Difference Makers
Rising from the Ashes After unexpectedly losing the company’s founder, Paragon Sales & Marketing looks toward the future with the same set of steadfast guiding principles that have shaped the business since its infancy. WORDS BY LAURA KEMMERER
When the owner and founder of a company unexpectedly passes away, the question of what to do next becomes a crucial one. For Wayne Smedile, Principal of California-based Paragon Sales & Marketing, that meant stepping in to take over the business. Paragon Sales & Marketing was originally founded by William McKinley,
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more commonly known as Bill, in 1999. Just over two years ago, McKinley passed away at a consumer electronics show, and Wayne Smedile, long-time business associate, stepped in.
Founding Principles Continue to Shape Paragon’s Future “The way the company has gone since I took over has definitely changed a little bit [in terms of ] direction,” Smedile said.
“But it’s still founded on certain principles that I agreed with and that I believe in.” For Smedile, these principles include: to be in touch with clients, and to be faceto-face with them; to provide immediate and outstanding service; and to be able to deliver value, with an emphasis on meeting the customer’s needs. This also includes keeping abreast of understanding what those needs are, and knowing
