Forrest Consulting - We Build -v2

Strategy Formulation and ResearchStrategic Planning FacilitationStrategic Management GuidanceSenior Management CounselBoard and Team EffectivenessStrategic Issues and Opportunities

WWW.FORRESTCONSULT.COM

We build organizations.We can help you achieve more.


HOW WE BUILD

We facilitate strategic and business planning, provide planning systems and ensure implementation.

We counsel senior management for best results and help Boards, teams and groups raise their effectiveness and reach goals.

We help organizations resolve strategic issues and tackle strategic opportunities.



WHO WE SERVE

We serve company,association and non-profitleaders and Boards.

We have been building success in scores of industries and business segments since 1988.



HOW WE ARE DIFFERENT

We take the strategic viewwhen we counsel you andoffer solutions.

We assure your strategiesmove you toward your vision.

We focus time and resourcesfor greatest impact.

We have the expertise you need: strategy, facilitation, research, marketing, financial, operations and more.



OUR VISION

“Every organization has a current strategic plan and is implementing it for greater success.”



WHY THAT VISION?

Our research tells us that74% of leaders say their organizations don’t use planning to make strategic decisions. And 70% of organizations with a plan fail to implement it.



THERE’S GOOD NEWS

Our research also tells us that successful organizations are more likely to plan and to use planning and implementation “best practices”



MORE GOOD NEWS

We know why organizations fail and how to address what can produce poor results or even failure.




LEE CRUMBAUGH

President and Founder,Forrest Consulting: The knowledge and experience to help your organization improveand succeed. CERTIFICATION AND EDUCATION Strategic Management Professional (SMP), Assn. for Strategic Planning. MBA,

marketing management, finance emphasis, University of Chicago Booth School of Business; B.S., communications, University of Illinois; financial program, Indiana University.PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS President, Assn. for Strategic Planning, 2014-2016. International Assn. of Facilitators.PUBLICATIONS AHEAD: Strategy is the way to a better future (2013, Amazon). Strategic Thinking & Strategic Action blog.POSITIONS HELD President, COO, Executive Director, Consultant, VP, Publisher, Editor, Market Research Analyst.ROLES WITH Continental Illinois Corp.; LFC Publishing, Inc.; American Fence Association; Vinyl Fence, Deck & Railing Manufacturers Association; DuPage Area Association of Business and Industry; United Way of Suburban Chicago.BUSINESSES SEGMENTS SERVED Association; Commercial and Investment Banking; Composites and Vinyl; Deck and Railing; Economic Development; Education; Entrepreneurship; Eyewear; Fencing; Food; Government; Health; Insurance; Legal; Mutual Fund; Non-Profit; Publishing; Public Affairs; Real Estate; Recreation; Recycling; RFID.REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS Prairie Capital Advisors, American Academy of Pediatrics, The Advocacy Group, National Provisioner, National Fiber, American Lung Association, Arthritis Foundation, DuPage Foundation, COD Business & Professional Institute, Inland Real Estate, Mosaic Media, Monetta Financial Services, Physician Services of America, Sampler Publications Associated Equipment Distributors, Institute of Food Technologists, Association for Challenge Course Technology, Illinois Soybean Association, National Association of Realtors.



OUR CONSULTANTS

We provide tailored,cost-effective solutions toclients by sourcing the best expertise available on a "per assignment” basis. Examples:

TOM DROUIN Focus is B-to-B companies and not-for-profits looking to develop and execute a business or mission strategy, new business launch or for support in enhancing organizational effectiveness through performance assessment and coaching and development. Roles with Boise Cascade in new business development and product launch. BA, Penn State.JIM HERRICK CPA. MBA, DePaul University. Deep experience in accounting, auditing and tax preparation for small to public companies in manufacturing and leasing and non-profits. Experienced in ERP and IT software, financial issues and tax compliance. Six Sigma Green Belt trained.RACHEL KABERON Adjunct faculty, IIT Institute of Design. Specialties are assessment, evaluation and redefinition of business effectiveness ; performance measures: behavioral analysis, data modeling and tracking, and cultural change. Former Senior Planner, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago; VP, Manager, Mortgage Analysis, Chemical Bank; VP, Collections Strategy, Citibank; and statistician, Election Unit, CBS News. MA, University of Chicago; BA, University of Minnesota, and BA, University of Illinois.LARRY LEWANDOWSKI Accounting and finance professional in manufacturing and distribution. Managed financial functions for businesses with revenues ranging from $5M to over $150M. Turned around money-losing operations and improved performance by consolidating overlapping functions. Experience in contract negotiations, mergers and acquisitions and due diligence. Finance and controller positions with Bally Manufacturing and Brunswick. Recruited to be CFO of an ailing British-owned import and distribution company where he implemented a financial turnaround. MBA, DePaul University and BA, Loyola University. Six Sigma Green Belt trained.



