At LVT, we don't just talk about our values—we live them. These principles aren't corporate jargon or empty promises; they’re answers to the question, “Who is LVT?” and they dictate how we operate. Among our core values, "Be the Crew" stands out as a reminder of what we can achieve when we work together. It's a call to action, a rallying cry that unites us as we pursue shared goals.
This core value emerged from a pivotal chapter in LVT’s story. It's a tale of determination, teamwork, and the incredible things that happen when passionate people come together to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.
THE 100-UNIT CHALLENGE
Years ago, in the early stages of LVT, we landed a game-changing order for over 100 business video surveillance systems from a large customer. As a small, bootstrapped company that had never produced more than 30–40 trailers in the previous seven years, this order presented both an incredible opportunity and a daunting challenge.
With a tight 2–3 month deadline looming, we faced immense pressure and uncertainty. But true to our values, we approached this challenge with confidence and drive. It was all hands on deck—literally. Our founders even enlisted help from some of their older kids to put locks on the trailers.
Our focus became getting the business video surveillance systems assembled and shipped on time. This often meant staying late waiting for overnight deliveries, and working tirelessly into the night. As the deadline for each shipment loomed, we frequently found ourselves racing against the clock, pushing to the very last minute to complete each unit.
There were countless moments when Bob Brenner, one of our founders, would text Ryan Porter, our CEO and founder, with urgent updates. "We need just 30 more minutes to install one last part," he'd say, even as the truck drivers were already en route to pick up the shipment.
In these nail-biting situations, Ryan would find creative ways to stall, for example, by taking the truck drivers out for extended lunch outings. All the while, he'd be discreetly coordinating with Bob via text, anxiously awaiting the green light that the units were ready. Despite the odds and the constant race against time, the team managed to complete that entire deployment without missing a single delivery date.
ROWING TOGETHER: THE POWER OF SYNCHRONICITY
For those of us who aren’t super sports-savvy, let’s pause for a quick lesson. The term crew comes from the sport of rowing. Rowing teams, or crews, can be made up of two to eight people depending on the competition and boat. To win the race, the crew needs to work together, in perfect harmony. When they do so they achieve what is called swing—an effect where every action is perfectly in sync. However, to achieve this, each team member has to commit.
In The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, author Daniel James Brown describes it this way:
“Rowers must rein in their fierce independence and at the same time hold true to their individual capabilities. Races are not won by clones. Good crews are good blends—someone to lead the charge, someone to hold something in reserve, someone to fight the fight, someone to make peace. No rower is more valuable than another, all are assets to the boat, but if they are to row well together, each must adjust to the needs and capabilities of the others—the shorter-armed person reaching a little farther, the longer-armed person pulling in just a bit” (Brown, 2013).
This description perfectly sums up our experience during the 100-unit challenge. Each team member at LVT had to adapt, support one another, and give their all. Some led the charge in production, others held the fort in customer communication, while others fought through long nights of assembly. We weren't clones, but a blend of diverse talents united in purpose.
EMBODYING THE CREW MENTALITY
LVT is so much more than solar-powered cameras. Every team member has a crucial role to play in our company's success, and while these roles may differ, we all must "dig our oars in and pull" to move forward. No one is above doing what needs to be done.
Being part of the LVT crew means giving each other the benefit of the doubt, trusting and respecting one another, and constantly lifting each other up. We're not here to win at the expense of others. Instead, we do our best to serve—be it our customers, partners, investors, or coworkers—together. Just as we came together to deploy 100 business video surveillance systems, we continue to row in unison, propelling LVT towards new horizons.
Interested in joining our crew? Check out our open roles here.
