Neil Thiessen brings over 35 years of experience in leadership and management with large corporations and small businesses. He is known internationally as a leader, team builder, innovator and someone who embraces change. He understands the power of people and what it takes to achieve results that exceed expectations. Neil holds an Honors Diploma in Chemical Research Technology from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary.
Years of leading change has given him powerful insight into what works and what doesn’t work in starting and growing a business. He has developed proven techniques and tools that directly benefit clients in various stages of growth in industries such as arbor care, oil & gas, manufacturing, and professional services.
Neil has proven skills as a business mentor and coach and enjoys helping entrepreneurial organizations grow. He challenges others to attain their full potential and defines his success only by the achievements of his clients.
Charles Purfeerst has been involved in leadership and management training, staff/organizational development, crisis/conflict management and resolution and large/small group facilitation for over 35 years.
His experience also includes 15 years in senior sales and marketing roles for such leading firms as Computer Management Technologies, Kathryn Beich (a division of Nestles USA), and Hill Manufacturing Inc. He has also spent many years in public education.
Mr. Purfeerst has developed and delivered sales and marketing programs tailored to the specific requirements of such clients as the National Education Association, The Minnesota Education Association, and the University of Minnesota-Mankato.
Bob Black has been involved in management training, staff/organizational development and collective bargaining for more than 42 years. He is an expert on the Domain Model of Organizations and has counseled many organizations on this model. He has also co-authored a bargaining training manual and developed a formal presentation on the topic.
His nationwide private sector clients include, Metropolitan Life Resources, Cooperative Printing, Performance Learning Systems, the National Staff Organization, Medical Billing Systems and the National Education Association. He has been a presenter at the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution and the Minnesota Association of Mediators State Conference.
He has provided training to such organizations as the National Training Laboratory, National Education Association Staff Academy, Hamline University and Winona State University. Bob is a constant learner and maintains consistently high credentials.
Ray Cullen brings over 45 years of experience in business and financial leadership within small business, secondary education, and private investment. Ray obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and holds his F.C.I.C. designation as a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada.
Ray has successfully implemented proven financial and analytical methodologies with clients across such industries as insurance, real estate, information technology, and financial services. Ray’s many years in senior education positions have provided him the knowledge necessary to bring together teams, groups, and departments, in order to leverage their assets to produce exceptional results.
Ray’s decades of successful financial advisory services have made him a much sought after consultant and mentor. He enjoys assisting small and medium sized organizations reach the next level of their evolution by applying sounds principles and practices of business success.
Over the past 30 years Dr. Phil Charlton has amassed extensive management and leadership expertise in building businesses into large, profitable ventures. Phil obtained his Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. in Forest Science from West Virginia University.
Phil has assisted over 150 companies working in the electric utility, pipeline, railroad, forest management, and landscape and arboricultural industries. He has helped companies, large and small, assess their operations and develop strategies for improving results and minimizing costs.
Phil managed a family-owned landscaping and tree maintenance company before joining a small consulting company that grew under his leadership from five to over 300 employees over 26 years. His many years in senior executive positions have provided him the hands-on experience and the knowledge necessary to help small businesses achieve and sustain profitability and growth. His business success has resulted from a commitment to developing a superior leadership team with an excellent staff that can provide the highest quality product with industry-leading service.
