah, I’ll go for it. Five years later I’ve moved across the country with Plexxis. I love what I do. I think it had it all worked out in the end.”
From chance encounters to focused career searches, a sudden discovery or natural chemistry, there are so many different ways people have come to work at Plexxis.
What will be your unexpected story?
Got what it takes… and interested in joining the Plexxis team?
Infectious enthusiasm, self belief, and commitment.
Want a supernatural punch of inspiration? Tap into the positive attitude of Marvel’s superheroes to fly higher, in life and work!
Although they may only be fictional, superhero stories can serve to remind us of what it takes to achieve more and push the boundaries of what you are and can be.
Superheroes demonstrate powerfully how the greatest obstacle to success is a negative mindset.
Think of the personal strength of Wolverine, the innovative brilliance of Dr. Strange, the charisma of Wonder Woman, and the super intellect and philanthropic spirit of Iron Man. It’s these personal characteristics that drive them – rather than their fancy vehicles and weapons – and have made them the superstars they are.
As Batman says, “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.
At Plexxis, we look for people who above all things embody that special superhero attitude.
Ours is an environment where with a positive mindset you can truly come into your own, triumph over obstacles, and save the universe!
Here’s how some of our employees describe it:
Everyone’s ideas are heard – and encouraged.
“At every other job I’ve had the staff suffers from self-imposed boundaries and toxic mentality, like, oh, I don’t have to worry about that. It’s not part of my pay grade,” says Mary Rivera, Accounts Receivable.
Mike Stade, our Infrastructure Specialist, appreciates the encouragement he gets to think outside the box – and receive constructive, honest criticism:
“If I have an idea, I’m never afraid to bring it up or run it by someone,” he says.
“I personally like people to poke holes in my ideas. So, I’ll come up with an idea and ask my boss, ‘hey, tear this to shreds and see if you can find any holes in my thinking.’”
“I know I’m going to get honest and very professional opinions on my ideas. I also know I’m going to get very supportive advice. That’s a big thing too: knowing I have a, a really great team of people that I can share my ideas with, help me build them up — and construct new ones.”
Good attitude means great work environment.
At Plexxis, mindset matters… a great deal more than any given skillset. For Kyle Porter, Full Stack JavaScript Developer, the fact that everyone chosen to work at Plexxis embraces that same positive, can-do attitude makes it a very special place.
“The unique thing about Plexxis is how they think about hiring for attitude … and how it results in a really cohesive environment, says Kyle.
“I don’t think I’ve ever worked somewhere where everyone’s on the same page and it’s very easy to interact with everybody. You just kind of instantly get along with them. I think that it’s a result of how they think about hiring people and not just finding the best person based on a set of qualifications, but how they’re going to mesh with everyone else.”
The bottom line is this. No one at Plexxis lets negativity be their personal kryptonite. We are all united in a “make it happen together” mentality that propels us forward like the superheroes we truly are.
Summing it up
Mike Atkins, our Field & Estimating Specialist:
Do you exude that superhero attitude… and want to join the Plexxis team?
Every successful business has its special superheroes. These are the people who get things done, make great things happen and who inspire and support others around them.
At Plexxis, we are proud of our superstars… but no-one here is an island unto themselves. Like the “Avengers Assemble” movies, we bring together the best of the best into eclectic and unstoppable teams. Our people may not come from other planets, but each has undeniable gifts and personal talents that bring formidable power to the team as a whole.
And that allows us to push our own limits, innovate wildly – and create some of the most exciting software in our sector.
As a new avenger joining forces together with us, you may not at first know that much about your peers. You likely won’t understand yet how you best complement others’ strengths and weaknesses. Over time, however you come to learn who the best person is for each challenge, how to best apply your unique strengths – and the shining, invaluable role you play as part of the whole.
Iron man might have genius level intellect, but where would he be without Captain Marvel’s strength, Black Panther’s speed and Black Widow’s espionage abilities? Together – with Wolverine, Groot, Scarlett Witch and a few more — they are invincible!
