EO Seattle welcomes new member, Marlaine McCauley! Marlaine is the founder and president of Apex Facility Resources, Inc., a resource firm that helps businesses plan, furnish, move and manage their workplace. "We help companies whose workplace is in transition - moving, taking on more space, reconfiguring an existing space," says Marlaine. "We are much more than an office furniture provider; we take a consultative approach to facility management, focusing on ergonomics, logistics, productivity and company culture."
Marlaine started Apex from her home while on maternity leave from her day job as a construction litigation paralegal - her husband Matt was in the moving business and needed a source for additional cubicle panels. One cubicle panel turned into 500 panels, and Marlaine found that she really enjoyed pulling the project together. Soon, another customer of Matt's, frustrated with his current furniture dealer, became a client. "I said, 'I love doing this - I think there's a niche here'", Marlaine recalls. "I started getting my own customers and ran the business out of my house for the first 5 years, until I got so busy that I couldn't do it all myself!"
Marlaine's husband, EO member Matt Watson, joined the company in 2005 and with his background in the moving business, added relocations to their core furniture business. Apex was named to the Inc. 500 list of America's fastest-growing private companies in 2007, and today employs 75 people out of its Seattle headquarters.
Marlaine is looking forward to EO's forum experience and peer learning aspect. "What's next in my life? What does retirement look like? What about succession, life balance, having kids while running a business? Those are some of the areas I'm looking to workshop in EO - and I look forward to bringing my own experiences into EO to help others."
Fun fact: Marlaine's newest passion is horseback riding. "There's nothing like being in the moment when you have a 1200 pound animal with a mind of its own!" She also loves to travel and spend time with family.
The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) - for entrepreneurs only is a dynamic, global network of more than 7,500 business owners in 38 countries. Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, EO is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life. Membership in one of EO’s 118 chapters is by invitation only; the average member is 40 years old with annual revenues of US$18.4 million.
