Employee Spotlight
John Baker

What is your role at Array? What is a typical day like for you?

I manage our Court Reporting Division and work to grow our presence nationally. I focus on supporting the Operations and Sales teams to make sure they have the resources and people available to excel.
In managing teams, I always try to find the balance between being proactive and reactive. It’s important to keep the organization focused on monthly strategic goals and initiatives while maintaining excellence in customer service!

I measure my own success by the success of my teams. I believe that we’ve created a process improvement culture where we learn from our mistakes and achieve incremental improvements every week!

Why do you do this type of work? What do you like about your job?

I’ve always been very entrepreneurial and enjoy connecting the dots between cutting edge technology and legal services. I focus on driving higher valuation for the company by growing top line sales and building efficiencies as we scale.

I’ve learned that the key to success is sometimes just listening to ideas from our operations and sales team, rather than telling others what to do. I believe in a combination of bottoms up and top down management. I enjoy building a “family” style corporate culture.

What is an example of your most creative or impactful work?

As a leader, I’m only as creative or impactful as our operations and sales teams. My impact is best felt through building a culture of empowerment and accountability. The idea is to hire great people then challenge them with aggressive goals and initiatives.

The formula: Goals + Empowerment + Accountability = Impactful Work!

What do you think is the “Array advantage”? Why do clients trust Array?

I love the website name trustArray.com, it provides our core value and website at the same time! The Array advantage is clearly customer service and willingness of our staff to go above and beyond the call of duty for clients. In doing so, this becomes the bedrock of trust!

Describe Array in five words or less.

Relentless pursuit of excellence

What did you do before Array? How do you apply that experience to your work today?

I’ve only worked for one company where I was not either an owner or investor which was GE Capital, which was right out of college. Following that job, I have been a serial entrepreneur and investor. That includes time with many startups.

My core belief is that there is no such thing as failure, life is only a series of learning opportunities! The object is not to make the same mistake twice and enjoy the journey!

What are you most likely up to when you are off-the-clock?

I’m an avid sports fan including the Astros & Texans! I also enjoy golf, hunting, fishing and snow skiing.

I love music and play several instruments badly: sax, harmonica, guitar, and cajon which is a type of drum.

I enjoy the Houston food scene and try to support local restaurants.

What is something that would surprise people about you?

During the McGuire vs Sosa home run race, I was at the Cubs game where Sammy Sosa’s bat blew up (corked his bat) and got suspended. I was also at the Oilers game where Buddy Ryan (D-Coordinator) hit Kevin Gilbride (O-Coordinator) in the face.

What is the most recent thing you learned about or taught yourself to do?

I’m learning guitar and play occasional jam sessions with my brother and a group of high school friends several times per year.