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Every morning during his high school and college years, Blue Clover CEO and President, José B. Sena, received a faxed letter from his father with news from home, always ending with “remember that you must have a non-negotiable ethical code.”

This is how Sena lives his life. And when Sena decided to start his own company 3 years ago, he found partners and eventually employees who aspired to this same goal. With that sort of conviction, and the drive, humor and creativity of the three Blue Clover partners—Sena, Juan Barrera and Chris Gilbert—it is no surprise that their firm is on the fast track to success.

Established in June 2003, their vision was to create a fast-moving, On and Off-line Branding firm™—fusing Internet and traditional marketing/media. They mix electronic branding (through awardwinning websites, e-commerce, search engine optimization, creative conception and content manageable systems) with traditional tools (including name and logo development, public relations, direct mail and special events planning). And they have achieved that goal, growing from an annual revenue of $300,000 to $1.5 million.

The most telling indication of Blue Clover’s rising star is its rapid growth. The firm recently purchased the 8,600 square-foot fifth floor of the Broadway Bank building – one of the first condominium office buildings in downtown San Antonio on Soledad and East Pecan streets. Designed by renowned architects, Ford Powell & Carson, Blue Clover renovated 5,548 square feet for themselves and are leasing out the remaining 3,052. Complete with two conference rooms and office space for up to 20 staff members, the multi-million dollar project is an infusion of industrial and organic materials that represents the company’s mark of “on and off-line branding.”

On the heels of opening this office last December, Blue Clover is now expanding operations to open one in Atlanta, Ga., for its growing client base in the southeast part of the United States. The office currently has a staff of five, with another four staff members expected in the third quarter. Opened in April 2007, the office is located at 1447 Peach Street in historic downtown.

Making the leap from a start-up company to a fully established firm in three years, Blue Clover’s client list boasts more than 120 local and national clients. Starting with the three principals operating out of an apartment complex conference center, Blue Clover has now added Ryan Kelly as the fourth partner, for a total staff of 13 locally, and eventually another nine staff members with the Atlanta office. Ranked number 15 on the San Antonio Business Journal Fast Track list, Blue Clover is a company to watch.

“José Sena and his team at Blue Clover have continued to amaze our board and staff with their innovative creativity and elegant design work, while delivering a new standard in customer service,” says A.J. Rodriguez, president and CEO, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “José has been responsible for designing many items for the Hispanic Chamber, which have been recognized by our peers locally and other Hispanic Chambers throughout the nation. His attention to putting the customer first, his charisma and professionalism were primary factors in his winning the Emerging Business Award from the Hispanic Chamber in 2005.”

As a yardstick of its local achievements, Blue Clover was one of five recipients of the coveted Judge’s Award at the 2007 ADDY awards for its Traçage Condominium website, as well as nine other top awards. In 2006, in only its third year of existence, Blue Clover nabbed 16 ADDYs, including five Gold ones.

Looking at the challenges they faced and continue to face, partner and finance director Chris Gilbert says, “All businesses face cash flow challenges in the early years due to debt incurred to finance the necessary equipment, software, office space and personnel needed to operate. Our business has done an exceptional job in limiting the amount of debt we take on and minimizing our operating expenses in order to realize a profit quarter after quarter. Our business has never had an operating loss since inception, and because of this, we are able to attract and keep qualified employees, who are key to our growth.”

Partner and creative director, Juan Barrera adds, “To hire and keep great employees, Blue Clover offers excellent benefits to supplement the competitive salaries. To keep spirits high and communication open, we start each week with a short prayer service on Monday mornings and have quarterly company retreats. We also have made accommodations so one full-time employee who is a single dad can bring his daughter to work.”

“Like all other new businesses, Blue Clover has been faced with certain challenges and learned lessons over the years,” says Sena. “We know we have to be selective in the type of clients that we pursue in order to grow profitably and ethically. In the beginning, we took on any and all business, even if it was not profitable, in order to gain awareness in the marketplace. We can now be selective because of the current momentum and ‘buzz’ in the market.”

Their client base includes Arquitectonica (Miami-based international architecture, interior design and planning firm), Cross & Company (San Antonio-based commercial real estate company), Pericos Restaurant, Terramark Group (homebuilding division), TBG Partners (largest landscape architects and planning firm in Texas), USAA, the Seguin Economic Development Corporation, Coastal Properties, Workforce Solutions, The St. Raymond, Rackspace Managed Hosting, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and Zen Bar. Gratis projects include design work for the first World Cup soccer qualifying event in San Antonio, the MLS game website and program design, Young Executives Club of San Antonio, Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and JOVEN.

Sena adds, “Managing growth without degrading our service to existing clients is our most important goal, because our niche is our commitment to quality and unmatched client service. We want the experience of each and every client to be exactly the same, whether they are spending $1,000 or one million. Everyone should experience high touch!”