Today we’d like to introduce you to Lance Cayko. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Lance Cayko is a multi-talented serial entrepreneur, architect, builder, lecturer, and podcaster. He has a diverse background in architecture, construction, and real estate development and is the co-founder and partner of F9 Productions Inc., a wildly successful design + build firm based in Longmont Colorado, specializing in single-family residential, multi-family residential, and small commercial projects.
Before earning a degree in Building Construction Technology from the North Dakota State College of Science, Lance worked in nearly every trade of construction. He then continued his education and earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design and a Master of Architecture from North Dakota State University, culminating with him graduating at the top of his class and earning the coveted McKenzie Thesis Award for the most outstanding thesis project.
After college, Lance worked in various architecture firms and roles in the construction industry before co-founding F9 Productions in 2009 with his business partner Alex Gore. Since then, the company has grown to become one of the premier design + build firms in the region, with a reputation for quality craftsmanship, innovative design, and exceptional customer service.
In addition to his work at F9, Lance raises a family of six with his wife Marilyn, who is also an active member of his community, and a respected industry leader. He routinely lectures at the University of Boulder, is a philanthropist, a professional fisherman, and is the founder and leader of Longmont Community Gardens, a non-profit that promotes urban sustainable gardening, education, and community involvement.
Lance is also the co-host of Inside the Firm, a popular architectural business podcast that provides insights and advice on architecture, entrepreneurship, and small business ownership.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We founded our firm on an unsmooth road, during the height of the Great Recession with zero clients, zero built work, and nearly zero contacts. For the first three years of business, we starved, barely making payroll.
Then the next decade we experienced growth winning two times in the BizWest Boulder Valley Mercury 100 but the growth was coupled with old staff going and new staff coming, hiring and firing, many deadlines, and ups and downs.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about F9 Productions Inc.?
F9 Productions is a premier architecture and design firm serving Colorado’s Front Range. As leading Colorado architects, we specialize in creating innovative, functional, and beautiful designs that reflect the unique style and spirit of our clients.
With offices in Longmont and Denver, F9 Productions is ideally positioned to provide exceptional architectural services throughout all of Colorado. Our team of skilled and experienced architects has a deep understanding of Colorado architecture including Boulder and Denver, design and aesthetics, and meeting the challenges that come with building in the Rocky Mountain Region.
What sets us apart from other architects in Colorado is our intimate involvement in both the design and build process. We operate alongside our sister company, F14 Productions, a construction firm, and we work in sync. This collaborative, hands-on approach allows us to provide expert guidance and oversight throughout every phase of your project, ensuring that your vision is realized to perfection. It also ensures that we, as architects, know all the master planning needed to execute from blueprints to the building.
At F9 Productions, we believe that collaboration and communication are key to the success of any project. That’s why we work closely with our clients, builders, and contractors to ensure that everyone is on the same page from start to finish. One of our Nine Founding Principles is that we always try to respond to all forms of communication within an hour. Our efficient and streamlined processes help to minimize delays and maximize results, making your project a success in every way.
What do you think about luck?
We like to define luck as positioning and preparing ourselves to be at the right place at the right time. We’ve done that at our business by presenting theoretical designs to the public during key moments so as to gain notoriety in the mainstream press organically.
A few examples of that were our Doomsday Dwellings at DoomsdayDwellings.com, our tiny houses that we’ve designed and built for HGTV, and our Amazon HQ2 project in Denver.
Contact Info:
- Website: f9productions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f9productions/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/F9ProductionsInc/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/f9-productions-inc./
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/F9Productions
Image Credits
Jason Buss, Matthew Perry, and F9 Productions
