CEO Chat

Steve Naha, CEO and Owner, Gardner Resources Consulting LLC, Wellesley, MA

Q. What did you want to be when you were a little kid?          

A. Like a lot of boys who went to a Catholic grammar school, a priest. Then in high school, an athletic coach and teacher.

Q. What does your company do? 

A. GRC provides specialized IT and life sciences staff augmentation across the country.

Q. How long has your company been in business?

A. For 25 years.

Q. Can you tell us about why and how you started the company?

A. To provide the best staffing services in an environment that provides for professional and personal growth of our employees. 

I was an account executive in a few staffing companies and was fortunate enough to be successful at it. I found a lot of personal satisfaction in providing high-quality service and developed great long-term relationships with clients and consultants. The one thing that was lacking for me was that the company cultures did not match my values. I thought I could create a much better, values-driven work environment. 

I teamed up with two business partners and we started the company in 1998. In 2009, I became the sole owner. I am incredibly proud of our team, our success and the great, supportive culture we have all built over the years.

Q. Hat has been your biggest business challenge in the past year?

A. Believe it or not, the biggest challenge has been adapting to the phenomenal growth we have sustained over the past few years. Every aspect of our company has been, and continues to be, redesigned to meet the changes we’ve undergone because of that growth. Change is difficult and stressful for any organization, and our team has been doing a great job evolving into a larger organization while keeping true to our values. 

Q. What is one thing that makes you stand out from your competition?

A. I believe the one, overarching difference is that our business approach, from the start, is structured to build long-term relationships both externally with clients and consultants and internally with team members. I really think we have been successful in this category. Business operates more smoothly when there are long-term, trusting relationships. It takes a lot of hard work but is well worth it.

Q. What do you wish you had more time to do?

A. Spend time with my partner Vincenzo gardening at our place in Provincetown.

Q. What’s your favorite place in the world you’ve ever visited?

A. It’s a toss-up between Paris and London. Both are incredibly rich centers of culture and history.

Q. What is one piece of business advice you would offer your LGBTQ+ peers?

A. Allow your business to be an expression of who you are and who you aspire to be.

How to connect … grgc.com