Creativity proves extreme versatility.

Byline: Sherri Buri McDonald The Register-Guard

As shoppers milled on the floors below, Extreme Arts & Sciences recently briefly transformed its offices on the third floor of Fifth Street Public Market into a video production studio, complete with cameraman, bright lights, and local actors.

The makeover was part of Extreme's project to create an interactive Web-based program that Microsoft MSN coaches will use to help train account executives selling online advertising for Microsoft's Internet portal.

For the four-year-old Eugene-based Extreme - which offers strategic planning, training and technological solutions to businesses and other organizations - turning its offices into a media center illustrates what some clients say is the firm's greatest strength: versatility.

"They're on a mission," said MSN training manager David Matis. "I've heard them described as a 'creative consultancy,' which means they just come up with great ideas."

Extreme has managed to thrive despite a nationwide slump in the high-tech industry.

A key has been helping clients make more of their existing computer and software systems, said Randy Harrington, Extreme's CEO.

"One of our core messages has been to take advantage of what you've got," he said. "Most of the (information technology) systems in place are radically underutilized."

Harrington won't disclose his firm's annual revenues, but he said they have doubled each year, and he expects that trend to continue for the next few years. He said he anticipates continued growth in helping large corporations communicate throughout their sprawling organizations and helping financial services companies deal with mergers and regulatory change.

Harrington also hopes to open an office in Europe.

"I believe you can't be involved in business and not be thinking internationally," he said.

"We've had a number of people tell us there's great opportunity and demand (in Europe) for what we're doing," he said.

Extreme has grown gradually over the past five years. In July, it set up shop in the 3,500-square-foot former Nike store space atop the Fifth Street Public Market. Harrington said he hopes to use the space to host more training events in Eugene.

Harrington said Extreme competes against the global consulting firms, such as Arthur Andersen. But "by design, we've always said we want to be in a category of one," he added.

One reason Extreme, with only 16 full-time employees and about a dozen outside contractors, is able to compete on a national scale is the company's willingness to collaborate with other firms.

"We're partnering with other firms, so we don't have to be all things to all people, but we still can bring that capability to our clients," Harrington said.

On the MSN project, Extreme teamed up with Eugene-based InterVision, a 20-year-old video and interactive media production company.

"I like working with Randy's group," said Jerry Joffe, co-owner of InterVision. "They're a fairly irreverent bunch. They're really smart; they're creative. And when you're around creativity it energizes your own creativity."

Harrington founded Extreme in 1999, after earning a PhD in communications from the University of Oregon. He completed his master's degree in interpersonal communication at the University of North Carolina.

Harrington moved to Eugene in 1992, and has decided to build his life and business here.

"I had kids and liked the area," he said. "Eugene also has turned out to be a great spot for finding talent."

While finishing his PhD in 1990-91, Harrington worked as a consultant at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in Washington D.C., in the aftermath of the collapse of the savings and loan industry.

He gained experience working with financial institutions and soon found himself on the credit union speaker's circuit.

After juggling 30 to 50 speaking engagements a year, Harrington decided that it wasn't sustainable, which led him to form his own firm.

Harrington continues to work with about 200 credit unions. In addition to helping financial services institutions with strategic planning and corporate training, Extreme has developed Intranet and Extranet systems to help deliver training programs and enhance communication.

Extreme set up an Intranet for internal use at Vandenberg Credit Union in Lompoc, Calif. The firm also hosts an Extranet for the credit union, a Web system enabling the credit union's board of directors to log into a secure location to view news, hold discussions, conduct polls and vote.

Extreme has "always performed so wonderfully," said Diana Dykstra, president and CEO of Vandenberg Credit Union. "It's a partnership, versus so many times when a vendor delivers something and just walks away."

Extreme is beefing up its Extranet technology for the U.N. International Fund For Agricultural Development.

The agency hopes to use the technology to better link its 300 sites worldwide, Harrington said.

EXTREME ARTS & SCIENCES

Business: Consulting firm offering strategic planning, training, technology for business, government, others

Founded: 1999

Founder, CEO: Randy Harrington

Headquarters: 296 E. 5th St., Suite 305, Eugene

Employees: About 16 full-time and 12 contract employees

Major clients: Microsoft MSN division; United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development; World Council of Credit Unions 

Financials: Not disclosed

CAPTION(S):

Heather Schrag gets her hair adjusted between takes during a shoot in Eugene to produce a Web-based video training system. Extreme: The firms sets up Intranets and Extranets Continued from Page B1 INSIDE Bill Husted writes about computer jargon / B3 Please turn to EXTREME, Page B2