JOE SHAKE:PROPOSED FOR OURV&V SUPREMO TEAM

Strategic leader infood service, distribution, sales management, operations andsupply chain.

FOOD ROLES In fresh food preparation, catering, food service centers (universities, healthcare, B & I) and vending.• District General Manager, Compass Group. Responsible for all facets of the Chicago branch, third largest in the

United States. Managed 100 employees, 1,200 clients and 7,000 pieces of equipment. Re-negotiated unfavorable contracts to increase revenue by $800,000. Reduced food waste, product and cash shortages by $275,000 annually and improved client retention to 95%.

• Sales Manager, Vistar Corporation. Led inside and outside sales team to achieve $100M in sales and 12.9% gross margin. Led and contributed to a sales team producing $10M in new business per year. Established new hospitality product and business line.

• CFO/General Manager, CFS Continental, Inc., food service distribution division of Sysco. Reduced product costs by 5% to 47% and incorporated other cost saving measures to increase profitability by eight percentage points. Earned California's "Operator of the Year" award.

CONSULTING SERVICES Strategy Guidance; Sales Productivity and Top Line Improvement; Vendor Contract Negotiation and Cost Management; Customer Satisfaction and Retention; Operations Assessment and Process Improvement; Financial Analysis and Margin Improvement Strategies. Segments: Food/Beverage, Distribution, Construction, Manufacturing, and Utility Industries. EDUCATION MBA, Finance and Financial Management Services, Lewis University. BS, Accounting, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.


FAST TRACK STRATEGIC PLANNING SYSTEM

A proven "strategic gap"process, focused on what'smost important for success.




A better process, based on years of planning and implementation experience.




Find the Vision: Use stakeholder input, an environmental scan, aSWOT analysis and more.




Identify critical Strategic Gapsthat will block or impedeprogress to the Vision.




Develop powerful Strategiesto close the Gaps and moveto the Vision.




Implement strategies throughstrategic initiatives with annual action steps.




Plan and conduct an Assessment that leads to

re-planning for the next cycle.



WHY OUR SYSTEM WORKSPARTICIPATIVE. Participants decide what's best.AGILE AND FOCUSED. Straight-forward process drives action and adapts to needs. EFFICIENT. Affordable, time-limited, tested.BEST PRACTICES. Aligned with Association for Strategic Planning’s Body of Knowledge.SHARED VISION. Drives desired change.POWERFUL STRATEGIES. Work across the organization. INFORMATION & INSIGHTS. From e-surveys, interviews, environmental scan.PROFESSIONAL FACILITATION. International Association of Facilitators trained.ALIGNMENT. Aligns systems, processes and people.LINE OF SIGHT TO STRATEGY. Engages those who must implement.CORE PROCESS. Planning is not an event. ASSURES IMPLEMENTATION. Execution driven by initiatives and action steps, with accountability.

ASSESSMENT & RE-PLANNING. Continues progress through assessment, adjustment, and

re-planning.



OUR PRE-PLANNING STEPSINITIAL MEETING. Review the work plan and obtain information.

RESEARCH. Forrest Consulting conducts a stakeholder e-survey, and interviews key employees and stakeholders.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN. Forrest Consulting identifies key external trends and forecasts.

SWOT ANALYSIS. Forrest Consulting assesses strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats; and analyzes current and potential markets.

PRE-PLANNING MEETING. Prepare for the planning workshops.



OUR PLANNING STEPSPLANNING WORKSHOPS.

3-4 planning workshops in which the Planning Team:

• Develops a Shared Vision.

• Identifies Strategic Gaps

• Revisits and adopts the Vision

• Develops Strategies to close Gaps.

• Develops Strategic Initiatives and annual Action Steps to implement Strategies and move to the Vision.

• Sets measurements, accountabilities, and timelines for each Action Step.

• Develops the implementation plan.



OUR POST-PLANNING STEPSDEVELOPMENT OF PLAN REPORT. Forrest Consulting uses the workshops' results to prepare the written plan.

POST-PLANNING MEETING. Review and adjust the plan, and align on next steps and plan implementation.

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION. Forrest Consulting provides implementation counsel, facilitates quarterly review meetings, and leads an assessment of planning progress.

PLAN UPDATE. Process resets with development of an updated plan with revised Strategies as needed and new Strategic Initiatives and Action Steps.



OUR TOOLS:STAKEHOLDER INPUT

We use e-surveys and group and key stakeholder interviews to develop actionable information and insight.