That’s kind of what it’s like that at Plexxis.
A team that’s “got your back”
Inspiration to succeed
Support is one thing, but our team environment offers more than that. To our Solutions Specialist, Elizabeth Barton, that avengers assemble model means not only does she feel supported – but also energized and driven by an amazing group of peers.
“I feel like I am part of a really solid set of friends,” she says. “People I have come to have relationships with and who are very strong together. I feel like I’m pumped to get up every single morning and go into the office.”
“It’s never something I dread. It’s something that I gain a tremendous amount of personal fulfillment from doing. That gives me a purpose in my life. It brings me a lot of happiness.”
No weak links
Another benefit of a strong team environment is accountability. Being motivated to do and be more. As Kyle Porter, our Full Stack JavaScript Developer describes, everyone has to pull their socks and be their best to drive success.
Keeping the wheels rolling
Unfailing dedication to one another is another characteristic of Plexxis’ team-oriented environment. It’s not about you, it’s about the success of your peers:
“One of the things I really like about this team is how everyone comes together quickly, willing to immediately just drop what they’re doing and help out to make sure things go smoothly,” says Mike Stade, Infrastructure Specialist.
“If they’re not going smooth, that gets righted very quickly. That’s one of the things that I see here: a very caring team and a very dedicated team.”
Meaningful relationships
So yes, being part of the Plexxis team is an opportunity to do and be more together. But ultimately there is a very human element. For Mary Rivera, Accounts Receivable, that sense of personal fulfillment she derives from working at Plexxis is the real deal maker:
There are so many reasons our avengers assemble model makes Plexxis an exciting and desirable place to work.
Ultimately, we are driven by a simple but powerful mission: to build teams and create products. Amazing teams…and pretty kickass products, by the way.
Got what it takes… and interested in joining the Plexxis team?
Sure, these films are exciting to watch. But perhaps they also speak to something deep inside of us. A desire to do and to be more. They show us qualities and strengths we’d all love to cultivate in ourselves.
Obviously, none of us can fly (without a plane ticket). We don’t have X-ray vision or the power to turn invisible. Being a real-life superhero, however, isn’t about physical strength and magical powers. It’s about having great values, personal initiative, confidence – and, most importantly, inner strength.
At Plexxis, we believe each and every one of us working here are superheroes. And it’s not just a fantasy. We are careful to select only those individuals who possess what we believe are true superhero qualities.
What does it take to join the team at Plexxis Software?
We asked a few of our own avengers. For most, it all came back to the Plexxis core values. Director of Business Development Chad Pearson explains:
Be accountable.
So, what are some of these core values that help Plexxis hire and retain a superhero team? Tristan Boyd, a Full Stack JS Developer, emphasized “character” and accountability as must-have prerequisites to working here.
“The first requirement is being able to accept criticism and apply it to your life. What that requires is a certain strength of character. After all, if I’m afraid to accept criticism, that says I might be afraid of who I am, or how I appear to you. That core insecurity can be a real problem if you want someone to grow and integrate with a team,” says Tristan Boyd.
Build open and honest relationships.
“The second part is being able to communicate positively with your team members so that you don’t let their shortcomings harm the institution, he says. “It’s pretty challenging to give that feedback to other people without souring your communication channel. What’s really special about Plexxis is that it allows that criticism to flow without fear of negative repercussions.”
Be passionate, determined, and relentlessly pursue excellence.
For Fiona Locke, our resource manager, the key to getting hired and succeeding at Plexxis is less about the experience on your resume, and more about personal drive and potential. She describes yet another “core value” that Plexxis employees possess:
Promote positive team spirit: be supportive and helpful.
Positivity is another personal attribute that is simply non-negotiable for Jeni Mitchel, director of client services. In her view, you must be a person with that upbeat and helpful disposition to find success at Plexxis:
“It’s about attitude. The positivity day by day that you bring to the office. Because we’re such a tight knit team. Think about how somebody coming to the table in a bad mood can affect those around them. We all always try to stay as positive as possible – and are always leaving a window open where we can put our hand out and help those around us with whatever is in front of them,” she says.
