Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com January 23, 2017 • Hartford Business Journal 5 Hagstrom turns furniture into worker recruiting tool By John Stearns jstearns@HartfordBusiness.com J osh Hagstrom grew up around office furniture, so it seems fitting that he would eventually pull up a chair in the industry. "I learned the nuts and bolts of the com- mercial contract furniture industry from a very young age," Hagstrom said of work- ing in his parents' office furniture, supply and copier business in Brattleboro, Vt. Hagstrom, 37, is president and co- founder of Farmington-based Interscape Commercial Environments, which focuses on furnishings for the commercial, health- care and education markets. His mother, Nancy, is CEO and co-founder, and visits about once a week from Brattleboro. Studying small business in college and having grown up in a family business envi- ronment, Hagstrom wanted to be an entrepreneur, but didn't envision being in office furniture. He went to Vir- ginia Beach, Va., after college to try something new and landed a job in adver- tising sales. After a couple years, the entre- preneurial fire burned. He considered opening a ski shop, but "came full circle back to the office furniture industry." He took a sales job for two years in contract office furniture in Virginia Beach to broaden his perspective while writing a business plan for his own business in Hart- ford or Manchester, N.H. He and his family chose Hartford, incorporating in 2005 and opening Interscape in 2006 at 960 Main St. Interscape — the name combines inte- rior and landscape — moved to Farming- ton in October to get more space and the bright, airy location will soon begin filling with furniture. Furniture isn't sold off the floor, but demonstrates products and sys- tems that can be produced. "We're very excited about [this] being a stepping stone to us being an even bigger player in this marketplace," Hagstrom said. The store ramp-up was delayed, in part, by a dirt bike accident Hagstrom had in November while riding with a group on a motocross track. It's unclear how the accident happened because friends didn't see it and he has no memory of it, but he sustained 13 bone breaks, including seven ribs, two of which broke in two places, and four breaks of his left clavicle, which penetrated his skin. He was hospitalized three weeks and home for two more. "It's been a long recovery," he said. Interscape provides an array of furni- ture from myriad vendors, its flagship being Teknion, and helps clients determine what's best for their employees and environment. Interscape spends half its time with clients talking about industry trends: what workplaces are doing to recruit and retain employees, how workplace culture is chang- ing and furniture's role in that. Mobility, flex- ibility and catering to multiple generations affect furniture design and use, he said. Open, collaborative space has been a trend the last 10 to 15 years and, more recently, stand-up desks have become more prevalent. Another evolv- ing area of busi- ness is interior wall systems. The com- pany is completing 23 stories of architectural glass walls for a client in Hartford. It's a multimillion-dol- lar project that will be followed by another later this year, he said. As a business leader, Hagstrom's biggest learning experience has been not losing focus of staff while steering the business. It's something he continues to try to improve. "It's an evolving one for sure, always try- ing to learn," Hagstrom said of his manage- ment style. "You have to sometimes take a step back and look at what you're doing with your management style and you don't really see it from others' perspectives all the time." Rita Joy, director of client development, appreciates Hagstrom's industry knowledge and work ethic, and Interscape's culture. "He's fun to work with and he makes it a fun atmosphere for us and does some good things so that we feel more like a family here," Joy said. "It's nice, I feel like we all have more job security because we're a close-knit family." Hagstrom and his wife, Alla, a first- grade teacher in New Haven, will soon add to their own family. They're expecting their first child, a daughter, in May. n H B J P H O T O | J O H N S T E A R N S Josh Hagstrom relocated Interscape Commercial Environments in October from Hartford to a larger location in Farmington, at 10 Waterside Dr. Josh Hagstrom President and co-founder, Interscape Commercial Environments, Farmington. Highest education: Bachelor's degree in community development and applied economics, with a concentration in small business, University of Vermont, 2001. Executive insights: " The biggest thing is to be ethical. We're all in this business and this world for a long time. There is no point in burning any bridges for your own gain. Just be ethical at all times." EXECUTIVE PROFILE Check out a video clip of Josh Hagstrom's interview at hartfordbusiness.com. PDS has been meeting the needs of the construction industry since 1965. Our dedicated team of design and construction professionals welcomes the challenge of serving its past and future customers on their most demanding projects. Bloomfield Fire Department | Bloomfield, Connecticut PDS acted as General Contractor to complete renovations to the Bloomfield Fire Burn Building. PDS installed new fire resistant steel shutters, hollow metal doors and gauge gutters. The project was completed on time and within budget. 107 Old Windsor Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002 (860) 242-8586 | Fax (860) 242-8587 www.pdsec.com DESIGN BUILDERS • GENERAL CONTRACTORS • CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS SPOTLIGHT ON: Public Safety PDS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC. THINK • PLAN • BUILD Subscribe online: HartfordBusiness.com/ subscribe Delivering Business. 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