Meet FYC Labs CFO – Graham Peck

Graham Peck, FYC Labs Chief Financial Officer, is a technology investor and operator. He has Co-Founded or is a partner in multiple companies in the marketing, recruiting, software development, and cybersecurity industries.

In addition, Graham works as a Venture Partner with Cultivation Capital since 2019. He has helped to shape his family office’s investment committee since its inception over a decade ago. In doing this he has reviewed thousands of potential investments in the Angel/Venture Capital space including funds as well as the Real Estate sector.

Graham volunteers his time to teach the principles of government at a summer youth program sponsored by the American Legion called Illinois Premier Boys State.

Graham and his wife Mariia reside in Chicago and enjoy spending time outdoors and traveling.

Tell us a little bit more about your story with FYC. How did you meet the CEO & CTO Justin Fortier and how did you guys decide to be partners?

Justin and I met through a mutual friend. I expressed my interest in acquiring or investing in a custom technology development company, similar to FYC, and my friend mentioned that Justin was considering selling his company. This perfectly aligned with my interests. Justin was involved with a few startups that eventually became clients of FYC. He visited me in Chicago and during his visit, we worked together and also had a great time, solidifying our partnership.

After our first meeting, we worked on finalizing the transaction details. The process took about seven months, slightly delayed by the pandemic. I wanted to evaluate the pandemic’s impact before investing, and fortunately, it turned out to benefit FYC, leading to substantial growth.

Did you always aspire to have a career as CFO, or did it happen unexpectedly?

I have always liked technology and understood that it would play a significant role in my career. Additionally, I’ve always had a natural affinity for numbers, although I didn’t necessarily assume it would be a constant factor. It doesn’t come as a surprise to me that my career has unfolded in the way it has. I have always envisioned myself as either an entrepreneur or a partner in a business, and I currently fulfill both roles. Technology has been an integral part of every company I’ve been involved with as a partner in different ways.

While my family’s business is highly technical from an engineering standpoint rather than software-related, it still involves advanced technical knowledge. I expected technology to be a substantial component, if not the predominant aspect, of my career, and it has proven to be true. As for finance, I didn’t always anticipate it being part of the equation, but considering my natural preference towards numbers, it’s not surprising that it has become a significant element.

Being a partner responsible for overseeing the financial operations of a technology company perfectly merges these three aspects that have always been prominent in my mind.

What do you consider a measure of success for a small business?

It depends on what your definition of success is. Some small businesses dream of not being small businesses anymore. Some small businesses, depending upon the owner or partner’s desire, may be just trying to stay small for a long time. Do you want to grow your company? Or you want to grow your profits? Do you want to have a better work life balance? Some companies’ goal may be to shrink, if the owner doesn’t want to work as hard. Most of the time you’d probably sell your company or hire a general manager, CFO or CEO, to outsource that work and then take more time off, if that’s your life goal. Generally, it’s what the ownership and executive team want out of the business and then- are you headed in that direction?

What makes us successful at FYC, is the growth of our company in the past two and a half years. We provide meaningful jobs to more people now and that’s important to us. We want to keep growing and moving forward. Obviously, our partners want also our growth to be profitable. This year we took on a lot more projects where we’re joining a team basically as the co-founders.

We have joined a few companies as co-founders and we’re providing technical support and resources through the FYC team. It’s really cool to see all of that actually transforming into reality, to see that happen. I see that as a sign of success, because we identified early on that we wanted to do it. Our recipe for success is growth.

Profitability is always a struggle. But profitable growth, providing more meaningful jobs to our employees, contractors, and team members, being able to do work in exchange for equity or co-founding, to seat at the table for multiple different other client projects- that I see as a sign of success, because it was on our roadmap or goals to do that.

Looking back on your journey as a CFO, what is the one business tip or piece of advice you wish you had received before taking on the role?

There are a lot of things that I wish I knew. It’s kind of a “be careful what you wish for” to some extent. But I wish I had a little deeper understanding of how important paying attention to constant cash flow and collection was before I became a CFO. Still to this day, although I know more than I’ve ever known before, I wish I knew a little bit more about or thought a little bit more about tax-optimized business structures.

