Molly Marie is one lucky sheepdog.

Not only does she get to wear a pink bow in her hair, but she?s the mascot for one of Sacramento?s premiere computer software and networking companies, Big Hairy Dog.

Molly?s owners, Mic and Sandy Malaney, who both attended Sacramento State, have produced a company that has been nominated six times as one of the fastest growing companies in Sacramento by the Business Journal.

Sandy graduated from Sac State in 1984 with a bachelor?s degree in business and an emphasis in marketing.

“The program in 1984 was excellent, but the parking was awful,” Sandy said. “Sac State gave me a very solid education, and provided me with a lot of theory behind business that I was able to apply to the real world.”

Mic never graduated, but this did not hinder him.

“I split a few units early in 1987 to get into the computer game,” he said.

The Malaneys went to work for Carmichael-based Retail Technologies International, Inc., which produced Retail Pro, a retail automation program. This technology gives retailers the opportunity to establish inventory control, point-of-sales, e-commerce solutions and accounting services.

In 1993, RTI decided to phase out their retail sales and sell through software dealerships instead. Since the couple knew the software so well, they decided to distribute it on their own and created BHD, a Microsoft-certified and nationally-recognized retail software company.

Their biggest client is the Delaware North Corporation, who employs more than 25,000 people and clears $1 billion annually. They service high-profile companies such as the Kennedy Space Center, Yosemite National Park, the Seattle Mariners, the St. Louis Rams, the Sacramento Kings, Dr. Marten?s shoe company and all the businesses in the University Union at Sac State.

Their number-one clients, however, are their two small children, Jake and Maggie, and their 11-year-old dog, Molly Marie. Mic and Sandy successfully balance their work with time for their family. “We have our schedule set up so that one of us is in the office and the other is with the kids,” Sandy said.

Mic and Sandy encourage employees to bring their children to work.

“Babies are crawling around, kids wrestling and mommies feeding. When we say BHD is a family, we mean it in the literal sense,” she said.

Mic and Sandy believe that a comfortable work environment increases productivity and success for any business. “We have the dogs running around the office, shorts and Birkenstocks is our dress code and we brew our own beer,” Mic said.

This atmosphere is sometimes a necessity for them and their workers.

“We are working 16 hour days,” Mic said. “Our staff needs the indoor basketball hoop, toys and loud music just to stay sane.”Sandy advises students to look for jobs that provide good work experience.

“Work for a large company which offers lots of training in the field you are interested in,” Sandy said. “When you start your own company, stick with it. The tenacity will pay off.”

Mic suggests that students should expand their horizons before entering the work force. “Upon graduation, buy a one way ticket to Europe and spend at least six months traveling,” he said. “Work in pubs, hostels and, when you?re broke, sleep in a train station. Upon your return, buy a nice suit and start interviewing.”

BHD is planning to expand to record sales and audio/video streaming technology, working with e-Monitoring Solutions to create a product that allows viewers to get near-television-quality video and audio from remote locations.

With their ventures into the entertainment sector and their presence in sports arenas, the pair has encountered some celebrities.

“Once, I met Orville Redenbacher?s grandson at a trade show,” Sandy said.

It doesn?t get much better than that.

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