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Listening to a book on tape recently reminded me of George Washington's great vision, leadership, and sacrifice. Every time I learn about Washington, I appreciate his leadership and ability to balance short- and long-term goals. He held true to his vision for our country, which focused on representative government, civil liberties, religious freedom, and each person being able to control his or her own destiny. The biggest obstacle to achieving this vision was King George III and British dominance over the Colonies.
Washington faced a difficult choice. He knew that creating the vision that would prove best in the long-term for our country would require short-term sacrifice. He would have to sacrifice personally by risking his life and all his personal wealth, being seven years away from his home and family. The country would have to sacrifice by experiencing short-term economic suffering as well as the deaths and raids caused by war.
Most people shy away from making such a difficult choice. Knowing that short-term sacrifice facilitates long-term success, however, makes the difficult choices easier. Thankfully for us, George Washington was willing to make the necessary sacrifices in the short-term to ensure a better future for America.
Gary
Cydcor announced that it has experienced the highest first quarter revenue in the company’s 18-year history. In 2011, Cydcor had an overall company growth of 15.2 percent and has set aggressive goals for the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2012.
Cydcor’s first quarter revenue is a direct result of several key events, including:
“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished during this first quarter of 2012,” said Chief Executive Officer Gary Polson. “It couldn’t have happened without the total commitment of our expert field sales force. We’re completely focused on executing against our business strategy and our momentum is in high gear as we work tirelessly to achieve our goals.”
Cydcor, Inc.
Gail Michalak, 805-277-5500
A message from Vera Quinn, chief operating officer
Once again, Cydcor team members tapped into their creative brains to provide a valuable experience to the kids at EARTHS Magnet School! Together, they created 50 literary kits in conjunction with the United Way of Ventura County, then personally donated them to the faculty. The literacy kits were designed to enforce reading and improve reading comprehension through games, worksheets, and crafts. The theme of the book that was selected to be included in the kit - habitats - aligned perfectly with the current theme of the school. Not only that, but the school was so overjoyed that they requested the original files of the worksheet and habitat game so that they could be translated into Spanish for ESL students.
There was a lot of detail and hard work that went into this project. We went above and beyond what was expected and made a real impact on the lives of children in our local community. The kit will be entered into the Ventura Corporate Games charity category as well. We have an awesome team!
A message from Vera Quinn, Chief Operating Officer
Ready, set, go! I'm so excited to see our Cydcor team members prepare for the Ventura Corporate Games - they are gearing up to win in numerous categories including volleyball, bowling, indoor volleyball, basketball, kickball, softball, ping pong, dodgeball, football, 5K, mini golf, bowling, and go-karts. As a corporate sponsor and winner of the JD Probasco Spirit Award in 2011, along with several medals, we have been waiting all year to participate in the event again. We're in it to win it!
To prepare for the Corporate Games, our team members had a tee-shirt competition and the winning design is being printed on the tee-shirts that we'll wear during the event. We also participated in numerous "practice" sessions, had motivational meetings, and encouraged one another to attend. During Wednesday night's opening ceremonies, we will have our own booth, participating in the run/walk/jog and enjoying the food and music.
Our enthusiasm, energy, and dedication aligns with the company's culture that focuses on bringing out the best in one another and showing pride in every task we take on. The Corporate Games enables us to demonstrate that pride, coming together as a company to get results. We are constantly supporting one another - during the Corporate Games and on a day-to-day basis. I'm looking forward to the games and watching every participant demonstrate what Cydcor is all about - determination, drive, and the will to succeed. It's all about the team!
This past Saturday, Cydcor team members, along with the principal and teacher from EARTHS Magnet School, celebrated spring by participating in the school's first gardening day! During the course of the day, the group pulled weeds, helped design and work on a butterfly garden, trimmed trees, and cleaned and completed other garden areas on campus. Cydcor has been working with the school for many months, tutoring children, providing meals for families over the holiday season, and creating a "giving tree" over the holidays, which allowed Cydcor team members to personally buy a gift for an individual child. This community outreach has taken a personal turn for many team members, who have found that working together to help others aligns perfectly with Cydcor's mission - and their own.
With the volunteer help Cydcor provided, the school is now able to execute plans they've had in the works for awhile, but didn't have the budget or time to complete. With Cydcor's assistance, they are able to accomplish many of these goals. Cydcor's goal? To continue volunteering and working with the school to create useful programs for the school. When Cydcor puts its mind to something, it can accomplish anything.
Cydcor is celebrating its 18 year anniversary! For the past 18 years, the company has grown tremendously and achieved numerous milestones, ranging from a move to the United States in 2001 to its most recent expansion into the retail channel. Just recently, Cydcor announced that the company experienced an overall growth of 15.2 percent in 2011 - an example of the hard work and dedication that each and every Cydcor team member and the field puts into the business every day.