What sets FYC apart from other web development shops?

We have a fantastic team all throughout the company. Our dedicated employees excel at responding to our clients’ needs. Starting from our leadership down, we’ve always prioritized client delivery. Our team does an exceptional job of being empathetic and thoroughly understanding our clients’ needs. This empathetic view and approach are instrumental in delivering what our clients are looking for.

Can you give us some insights about the phrase “This was the best week of my life” written on your hands?

As part of the “Dear World” project, I had my picture taken at an after-party for Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal in November 2016. The project involves writing a word or phrase on your body to encourage conversations. My picture captures the incredible experience of my first international trip.

In September 2016, I took my first international trip to Kazan, Russia with a layover in Helsinki, Finland. The purpose of the trip was to conduct due diligence on a US company that had an office in Kazan, as a potential acquisition. Although the deal ultimately didn’t go through, I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. Until today, I still keep in touch with them. This trip sparked my love for international travel, which has only continued to grow since then.

Connect with Graham on LinkedIn!

Meet FYC Labs Founder and CEO/CTO Justin Fortier!

Meet FYC Labs Chief Operations Officer Phillip Lorenzo!

Meet FYC Labs Head of Design – Brianne Fortier

Meet FYC Labs Head of Design – Brianne Fortier. Head of UI/UX at FYC Labs since 2016, Brianne is a passionate and empathetic designer. With expertise in creating beautiful and intuitive user interfaces, she has played a crucial role in establishing FYC Labs as a leading web design agency. Brianne emphasizes the importance of designing with the user and client in mind, prioritizing accessibility and effective communication throughout the design process. Her commitment to collaboration and constant growth drives the success of her design team at FYC Labs. Collaborating with the team at FYC brings her joy, and she values a culture where communication and transparency are key to avoiding issues. Brianne believes in constant growth and effective collaborations that can really unleash her creativity. As a proud mother of two, she values family time and enjoys exploring new places and cultures.

—

Did you always want to be a designer or did it happen unexpectedly?

I’ve always had this passion for diving into the arts. But I have to admit, I was discouraged by others who told me that it wouldn’t be a profitable career and would remain nothing more than a hobby. I stumbled upon this perfect fit for me, almost by accident. I took all my life experiences, all the things I’ve learned throughout my life, and combined them with my artistic skills into a career that truly fulfilled me.

Tell us more about your first year with FYC.

I began my career at FYC Labs as a Project Manager after years of working as an art teacher. During my first year as a Project Manager, I also dabbled in design. For me, it was a great learning opportunity to be able to apply my teaching experience to the field of project management. I gained valuable insight into the various types of projects we undertook, while also observing the skilled designers at FYC. Along the way, I took on small projects to enhance my design skills.

What is your favorite thing about working at FYC?

I absolutely love what I do, especially when it comes to designing. But what really makes my job fulfilling is getting to work with such amazing people. The design team at FYC are my favorite people to collaborate with, and I always have fun working alongside other designers and developers too. From day one, I’ve been lucky enough to work closely with Kevin Love, our Head of Development, and it’s been so inspiring to watch us both grow together. The teamwork, variety of projects, and diversity of experiences here are what make it all worthwhile. I’m grateful for the chance to work with all sorts of different folks and businesses- it’s always a learning experience!

What sets FYC apart from other web development shops?

One thing that sets us apart is we really consider the client throughout the entire process. At every stage of our projects, our approach centers around putting the client first. As a design team, we recognize that our focus should be on designing for the client and their customers, rather than for ourselves. We listen intently to our clients and work to create solutions that cater to their needs. Above all, we make it our mission to deliver a final product that meets our client’s expectations and leaves them satisfied.

What is the most memorable moment from your FYC journey so far?