“So, it’s really about, once you get your own tasks done will you help those around you? I’m realizing that there are several times a day, when you will see opportunities where you can help your colleagues and excel your own learning at the same time”.
Relentlessly pursue excellence.
At Plexxis, we never settle for “good enough” because “good” is the enemy of great. We never follow: We lead. And we do this through relentless innovation and an unquenchable thirst to delight, surprise, and exceed what is expected.
Jonathan Locke, our manager of client services speaks to this final essential core value for all Plexxis superheroes:
“Hard work ethic. It’s tough here…we’re doing what no companies are doing with changing the game for the industry. So, a commitment to doing hard work is very important,” he says.
That hard work ethic, however, brings a host of rich personal rewards. As CEO and founder Chris Loranger explains:
Although Plexxis is a leading software company, you don’t need to have years of experience or a pile of tech certificates to be part of our success story. What it takes to succeed here is not something taught at university. Nor can it be learned in a work placement.
It’s something deep inside of you. That superhero spirit… waiting for an opportunity to soar!
Got what it takes? So you think you possess the core values and character we’re seeking at Plexxis?
And where would Batman be without Robin? Captain America without Falcon. And Batgirl without Black Canary.
“Avengers Assemble “, in fact, is a rallying cry that calls on the team of superheroes – all from a disparate backgrounds and each with different skills, to fight an enemy and save the world.
At Plexxis, we believe the same is true with our own superheroes. By assembling diverse talents, personalities, and ideas, we build teams that create innovative products and ultimately drive success.
“We believe that building a team is above everything. It’s not a product that we build. We build a team that builds products. The idea is to spend time together, hang out, and build loyalty with each other,” says CEO Chris Loranger.
Here are five ways that teamwork turbocharges Plexxis and makes us a truly unique employer in Canada.
We work and play together.
At Plexxis, we work hard – REALLY hard. But we play hard too. The [un]common denominator? We do it together, in-person, side by side, in a physical workspace – rather than working remotely via a computer screen.
Why? Because we believe the strongest teams create, build, innovate, laugh, relax, celebrate, and grow together, in the same location – not separated and siloed in a virtual world.
Our inspiring work locations both in Ontario and BC are conducive to great teamwork, relationship building – and fabulous comfort and leisure too. After all, the team that plays together, stays together – fights, wins and excels together in whatever they do!
“The new (BC) location is going to be literally 200 meters from a beautiful lake and the lakefront trail. Like our Ontario Head Office, we’ve got a basketball court, a games room, billiards and ping pong tables. There are even massage rooms for people who just need one but just can’t get out…
But all those amenities are primarily driven around the idea of us spending time together with each other,” says Chris.
We learn and grow together.
One man’s meat is another man’s poison. That’s what the Avengers believed – and we do too. The strengths and weaknesses of our talented superheroes are vastly different—and it’s through those differences that we generate even greater energy… greater power.
“Programmers have different minds. Accountants have different minds… It’s so rewarding because you are learning from them all the time, says Jonathan.
“You can plug into things and together think differently about things that already exist… It’s the creativity, part of it: building new modules, building new apps, building new functions… and working together with the team to take it that much farther…
There are a lot of unique personalities, which can be challenging and rewarding. The best part it is that everything is new, everything is fresh. Everything is…a team working together to do what no one else has ever done essentially.”
And from Tristan Boyd, Full Stack JS Developer –
We trust one another – and build truth together.
The Avengers also shine a spotlight on just how important it is to trust our teammates… to be honest, sometimes brutally honest with one another. At Plexxis, we achieve this through a credo called “Build Truth”. We uphold it with our client relationships and with each other.