Cydcor started as a small Canadian business to a thriving and profitable company that is looking forward to even more growth and expansion. Today, with hundreds of independently-owned offices across North America selling on behalf of major clients, the company is poised to continue its enormous success. Here's to the next 18 years!
By Gary Polson, CEO
Many military historians consider George Washington to be America’s greatest general. He led a tattered, under-equipped, under-manned, and starving army to defeat the greatest army of the world at that time to win our independence.
He was not always such a great military man. As a colonel for the Virginia Colony, he made strategic blunders that led to the slaughter of his men and the start of the French and Indian War. After that defeat, the Governor of Maryland described Washington as a “dangerous mixture of inexperience and impetuosity.” As horrible and humiliated as Washington felt, he did not give up on himself. He learned from these mistakes and eventually became a great general and the first President of the United States.
Like George Washington, we all have setbacks that feel devastating. He is a great example of not letting those setbacks stop us in the pursuit of our dreams.
Gary
All of us at the recent Keys to Success event, an annual kickoff meeting attended by all sales office owners in North America, were so lucky to hear from our guest speaker, Eric Greitens, Navy SEAL and award-winning author of “The Heart and the Fist.” The most powerful part of his message was the mindset required to survive the Navy Seal boot camp. Only about 10 percent of these highly-fit soldiers make it. Eric said that it was not the great collegiate athletes that survived. Instead, it was the ones with the greatest will.
The attributes that he described for the successful are the same ones that are needed for success in our business. Here is a sampling of his comments that I wrote down:
“Confront your fear and push yourself.”
“Courage is the courage of perseverance of willing to do the hard things day after day.”
“People quit when they think how hard it is going to be, but rarely when they are doing those hard things.”
“The Navy Seal challenges are called ‘evolutions’. Your character evolves until you get to the place where you change who you are.”
“To get the life you want, change the compass just a few degrees and march in that direction every day.”
“If you attempt a challenge and do not succeed, the challenge always remains - the challenge always remains.”
Lessons for all of us. Eric, we will always be grateful and learned so much from you during the conference. Your words will stick with us now and in years to come.
Cydcor team members jump-started 2012 with their annual Kick-Off Meeting! During the two-day event, team members from all departments gathered together to network, learn, and brainstorm. Some team members and campaign teams were also recognized during the awards ceremony, which honored those who have made a significant impact over 2011 – and followed Cydcor’s Behaviors We Value.
Cydcor team members also attended an offsite bowling fundraiser, which was donated to EARTHS Magnet School in Newbury Park. The funds were raised through a Queen of Hearts game, which enabled Cydcor to donate more than $600 to the school! Cydcor regularly volunteers time to the school through a specialized tutoring program. Cydcor is looking forward to a great 2012 and beyond!
During a USC class, we learned about a conference that was attended by 60 top business leaders. The leaders were asked to name their biggest fear. All 60 had the same answer, although not the same exact words. For each of them, their biggest fear is that people will find out that they are not so good.
Almost everyone struggles with confidence. Each of us has to realize that success comes from effort, discipline, work ethic, resiliency, preparation, going the extra mile, student mentality and treating people well. Talented people sometimes think that there is a magic formula of business skills to learn to become successful, or that you have to be like someone else. The reality is that anyone can do anything with will power.
All of us need to ask ourselves these questions: How confident are we in our effort? In our discipline? In our work ethic? In our resiliency? In our preparation? In going the extra mile? In treating people well? In our student mentality? If you are confident in these areas, you should be very confident in your success.
Team members at Cydcor recently came together and collected food for the company’s Thanksgiving canned food drive, which supported a local elementary school – and helped 100 families enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner. Cydcor donated 200 cans of green beans and 100 cans of corn and cranberries. They also donated 100 boxes of stuffing, 100 bags of potatoes, and 100 bags of homemade cookies – and provided a $15 gift card for each family to pick up a fresh turkey from the grocery store. An astounding amount of food…and an example of Cydcor’s commitment to giving back.
The Cydcor team members only had two weeks to gather all of the food and meet the company-wide goal, and they succeeded. They jumped at the opportunity to make a real difference in the local community. Two days before Thanksgiving, they went to the school and personally delivered the goods so that families could stop by throughout the day to pick up their Thanksgiving feast.
Cydcor is committed to improving the lives of others and consistently donates time and raises money for philanthropic organizations across the United States – most recently, the company, together with its network of independently-owned sales companies, raised $150,000 for Operation Smile – and were able to fund an entire mission!
What’s next in store for Cydcor?
