Irons in the Fire

Irons in the Fire We seek active partnerships with entrepreneurs/founders eager to unlock their companies' potential. What's Holding You Back? How Can Irons in the Fire Help?

You have built something amazing — a thriving business offering differentiated and valuable services or products —but you know there’s more to do. Before forging ahead, could you benefit from an objective, experienced, analytical, yet personal assessment of your starting point? What areas of your business need to change so you can grow? Chart a Course that Works for You -
Do you need to restructu

re, create a new bonus plan, train your managers, hire key personnel, engage your workforce? Where do you start to ensure you’re taking the right next steps for you and your business? Through careful listening, observing, and advising, we stand alongside our clients to help them unlock their full potential. We will craft customized service recommendations and implement strategies, tailored to your unique goals and initiatives. Our Services:

Talent Development -
Do the members of your organization speak the same language when discussing what sets you and your employees apart from your competitors? Do your managers know who to hire and why? We can help you craft a talent language and the training to make it effective. Coaching and Communication -
Do your leaders communicate effectively? Are changes within your business laid out clearly and in a way that engages your employees? We can help you clear the communication lines and create a repeatable process to ensure effective communication. Organizational Development -
Whether you need to restructure your company completely or add new positions, we can help create your new framework and recommend the tools you need to keep it on track.

We know how fortunate we are to have this handsome of a support group! Without these two guys, it would have been extra...
06/20/2023

We know how fortunate we are to have this handsome of a support group! Without these two guys, it would have been extra difficult to build our business - they do the husband things, the house things, the work things and most importantly the dad things! Happy Fathers Day to all the men out there who are raising the next generation of awesome kids.
Brian Dillon Meghan RobidouxLyndsey Needham Dillon Jayson Robidoux

If you support shifting small habits for positive change, fostering community and closing the gender gap - we invite you...
06/06/2023

If you support shifting small habits for positive change, fostering community and closing the gender gap - we invite you to be a champion for, and support Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)! Below are a few tips to show the love:
1. Shop- You support not only the owner but also the employees, suppliers and the community surrounding that business. May we suggest The Ruddy Duck for all (literally all) of your wardrobe requirements.
2. Spread the Word- Word of mouth is "old school," but still so cool. Use your personal and professional networks to promote WBEs which can help drive immediate growth and revenue.
3. Attend Events- Get out there and do the Mixing and Mingling, go to the networking events and join the Bubbles & Biz (Nicole Bernard) . When you show up and make connections it creates a sense of community and support that will help these businesses thrive.
4. Write Reviews- Your review can influence customers' purchasing decisions, increase the business’s online visibility, and bring more money to their table!
5. Partner with WBEs - You can share resources, reach new customers, and lend your collective expertise to help each other succeed. Tracy Bech

Many businesses lack a C-level HR professional who can help them maximize their investment in people. At Irons in the Fi...
05/30/2023

Many businesses lack a C-level HR professional who can help them maximize their investment in people. At Irons in the Fire, we’ve created a flexible solution that allows your organization to tap into an HR team when you need it most. Whether it’s employee conflicts or implementing a management structure, every leader understands the complexities of working with people.
From recruitment to retention, our HR services touch every aspect of the employee lifecycle at just a fraction of the cost of a full-time HR executive.
Our clients engage with us in the following ways:
* Monthly Retainer
* Project Based
* On Demand
We (Meghan Robidoux Lyndsey Needham Dillon) would love to see if our expertise is the support your business needs to move to the next level. Reach out via the link in the comments to schedule an hour to chat!

05/17/2023

"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't move forward, you're always in the same place." Girl Code by Cara Alwill Leyba reminded us to be fearless and surround ourselves with fearless people. Dog River Coffee's Community Board reminded us of just such a person we needed to get to know better! Thank you, Rosa Cortez, for a great breakfast and helping us learn to be more like you!

Great book recommendation, Nicole Sprung Bernard!

