Offshored and Outsourced - Utah Manufacturers Association

THE VOICE OF INDUSTRY
“We take your team out of their everyday element and transport them back to a time
when people worked hard for the brand that employed them; a time when values like
integrity, loyalty, and hard work still meant something.”
“It’s pretty simple, really,” says Lannie ‘The Marshal’
Scopes, who with his partner Craig ‘Creek’ Johnson
started Hired Guns LLC two years ago. “We take your
team out of their everyday element and transport them
back to a time when people worked hard for the brand
that employed them; a time when values like integrity,
loyalty, and hard work still meant something.” Those
and other elements of the old Code of the West
form the basis for Hired Guns LLC’s team-building
workshops and keynote addresses called Ridin’ for the
Brand. “It’s an old cowboy term that means ‘saddle
up and get the job done right for the fellow you’re
working for,’” says Johnson. “Though there are several
modules we can incorporate depending on your
needs—from customer service training to leadership
to communication skills—Ridin’ for the Brand always
comes back to going the extra mile for your company,
and ultimately for each customer you serve.” One of the
key exercises of the interactive presentation is each
participant designing his or her own personal ‘brand.’
“We show how that brand—a representation of the
team member’s passions, talents, and personality—
can be applied to help him/her be more focused, more
creative, and a better problem solver for you and your
customers,” says Scopes.
Johnson and Scopes also call on real working cowboys,
via on-screen interview snippets, to help illustrate
their points. “When these guys talk about gratitude for
obstacles or giving 110%, they speak from the heart,”
says Johnson. “That’s how they live their lives. It’s very
meaningful, sometimes touching, and occasionally pretty
funny.” And because “no one learns anything in a boring
presentation,” Creek and The Marshal also perform a
cowboy song or two as a part of the experience.
Ridin’ for the Brand ranges from a 45-minute keynote
address, great for service clubs or association meetings
and conventions, to two or three-hour workshops held
at your place of business. You can even sign on for an
exclusive two-or-three-day Corporate Training Summit
and Western Experience involving horse gentling, trail
rides, and even more in-depth training.
How did Hired Guns LLC come about? Long-time friends
and former advertising and marketing professionals,
Scopes and Johnson have been playing guitar and
singing cowboy music together for more than a decade
as In-Cahoots. Standards like Ghost Riders in the Sky
and Cool Water, augmented with many ballads they’ve
penned themselves make up their repertoire. Along the
way they’ve been hired to “howdy” and set the mood
for western-themed corporate functions and private
parties, and organized the cowboy camp at the Soldier
Hollow cross-country ski venue at the 2002 Winter
Olympics. Entertainment and meet-and-greet services
are still a part of the business.
“But we’ve been long-time believers in the values of the
Code of the West, and the difference it makes for people
and businesses alike,” says Johnson. “The cowboy angle
just makes them more memorable and real.”
“We felt that today’s business climate presents a
perfect opportunity to get back to Ridin’ for the Brand
and what the Code represents,” says Scopes. “It really
comes down to what one of our cowboy pards said as
we interviewed him: ‘If it’s right, do it; if it ain’t right,
don’t.’ It’s a message that, shared with managers and
front-line team members alike, is making a difference
for our clients.”
“Your presentation, Ridin for the Brand was just what
our team needed to help remind us who writes our
paycheck – the customer. Your message was presented in
a unique, fun and to the point manner. Thanks again. The
time and money were well spent!”
Jeff Elder, SE, LEED AP BD+C
General Sales Manager
Interstate Brick Company
“FANTASTIC! Craig and Lannie are the real deal. Beehive
hired them for a management training which after
meeting them quickly turned into training for the whole
company. They met with us prior to training at great
length to get to know our company. Much time was put
into tailoring a training to meet our company’s needs.
We are definitely having them back again and would
highly recommend The Hired Guns Ridin’ for the Brand
philosophy for your next training.”
Lorri Witkowski
Human Resource Manager
Beehive Telephone Company
“This was by far the best money we have ever spent on
motivation and music entertainment. I don’t usually take
the time to recommend entities for hire, but I would go
out of my way to spread the word for these folks.”
Bill Picard
Partner
Step Saver, Inc. of Utah and Nevada
Hired Guns LLC can be reached at 801-518-4773 or
the website at www.hiredguns-llc.com
info@hiredguns-llc.com
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