Lawrence Reaves, CEO, Advanced Fraud Solutions
Why selected: During Reaves' tenure as CEO of Advanced Fraud Solutions, the company has doubled revenues every few years and has significantly increased its number of employees. He managed the opening of the company's California location, and saw AFS through several IT transitions. Reaves helped develop the company's partner channel in 2016, which now accounts for 50% of revenue.
If you could have an alternate title, what would it be? Mission control
How long have you worked at your company? 14 years
Where were you born? Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
What is the biggest challenge you face right now as a leader in your company? The crystal ball has been very cloudy. Probably no surprise that the biggest challenge recently has been the constant flux that 2020 brought. The plans and expectations for the year were suddenly not so relevant and we went into a cycle of adjust and then readjust mode. A lot is behind us but some of this is still unfolding.
What did you learn about your colleagues through Covid? About your community? The success of the company didn't change when remote work became a necessity. We learned how to make remote working a new normal.
What did you learn about yourself through the pandemic?
- I don't need business cards.
- Challenges can churn out good stuff.
- Gratitude ... it could have been worse, and it was for many.
How do you measure success? Well we quantify everything and measure progress against key stats right ... but I think the question is more geared to what we are looking for and that is when have that sense that what we are working on is larger the individuals. That the effort is going benefit the overall significantly ... well that is when it is most exciting and when we see the most success. It makes for a good yardstick.
Share one thing about yourself that would surprise people? My daughter and I are beekeepers and have a small apple orchard.
What are your hobbies? I spend a lot time and money to catch fish only to turn around and release them.