Lyndsey Needham Dillon
Dog River Coffee

Happy Mother's Week (we've earned more than a day) to the hard working women out there! With all your "Irons in the Fir...
05/09/2023

Happy Mother's Week (we've earned more than a day) to the hard working women out there! With all your "Irons in the Fire" don't hesitate to seek out other women who have your back and will show up with coffee (or wine) when you need it most. With both of us residing in the Pacific NW, we have leaned into support from members of the Gorge Women in Business, as well as The MOB Nation [Mom Owned Businesses]!
Whether you're a stay-at-home mom, a working mom, or a mompreneurs like us, don't forget to take a moment to appreciate yourself, celebrate your wins and sip on a beverage of your choice! We admire your strength, dedication and love, and we are here to lend our support.
Meghan Robidoux Lyndsey Needham Dillon

"Company" is derived from the Latin word 'com', meaning 'together', and 'panis', meaning 'bread'. We at Irons in the Fir...
05/02/2023

"Company" is derived from the Latin word 'com', meaning 'together', and 'panis', meaning 'bread'. We at Irons in the Fire are feeling extra thankful for the generous support and guidance of other amazing entrepreneurs as we grow. Our dear friend Nicole Sprung Bernard, founder of nb. marketing (you might have heard of her Bubbles & Biz podcast!) was kind enough not only to teach us the art of making bread, but she also reviewed our online strategy and provided suggestions for what ingredients to add, and what content we should mix in to thoughtfully engage with our audience. Cheers to all you companies out there in growth mode and may we suggest you invest in a sourdough starter.
Lyndsey Needham Dillon

04/25/2023

Tuesday Topic: With 2022's Tax Day in the rear-view mirror, and I are thinking of ways to run our business this year in the most profitable yet least taxable way possible! Our clients have the same struggle and one expense we rarely discourage is an investment in your front-line managers. We wrote about this strategic payroll expense recently in our website article "Direct Manager Payroll Expenses Aren’t Only Necessary, They’re Mission-Critical". Link in the comments.

We would love to hear from you: what area of your business are you investing in most this year?

1. Hiring New Employees
2. Talent Development
3. Marketing
4. Equipment/Technology
5. Something else?

We believe the role of a manager is critical, as we have written about in our website article "Direct Manager Payroll Ex...
04/18/2023

We believe the role of a manager is critical, as we have written about in our website article "Direct Manager Payroll Expenses Aren’t Only Necessary, They’re Mission-Critical" (link in comments). To make our service offerings more customizable and easily accessible, IITF is excited to announce we are creating an off-the-shelf Manager Development Series. This series is designed to help organizations of all sizes and industries effectively develop their management teams and improve overall business performance. More to come in the near future! Meghan Robidoux Lyndsey Needham Dillon Irons in the Fire

04/12/2023

Company Culture Matters! Clearly defined expectations for your employees and proactive workforce planning foster a culture of resourcefulness and create space for innovation and engagement! The article linked in the first comment highlights what can happen when busyness replaces clearly defined productivity measures.

For many small businesses, their biggest budget line item is payroll expenses—hence why so many choose to ask existing e...
04/05/2023

For many small businesses, their biggest budget line item is payroll expenses—hence why so many choose to ask existing employees (starting often with the founder) to wear multiple hats rather than hiring.
Direct Manager Payroll Expenses Aren't Only Necessary, They're Mission Critical For Your Organization's Success.
*Link to article in comments

Tuesday Topic - Employee Engagement! In our latest review of Marcus Buckingham's 'Designing Work That People Love', we d...
04/04/2023

Tuesday Topic - Employee Engagement! In our latest review of Marcus Buckingham's 'Designing Work That People Love', we discuss our arguments FOR an employee framework model of standardization and shared expectations versus one of radical customization and individualized approaches. Which one do you think creates a greater sense of employee engagement?
*Link to article in comments

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Hood River, OR

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+15035016511

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