This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.

What would you get if you combined 16 people with different personalities, education backgrounds, interests and hobbies to form a new company?

Sixteen different people! It would be chaotic, right? Wrong! In 2000, 16 entrepreneurs decided to start a different kind of title company. Yes, the entrepreneurs were different in many respects, but they had a totality of desire and worked together to plan, organize and implement a strategy to create a marvelously successful company.

TitleOne has grown in just six years to 143 employees in five offices in the Treasure Valley. It is the only employee-owned title company in the area. Employees enjoy a fun, friendly work environment and have a zest and zeal for their jobs along with camaraderie with each other.

President Mark Tidd says that from the outset, company founders were determined to hire only the best professionals in the valley. They formed a staff of dedicated, ambitious, knowledgeable and engaging employees. They also dedicated themselves to establishing sound, positive relationships with clients, and embraced new technology to provide accurate and beneficial information and tools.

I visited with TitleOne's Canyon County manager, Jeff Agenbroad, and Ada County manager Vicki White. I asked how the company has become so big and so successful in just six years. Vicki said, "The moment a customer walks into our office they know that we are unique. We offer the customer closing documents on a customized CD. Real estate professionals can do business with TitleOne right from their desktops." Jeff tells me that the title company was the first to offer online products and services and continues to lead the industry in developing cutting-edge technology.

Sixteen founders, 143 employees, $23 million in business, and a sterling reputation proves that these founders had the vision and tools that truly worked.

For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.