Los Ninos Services -Human Resources & Leadership Best Practice

Company: Los Niños Services

Location: New York, NY

CEO: Scott Mesh

Established: 1998

Size: 80 employees

What the company does: A multilingual agency serving children with developmental needs and their families in New York City and Westchester County, Los Niños Services offers home- and community- based evaluations and training for early childhood professionals. Services range from special education counseling to speech, physical, vision, or occupational therapy.

The best practice: The company experienced a significant upgrade in its communications and culture after successfully implementing the “Vital Factors” process with MAP Consulting.

The program centered on a few key practices: monthly meetings, monthly and yearly goal setting, and spreadsheets to track progress. Since implementation of the program in 2008, two major new Los Niños Services initiatives have been developed, staff engagement and retention has increased, and revenue is up 30 percent.

Why it works: “The approach is extremely, stupidly simple: ‘What are your main priorities and what are you going to do this month?’” CEO Scott Mesh says. “At the end of the month, the goals are either met or not met. End of story, end of drama.”