OUR TOOLS:SWOT ANALYSIS

From research and analysis,we assess your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to guide the planning.



OUR TOOLS:BALANCED SCORECARD

We use The Balanced Scorecard Perspectives to assure that strategies work across the organization.


Strategy

Financial

Business Processes

Learning & Growth

Customer


OUR TOOLS:STRATEGY DASHBOARD

The dashboard gives you a current picture of your plan and implementation progress.



OUR TOOLS:BETTER DECISION MAKINGFrom our extensive research, we offer a tool kit to help you make better strategic decisions.



OUR NICHE

Our planning process adaptsto any organization, as do allof our services.

But we focus on growing, smaller and middle-market organizations of all types.

That's where we can add greatest value at least expense and where our competitive advantage is greatest.



SUCCESSFUL ASSIGNMENTSThe DuPage FoundationSITUATION The Foundation needed stakeholder input and strategy recommendations to drive growth from $40 million in assets to its 5-year goal of $100 million.TASK Design a cost-effective process to get representative input on the Foundation's status and future direction from five stakeholder groups. Shape strategy recommendations.ACTION Combined five stakeholder group e-surveys and key stakeholder interviews. Developed a SWOT analysis and recommendations for a new strategic direction.RESULT The Foundation adopted the new strategic direction. From its Annual Report: “The Foundation has, for the second consecutive year, experienced record growth, enjoying a nearly 27% increase in total assets under management, rising from $47 million to…$60 million.”WORDS FROM THE CLIENT “Lee Crumbaugh, and consultant Tom Drouin...conducted a SWOT analysis as part of its strategic planning initiative. It was a pleasure to work with Lee and Tom. They are knowledgeable, reliable, affordable, easy and fun to work with. [They] conducted an electronic survey as well as many in-person surveys. Their report was very easy to follow and visually appealing. Their presentation at the Board retreat was extremely professional and very well received by the Board. I highly recommend Forrest Consulting. In fact, we were so impressed with their work, we rehired them for another project that came out of the strategic planning discussions." David M. McGowan, CFRE, President, The DuPage Foundation



SUCCESSFUL ASSIGNMENTSCollege of DuPage Business and Professional Institute SITUATION The new Director saw the need for a vision, strategies and action steps to make BPI a preeminent business and professional continuing education and training center. TASK Forrest Consulting was engaged to bring a planning process and facilitation skills to develop the plan, working with a staff threatened by a likely reorganization.ACTION Process and schedule were adopted. Facilitated a five-month strategic planning process to create and refine the plan. RESULT The comprehensive plan was adopted by BPI and endorsed by the college leadership including the President. Led to more effective staffing and significantly better performance. WORDS FROM THE CLIENT "Lee Crumbaugh is one of the most amazing, skilled and insightful consultants I have ever hired. In fact, many of his strategic planning materials are still in my possession and reviewed - 18 years later!" John J. Sygielski, President, Harrisburg Area Community College; Past Chair, American Assn. of Community Colleges



SUCCESSFUL ASSIGNMENTSThe Advocacy Group, Inc.SITUATION International group of lobbying and public affairs firms was facing new competitive challenges and had opportunities not addressed in its previous strategic plan. It needed a new strategic plan on a tight timeframe and with limited availability of the Board members.TASK Facilitate creation of a transformational strategic plan in a day and a half planning workshop with a portion of Board members present only by conference call.ACTION Gained membership input through an e-survey, provided marketplace perspective through an environmental scan, and facilitated a one-day planning workshop using the Fast Track Strategic Planning System. From the workshop results, delivered the draft strategic plan two weeks later. Provided subsequent implementation guidance.RESULT A key market not previously identified emerged from the environmental scan and was included in the draft plan. The Board adopted the strategic plan with little change and subsequently was guided by it to expand its footprint and services to clients. WORDS FROM A FOUNDER "I have been a participant in several facilitated meetings, and [Lee's] leadership in making us hone in on ideas and strategies (for the successful future of TAG) was the best I have experienced. It is fitting that we again used the indispensable services of a expert facilitator to help us chart the future of our band of intrepid entrepreneurs... Kudos!" Kerry Marsh, Partner, Marsh-Duryea



