While many Company of Friends cells are working on projects that give back to local communities, the Phoenix cell is working to encourage local companies that do their own giving back. The group has created the Delta Vee Award and will name the first recipient of the award this fall. Named after the scientific symbol for change in velocity, the award goes to a local business that does good while also doing well. 'Businesses, like people, need to be recognized for doing good work,' says Ken Keberle, 39, the cell's coordinator, who is a manager at DelRiko Custom Fabric Design and Manufacturing. Fast Company talked to Keberle about linking businesses to their community, about applying 'chaos' to fabric making, and about boosting people's potential.

What Are You Working On?

'My 'Wow Project' is called BizVillage. Paul Nixon, a fellow CoF member, and I are building an online network that will link the business community to volunteer efforts. Right now, we're establishing BizVillage as a valuable business resource. The next step will involve an interactive database that will show how businesspeople can be a vital resource to people outside the business world.'

Favorite FC Story

'About a year ago, FC ran a story about a John Deere plant (John Deere Runs on Chaos, November 1998). Like Deere, DelRiko deals in multiples -- variations on a theme. The number of ways that you can make a diesel engine is much greater than the number of ways that you can make an engine cover or a 320-square-foot wall tent. But in each case, you have lots of options, all based on a single, basic product design. After reading that piece, I changed our manufacturing process so that it matches Deere's in certain ways. We make custom products, but by standardizing sizes and angles, we've been able to streamline our production process quite a bit.'

Guiding Principle

'I want to do stuff well, but even more important, I want to do the right stuff for the right people. I used to be a bicycle mechanic. I traveled around the world, fixing bikes for bike racers. Do you know how much glory there is in that gig? Not much. But do you know how it feels to hear the national anthem being played after a race? It feels pretty cool. You say to yourself, 'I did that. He rode the bike, but I got him there.' I want to give people the benefit of the doubt. I want to give them my best effort and the opportunity to do good work.'

Coordinates: Ken Keberle, kenkeberle@aol.com; BizVillage, www.bizvillage.com

From: October 1999 issue