It’s a great story. General Code had humble beginnings and has grown to be a thriving company with clients in 18 states and Canada.

Forty-five years ago, Ogden, New York Town Supervisor A. Ross Kitt II became frustrated by the difficulty of using Town legislation. He sat down with the many piles of paper and constructed one organized book that could be easily updated as new laws were adopted. From that humble start, the late Mr. Kitt founded General Code Publishers Corporation in 1962.

The company succeeded for 45 years under the watchful eye of Mr. Kitt and his sons Ross and Lyle. At first there was no need to consider what company values General Code would have. It was a family pure and simple, and the handful of employees felt it day in and day out. They were part of a family. Over the years those values, like the laws of many municipalities, were organized into a compact and easily readable statement that summarized the commitment of the company to: honesty and integrity; delighting customers; efficiency; innovation and creativity; personal responsibility; freedom; caring and concern.

Business is thriving at General Code now as we begin 2007: new local government customers; new products; many new employees; and a seamless transfer of ownership from the Kitt family to Gary Domenico, who has been the company’s President for the past seven years. Along with those changes comes a renewed and formalized commitment to retain the company’s values while managing significant growth. A Strategic Plan has been established to put into words and actions what is important and what can be accomplished by applying the values that have guided the company for the past 45 years.

That plan is built on maintaining a “competent and supportive culture of mutual trust and respect” among those who are employed by the company. That foundation should fuel and support a desire and an environment to continue to solve the challenges of customers who need to streamline their ability to organize, store and retrieve information and documentation to serve the needs of the local government and the community. From a customer perspective, the plan expresses the intent to be responsive, innovative and offer high-value solutions. From a company’s perspective, this “guide” for the present and future of General Code will result in continued growth, increased customer satisfaction and contribution to communities all over the country. Pleasing you, the customer, pleases us, the company, and helps keep us all one happy and thriving family.