RuffaloCODY plans continued growth, expansion

By Molly Altorfer

CEDAR RAPIDS — With a recent investment from growth equity investor Summit Partners, Cedar Rapids-based RuffaloCODY continues to dominate the marketplace of companies providing fundraising and enrollment management services for higher education and nonprofit organizations.

Since its founding in 1991 by Al Ruffalo, RuffaloCODY has grown steadily each year.

“Within both service areas – enrollment management and fundraising – we continue to grow at 15-20 percent annually,” said Mr. Ruffalo, the company’s executive chairman. “With the addition of a new strategic partner in Summit Partners, we will attempt to grow even faster.”

The company has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies for more than seven consecutive years, and it has also received recognition for job creation. Additionally, RuffaloCODY will continue to evaluate small and medium companies in both service areas for possible acquisition and will assess businesses whose specialties are areas that RuffaloCODY does not currently serve.

“Our mission is to dominate,” Mr. Ruffalo said. “And the company will continue to pursue this strategy through acquisition or organic growth.”

With more than 900 clients in the higher education field, RuffaloCODY is the largest company of its type in the nation. Mr. Ruffalo expects that the company’s profile in the higher education arena will continue to expand due to changes in academe.

“Colleges and universities used to do it all (enrollment management and fundraising) on their own,” he said. “Now, colleges and universities are looking at what their core competencies are, which is educating students.”

As a result, more institutions are seeking to outsource these business areas to firms like RuffaloCODY.

“This bodes extremely well for this company,” Mr. Ruffalo said.

2014 will be a banner year for RuffaloCODY. The company recently announced that Kirkwood Community College purchased its corporate headquarters, allowing RuffaloCODY to plan a new 88,000-square-foot-facility, which will be operational next year.

RuffaloCODY leaders plan to break ground in 30-45 days on the facility that will house the company’s Cedar Rapids  employees. The three current RuffaloCODY facilities – on the Kirkwood Community College campus, near the Eastern Iowa Airport and off Edgewood Road NE – will be merged.

“The new building will also allow for three to five years of additional growth,” Mr. Ruffalo said. “And it makes sense from a culture and efficiency standpoint to have all of our employees together.”

Ruffalo is adamant that one of Cedar Rapids’ largest employers will remain in Cedar Rapids, with the goal of continuing to add jobs. With nearly half of RuffaloCODY’s 500 full-time employees based in Cedar Rapids, the company expects to add 50 full time positions per year in the area.

“Our headquarters will remain in Cedar Rapids,” he said. “We have the opportunity to hire great employees and young, energetic students. We feel bullish about the ability to hire the right people in Cedar Rapids.”

Company culture and a “family atmosphere” are integral to the success of RuffaloCODY. Ruffalo notes that the company’s values, referenced by the acronym P.R.I.D.E.: Passion, Results, Integrity, Dedication and Entrepreneurial spirit, elevate the company and its employees.

“Without being trite, we think we’re a family,” Mr. Ruffalo said. “We want to hire people who work hard, care about their families and we treat them like family.”

An aspect of RuffaloCODY that Mr. Ruffalo and senior management have built includes the idea of giving back to the community that has helped and applauded the company’s growth.

Mr. Ruffalo is quick to praise the support the company has received from Kirkwood Community College, the Cedar Rapids community and the state of Iowa during its 22-year existence.

“The community has been very good to us and we are excited about our ability to support the community with dollars and hours,” Mr. Ruffalo said. “We like to give back.”

Nearly six months ago, Ruffalo transitioned to the position of executive chairman when Duane Jasper was named chief executive officer. While the two have worked collaboratively for many years, the transition has enabled the company’s founder to focus on strategic direction, acquisitions, and international expansion.

“It is good for me personally and for the operation,” said Mr. Ruffalo, who added he has full confidence in Mr. Jasper’s ability to run the company’s day-to-day operations.

When RuffaloCODY started in 1991, Mr. Ruffalo planned for the company to be “a small boutique with a few clients.” Today, RuffaloCODY is a behemoth in an ever-expanding industry.

“I don’t think we envisioned we’d be this large,” he said. “And all I can say is that we’re going to get a lot bigger.”