Entrepreneur (pg. 2)

      "Most of the bigger consulting companies were still focused on Y2K issues and client/server consulting.  Our jump into Web technologies gave us the edge on our bigger competitors since we had more experienced people for the Web technologies,"
says Bakar.     
      By 2000, Xorbix landed some major accounts including GE Medical Systems, Rockwell Automation and Brady USA.
      "They are very conscientious," says Tom Shenk of Brady USA, Wauwatosa.  "You never have to worry about what they are doing, they have a very good work ethic with rates that are competitive
and reasonable."
      Shenk says the only drawback to Xorbix is that Bakar likes to keep his staff intact and if a full-time project takes off with Brady, there is usually not an option to hire the Xorbix technician full time. "It sometimes limits opportunities to work with Xorbix," says Shenk.
      Bakar says his company isn't a temp agency.  "We're a professional services firm and I want to make the company grow with my current employees," he says.
      Bakar says he considers himself lucky because many small businesses have trouble finding good help.  Luck aside, Bakar hedges his bets by making employee benefits a major focus.  Xorbix pays 100 percent of the premiums for full medical and dental insurance for its employees.  Staffers start out with three weeks of vacation.  The vacation package is sweetened in the third year when each employee annually receives two airline tickets worth $650 each plus $700 for lodging.
   "I tell my employees when they start, if you work here and you keep the customer happy, then I'm happy and I'll keep you very happy," says Bakar.
      As Xorbix continues to grow and make new contacts, it also has started to diversify it’s focus.