The secret to team success? Never hide anything that could jeopardize the end goal. Be truthful. Be honest and demonstrate that we care for the success of the company, the success of the team and the success of each individual. Truth in feedback is a super-powerful ingredient that we practice every day at Plexxis and it’s one of the reasons our teams are so strong.
“A pat on the back… we all love that. It motivates you to do better. But truth can be some bad news too…It’s time to pull up your socks! The way I take this is … it’s something that makes me better… I feel truth among colleagues makes us stronger because now we are all better,” says Farrah Merchant, programming coordinator.
We overcome obstacles and celebrate achievements- together.
Whether working in a group of two or twenty, passionate in-person collaboration is one of the best things about working at Plexxis When we have the same values, vision and mission, challenges don’t define us, rather, achievements become extraordinary.
Teamwork allows us to have richer and more rewarding experiences, both in life and in our work. When faced with defeat or a tough obstacle to overcome, our team members are there to support us, encourage us – and offer solutions.
And when we truly ‘rock it’ on a project and crush our goals, we can all celebrate together and share in the victory.
Ali Abbas, lead programmer ERP, weighs in what really turbocharges Plexxis:
“It’s team-oriented: we help each other through the tough times, and we celebrate each other’s achievements. It’s honestly a wonderful place to call home,” says Ali.
“I can keep naming all these different people that have helped me in my journey, but all of them provide guidance, mentorship… sometimes it’s: ‘how to handle stress’ how to manage your, expectations or how to deal with a day where you didn’t feel like you got done as much as you wanted to,” he says.
“Those days are gonna happen. So, it’s amazing I have people in my team that are not only able to challenge me in different ways but are also there to help me through my work problems. That, I think, is what is enables me to do my best work.”
“I don’t ever feel like I’m alone with the problem I’m working on. There’s always someone I know I can turn to that will help me find a solution if I ask it. I’ve never asked a question for help and gotten a “no” in response. And that’s really important. If you don’t feel supported by your coworkers and your fellow management team, that can be really deflating and really, it doesn’t push you to be your best.”
We’re better together.
As the saying goes, united we stand, divided they fall.
At Plexxis, we genuinely believe that success is dependent on building people and teams FIRST. It’s only through our superheroes, that we can then create extraordinary products for our customers. With this clarity in priorities, we work together as a committed, supportive, tough, and innovative team to make what many believe is impossible… possible.
“It inspires me seeing the team push themselves, they push themselves beyond their limits, beyond their knowledge to always improve and do better. That inspires me to do the same. To step outside of my comfort zone,” says Fiona.
Are you looking to join a superhero team– and feel you would be a great fit at Plexxis?
Yet these are merely exterior [semi]-mortal manifestations. When you dig a bit deeper, there is of course so much more that comprises their character, strength, and magnetic appeal.
At Plexxis, the superpowers of our amazing super people present not on the surface nor in the striking manner of our dress. They manifest deep under the skin.
We call it the soul of Plexxis. It is a belief system – a rare character and a commonality of inner strengths that propel our company forward.
It’s what fuels us and makes our people unmistakably unique, larger-than-life and instantly recognizable from lesser beings you may encounter elsewhere.
So, what truly lurks in the soul of Plexxis? Let’s explore!
Self awareness
No man—or woman– is an island. Truth is, not everyone is good at absolutely everything.
Being successful at Plexxis requires a realistic understanding of who you really are – where your strengths and weaknesses lie, and how that can ultimately impact and enable your team of “avengers”.
Even the greatest superheroes have their “kryptonite” – limits and vulnerabilities to their talents that can block their powers and prevent them from saving the day.
The challenge many of us face is really knowing where we truly excel, and where we require a little extra work – or a little help from coworkers.
“The most important part is self-awareness — being open and honest about where you’re strong and where you’re weak. You can achieve that vision of both protecting and serving the team by doubling down on your strengths, protecting the team, but making sure that your weaknesses don’t impact the mission,” says Chris Loranger, CEO
Truth
At Plexxis we uphold the moniker of “Build Truth”. It is more than a statement. It’s something that guides our actions, fires our heart and drives our ethics on a daily basis.
