The Secret to Business Success: Amish Employees, Technology, and Lots of Respect

It doesn't seem like basing a company in an Amish-centered part of the country with a largely Amish employee base would be a way to develop a successful company -- most especially if that company needs automated systems in order to grow. But a combination of respect and recognition from the management coupled with passionate, committed workers who are willing to learn technology for the sake of the business makes this a formula -- for Amish-centered smaller businesses as well as all smaller businesses -- for success.I profiled Keim Lumber for our mid-market heroes feature, a home improvement and lumber company that is based in Holmes County, Ohio, home to a large technology shunning Amish population. Not surprisingly, Amish people comprise nearly two thirds of the company's workforce.

What is surprising about the company is that when its accounting and tech manager Lavern Schlabach rolled out a new ERP system, the implementation went smoothly and successfully  and ultimately enabled the company to thrive. The key to that success was the fact that Schlabach respected his employees and rolled out the system slowly and methodically, allowing his employees time to not only learn how to use it but also to get comfortable culturally.

Schlabach wanted to bring his company up to speed tech-wise but the key for him was not to lose any Amish employees in the process and it was clearly a good move: The company's business is thriving, with sales exceeding $50 million in 2007.

Was Keim just a fluke? After I got a chance to speak to David Skinner, cofounder of Amish Naturals, a natural foods company also based in Holmes county, Ohio, I don't think so.

Skinner -- who is not Amish -- founded the company, whose signature product is Amish-style pasta and whose employees are nearly all Amish -- with Kenny Troyer, a little over two years ago. Their products are now in over 4,500 stores across the country. To what does Skinner credit the company's quick success? "Our company has evolved because of the wholesomeness of the Amish people," he says.

Skinner says the company's approach was to take the pasta the Amish make by hand and duplicate it with equipment and technology. How does that play out in a community that deliberately shuns technology? Skinner explains that many people in the community don't have an aversion to learning computer skills and using electricity in the workplace.

But still the exposure and the familiarity is not there and Skinner's approach is similar to Schlabach's: implement new systems slowly and carefully. Respect for his employees also plays a big role, emphasizes Skinner.

And the payback is huge: "The most important thing in a food product is quality and the Amish worker is so into it, heart and soul and that makes such a difference," says Skinner. "We're happy to be part of it."

That statement could be made about any smaller business and any of its employees. Quality is key and the passion and commitment of the employees is where that shows. That, in turn, is engendered by treating employees with the respect that they all deserve.