This week marks the 8th anniversary of Velocity HCM, and is also the birthday for one of our founders, Hamlet Caminero. This seems like as good an opportunity as any to pause, and look back on where Velocity has been, and where it is going.
As President of Velocity HCM and one of its two founders (along with Steve Koerner), Hamlet wears a lot of hats around here. In addition to working with Steve to manage overall business operations, project delivery, marketing, and finances, he’s always working to cultivate existing client relationships, and build new ones. He also likes to get his hands dirty every now and then, working with the team to solve our clients’ technical and TA problems.
Eight years ago today Hamlet sat down with Steve at the Panera bread in downtown Madison NJ to chart out the future of Velocity. In recognition of that we’ve asked Hamlet five questions about his experience so far with Velocity…
I had the idea of “Velocity” in 2015 when I was a lead CSM for BrassRing, which had recently been acquired by IBM from Kenexa. I knew there was an opportunity there, as I kept seeing my IBM clients spending tons of $$ on consulting firms that knew nothing about the system. At the same time, IBM was laying off many of the “Kenexa” staff, and I saw it coming.
I knew I would need help if I wanted to start a consulting firm. I could do the product and provide that support, but would need help with the “business side,” as I was not going to be able to put 100% of my time into it. My ideal partner was someone who also knew BrassRing, so we could start splitting the administrative work and put more time into growing the business. I asked a few people, Steve included, for months, and not one wanted to take the chance. In early 2017 our team got reduced by 50%, including Steve and I. We were both going through some interviews, but I just knew there was an opportunity. Then in June, we decided to give it a shot and here we are.
Clients!! How were we going to get clients? After that, it was how were we going to “partner” with IBM so they don’t see us as a threat, and want to help us.
The next items on the list weren’t necessarily challenges, but I know there would be work needed to get the name, register us as a business, get a lawyer, get an accountant, business accounts, etc. To this day we are still adding more resources and structure for the business.
YES!! From the first year to now, I am so proud of what we have accomplished. The clients we have under our belt, the personal and professional relationships I’ve developed over the years, the learning I get to do every day, the nightmares too… I wouldn’t change it for the world.
What turned out how I expected was that I knew it was going to work. I think the fact that we landed a six-figure deal in the first 6 months proves to me it was a good idea. I also expected to leverage our IBM relationship to build the business, and it happened.
What turned out differently is, that there are no days off. Velocity still goes at the speed Steve and I go. Between COVID, BrassRing being sold, and a few other external events, we’ve had to learn to adapt, and that our momentum can influenced by factors outside of our control. Sometimes it feels like we’re starting from scratch, which I didn’t anticipate to happen this far along.
The Growth, the relationships, the credibility Velocity (and myself) is building in the industry, the fact that we have a great core team, etc. I get to talk to and network with CEOs, DTAs, VPs, etc. I’m proud of how my family looks at me because of Velocity.
What frustrates me is not having all the answers, and not always knowing how to do what I want to do, or when things don’t work as you expect. How do we get to the next level as a firm…. it frustrates me that we haven’t been able to do it yet. At times I feel that this is my fault because I don’t know how to break the ceiling we’re at.
Think bigger and trust what you are doing!