Cydcor was founded in 1994 on a simple yet powerful principle: people still want to buy from people they trust. While much of the business world in the 1990s was moving toward automation and call centers, the founders of Cydcor recognized that something essential was being lost. Technology could handle transactions, but it could not replace trust, loyalty, or the personal connection that uniquely comes from a face-to-face conversation. That insight shaped the company’s mission and continues to guide it today. Headquartered in Agoura Hills, California, Cydcor partners with Fortune 500 leaders as well as emerging brands across the U.S. and Canada. The company specializes in outsourced, in-person customer acquisition through a network of independently owned sales companies across North America. These companies operate in the residential, retail, business-to-business, and event services channels, creating flexible and scalable solutions to meet each client’s needs. Some clients rely on Cydcor to complement their existing sales force, while others count on Cydcor’s network as their exclusive customer acquisition channel. In both cases, the goal remains the same: driving measurable growth through meaningful interactions.
What sets Cydcor apart is its ability to combine the timeless art of relationship building with modern systems and accountability. While independent sales companies focus on customer engagement, Cydcor provides the backbone that makes scaling possible. This includes compliance oversight, detailed reporting, operational systems, and performance tracking that give clients confidence in both the process and the results. The approach has earned the trust of top Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 brands that turn to Cydcor when they need more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. They need real conversations, genuine connections, and long-term customer relationships.
Under the leadership of Vera Quinn, President and CEO, Cydcor continues to evolve without losing sight of its core belief: that business has always been built on human connection. In a marketplace where digital noise grows louder every day, Cydcor proves that face-to-face sales remain not only relevant but essential. It is a model that honors tradition while embracing innovation, ensuring clients have the reach, structure, and results they need to grow.
In conversation with Vera Quinn, President and CEO of Cydcor
“We see technology as a way to make the in-person experience even better. Our platforms, sales tools, and data systems deliver the information clients need—precisely when they need it."
– Vera Quinn, Cydcor President and CEO
Cydcor has been a trusted partner to Fortune 500 companies for more than three decades. How has your face-to-face approach helped brands stay competitive in today’s automated world?
In today’s automated world, the value of human connection and quality continues to rise because people’s needs are not one-size-fits-all. Brands spend heavily trying to break through the noise, but nothing cuts through like a real conversation. When the field teams engage face-to-face, whether in a business, at a retail store, at someone’s doorstep, or an event, it creates authenticity, accountability, and connection. That personal approach builds trust and loyalty, delivering long-term growth instead of one-off transactions. There is no substitute for the clarity and trust that comes for genuine two-way conversation.
You work across very different verticals—B2B, retail, residential, and event services. How do you customize each campaign?
It starts with listening. We take the time to understand what matters most to the client—what outcomes they want to achieve and who they’re trying to reach. From there, we apply proven strategies while piloting and refining until the approach is right. We don’t believe in copy-and-paste campaigns; every engagement is designed around the client’s goals, with a clear commitment to measurable results.
We’re also highly nimble. Offers, hours, and territory plans can shift quickly, and we adjust with speed, going where customers are and where opportunities exist. For example, in retail environments customers may need product education at the point of sale, while in B2B settings the focus is often on efficiency and ROI. Each campaign is tailored to those realities, ensuring both clients and customers feel understood.
Leading companies often credit Cydcor with helping them expand into new markets. How does your model drive that kind of growth?
We help clients grow because we’re built to scale responsibly. The companies in our network are locally run by entrepreneurs who care deeply about performance and quality. That ownership mindset allows us to move fast when a client wants to expand while still delivering consistency and quality. We’re able to test, adapt, and ramp with speed—without sacrificing the fundamentals. Because we take such pride in the brands we represent, our clients trust us to deliver with consistency and care.
Cydcor works with a network of independently owned sales companies. How does that support innovation and client outcomes?
Entrepreneurs think differently. They’re invested in doing things right because it’s their business. That ownership mindset creates a ripple effect: higher standards, better execution, and more accountability. When a client partners with us, they’re not just accessing sales teams; they’re tapping into a culture of ownership and drive. That translates into stronger performance in the field and sustained results for the brand.
You’ve been recognized as a Great Place to Work. How do culture and leadership play into your business success?
Our culture is built on the belief that people succeed when they help others succeed. That philosophy drives how we lead, how we collaborate, and how we show up for our clients and each other. Our values aren’t just words on a wall. They act as our constitution, guiding decisions and holding us accountable. Because of that, leadership at Cydcor isn’t about hierarchy; it’s about creating an environment where people support one another, push for excellence, and celebrate shared wins. That’s why our culture has become a competitive advantage and why clients trust us to represent their brands with pride.
Technology is clearly important to your operations. How do you balance that with the human side of your business?
We see technology as a way to make the in-person experience even better. Our platforms, sales tools, and data systems deliver the information clients need—precisely when they need it. AI is making our systems smarter and faster, improving everything from compliance to reporting to campaign insights. At the end of the day, technology is there to empower people. It supports the work; it doesn’t replace the human connection that makes in-person sales powerful.
What’s next for Cydcor? Any exciting plans on the horizon?