As UI/UX designers, our primary focus is on UI/UX design, and we are seldom tasked with creating logos. Personally, I find creating logos to be one of the most challenging tasks. However, when I created my first logo for GPG (Glenn Price Group), and they loved it with minimal changes, it was a memorable moment for me. I took their requirements and created a logo that matched their vision. It was a great feeling to have a happy client. While design comes naturally to me and I can do it quickly, creating logos and branding requires more thought processes.

Another very special moment in my career at FYC was my promotion to Head of Design. Becoming the Head of Design was a bit scary at first, but it ended up being a great opportunity for me to get better at what I do. When I started training new designers, it was really cool to see how much I had learned. I got to share some of my favorite techniques with them and also help them see where they could improve their own designs.

Tell us what you are passionate about in your career.

As a designer, I’m passionate about my work. I love creating designs that are visually appealing and functional. Making sure my clients feel appreciated and listened to every step of the way is something I truly care about. It’s a part of my job that I’m really passionate about.

What are your passions outside of work?

I am a mother to two adorable little girls who are my absolute joy. In addition to being a dedicated mom, I have a deep passion for interior design and fashion. I love exploring various possibilities for my home and imagining endless creative options. Being a highly visual person, I thoroughly enjoy working with colors and experimenting with different combinations. It’s one of those activities that can captivate me for hours on end, as I lose track of time while immersing myself in this delightful process.

Do you ever find yourself stuck when you’re in the creative zone? And if so, how do you deal with it?

Whenever I’m feeling stuck in a creative rut, I like to visit my favorite websites like Pinterest and Dribbble to get inspired. If I come across a design that’s not quite hitting the mark, I challenge myself to come up with something new and exciting. And when I need a break, I step away from my desk, grab a cup of coffee, or check out other sites that can help me get my imagination flowing again.

Can you share a project that you have worked on that you are particularly proud of that made you go “wow”?

FYC is developing a new product called Accru which is designed to get people paid on time. The project was personal to me as it was created to solve our own cash flow problems. The product has been designed keeping in mind the end user, which is me. Accru is going to make life easier for many service provider businesses, including construction companies, accounting firms, and agencies like FYC Labs. I am really proud of the UI/UX design work that has been put into Accru and I love the colors and branding that we have incorporated. I can’t wait to release Accru and help good people get paid on time.

What’s next for your team at FYC?

I am excited about expanding our design team and improving our skills. Although we are not perfect, we are constantly learning and utilizing our knowledge on new projects.

What do you consider the most challenging aspect of design?

Starting a new project can be intimidating. Each client has their own unique preferences and style, so it can be nerve-wracking to ensure that you fully understand their vision and can deliver the best work possible. However, once you dive in and start creating, things tend to fall into place. After a few pages or designs, you start to get a better feel for the client’s desired aesthetic, including colors, fonts, and assets. At that point, it becomes easier to design within their parameters. To provide the best options for the client, we always create several design choices. This gives them a wider selection to choose from and makes me feel more confident in our ability to deliver exactly what they want.

Also, I’m constantly challenging myself to learn and do better. I’d like to gain a deeper understanding of Figma, the design software used here at FYC, and learn more about creating animations. I’m even considering picking up some coding skills because I believe it could greatly enhance my design approach.

What is your favorite part of the design process?

My favorite part of the design process is when I get past that first challenge and can now freely run with the project. Once I have a full understanding of the client’s vision, I feel like I can really dive in and start creating something truly special. There’s a certain energy and momentum that comes with this realization and it’s like, “Now I get it, let’s have fun with this!”

If we were to walk around your work workspace, what would we see?

I try to create a really nice and comfortable work environment for myself. You will see candles because they affect my mood, my water, and of course my coffee.

Connect with Bri on LinkedIn.

Meet FYC Labs Founder and CEO/CTO Justin Fortier!

Meet FYC Labs Chief Operations Officer Phillip Lorenzo!

Meet FYC Labs COO – Phillip Lorenzo

Phil Lorenzo is the accomplished and dedicated Chief Operating Officer at FYC Labs. With a multifaceted skill set and a passion for technology, Phil has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s success. As a self-taught software engineer, he brings expertise in various tech domains, including Web3 applications, DevOps, developer learning, and product management.

