15 Years of Arkus: A Journey of Growth, Innovation, and Partnership
Fifteen years ago, Arkus began with a simple idea: technology could be a force for good. We set out to build a different kind of consulting company and in the years since, have grown from three cofounders to a team of more than 70 experts. The vision: to create a place where agility, proficiency, and productivity weren’t just buzzwords but everyday practices.
From Small Steps to Big Changes
In the early days, we experimented with finding the best tools to suit our unique agile methodology. Daily scrums started in email, moved to Google Wave, then to Google Docs. These small adjustments taught us something bigger: to succeed, we had to stay flexible and open to change.
That lesson became a thread through our journey. By 2015, Arkus had earned recognition as a Salesforce.org Premium Partner through our work with nonprofits and impact organizations. We became a Salesforce Silver Partner three years later, moving up the tiers as we grew and demonstrated our expertise. As our client list grew, so did our team, with our growth backed by our belief that we are not here to just throw resources at problems, but to thoughtfully build a lean team of incredible experts. Our focus has always been on steadily developing our team with the right people, not just more people.
Building a Company That Reflects Its Values
Arkus growth has never just been about size. Our founders left one of the largest companies in the country, determined to build the kind of company they wanted to work for. Central to that growth has been the fierce commitment to hold true to our core values and work with great organizations that strive to have a positive impact in our communities. From the very beginning, we have held ourselves to a set of values: honesty, respect, transparency, and a deep belief in empowering those we work with. These values shape how we engage with our clients and with each other. They are why we emphasize documentation, accountability, and open communication. They are also why we train our clients to take ownership of their Salesforce platforms rather than relying on us forever.
This approach has helped our team of more than 70 complete put their more than 600 certifications to work and complete than 2,700 Salesforce projects in our first fifteen years. More importantly, it has helped us build lasting partnerships based on trust.
Staying True to Our Principles
While we are committed to our core values, we are always looking to embrace new ways of working that can improve our outcomes, like the Book All Your Time (BAYT) model for transparency, and partnerships with platforms such as Skyvia and Concur to streamline our operations. When AI began to emerge, we leaned in with curiosity, launching ArkusGPT pilots and workshops to help us, and our clients, understand what was possible.
In 2019, we expanded the Community and Professional Development Fund, giving Arkies more ways to pursue learning and give back, and we implemented thoughtful new policies like generous parental leave to support our team members.
Looking to the Future
As we celebrate 15 years, we know the story of Arkus is still being written. We have grown from experimenting with daily scrums in email to becoming a trusted Salesforce Summit Partner. Along the way, we have stayed committed to the idea that consulting should feel like partnership and that technology should serve people, not the other way around.
The future will bring new tools, new challenges, and new opportunities. AI is already reshaping what is possible, and nonprofits continue to evolve as their communities do. Through it all, Arkus will keep doing what we have always done: adapting, learning, and growing alongside our clients.
Fifteen years in, the journey continues, and we are grateful to everyone who is a part of it.
Do you have questions about how the experts at Arkus can help your organization meet its goals? Let’s talk! Click here to fill out our contact form. We look forward to connecting with you in the next fifteen years.
