In 2005, following the successful exit of a major client and in recognition of the highly cross-functional demands of an assignment that had just been concluded, the vision of creating a full-service, 360° boutique consulting practice for businesses facing extraordinary challenges, became a reality. The concept was to provide a turn-key solution that included the traditional range of siloed services but also, the leadership "mortar" that binds them all together with "one throat to choke". Moreover, having spent so many years in corporate settings where decisions were heavily influenced by personal agendas that were not aligned with corporate goals (i.e. job preservation, greed, ego, status) and where a straight, honest, actionable answer was hard to find, I sought to offer a solution devoid of these limitations on a nimble, outsourced basis. We have been rewarded in our thinking by a continuous stream of clients who appreciate our approach and who have benefitted from our partnership, insight and execution.
Our Principals
Thomas W. French, Jr.
CEO and President
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Management Consulting Leader
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Business Catalyst
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Sales, Marketing and Customer Service Expert
The role I have played throughout my career, whether as CEO, COO or CMO has been that of a Growth Catalyst. It is driven by an intrinsic need to understand every aspect of business and then, informed by my understanding, am able to help businesses integrate People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash Strategies to strengthen their core business and accelerate growth.
I use an asymmetrical thought process that evaluates and challenges assumptions and uses a broad range of different tactics to solve problems and seize opportunities. I have found this process enables me to approach problems in new and productive ways.
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Successful professional experiences range from packaged goods (adult beverages, frozen and canned food, OTC Drug, personal care) to telecom services (satellite and cableTV, wireless, fiber, data centers) to medical devices and SaaS. In all instances, there are three things that distinguish our contributions from other business partnerships:
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Insightful Strategies – this is the critical first step that defines the potential for success at the outset. We excel in the rapid identification of issues and opportunities facing a business and the generation of an uncommonly broad range of strategic solutions that span the gamut from easily executable with existing resources to those that require wholesale change. When directed inward toward the company, the strategies identify opportunities for optimization. Pointed outwardly, our strategies drive growth.
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Superlative Execution – Given that a strategy is only as good as the degree to which it is executed, execution is the second critical aspect of our contribution. I am often asked," What is better: a 100% strategy executed 50% or a 50% strategy executed 100%?" Execution will not make up for a misguided strategy however, effective execution is a practice, not a point in time and reflection on the team and its leadership. A well-led team is a powerful weapon and inspired teams are a force multiplier that creates disproportionate leverage in execution. The ability to align diverse agendas between people and across departments starts by achieving a clear understanding of objectives and strategies and then clearly outlining every member’s role in the accomplishment of the objective and empowering them to bring their best efforts to the table every day. The reward is two-fold: the employee gets more value/gratification from their contribution and the company receives better business outcomes.
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Sustainable Culture – inspired teams working within a framework of accountability who are heard, recognized (and rewarded) for their efforts, create a positive cultural environment that drives a sustainable, virtuous cycle of support and recognition that fuels regular organic growth.
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All of these activites are focused on driving growth and optimization. We never take our eye off the bottom line. We are in business to build your business. Some advice may be difficult to hear but if your objective is growth, we think you will want to hear all the news, good and bad, sooner than later.
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Renee Marcello
Publisher, C Magazine
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Fashion / Luxury Thought Leader
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Strategic Advisor to charitable organizations
Renee has been at the forefront of traditional print media for over 20 years. From humble beginnings at Women's Wear Daily to her current standing as a leader in the print advertising category, Renee has witnessed the dramatic change in the print category, giving way to today's, highly fractured media landscape.
Currently, as Publisher at C Magazine, a California based lifestyle magazine, her leadership has enabled C Magazine to position itself as a go-to resource for an upscale California clientele. Successfull building off a base of print, she facilitated the expansion of the brand and its perennially relevant high-demand content into the digital arena and events, creating a powerful suite of assets under the C Magazine umbrella.
Her deep experience in the luxury markets, from fashion to jewelry and beauty to lifestyle, her leadership and deep relationships across these sectors has made her an opinion leader who's advice her customers rely on to drive targeted awareness and ROAS.
In her free time, she is active in numerous local charities, on the leadership committee of Care To Give breast cancer foundation and is on the advisory board of Riverview Media Center.