Sales Director Chad Pearson explains, “Build Truth” began as a movement within the construction software industry. Now, it’s taken on a life of its own and evolved as an internal tool to keep us accountable and honest every day”.
Building truth, he adds, is a mission everyone at Plexxis embraces in order to make the industry a better, safer place.
But truth at Plexxis goes farther than sales transparency and ethics. It’s a mantra Plexxis people live by which guides their conduct and colours their every interaction.
“Building truth is being brutally honest about expectations. even when you’re providing, say, bad news to a customer in a constructive way, says Ali Abbas, lead programmer, ERP.
“Where I have made a mistake and I have had the courage to call the client at like 12 in the night saying look, this is what happened. I’m sorry. I know this happened, but I can’t go to bed till you know about it,” says Farrah Merchant, programming coordinator. She continues:
The same holds true in daily interactions with colleagues… it’s about building open and honest relationships. Being able to tell someone I need help or, how you’re explaining it to me isn’t helping me to understand better. Maybe we can approach it at a different angle?
It takes true strength of character to convey less favourable news and truly honest feedback. But Plexxis people possess this in abundance.”
Plexxis CEO Chris Loranger personally embodies this commitment to truth that has become central to Plexxis’ core values. Originally a small-town Ontario dairy farmer, he imbues those wholesome country values and champions truthfulness in his organization.
“I’m a pretty straight shooter. I really don’t hold back. I always found (it’s best) if you tell people where they stand and expect the same from them.
I find that when people tell you what you need to hear, you have an opportunity to change… adapt. You can do something with that.
But if somebody is just ‘blowing smoke’, at the end of the day, you’re literally going to believe your own BS. So, surround yourself with people who tell you not what you want but what you NEED to hear.” Chris Loranger CEO
Passion
Dull, drab or average don’t live at Plexxis. Nope. No such address! Some say there is no such thing as boredom – just boring people. Plexxis people would concur with that! Inner drive, engagement, and passion are qualities that rage in the heart and soul of every individual at Plexxis.
“It’s one of the most driven organizations that I’ve ever experienced or been a part of. I feel pretty blessed about it every single day. It’s definitely a treat to come to work and deal with the challenges that come up knowing I have the right team behind me. It’s awesome,” says Ali Abbas, lead programmer ERP.
That passionate, hardworking ethic at Plexxis is fueled by another quality: A positive attitude. Positivity is the spark that ignites our projects, teams and daily work experience.
“I would definitely say, positivity, again, I encourage it in people, and I get a lot of it back. I see that a lot in our team: positive achievements, positive growth, hard work. It’s huge,” says Fiona Locke, resource manager.
“We’re able to crush our goals, really. When everyone is giving us 110%, they make it look so natural. It really is a superpower… as if anything less would not be enough.”
Speaking of positivity and unstoppable momentum, you’d be hard pressed to find a better example than Sales Director, Chad Pearson.
On the subjects of drive, embracing change and that passionate pursuit of excellence:
“If you maintain that mentality of always pursuing, like relentlessly pursuing excellence, when times get tough, that’s when you can start to really shine. The other one that I personally love is embracing change. The reason why I personally love that one is because again, going back to the second wind behind me. With this level of volatility in the world, it’s almost a bare minimum to survive,” says Pearson.
Connectedness
Devote quality time getting to know Plexxis and you will find a unique group of talented people who realize this: Together they are stronger than they are apart.
The Plexxis belief system flies in the face of the status quo. That pervasive trend of ‘remote working’ that is transforming the world of work right now. It’s simply not for us.
At Plexxis, we believe a transition to a remote working model would drive us farther apart, rather than bring us together. It would not serve the greater good.
As Chad explains, Plexxis is driven to do quite the opposite of what the run-of-the-mill software company is doing:
“High collisions, embracing conflict, staying together, and living and working under a strict code… as opposed to a more flexible code: that’s the soul of Plexxis,” he says.
