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Paula Rosen, Gowanda Harley-Davidson |
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"The process so far with the Family Business Institute has been wonderful. Mike Lyons knows how to get the most out of us and is bringing out the best we have to offer. It’s been great to get things out in the open, set goals, and have plans. Mike's insight into people is his greatest strength; he knows how to read people and respond appropriately." |
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Pam Gallo, Renaissance Promotions |
"I have to admit I was skeptical about how successful you (or anyone for that matter) could be at the task you were given when you came to our company. How could one man move a mountain that big? How could one man bring clarity to the issues that have been compounding for so many years? I’m amazed at the impact you've made here. The organizational changes have proven to be so much more productive for everyone. You’ve made my job so much more enjoyable and easier! The clarity of roles allows everyone to focus on their contribution to the company. Everyone seems so confident and decisive.
The difference is night and day. You’ve created a true fan! I'm amazed and impressed. I can whole-heartedly recommend your services. I neither know nor care how you did it; I'm just grateful that you did. You cleared the road for us to build our business."
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Chuck Wilson, C.T. Wilson Construction Co. |
In his company's succession planning, Chuck Wilson says he had to determine how to treat everyone fairly. One son, Charles T. Wilson III, is involved in the business. The other is not. The Family Business Institute was an invaluable resource, Wilson says, guiding them through a process that included the three men taking personality tests and hashing out the options.
"We figured out the ratio of $1 of stock versus $1 cash," he says. "We had to restructure the stock so my wife would own it, then all the non-voting stock would go to the son who is in the business."
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Jimmy Orders, Park Place Corporation |
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"Bill's single most important contribution to our family and business has been improved communications, specifically, the clear delineation of ownership and management issues. He has impressive intuitive skills and has always adapted the agenda to address the present needs of the company. Our return on investment with Family Business Institute is significant." |
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Buck Kester, Rose Furniture Company |
"Working with The Family Business Institute was a good investment for us. The main impact of your work was to help us get organized, establish better communications via regular “roundtable” meetings, and freeing up the time of senior and junior generation executives so we don’t get bogged down as much in little details.
Our customer service is better organized, we have a new organizational chart so our chain of command is much clearer than before, and right-sizing has allowed us to cut our cost of doing business significantly. We’ve cleaned up our business and our inventory and added new, different streams of revenue to complement our traditional lines of business.
We’re still using all Dennis’ suggestions, and we always speak highly of The Family Business Institute when people ask for our opinions." |
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Richard Jackson, C.R. Jackson, N.W. White, Satterfield Construction |
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"There are two reasons you're working for us: the first is we have a need. The second is Bill Provett. Bill is very professional and reassuring; he is personally committed to our success. This work is going to accomplish what we want to accomplish. I can’t imagine anyone better suited for this job; Bill’s going to lift us to new heights. We’re excited about the process." |
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Orlo & Mary Stitt, Stitt Energy Systems |
"It's a process and doesn't happen overnight. Bill Provett is very patient with family members who are just learning some new aspects of the business. He takes non-agenda items well and integrates them into our sessions. Bill's systematic and very intelligent; he know his stuff.
The last two meetings have really zeroed in on our priorities. We have a better understanding of exactly what it is we need to focus on to be successful.
The communications improvements and planning have been valuable, and it's gotten us all talking more together; there's more understanding and less stress. We are now having planned family meetings." |
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Jeryl and Kevin Rawls, WIMCO, Inc. |
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"Your facilitator is doing a superb job. There are a couple of things in the history of our company we’ve done well, and this is one of them. You couldn’t write a script any better of where we were to where we are now. We informally polled our employees, and everyone from the youngest people to the old-timers are enthusiastic about what we’re doing. We couldn’t be more pleased." |
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Reece Thomas, Sequatchie Concrete |
"The Family Business has helped Sequatchie Concrete progress and move forward. The facilitator is easy to talk to, possessing the ability to make a point without being divisive or blaming, while being protective of everyone's feelings and emotions. As a detached third party, his objectivity and general business knowledge has helped the owners overcome various troublesome family matters while assisting us with the restructure and reinvention of the company, creating a less stressful environment that is more conducive to business growth and success.
His work is making my job easier, freeing up time to work on the business rather than in the business due to not being pulled in so many different directions. There is more time to focus on the bigger picture. The changes have also produced positive feedback from my employees."
