Pros
I departed Cadmus some years ago after serving years as a senior manager. My summary: prospective investors and senior managers, be skeptical. Junior- and mid-level staff, be open to working there in the short-term, but skeptical of staying for the long-term. The strengths of Cadmus are in its mission and its junior- and mid-level staff. The mission is compelling, focusing on improving the human experience. If you seek such mission-oriented work you could be a good fit, at least initially. The vast majority of staff are hard-working, well-meaning, and eager to please. It was a joy for me to work with them, and to supervise some of them.
Cons
First comes the (internally) well-known dysfunction in the executive suite. Duplicity and disrespect rule the day, the exact opposite of providing a supportive, trusting atmosphere. I personally witnessed a consistent pattern of exec dysfunction during my tenure, and it’s not just my opinion: trusted confidants at my level reported many more instances. What the execs forget is this: 1) people seek trust, and 2) people talk, especially when they don’t witness and receive the trust they seek. It doesn’t have to be this way. As proven in “Good to Great” by Jim Collins, when company execs lead with the goal of putting the organization first, with mindful, genuine communication to the staff, a healthy culture permeates from the top down. Employees feel part of a greater, well-run whole. Organizational excellence leads to higher profits and lasting market dominance. Bottom line: think seriously about what you want from your engagement with Cadmus, and how dependent your goals are on the behavior of the execs. Most of them put their own interests before the organization’s.