11/12/2000

Name: Cynthia Driskill

Age: 53

Ariane Kadoch / DMN Cynthia Driskill of CDG & Associates says her company needs to hire 40 more consultants over the next year.

Position: President and chief executive

Company: CDG & Associates, a consulting group in Dallas

Years in current position: 13

Education: High school equivalency diploma

How did you get your foot in the door? "CDG is a consulting company that helps businesses implement sophisticated human resource systems. I got my start in the business as a payroll manager for Family Brothers Fish Houses in 1979. When my employer adopted a new payroll system, I had to learn it. I was actually part of the project team that implemented the system. The better I learned the system, the more I loved it. I quickly understood how it worked and got to use my creative talents by developing unique solutions for the various obstacles and problems I encountered day to day.

"I soon hung out my 'independent consultant' shingle, and before long I had clients scattered across the country. By 1987, I had more work than I could handle by myself. That's when I incorporated CDG & Associates and hired my first four employees across my kitchen table."

What is your toughest professional challenge? "Maintaining our corporate culture as we experience unprecedented growth. This especially means instilling and sustaining our core values of integrity, mutual support and resourcefulness.

"The secret, I have discovered, is clear, open communication, from top to bottom and back to the top, about every aspect of the business. Leadership and management issues, client relations and the latest financial details are explained and discussed throughout the company. The role our values play in achieving our objectives is stressed."

What are the characteristics of an indispensable employee? "Integrity, passion,and commitment."

What are your employment needs in the next year? "Over the next year, we need to hire at least 40 more consultants, both functional and technical. We are especially looking for expertise in SAP, PeopleSoft, PeopleSoft Student Administration and Lawson. We are also looking for a chief operation officer, a replacement human resources manager and additional salespeople."