Cameron James, CEO of Mills James, said, “Being successful in business-to-business services means being successful at problem-solving. To do that, you need to listen generously. It’s not really what you know — it’s what you learn.”

Talent Trumps Technology
Co-founder and President Ken Mills said, “People tend to think of us as the company with all the studios, lights and gizmos. And while we’ve got a lot invested in cutting-edge media production tools, we learned that talent trumps technology.” James added, “A great photographer can make art with a pinhole camera. Over the years, we’ve assembled a large staff of the best people at the top of their crafts — easy-to-work-with people with lifetimes of experience and a passion for what they do.”

Telling the Fads from the Trends
With a staff of 140 today, employee-owned Mills James evolved through 25 years of change in media technology: the rise of the Internet, DVDs and high-def video — as well as the demise of 35mm slides, audio cassettes and VHS tapes. “Being an industry leader puts us on the forefront of advancements such as video-on-demand, virtual meetings and big-screen digital signage,” observed Mills. “But there’s a big difference between leading edge and ‘bleeding edge,’ and our clients know we’re not going to lead them down a technological dead-end just because something new is getting a lot of attention.”

It’s All About the Experience
James, who started his career at NBC in New York and was involved with The Tonight Show, knows the tension that can go with “lights, camera, action.” “Media production often brings tight deadlines and high expectations,” he said, “so clients are tense before they even walk through the door — which is why our people button down the details to make the production experience productive, rewarding, even fun.”

Make Things Simple
Mills, whose earlier life as an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker taught him the unexpected complexities of production, said media projects can seem deceptively simple at first. “Maybe a marketing executive needs a polished PowerPoint presentation for a board meeting — that sounds straightforward enough,” Mills said. “But later, someone wants it turned into a video, then streamed to the Web, then translated into Portuguese and Mandarin Chinese, and before you know it, it’s the theme for next year’s international brand launch.” Mills added, “Our clients have learned how difficult and time-consuming it can be to juggle multiple vendors on complex projects, and the value of an experienced production partner with everything under one roof who can make it simple.”

Deliver More Choices
James is proud of the fact that Mills James’ first customer in 1984 is still an important client today. “Some of our biggest clients bring us the smallest jobs,” James said, “which is why we’ve got more ways to get things done at different budget levels and degrees of sophistication. We know when we give our clients more options, they’re better able to match their budget with the right solutions to meet their objectives.”

The Art and Science of Modern Storytelling
“Great communication requires great storytelling,” said Mills. “Stories about new products and services and better ways of doing things — told through the creative wizardry of video, interactive media and live events.” James added, “In the end, it’s not what the story does to the audience, but what the audience does with the story that determines our success as communicators. Is it memorable? Does it motivate? Does it change behavior? Does it move people to action? And if the answer is consistently ‘yes,’ then Mills James will continue to solve communications problems for our clients.”

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