“We are literally zagging when the whole world is zigging. While everyone else is going in more of an accommodative, flexible, remote working direction, we actually feel quite firmly that not only is it wrong, but in the future, it will lead to high levels of depression and anxiety. That’s how passionate we are about sticking to the attributes of sharing the same space and maintaining that family type culture.”
CEO Chris Loranger expands on the importance of closeness to the belief system of Plexxis:
“We believe when people hang around each other, they can build loyalties and become a true family. It’s In those loyalties and connections that you get a lot of life satisfaction, and it’s not always, driven from a financial perspective…”
Tristan Boyd, a Full Stack JS Developer at Plexxis, weighs in on the positive impact of “connectedness” on innovation:
Integrity
The final defining element in the soul of Plexxis is perhaps the most important of all. It has nothing to do with scintillating intellect or superpower skillsets. It pertains to the ‘character’ of the person itself.
“Being a girl from India in North America, I wouldn’t have been this confident had I not been working for Plexxis, says Farrah Merchant, programming coordinator.
“Pretty much it’s all about being a good human here. Plexxis is where it is because we are a collection of good people. It’s goodness or diversity… and everything else.”
For Chris Loranger, integrity strikes a special chord.
“Integrity – that is literally my favorite word in the world, says Loranger.
“Integrity. Authenticity and genuineness – you will fail without them. When you ask what we brought from the farm, my dad had always told me, I have one thing and that is my word. When we said we’re going to do something, we did it because at the end of the day, if you came back to see that person having not kept your word, they’re never going to believe you again,”
When you think of Marvel superheroes you usually think of their special strengths. Their web shooters, magic shields and invisibility cloaks.
At Plexxis, we believe our superpowers — our ability to defy client expectations, or to deliver on a new release, all come from these rare qualities within: Self awareness, truth, passion, connectedness and integrity. Ultimately, it is these attributes that allow us to embark on an extremely exciting mission:
“We will chase perfection… and chase it, relentlessly knowing all that all the while we can never attain it, but along way along the way, we’ll catch excellence.” says Ali Abbas.
Do you possess the soul of a superhero– and feel you would be a great fit at Plexxis?
As unique and characteristic as their individual powers may be, every superhero – from Wolverine to Green Lantern — shares a certain attitude, a credo that focuses and fires their desire to achieve three things:
To make the world a better place, now and in the future
To use ingenious thinking to create new bold new solutions for the industry.
To persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles in pursuit of something extraordinary!
At Plexxis, this is our attitude too: We are future focused. We are innovative. And we are relentless in our pursuit of the extraordinary.
Our people may not leap off buildings or breathe under water, but they do possess what we call that “superhero attitude. It underscores everything we are and manifests everywhere across our organization… from the vision of our leaders to the passion and fortitude of our newest interns.
For us, a superhero attitude impacts how we develop our employees, how we grow our business, how we serve clients, and a great deal more. Spidey senses tingling – we see the future — and lead onwards and upwards to create a better, more exciting, and prosperous tomorrow for all.
Future-focused
Making the world a better place for our people, clients, and industry.
In the Marvel universe, Cyclops emits powerful beams of energy from his eyes, and can only control the beams with the aid of special eyewear. This optic power makes him one of the superheroes with the strongest, clearest vision of what he wants to achieve.
Seeing into the future — and creating it — is a superpower Plexxis also possesses.
“Ultimately when you start a company, you realize, well, wait a minute, I’m devoting a lot of my time into this new baby. “What you’re really doing is you’re trying to create a future for yourself and others,” says Chris Loranger Plexxis president and CEO.
“We take a long-term view to ensure not just an exciting present, but a great future for our people.
When we hire individuals to join our team, a salary with benefits is just the tip of the iceberg of all we provide. We help them grow, professionally and personally. We take care of their families. We take care of their education. We take care of their future.”
