About E2theMax

E2theMax developer Jacqui Jones moved to Hawke's Bay on contract to establish a 24/7 security company in 2004. The contract completed and the company up and running with 12 staff, Jacqui looked around and thought, "I love it here, but what's next business-wise?".

E2theMax Ltd grew from 2 main influences: 

1. Need to trust suppliers: Jacqui was regularly meeting on the one hand business owners who said they were at a plateau or crossroads, experiencing growth beyond control, or wanting to exit but unsure how, and on the other, suppliers whose expertise, products and services could help. Biggest problem? A lack of opportunity to meet, interact and build rapport was preventing solutions-oriented discussions taking place and practical, effective progress being made.
2. Need to achieve results: Utopia for any business owner would be for their suppliers to work as effectively as an in form All Blacks team. Collaboration, teamwork and management with a whole of business focus produces exponentially superior results when it comes to goal-setting, assessing options, determining the way forward, and... rolling up our sleeves and getting stuck in.

Late in 2006, Jacqui began creating New Zealand's first online business expo, officially launching in March 2007, bringing together and showcasing local suppliers of expertise, products and services.

Providing focused, content-complete sites, the expo and visitor numbers grew well. Particularly between the exhibitors, much business was being done and collaborative working relationships were developing. The next step was to engage more with interested visitors, bringing the online expo into the real world where people could interact and experience results.

In August 2007 Jacqui asked the exhibitors if they'd step up for a demonstration of effectiveness in the first E2theMax Business Makeover Challenge. There was unanimous support for this and so began 5 months of development work toward the Feb 14 2008 launch.

"The convenor of the selection panel in Hawke's Bay, John Newland came up to me at the 08 Reveal Event and gave me a big hug, saying when I first outlined what I was wanting to do he thought it commendable, but highly unlikely to be able to be achieved," says Jacqui. "He was right of course. It was a true case of if I'd known then what I knew by the end of the year the Challenge may not have gone beyond being an idea. It was such a new concept and I was setting it up in a known-to-be-conservative region. Running 20-something briefing sessions, engaging with over 200 business owners, raising over $250,000 in contributions, project managing 28 businesses working with MR Print and 22 businesses working with Hearty Kiwi Foods, plus handling every admin, marketing and operations task, it was definitely a challenge in itself, but at the Reveal Event so many people said, 'now I get what you're doing' and were enthusiastic about participating in 09, it was an idea whose time had definitely arrived."

2 Challenges ran in 2009 (Hawke's Bay and North Shore). "The pioneering aspect was thankfully diminished and I had some great support," Jacqui says. "With the Challenge 2010 set to boost up to 50 businesses NZ-wide we're now demonstrating delegation and collaboration both in the Challenge teams and behind the scenes at E2theMax as we go about the quite complex but hugely satisfying task of making this all happen."

Jacqui welcomes questions and feedback. Click here to email.



About Jacqui Jones

Born in Oamaru, educated in Wellington, with 21 years working in Auckland (with a 3 year OE during that time) and 5.5 years in Hawke's Bay, Jacqui moved to the North Shore late in 2009 and now commutes various distances to develop E2theMax and the Challenge.

Qualified in programming and design, after 14 years implementing new technology particularly in the graphics industry, in 1995 Jacqui decided to formalise her interest in marketing and new ventures at the University of Auckland. Working as head of production in New Zealand's second largest advertising agency at the time, in her first new venture paper, Jacqui came face to face with the stats of small business failure to thrive and became hugely concerned. 

Leaving corporate life, Jacqui went out on her own, first on a complex project (reducing error rates in printing pre-production that were at 300% when first measured and 3% 6 months later), then with her first new venture, Art That Works, providing agency services to small, growing businesses.

Jacqui was Kodak's first digital imaging specialist in New Zealand and project managed several 'firsts' for the South Pacific and NZ. Her success can be attributed in no small part to her delighted determination to ask 'why?' and 'how can we be more effective with/at that?'.

Jacqui has developed 4 diverse businesses: Art That Works (established 1996), Optimus Healthcare (established 2001), InfoRed Security (on contract, established 2003) and E2theMax (incorporated early in 2007). Whether onsold, developed on contract or still owned and run by Jacqui, each continues to provide service today.

Outside of E2theMax, Jacqui has been involved in the Hawke's Bay Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) since 2006 and will again be mentoring the Managing Directors in 2010.

Here's a sample of what others have said about Jacqui and her work over the years:

• "I absolutely applaud the intestinal fortitude that you have shown in driving this venture through." Mike McElhinney, Acting GM, The Radio Network, 2008 speaking about the E2theMax Business Makeover Challenge 08 at the Reveal Event.
    
• "Jacqui, without your enthusiasm, dedication and commitment this (Makeover Challenge) wouldn't have happened. I thank you for that." Graham Edwards, Partner, BDO Spicers, Napier
    
• "I love Jacqui's phrase that it takes a community to raise a business. Having survived the 1987 share market crash, I know it was the strong alliances that I formed that meant I was able to keep going and in turn kept other people going. What I've loved with the Challenge is working with somebody who has such generousity and requires and requests this of other people, so that instead of working from fear and thinking we're in competition, we can work healthily, well and effectively together to build a whole community. This does everybody's business a great deal of good." Lani Morris (worked with both 08 winners on vision and leadership).
    
• "Jacqui is a terrific person. She sets very high standards for herself and will always put in an inordinate amount of effort to achieve the right result. She is a very caring person with an unusual blend of artistic ability as well as the ability to think strategically." Andy Walker, MD Adplus Advertising, 2005
   
• Initial meeting; on the day; follow-up and value: Each rated 'Excellent'. "You were up to speed very quickly with where our organisation is today. Your contribution during our planning day was appreciated - you kept us on track!" David McGregor, NZ MD, RCR Easteel, 2006
   
• "One of the most clear thinkers I’ve met." Michael Newby, MD, InfoRed Security, 2003
   
• "One of the best strategic thinkers I’ve worked with." Andy McCarrison, CEO of Inbroke Corporation, 2005
   
• "The work you’ve done has blown me away!" Jane Iles-Bennet, Spaceworks Commercial Interior Design, 2005
    
• "Thanks Jacqui for making dreams come true." Mike Cushman, MD, Natural Health Laboratories, 2001
   
• "Jacqui was hired to restructure and revitalise our internal production department (that was) largely uncooperative, unskilled and certainly unprofitable. Jacqui's background was central to turning our production group into a polished, professional, ‘state of the art’, efficient and profitable operation. Jacqui has demonstrated in depth skills of leadership,technical innovation and good business sense. I relied completely on her judgement and experience in making the changes required in both personnel and experience." Alan Brodeur, Managing Director, Ogilvy & Mather Direct, 1995
   
• "Jacqui has good organisational skills and is a confident person. She is wonderful in class. Feedback from students has been excellent. Her class notes are meticulous. She comes across extremely well - super in teaching/training area. Excellent interpersonal skills. We employ lots of part-time tutors - she’d have to be one of the best we’ve had." Ted Berry, Co-ordinator Community Education, Northcote College, Auckland – 1992
   
• "I must congratulate you on your staff and single out for a special thank you Jacqui Jones. Nothing was too much trouble and her knowledge and expertise are, I think, an invaluablebonus for Kodak. We thank her for giving her valuable time so freely and fitting in with the staff as ‘just one of the lads’." John Heale, Kodak client, Tauranga – 1993

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