Meet Ken Amitin of Organizational Services Corporation in Brookhaven

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ken Amitin.

Ken, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
First, I dedicate this article in loving memory to Fredric H. Margolis (1932-2017), my mentor and friend who was instrumental in helping me get to where I am today.

Considered by his peers as one of the nation’s leading adult educators and trainers. Fred was a prolific author and pioneer thought leader who challenged the traditional way workers learn and trainers train. He taught me that “Knowing things is not enough. All jobs require the application of this knowledge, which involves the skills of analysis and judgment.” And he showed me that “the best way to learn is to teach others.”

As I reflect upon the major events and experiences that have shaped my career, the thread that binds them together always involved bringing people with diverse interests, backgrounds, and perspectives together to solve problems and grow as a team.

In 1966 upon graduating from California State University, Northridge, I joined VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America), was assigned to a rural Georgia county, and given the broad and ambiguous mission of reducing poverty. While driving through the backroads of the county, I came across a barely visible pocket of poverty nestled in a heavily wooded area off the main road. I found 24 substandard dwellings with no indoor plumbing, not even outdoor bathrooms, and only one common well-water facility. About 160 people–mostly parents with young children–lived in this neglected neighborhood.

As an outsider, I knew I had to build trust and gain acceptance, not only from the renters, but from the property owner, clergy, and business and civic leaders as well. This took time. I lived in this community for two years. My first success was organizing an event where people pitched in to build outdoor toilets and decontaminate the well-water. Eventually, local business and political leaders arranged for the financing and construction of low-cost housing coupled with health, education, and job aid programs.

These experiences taught me many valuable lessons. Three of these today serve as a foundation for my personal and professional life. They are 1) create a safe climate for engagement, 2) acknowledge and respect the diversity of opinions and perspectives, and 3) never underestimate the ability and creativity of people-regardless of their differences and backgrounds-to work together to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of others.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Transitioning from government to the private sector and starting OSC with three partners was a dream come true. We were doing quite well in the early years, building a solid reputation for quality work until we steered off course. We diversified into an area for which we had no experience—starting a monthly magazine for the training industry. Sounded like a promising marketing idea at the time.

Rather than focusing on my client’s needs, I found myself selling advertising for the magazine. Not my cup of tea. My partners and I decided to separate the two companies. I took full ownership of OSC and they took the magazine. Lesson Learned! Know your core business and be careful not to drift from it, a lesson which I often help my clients apply.

So now I was on my own, no partners and no support staff. The only business model I was familiar with was one of expansion where you strived to get more clients and hire more staff. I found myself doing too much “business stuff “and not enough “client stuff.” This was not working for me and I was not a happy camper.

Enter Fred. I knew Fred from attending one of his “train the trainer” workshops many years ago. I phoned him and briefly explained my dilemma. I was surprised that he remembered me and further surprised that he invited me to meet and stay with him and his wife at his home in Potomac to talk further. I accepted.

The question that Fred asked me that changed the direction of my career and life was “Ken, are you a businessman or are you a practitioner?” After returning to Atlanta and pondering the question, I concluded that I was a practitioner. I set about simplifying business processes and transforming OSC into a practice. My aim was to give each client full attention with exceptional service so they would feel as if they were our only client, which sometimes they were.

The “practitioner model” has served us and our clients well for over 30 years.

Please tell us about Organizational Services Corporation (OSC).
Our practice specializes in preparing and helping managers keep their teams engaged and productive, especially during times of times of change and uncertainty such as consolidation, budget cuts, and limited promotional opportunities.

We do this by conducting our Expanding Your Work Satisfaction and Effectiveness and Generating Solutions for Results workshops which energize and get teams thinking, interacting, and responding in ways that improve the quality of their work and working relationships.

Three factors distinguish our practice. First, our approach is both preventive and corrective. Our clients hire us to strengthen their teams when things are going well. They also bring us in to help people adjust to the disruptions that have affected their procedures.

Second, we measure results. Our pre and post “Working Relationship Inventory” shows our clients what they have achieved and what requires their further attention.

Third, our training methods (thanks to a collaborative partnership with Fred), are relevant and beneficial regardless of background, job title, or education level. This makes it possible for every team member to take part together in the training.

One of the things about our company that I am proud of and find most gratifying is when clients from years past get back in touch to let us know that they keep our training materials nearby and are still getting value from what they learned. Here is a comment that a client sent us a few months ago.

“Ken, our group was becoming very inefficient and almost dysfunctional. Charged with the task of leading a team to fix things, I incorporated a lot of the techniques that you taught 15 years back in 2002. You would be proud. It was a successful venture and really turned things around by finding the challenges and getting solutions directly from the staff.”

Our tagline captures the essence of our company: Strong Relationships. Strong Engagement. Strong Performance.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I believe the quality of my relationships forms the foundation of true success, specifically, the relationship I have with myself, my family and friends, my community, and with people at work.

To me, A quality relationship with self means taking care of myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

With family and friends, a quality relationship means having caring and considerate friends and a loving family who care about and are supportive of each other.

With the community, taking part, enjoying, and contributing to community life adds an essential element of success to my life.

Regarding work, a quality relationship means having work that is challenging and fulfilling and allows me to make an important contribution. It also means feeling like I am part of a team with people who trust each other and are ready and willing to each other succeed.

All these relationships are important, and contribute to my feelings of success and fulfillment in life.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I was ten years old, my family emigrated from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada to Los Angeles, California. I remember the excitement of boarding the airplane and the wonder of flying.

Manitoba is a prairie province, no mountains or hills. Getting off the plane, the first thing I noticed were the mountains in the distance. A vivid memory, and for a while a little disorienting.

We lived for a while at a small motel in Tujunga, California which was next to what was an amazing site to me, rows and rows of grapes growing a large field. I could not resist and picked and ate a few.

Delicious. I love all kinds of fresh fruit but am partial to red grapes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.orgserv.com
• Phone: 404-320-1839
• Email: kenamitin@orgserv.com

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