JEFF BENNETT:
 
JEFF BENNETT




 
 
 
 
 
President and co-founder of OtterBase, a professional staffing firm. Bennett founded the company with his brother, Bill, two years after his 1996 graduation from Central Michigan University. The company was initially based in Bill’s spare bedroom, but now has its headquarters in Grand Rapids and branch offices in Detroit, Chicago, Nashville and Boston. It has about 60 permanent employees and several thousand temporary employees in professions such as IT, engineering, and science. “It’s the typical ‘We think we can do it better’ story,” Bennett said.


WHERE BORN: "Lafayette, Indiana."

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: "My father. He taught me a great work ethic at a very early age. He taught me about character and being a man of your word, and follow-through and respect. He really taught me how to be a gentleman. He instilled all of the qualities necessary for success in any part of life."

LAST BOOK READ: "The Starfish and the Spider, by Rod Beckstrom. It’s about leaderless organizations. If you cut the head off a spider, it dies; whereas a starfish, if you cut off an arm, it will grow back."

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: "Tough. Demanding."

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: "Many economists say that contingent labor is the future of growing businesses, that it’s become less of a temporary need and more of a strategic initiative."

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: "GPS. Seriously, I try to avoid being too accessible. My two vice-presidents have BlackBerries and they’re glued to them constantly."

FAVORITE PLACE: "Key West, Florida. It’s just another world down there -- far, far from the suits and ties. Great food, great culture, great sunsets."

FAVORITE HOBBIES: "Fly-fishing and golf."

FAVORITE FOOD: "Sushi."

MY HIDDEN TALENT: "The ability to be patient from time to time."

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: "As a great father."

Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2009, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.