Plexxis may not have super optic power, but its leaders are far-sighted in their approach to hiring people. As Loranger says:
“I think gone are the days where you can simply rely on an education or job history. What means more to us is finding individuals who are able to stick out a job for four or five years demonstrating true social loyalty to the people in that company. We find the best people are the ones not looking to jump jobs. They’re looking to find a home where they can find long-term happiness working with really good people.”
Innovative
Using ingenious thinking in pursuit of a holistic new solution.
Like Iron Man who breathes innovation, creativity, and ingenuity, Plexxis constantly pushes the limits of technology for the greater good of all.
Seeing the future for the construction software industry – and seizing it — is another way we manifest our inner superhero.
Plexxis is busy blazing a trail to that future with a beautiful new west coast facility. It will be a collaboration hub – an open concept and inspirational working space designed to function as an incubator for red hot innovation. No virtual or hybrid working model. The Plexxis attitude is to keep people collaborating together in person to foster outstanding outcomes, along with personal and career growth.
BC facility: a new second innovation hub
This new BC coastal center is designed to help foster positivity, health and happiness within our exceptional culture of performance. It’s central location is an easy a 5–10-minute commute from home for most employees. Less time in traffic, more time and energy for innovation.
“Most modern companies look at quarterly profits. They want to keep growing the companies that have venture capitalists investing into them. Those that short-term quarterly growth targets in our opinion, is what destroys companies so growth and how we see it is we want to be a 100-hundred-year company that is growing in a manner that builds better people and better lives within Plexxis.” says Chad Pearson, Director, Business Development
There are many shortcuts to failure, it has been famously said, but there are no shortcuts to true success.
For this reason, Plexxis takes a long-term view and strives to build the right software product, not the fastest one. Our vision is to go the extra length to create one holistic solution that can encompass the whole industry.
Everything is interconnected.
Another secret to our supersonic innovation? A unified and coordinated team effort where everyone works in synchronicity. As a result of our collaboration model, we are on target to deliver something unique in the marketplace: an all-in-one solution.
“Everything is interconnected, maybe in other companies, you wouldn’t talk to the mobile team or the development team or the other little products, but every change you make in our system goes across to every platform that we have. Every team is involved across the board, says Jonathan Locke, manager of client services.
As a result, there’s really no main one competitor for our company. it’s multiple companies working together to do what we’re doing. We take care of everything for clients… and that’s a pretty unique thing.”
Extraordinary
Overcoming obstacles in pursuit of the exceptional
The Green Lantern’s ring endows its bearer with the power to materialize anything he can imagine. So too, Plexxis is ready to create the extraordinary, no matter what obstacles may lay in its path. To achieve this, we’re continuing to build the most basic of superhero requirements: The right culture to grow, excel, overcome… and constantly surprise.
Spoiler Alert! the Plexxis culture is not for everyone. It is high octane and laced with fierce challenges along the way. But opportunity awaits those with the fire in their belly to overcome them.
“I love to work here. Plexxis is home — it’s family for me now — but that does not mean it’s not challenging working here. This is a place where, when times are challenging, we all come together, says Farrah Merchant, programming coordinator.
“It’s all hands-on deck and it’s not forced. It’s where people want to get things done because there’s a need and we have to be there to meet it.
I have given Plexxis so much and when I look back, I have received so much back from them.”
Plexxis’ culture of “extraordinary” includes an uber-personalized approach to the needs of each and every client that we serve. The Spiderman dexterity to adapt in a flash to client demands presents valuable growth opportunities.
“Every new client that we bring on presents its own challenges — different ways for us to improve ourselves and expand our knowledge of the system and software itself,” says resource manager Fiona Locke.
“It’s a learning opportunity… and what you do for one person doesn’t always work as a solution for the other. It doesn’t mean that what you learned before doesn’t apply. Rather, everything that we do helps us with the next client.”
Ultimately, Plexxis tests the true mettle of its people – and allows them a special opportunity to stretch and shine. It coaxes out the superhero in everyone.
Do you possess a super-hero attitude that would be a great fit at Plexxis?