Cydcor is entering an exciting new chapter of growth. We’re expanding into new industries while continuing to strengthen relationships with the Fortune 500 and emerging brands we already serve. A big part of that future is leveraging AI and advanced platforms to enhance both the client and customer experience, delivering faster insights, sharper tools, and more seamless interactions. Driving results through the power of people remains constant, but the ways we deliver on it are evolving quickly. We also see opportunities in industries undergoing disruption, or where customers are clamoring for personalized solutions where face-to-face engagement can help brands establish trust and drive growth. That’s where our model truly shines.
Meet the leader behind the success of Cydcor
Vera Quinn, President and CEO of Cydcor, is recognized for her leadership and the business impact she continues to drive. She began her career entry-level in the field. Then seizing an opportunity at Cydcor, and rose through nearly every level of the organization, a path that gives her unmatched perspective on building teams, growing leaders, and scaling a business with integrity.
Vera has been honored as CEO of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal, and under her leadership, Cydcor was recently named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America. She is known for her ability to develop leaders by instilling confidence, clarity, and accountability. Today, she continues to guide Cydcor’s growth with a clear mission: when people succeed together, businesses and communities thrive.
“We don’t believe in copy-and-paste campaigns; every engagement is designed around the client’s goals, with a clear commitment to measurable results.”
– Vera Quinn, Cydcor President and CEO
Agoura Hills, California--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Cydcor is proud to announce that CEO Vera Quinn has been recognized as the CEO of the Year Honoree at the Los Angeles Business Journal's 2025 Valley Women's Leadership Symposium & Awards. The program spotlights influential leaders across the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles who are driving innovation, cultivating inclusive workplaces, and shaping the future of business.
Under Quinn's guidance, Cydcor has become a company synonymous with a culture of growth, performance, and community. Highlights of her leadership include:
"It is an incredible honor to be named a CEO Honoree among so many remarkable women," said Quinn. "I am proud to represent a community of women leaders who are inspiring the next generation and driving meaningful change in business."
For more on Cydcor's culture and Quinn's leadership, visit: A Culture Strategy of Growth, Performance, and Community.
About Cydcor
For more than 30 years, Cydcor has provided outsourced sales solutions to Fortune 500 and emerging companies. By combining the power of relationship-driven sales with innovative strategies, Cydcor helps its clients acquire, grow, and retain customers at scale. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Agoura Hills, California, Cydcor remains privately held.
Visit: www.cydcor.com.
For information contact:
media@cydcor.com
805-277-5500
Agoura Hills, California--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - For the 13th time, Cydcor has earned a place on the Los Angeles Business Journal's (LABJ) Best Places to Work in Los Angeles list. This recognition, determined by detailed employee surveys conducted by Workforce Research Group, celebrates Cydcor's enduring commitment to a collaborative, employee-centric workplace culture. As a leader in outsourced sales and customer acquisition services, Cydcor continues to set the bar for what it means to build a workplace where people grow, thrive, and find purpose.
Recognition Driven by Employee Survey and Culture
Hundreds of small, medium, and large companies across LA participated in the 2025 LABJ survey. The process evaluates workplace policies and practices, with 80% of the score drawn from confidential employee feedback. The result: a curated list of LA's top employers, with Cydcor standing out for its consistent leadership, supportive environment, career development focus, and the company's foundation lies in its culture and core values.
A 13-Year Legacy of Workplace Excellence
"We are very intentional about building both a high-performing culture and a high-performing business," said Vera Quinn, CEO of Cydcor. "We want Cydcor to be a place where people are inspired to grow, feel proud of their work, and know they're part of something meaningful."
Cydcor uses the feedback collected through the survey process not only to celebrate what's working but also to highlight areas where the company and departments can improve. This ensures continuous growth, adaptation, and accountability across all levels of the organization. Cydcor fosters a culture where people helping people isn't just a saying, it's the way business is done.
"Consistency matters. Being recognized year after year is a result of our people showing up for one another, staying grounded in our values, and always aiming to get better," Quinn added.
What Makes Cydcor a Top Employer
Cydcor continues to set the standard in creating an environment where employees feel seen, supported, and challenged to achieve their potential.
How does Cydcor continue to earn recognition? Here are just a few reasons:
Explore Career Opportunities at Cydcor
Want to join one of LA's top workplaces?
Explore career opportunities at Cydcor today: www.cydcor.com/careers
About Cydcor
For three decades and counting, Cydcor has provided award-winning customer acquisition solutions to Fortune 500 and emerging companies in a wide range of industries. Cydcor has mastered the power of building relationships with consumers while harnessing technology to acquire, grow, and retain customers for its clients. Founded in 1994, the privately held company is based in Agoura Hills, California. For more information, visit www.cydcor.com.
Media Contact
Gail Michalak
805-277-5525
gmichalak@cydcor.com