Entrepreneur takes risks, reaps benefits

Published in Central Florida Future.

Jake Lamb
Contributing Writer

Cybis owner encourages business leaders.

UCF alumnus Jeff Douglass began Cybis Communications, a computer training and repair business, 18 years ago.

Douglass has developed Cybis into a full-blown communications company, encouraging rising entrepreneurs to take risks.

"Cybis was originally me, myself and I doing computer training and repairs. This was 18 years ago," Douglass said, "I was going to people's houses and getting them onto the Internet, installing memory upgrades and that was the beginning of Cybis."

Douglass was inspired by a stage show production he attended in high school while he was a member of the Florida Future Business Leaders of America.

The show's design, audio and visuals overwhelmed Douglass with motivation and energy. He left saying that is what he wanted to do.

“I started doing a little bit of graphic design, a little bit of video editing... Instead of going to the movies, I'd spend money on getting computer upgrades and Adobe Premiere," Douglass said.

The decision for Douglass to make this company his life path was difficult, but Douglass knew it was something he wanted to do.

"I wanted to be able to work every day doing something I loved," Douglass said. "If you don't like it, you're not going to be able to commit to it; you're not going to end up wanting to follow through with it. To go into business, you've just got to be passionate about it."

UCF alumnus Clayton Carter has been with Douglass and Cybis for 13 years.

"It's really been kind of a roller coaster. We started off, just he and I, in an apartment," Carter said. "I worked at a desk right next to his washer and dryer in his apartment. It was just he and I doing business cards, brochures and websites.

'"Somehow, flash forward 13 years and we're here downtown with a staff of designers, work stations, studio space and warehouse space. lb go from just the apartment to this is really surreal in a way."

In 2002, Cybis finally signed its first contract to put on a large production for FBLA —the same production that motivated Douglass 18 years prior to pursue this business.

"That was our first real live show," Douglass said. "We managed and did everything from the audio, lighting, projection, cameras to script writing, stage choreography, show opener video and the graphics for the awards ceremony."

Jody Jones, the Florida FBLA state adviser, said when FL-FBLA first contracted with Cybis, they had been using two different groups for some time.

"When [Douglass] came to us and wanted to propose a contract, there was a lot of hesitation at first because they were young," Jones said. "We all decided at that point that he was a product of FBLA, and if FBLA was not going to buy into their product, who would?"

The FL-FBLA gave them a shot and were extremely pleased.

The FL-FBLA felt that Cybis did as well as the companies they had been using, and those companies had been operating for many years.

"Since then they have blown us away," Jones said. "They were good then, they are phenomenal now,"

Jones said Cybis has always been a true partner with FLFBLA and there has never once been a moment that they did not feel it was all about FL-FBLA.

"They have also made us feel like we were the priority and that what we wanted and needed is what they needed to do to make the event successful," Jones said. "Their technology is state of the art but their customer service is just phenomenal."

"I wanted to be able to work every day doing something I loved..." JEFF DOUGLASS
Cybis Communications

Stepping into a field that was already dominated by companies with years of experience takes doing something unique that your competition can't do or can't do as well.

"It's really important early on to establish what it is that's going to set you apart," Carter said. "You've really got to narrow down something that nobody else has, but you're going to offer and make that the difference that brings people to your door."

One of the things that Cybis did to separate itself from other production companies is writing its scripts for the shows, in a very unique way.

"We're writing the scripts months in advance. We really want to get a buy in from the [clients] speaking on stage," Douglass said. "For all of our events, if we're writing scripts, we want to understand who's speaking, what are their beliefs, what are their thoughts and then we kind of transform that into something that's going to sound really good on stage.

"But it's their input rather than, 'Here's a script you have to go up there and read it.' We want people to read a script because they can say it with conviction because it's essentially their ideas."

Cybis' hard work paid off during 2008 when the company landed an opportunity that would put it on the map.

"We are super proud of our nine events that we did with the White House. We did two with the president [Bush] and seven with the first lady [Laura Bush]. That brought credibility to our company, as to what we could do," Douglass said.

Cybis' initial partnership with another company called TeamTri was successful and landed them multiple opportunities with producing events at the White House.

"[The White House] did one event, and we worked with a company called 'Fri Leadership Resources at the time," Douglass said. "They handled the conference logistics; we brought just a different level of creativity, experience — we wanted to create just a different experience.

"The event was so successful that [the White House] ended up hosting five more across the country although we can't say we take all the credit for that." 

When it comes to Douglass' opinion on how to successfully start a business the way he did, his advice is straightforward. 

"Plan to roll up your sleeves, get in there and just commit to it," Douglass said. "It's a huge risk because a lot of people want to get a job, and that's fantastic, but if you have a want or a desire to start your own business or pursue an entrepreneurial path you've got to be able to take the risk and go all in.

"You don't want a safety net. Remove the safety net, that's the only way you're going to walk across the tight rope."

Carter's advice on entrepreneurship is simple: "Hire people who are better than you. Surround yourself with people that do what you want to do, better than you."