If you’ve ever worked with the amazing design and development teams at Firefli, you totally get why this company is thriving and winning awards like the Virginia Business Top Places to Work. They are friendly, agile, and lean – and experts at finding the balance between strategy, design, and functionality.
Owner and founder, Greg Brock, understands that “inspired creative individuals that feel valued create amazing work.” This is why they work with the intention to nurture their team of creatives and to grow strategically by including staff with different skill sets and perspectives. We’ve been lucky enough to work with Firefli on projects like RoanokeOutside.com and the Get2KnowNoke brand new talent portal, estimated to launch in March 2024.
Learn how they created an award-winning team, headquartered right in the heart of downtown Roanoke.
How do you create a strong company culture that appeals to job seekers and retains talent?
Culture starts with trust. We solicit honest feedback often and take action on it. We’re continually trying to improve ourselves, our processes, and our company–and when you do that, the culture that emerges is open and real, so the team shows up to make every day better than the one before.
When people are interviewing with Firefli, it’s clear to them what kind of team we are, and we encourage them to speak to anyone at Firefli without restrictions about what it’s like to work here. That level of transparency and confidence isn’t every day, and we’re extremely proud of it.
IYO, what is the most important thing the region can be doing to attract young talent?
Placemaking is more important than ever. With the shift to remote and hybrid work, people are looking for where they want to live, not just where they want to work. We believe that embracing this ensures we have the infrastructure for both with an emphasis on:
- Affordable and diverse housing
- Fast Internet
- Flexible working spaces
- Vibrant arts and cultural scene
- Regional and national transportation options
- Green spaces and parks
- Safe and walkable neighborhoods
- Shared interest spaces for gaming, rec league sports, etc.
**Shameless plug moment here – This list is what Get2KnowNoke is all about! ☝️ Follow along to stay in know.
How does Firefli collaborate with educational institutions to establish mutually beneficial partnerships for talent acquisition and workforce development?
We’ve had a lot of success working with Virginia Tech’s Graphic Design program and Virginia Western Community College’s Computer Science program. Our team of adjunct professors at both institutions contributes to their curriculum committees and is helping create new programs and majors to address gaps in the workforce. Firefli has an established history of students joining our team as interns or full-time employees (or both) because we’re familiar with their aptitude and they’ve learned how we work.
Have you implemented any mentorship or internship programs that have proven successful in nurturing young talent and preparing them for future employment opportunities?
Firefli has hosted interns since its early years and continues to do so today. Beyond helping the interns refine their skills on the job, we let them work on projects that will add to their portfolios to show real-world work beyond school assignments and volunteer activities. Several of our interns have joined the team as full-time employees or as freelancers.
We also encourage our team to participate in mentorship programs and events like Virginia Tech’s annual Portfolio Review Day and DesignUP, where professionals work with students directly to improve their personal pitches or give back to their community.
What is your favorite thing about being located in the Roanoke Region?
Roanoke has a community energy and momentum that’s really exciting to be a part of now. Everywhere you look, new ideas are bringing folks together and being pushed forward. The region feels entirely different than it did a decade ago, and we can’t wait to see how it continues to grow and evolve in the next 10 years.
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