Fluid's
Story
In
1999, Fluid Communications, LLC was but a marketing department in the
Monitor Cooperative Telephone Business building located in Monitor,
Oregon servicing the following companies: Monitor Cooperative Telephone
Company, Clear Creek Telephone & TeleVision and Colton Telephone
& TV. The employees consisted of Rich Hoover, Marketing Manager
and myself, Nick Schaffner, graphic artist. When the marketing department
purchased the digital color printer, other companies took notice of
the marketing materials that were being produced. The Board of Directors
of Monitor took action. They hired Amy Dent Beebe, web designer and
in August of 2000 Fluid Communications began.
The
list of clients grew steadily and the word was out about our capabilities.
Again, the Board of Directors in Monitor went into action and proposed
to have Fluid Communications become a Limited Liability Company or LLC.
The proposed idea was to have a new Board of Directors and new investors
but alas, the plan was derailed due to a troubling economy and an unproven
business plan.
The
telecommunications industry during that time was in ruin and the capital
that once was in abundance was no longer and Monitor was forced to either
sell Fluid Communications or dissolve the company entirely. Colton Telephone & Cable TV took initiative, however, and bought Fluid and moved
operations to Colton. With a new Board of Directors came new opportunity;
and Fluid succeeded!
After
nearly 2 years, Fluid Communications became nearly profitable, well
ahead of schedule but again, the struggling economy struck a blow and
Colton Telephone & Cable TV was forced to dissolve the company.
I
believed in Fluid Communications and was dedicated to my clients and
made Colton Telephone an offer; to take over the Fluid name. They accepted
and Fluid Communications became Fluid Communications, LLC. Amy Dent
Beebe created a web design company, Quixotic Productions, Inc., and
Rich Hoover was rehired by Colton Telephone and Clear Creek Telephone & TeleVision to head the Marketing departments. To this day, we keep in close contact with each other and remain good friends