Phil’s impactful contributions, effective communication, and technical prowess extend beyond his professional pursuits. He is an esteemed author of technical documentation and articles for organizations like Chainstarters, Oracle, and Fixate, solidifying his authority in the field. Outside of work, Phil is an aspiring author and finds joy in personal relationships and embracing the joys of life, calling Portland, Oregon home, where he enjoys the company of his loyal pup, Harley.

How does your role play a crucial part in achieving the goals of FYC?

As the COO at FYC, my primary objective is to ensure the smooth operations of the company. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that the key to our success lies in the hands of our people. It is my responsibility to hire the best talent, provide them with the necessary resources, and manage their projects and time effectively. Our employees are the backbone of our company, and their hard work generates over 90% of our revenue. Therefore, it is important to me to ensure that they are content and efficient. A happy and motivated workforce is essential for the growth and sustainability of our business.

What’s your favorite part of working at FYC?

What I appreciate most about working at FYC are the people. My priority is always people-first. Each day presents a new challenge, with unique problems that require fresh solutions. However, the real challenge comes from working with the people on those problems. If you don’t enjoy working with your team, then what’s the point of being challenged at all? In a team dynamic, it’s essential to like and care about the people I work with. Ultimately, I want to feel a genuine connection with the people I work with.

Tell us about a company policy or approach you have formulated. What prompted it?

One of the company approaches I helped formulate was our revamped interview process. In the past, we only had one interview before making hiring decisions. However, now we have implemented a comprehensive interview process, which includes an introductory interview, a technical screen, and a meeting with the CTO or design team, if applicable, followed by the final hiring phase. This company policy has been instrumental in enhancing our hiring process.

On the client side, we have prioritized the credit scoring system. We took steps to ensure that our credit lines strike the right balance – ensuring that we are diligent in our collection process while maintaining a positive working relationship with our clients and ensuring timely payment for completed work.

What makes FYC different from other companies?

At FYC, we prioritize creating a culture where individuals are encouraged to make mistakes and ask questions, and where everyone is invested in each other’s success. By fostering an environment of support and collaboration, we create a sense of motivation and drive to deliver quality work, even under pressure. Our team members feel empowered to take risks and learn from their experiences, leading to continuous growth and improvement for both the individuals and the organization as a whole.

We believe in taking chances on talented individuals who may have been overlooked by traditional work pipelines. A diverse range of life experiences and identities is another value for us. We look for “diamonds in the rough” and empower them to succeed in our industry.

What are the three words you would use to describe your managing style?

Empathy, practical, and progressive.

The first one would be empathy. It is a natural state for me to be empathetic with people, to understand where they are and to feel what it is like to be in their shoes. It’s essential to be able to grasp and genuinely experience the feelings of another person, whether it involves a professional decision, a personal matter, or the performance of an individual, be it struggling or excelling. Having empathy and truly appreciating each person’s perspective is a powerful quality for any leader. I’m constantly aware of it, and if I find myself getting frustrated or losing that connection, I make a conscious effort to pause and re-center myself.

The second one would be practical because, for me, I enjoy envisioning the future, contemplating day-to-day choices, and taking decisive actions. I’ve always been someone who prefers to approach situations in a practical manner.

Lastly, as someone who constantly seeks positive changes, I consider myself progressive, and I consistently challenge myself with questions like: “Are you constantly thinking ahead? Are you open to change? Are you making progress throughout the day?” I believe that being forward-thinking is a crucial quality for a leader. If you become too conservative in your thinking, it can hinder your ability to make impactful decisions, and you might find yourself stuck in the status quo.

How has your experience in the industry prepared you to be a COO?

My years of experience working with people through customer service have prepared me well for my current position. In my opinion, having a background in customer service is crucial for any executive role. Dealing with customers is an excellent training ground for anyone who aspires to be a C-suite executive. The majority of the work done by CEOs, CFOs, and COOs involves interacting with people – there’s no getting around that fact.

Tell me the top 5 reasons to join the FYC team.

