Tim Savage, 43, is owner and managing director of infrastructure practice at ENS Group, a technology consulting firm based in Fort Wayne.

Community and leadership involvement: Attends Trinity Evangelical Church. Recently became one of about 35 executives nationwide to be named to Cisco System’s Small Business Executive Advisory Board. The board executives are from companies that deliver Cisco products and solutions to businesses with less than 1,000 employees and helps, among other things, determine product features and improvements.

Most recent accomplishment: ENS Group, which started in 1995 and employs about 35 mostly full-time employees, had 56 percent revenue growth from 2009 to 2010 and has had about about 27 percent growth this year. The firm has also added 17 employees and expanded services.

What makes a leader: “I think a leader is one who builds the framework for other people to excel and then provides the resources and backs the talent to allow them to excel,” he said.

Leadership traits you most value: Honesty and integrity.

Best leadership book you’ve read: “I’m an avid reader,” Savage said. “I probably read a business book a month. The one I keep coming back to is ‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins.” Savage said some of the companies highlighted may no longer be considered “great” based on changes at them since the book was written, but the principles that once contributed to their success still “work just fine.”

Best ways to overcome self-doubt: Savage said he considers himself a “press forward” kind of guy. “Once I get an idea in my mind, I just keep going,” he said, adding that his wife is a big supporter who helps keep him focused.

Time management tips: “Being a typical entrepreneur, I’m a very task-oriented guy. I use my email inbox as my task list and until I have that completed I don’t rest,” Savage said. “I don’t think I’m terribly good at time management; I think I’m probably just good at making sure I stay on task.” Although Savage checks his phone often to keep up with email, he tries not to let work rob him of too much family time when he’s home. “I don’t want my children to see me always working,” he said.

Role model(s) and why: His father, Robert Savage of Goshen, based on his perseverance, honesty and integrity. “If I ever have a question about which direction to take something,” Savage said, “I can always go to him and get an honest and straightforward answer.”

Describe one leadership challenge and how you resolved it: Savage said starting a business without formal business training was the biggest challenge. “So everything I’ve learned is from the school of hard knocks,” he said. One of the first issues he had to resolve was learning to respect that other people on his team “might have ideas just as good or better” and he sometimes needed to let them “run with it.”

What are your goals: Becoming more of a “regional player.” ENS Group opened a Goshen office in July this year and plans to open a Warsaw office in 2012.

Hobbies: Flying; he’s a pilot. Savage also enjoys reading and likes to write when time permits. He has written for some aviation magazines and said he used to run one but sold it a couple years ago.

Family: Wife, Misty Savage; son Job, 10; stepson Austin, 9

Compiled by Lisa Green, The Journal Gazette