AEI Current Environment and Root System
To recognize that the workplace at AEI Computers is composed of diverse individuals who each contribute unique and valuable input because of that diversity, and to reward quality performance without regard to gender, age, creed, country of origin or ethnic background.
AEI Systems was founded by Ken Marks with his brother in law, John Hammond, in the early 1980s. Ken had worked as inventory manager for a sporting goods company and he and John bought the rights to the software that was used to control the inventory. Ken hired one of Hammond's sisters (Ken was married to another of Hammond's sisters) as bookkeeper, and Ken's second eldest daughter was brought in as receptionist. Recruiting at local colleges, Ken hired two programmers to expand the software based on his specifications. After six months, Ken's oldest son, Mike, was brought in to help John with marketing activities.
The company did well and expanded into wholesale distribution. More programmers were brought on board; these were young men hired from local colleges. By the early 1990s, the company had approximately 50 employees, including project managers, programmers, technical writers, a small accounting staff, and a marketing department consisting of five outside and one inside sales professional.
AEI's corporate culture derives in large part from Ken's personal style, which is that of patriarch. Ken has a large family (eight children) and perceives AEI as an extension of his family. He feels responsible for his employees, and expects loyalty and unquestioning obedience in return. The company achieved the success it has in large part because the young employees were willing to come in early and work late in order to get the job done, and customers came to expect that software produced by the company would be of good quality.
Ken fosters a spirit of family throughout the company, taking an interest in everyon...