Challenging work every
An environment that welcomes mistakes
Culture of learning
Great people
No office politics

We’re completely performance driven company and we do not have office politics.

What’s your guiding principle on measuring and accomplishing individual and organizational goals?

My guiding principle is centered around the idea of leaving things in a better state than I found them. Additionally, I strongly believe in the importance of personal growth, striving to be a better version of oneself each day without overcomplicating the process. This mindset of continuous improvement applies to all aspects of life, from personal relationships to professional endeavors. By prioritizing what truly matters and having a clear direction, we can maintain our progress and move forward with purpose.

If we were to walk around your work, work around your workspace, what would we see?

You would see my dog Harley, chewing gum wrappers, you would see random receipts underneath the laptop tray. Also a local coffee shop card reward cards stamped insanely. I love putting stickers on my desk, so you would find random stickers. Pens, pencils, and a book. There’s gotta be one notebook on my desk, something where I could write really quickly. The tactile and quick nature of the pen and paper is still supreme to me. I do use an iPad to take notes, but only if the conscious effort is prior to a meeting. I have the iPad ready to go and I’m taking notes digitally. When I have a tactile book with paper in it that I can quickly open up and jot notes in, for me is more helpful than click open the app, go into notes, and start writing.

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn.

Meet FYC Labs Founder and CEO/CTO – Justin Fortier

Justin Fortier, the Founder and CEO/CTO of FYC Labs, is a visionary leader who has been at the forefront of web and product development for years. He is also currently serving as a CTO, VP of engineering, and Advisor for several companies. With his strong background in these fields and his passion for innovation and growth, Justin has created a company where people truly are the best product to offer.

As the CEO and CTO of FYC Labs, Justin is responsible for guiding the company’s overall strategy and direction. He is dedicated to ensuring that the company continues to grow and evolve, and is always on the lookout for new opportunities to innovate and make a positive impact in the world of web development and graphic design.

With a mission to create high-level products and web platforms that take businesses to a whole new level, FYC Labs has grown internationally over the last few years, working with a wide range of clients, from small start-ups to large corporations.

Tell us a little bit about the beginning of FYC.

The company was founded in 2012 when I was working at a cocktail lounge in San Diego called El Dorado. I saw how successful the owners were and wanted to start my own business. Pablo, who was doing comics and memes at a company in San Francisco, came back and asked for a job as a busboy. But I couldn’t give him that role as he was the most talented designer I knew. So I asked him to join me in starting a business, and he agreed.

We had a third partner, Athena, who joined us later. With just $1500, we rented a tiny office in East Village, San Diego, and started doing flyers and menus for El Dorado. We gradually built our network in the restaurant industry and hosted small music or art events. The turning point was when Paola joined us and introduced us to a new network of people. She replaced Athena as the third owner and brought in an investor from Mexico City. This led to us working with American companies pivoting into Mexico, including Remax, which catapulted us into becoming a software development company. The first year was tough as some clients didn’t pay, leaving us broke. But we survived and had a lot of fun.

How would you define the leadership style of FYC?

We leverage a “systems approach”, meaning we use as much automation and technology as we can for traceability and accountability. Rather than us having to constantly monitor our employees with conversations and check-ins or micromanaging, we just use our project management tools- our time tracking, some custom build software to send reminders to our team, to hold people accountable for missed or overdue tasks.

Running FYC is like conducting an orchestra- you don’t need to sit there and play the individual parts, you just need to make sure everything’s in concert. All the different pieces, all kinds of work, just like in a concert. And that’s because we have written a lot of automation and it feels like there are many people doing things, but there really aren’t. Our leadership and management team is pretty small- it’s about one manager to every 10 people.

What makes a company successful and what are the signs in FYC that you see of being successful?

Success comes from the people that you surround yourself with, whether it’s the clients that you have, the employees that you hire, the contractors and vendors you use, or the network you create. I’m lucky that I’ve been surrounded by a lot of great people who have been really supportive and you know really carried the company over the years. Once you’ve found your tribe and the people who will help you through and support you, then you start working on systems. Systems are more important than your product, ideas, or creativity. The ultimate foundation lies within well-structured systems.

