Dr Jeff Cornwall

Bergen Cathedral Interiors, founded by Stephen Bergen and David McCracken (both Belmont alumni), is a Nashville-based Christian company serving churches and architects with the highest quality pews and custom furniture, pew refinishing and restoration, stained glass, auditorium seating, and carpeting available.

Like many start-up ventures, the genesis of Bergen Cathedral Interiors came from a set of unanticipated events that created an opportunity. Stephen Bergen had been working with a small, out of state business that had decided to withdraw most of their operation from Tennessee. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The vendors Stephen had been working with wanted him to continue representing their products and services in Tennessee. So it made perfect sense for Stephen to start a company based on the relationships and experience he had been developing over the previous eight years.
But the opportunity proved to be even larger than Stephen first thought, as his suppliers were willing to consider an expanded territory beyond Tennessee. So Stephen decided to bring on a partner, David McCraken. Because they had been friends for over fifteen years, David already knew what was going on with Stephen’s work. The two discussed their situations and realized they had a great opportunity to build a Christian company together, working with top suppliers to serve architects and churches.
During their start-up, Bergen Cathedral Interiors faced the challenge that came from the transformation of Stephen’s existing relationships through his old employer into the new business they were creating. His former employer left him with clients whose projects Stephen had to see through. At the same time, he and David had to develop their common vision for their new company, draft and redraft their business plan, get David up to speed on their market, products and services, learn new software tools and assure their plans would be compatible with the vendors whose products and services they would represent.
Drafting the business plan proved to be very important in determining the nature and quality of the company Stephen and David wanted to build. It has also proven to be way to get feedback from their suppliers. “After we presented it to our main supplier, they asked us to make our presentation a second time so their project managers could learn the perspective of their sales reps. They immediately told all their other sales reps that they wanted to see a business plan from them, too. That was very gratifying, because we immediately knew we were on the right track.”
David said that they have found strong support, from business advice to leads for new projects, from many of the people who have learned about their new venture. “Almost anyone who is successful can look back on their own professional development and identify people who were glad to help them early on. And folks who have experienced the entrepreneurial process are normally very glad to help others when they get the opportunity.”
They also turned to trusted friends and family and asked them to serve on an advisory board. “This is a great way to have the benefit of wise counsel from others who have business experience, and it builds a certain level of accountability as we know we must report the results of our progress to this group.”
Stephen wanted to build Bergen Cathedral Interiors based on their shared values. “My values as a Christian have made it extremely easy to define the structure and goals of what I want this business to be. I just put myself in potential clients’ shoes and ask, ‘How would I expect to be treated?'”
From his previous experience in the worship market, one of Stephen’s biggest surprises has been how foreign the concept of “do unto others” actually can be, even among companies serving churches.
David said that he and Stephen realized how important it is to get to know their suppliers on a level that goes beyond products and services to assure that they genuinely share their values. “If we partner with a company that relies on using the language of faith only to close a sale, the churches and committee members and other Christians with whom we are working will pick up on this as being inauthentic. It could cause not only a lost sale, but also a negative impact on our reputation.”
Stephen and David have recognized the importance of working on their partnership as well as their new business. Stephen said that they did not rush into their start-up. They carefully and thoroughly discussed expectations. They then worked with their attorney (and a long-time mutual friend) to help walk them through the legal issues of their business start-up. Because all three are friends, their operating agreement will not only be strong from a legal standpoint, but also will be drafted to reflect the great value that Stephen and David place on their friendship.