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Austin Gilbert, Gilbert Construction Company |
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"My wife Beth and I are very grateful for Wayne Rivers and The Family Business Institute . Wayne and his team helped us develop a plan to transfer ownership of our construction company to the employees and future managers. We wanted to provide for our future retirement and minimize the financial impact on the construction company. Wayne and his team were able to help us do this. Beth and I look forward to the continued growth of Gilbert Construction and spending more time together in the future." |
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Jeff Hagins, Porter Belk Lumber Co., Inc. |
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"Working with The Family Business Institute was a good exercise and was good for our people. They helped us clarify our vision for the future and were very objective and professional. They did what they said they would, kept us on track, and our money was well spent." |
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Wayne Boggs, Richmond Alarm |
"Bill has been a big help. We can tell he is genuinely interested in our welfare and appreciates our business. Our company has changed since we've been working with you. We're still working to refine our capabilities, but we're planning ahead instead of reacting to circumstances. We're getting more job satisfaction and sense of accomplishment. I hold The Family Business Institute in high regard and would recommend you by all means. If our results continue as they have, FBI is not an expensive proposition."
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Doug Yglesias, Palmetto Ford Trucks |
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"I really appreciate all Dennis has done. He paid for himself with one particular issue ten times over the first week. He was great at listening, and has a keen way of distinguishing what issues are real and what issues aren't. The time we spent was extremely effective, and we definitely received our money's worth." |
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Jim Morgan, Sr. & Mary Noel Morgan, General Lewis Inn |
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"We'd refer a friend to The Family Business Institute without question. You're very thorough and have helped us. You're keeping after us, keeping an eye on things, and that's what we need. We're much more comfortable going on vacations now than we were before your work with us." |
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Jim Brame, Brame Specialty, Inc. |
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"We're pleased with your work thus far. Due to the soft economy we'd like to have every available dollar to reinvest in the business as opposed to spending money on consulting. However, you are providing a valuable service, and we need to do the things you are recommending to keep us moving in the direction we want. We're getting all we could ask for from your facilitator, Dennis Engelbrecht. You can be proud of the way he represents your company." |
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Mat Raymond, Sanders Ford |
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"You know your business; you have seen the pitfalls other family businesses have experienced, and you know how to get people to work out their problems amicably. Also, you stay with the project until it's done!" |
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Bill Brown, Brown & Wood Pontiac-Cadillac-Buick-GMC & Jeep-Mazda |
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"You helped educate us about what we faced as a family business, then offered solutions to overcome our obstacles. What makes you unique is your educational and problem solving processes." |
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Burney Jennings, Biscuitville, Inc. |
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"I've been impressed; The Family Business Institute's greatest strength is its people and knowledge of how a family business operates." |
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Prentiss Baker, Baker Roofing Company |
"The nature of business is that the only constant - other than death and taxes - is change. We have seen many changes in our 87-year history, and I believe that to get better, we're going to change some more. That's why we began talking last year about our organizational structure with Tom Campbell of The Family Business Institute.
We haven't stopped. With The Family Business Institute's help, we have established a process that examines our strengths and weaknesses on a regular basis. A steering committee oversees this work and monitors various task forces that make recommendations. Today, we have eight task forces, and they are looking at such activities as customer communication, business development and administrative support. We're changing. It's been a really positive experience. I believe it has brought us closer together as a company and as a team." |
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Joe Walker, Ellis Walker Builders |
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"...good ideas as it makes you take the time to do what you really know you should do on your own, but would never be able to do as effectively on your own without a good facilitator." |
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Chris Williford, Southern Piping Company |
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"We're more excited and confident about our business than we've been in a long time, and we have to give The Family Business Institute and Dennis Engelbrecht a lot of the credit. We can't quite say they're indispensable in helping us be more effective, but they're approaching it." |
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Hannah Holt, Holt Oil Company |
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"So far the success of the 'operating team' is largely due to The Family Business Institute. The retreats the team has been involved in have created an environment of open and honest discussions. The team has learned about each of their own personality types and how those personalities relate to each other. In knowing this, the team can now approach issues with each other in a non-threatening way. The organizational chart was also created at the retreat, and this has been instrumental in avoiding conflict. Each person is clear on his/her duties and boundaries. We are clearly a team dedicated to moving this company in a professional direction for the generation that follows." |
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Terry Basnight Hamlet, S.H. Basnight & Sons, Inc. |
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"When one of the partners in our company passed away, it forced a change in ownership and leadership that we hadn't expected. The Family Business Institute was recommended to us as having the resources and leadership to help us through this time of crisis and transition. With their support and skilled guidance, we are now able to move forward confidently with the restructuring of our organization as well as identifying and implementing our company goals. As we are learning new skills taught to us by The Family Business Institute, this time of crisis is becoming the threshold of an exciting future." |
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Consulting 