What we really strive for it’s for our systems to be on point. If I was in a manufacturing environment, I could try to control everything and set up process, run by machines. But in a services business trying to keep people on systems is a full-time gig. Businesses are successful when systems are on point. You can survive whatever market elements are out there as long as you have a solid system. It’s not always about having the best product, or the best marketing. The best systems attract the best people. If you come to a place where the systems are chaos and you don’t feel like you’re respected by the team enough to build an infrastructure and a system for you to work in, you’re going to want to quit.

When you talk about attracting and retaining talent, having good systems is probably more important than perks and pay. Our systems will never be perfect, but we strive for incremental improvement every day so we can deliver the best possible results for our clients.

What is your favorite thing about working at FYC?

One of the things I really love about working at FYC is seeing the transformation of people from the moment they join us. They didn’t know they could have a life in technology, engineering or design, or marketing. They didn’t even know this was something for them, because they didn’t go to school for that or they didn’t know enough people. It’s incredibly fulfilling to watch them grow in their careers, develop their competencies, build their confidence, and improve their overall quality of life. It’s kind of like a parent feeling when your kids are successful, I get a lot of pride in seeing that. And I know that we’ve facilitated those life-changing events for many of those people, so that to me is the best part.

What motivates you?

Our employees are also our customers- we provide them with opportunities. That’s what motivates me- giving them more opportunities. I look at where many of them came from and that they didn’t know they would have an opportunity to work at a place like this, or on the technology side.

It’s important to remember that employees are looking for more than just a salary and benefits. They want to be a part of a company that aligns with their values and allows them to grow and make a meaningful contribution. Throwing money at the problem will only retain employees for a short time. It’s important to have integrity and create a work environment that provides a sense of purpose.

Another thing that motivates me is seeing how my work in creating technical architecture or rewriting reusable code can benefit others, as well as contribute to sales. When I think about a sale, I’m not thinking about “Oh, this is great for the bottom line and the money”. It’s like “Oh cool, this gives person X a job now”. Or this gives someone else a really cool project to work on.

What is your biggest achievement during your journey with FYC?

A career milestone for me is to see the lives we’ve touched, and the opportunities we’ve given. I am proud to say that we’ve provided opportunities for many individuals who were previously overlooked. Our 10-year anniversary was a culmination of the immense impact we’ve had on so many people’s lives over the years. It was amazing to have everybody in San Diego together and make it to that milestone, to see the lives we’ve touched, and the opportunities we’ve given.

What is the most challenging project you’ve worked on?

One of our most difficult projects was with Remax Mexico, our first major client. It was a challenge because we were a small team at the time and we didn’t have much support. Additionally, the project was in Spanish, which was not our native language. We had to build and integrate everything under high pressure, as we wanted to exceed the client’s expectations. Meeting the client’s urgent timeline and user expectations proved to be difficult. We also faced limitations as many of the current frameworks weren’t as developed at that time.

That was probably the most challenging time of my life, but it was well worth it. Even today, when we discuss our achievements, the first thing we mention is the successful creation of the Remax site.

If you could describe your professional journey in three words, what would they be?

Courage. That has always been a big one for me. Courage is something that I’ve always had- the courage to start a new business, the courage to take on a new project, the courage to work until 4 in the morning, and to get something done.

Perseverance. I learned that I can endure and persevere through really tough times. I put every penny I had in my name into a festival and I lost it all. But it was a great party, everybody loved me and they thought “Oh, this is amazing, you must have made so much money”. No, I lost everything. But I got up the next day and I started working again and persevered. People think that hard work means that someone just likes to work a lot, but it’s actually someone who perseveres through really hard times and keeps going.

Courage, perseverance, and fun. I think we’ve had fun doing a lot of the stuff we do, we make things a lot of fun. Funky!

Connect with Justin on LinkedIn.

Meet FYC Labs COO – Phillip Lorenzo