SUCCESSFUL ASSIGNMENTSAssociation for Challenge Course TechnologySITUATION The international organization for zip line and challenge course builders and operators had grown quickly, guided by a strategic plan, but the plan lost relevance as the industry quickly evolved. ACCT was seeing troubling trends in revenue and customer satisfaction. TASK Provide and facilitate a process to create a new five-year strategic plan for ACCT “in an urgent manner” using “best practices.” Determine global community satisfaction with ACCT and expectations and desires for service. Identify global and domestic allies and competitors and recommend strategies for dealing with them. Identify new service areas to consider. Identify, prioritize and formulate action steps for new opportunities to build new revenue streams.ACTION Conducted stakeholder research through facilitated dialog, an e-survey and phone interviews . Developed an environmental issues report. Produced a SWOT analysis, a competitors’ analysis, and service and revenue recommendations. Facilitated a two-day strategic visioning and strategy development workshop with the Board and key staff.RESULT The workshop produced a shared strategic vision, a new organizational values statement, a prioritized strategy list and annual implementation action steps with timelines, measures and accountabilities. Process revealed a lack of alignment between the Board and Executive Director, which was subsequently addressed through counseling and development of an assessment process.WORDS FROM THE CHAIR: “Things at ACCT are going really well. The initiatives coming from the Strategic Plan are finally getting implemented.” Michelle Hepler, Chair, Board of Directors.



SUCCESSFUL ASSIGNMENTSContinental Illinois National BankSITUATION The failure and federal rescue of the nation’s seventh largest commercial bank devastated its reputation, led to staff shrinkage from 12,000 to 8,000 employees and significantly reduced the bank’s budget. The situation demanded that the bank change.TASK Recruited as Vice President, Public Affairs, to rebuild the corporate communications function and lead the change in what the bank communicated, internally and externally.ACTION Led the communications team, hired designers and writers, and helped recruit and worked with a new advertising agency. Participated in strategic plan development and assured inclusion of new communications initiatives in strategic plan. Developed bank messaging and counseled senior management. Fostered and managed new communications initiatives and the delivery of strategic communications services to bank departments and units. A member of the senior management quality team, worked to improve customer service across the bank.RESULT Delivered on need for change by adapting how and what was communicated to establish “the new bank.”WORDS FROM ASSOCIATE: “Lee and I worked together at Continental Bank, Chicago, during challenging times, after the FDIC brought in new management. During the time Lee led marketing communications, he reorganized and re-staffed the function, as the company redefined how it communicated internally and externally. I heartily recommend Lee for his strategic thinking, planning, marketing and communications expertise.” Ted McDougal, Principal at Jacobs + McDougal



SUCCESSFUL ASSIGNMENTSAmerican Fence AssociationSITUATION Many conflicting objectives and a host of current and desired initiatives produced unfocused staff activity, sub-optimal results and unsustainable resource demands.TASK As the new Executive Director, needed to get the Board to prioritize the possible initiatives and focus the staff’s work.ACTION Organized the strategic planning process and led the Board of Directors and senior staff in development of a strategic plan and implementation action steps. Drove implementation. Conducted an annual plan update session with the Board.RESULT Produced an actionable strategic plan, which thereafter was updated annually in a similar planning process. Tied the annual budget to the plan. Drove and tracked implementation by developing an annual Microsoft Project plan with 1,200+ project steps. Programs doubled revenue to $4 million in four years, then limited contraction in the recession. Achieved 80% membership retention.WORDS FROM A BOARD MEMBER “Lee is a very thorough individual. As Director of American Fence Association, we had the opportunity to work together overa period of several years. Lee was the " Go to Guy" when guidance was needed. His personality and work ethics are a true asset.” Joseph Sallemi, President, AAA Inc./Anzalone Fence Co.



STRATEGY WORK Among the organizations Lee Crumbaugh hasworked with to develop and implement strategy:


• A.B. Dick & Company. • The Advocacy Group,

Inc.• American Academy of

Pediatrics.• American Fence

Association.• American Lung

Association.• Arthritis Foundation –

Publishing.• Association for

Strategic Planning.• Becoming Family

Magazine.• The Business Ledger.• Chicago Home &

Garden Publications, Inc.

• Community Renewal Society.

• Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute – Epoxy Interest Group.

• College of DuPage Business and Professional Institute.

• Continental Illinois National Bank.

• DuPage Area Association of Business and Industry.

• DuPage Children’s Museum.

• DuPage County Sesquicentennial Celebration.

• DuPage Foundation.• Elite Eyewear, LLC.• Family Shelter Service.• Glen Ellyn Police

Department.• Glen Ellyn School

District 41• Giving DuPage.• JAL Publishing, Inc. • LFC Publishing, Inc. • Mosaic Media Inc.• National Provisioner, Inc.• Northwestern Mutual –

Office of Dexter Means.• One to One Marketing

Resources, Inc.• Parents Alliance

Employment Project.• Partnership for

Educational Progress.• Prairie Capital Advisors,

Inc.• U.S. League of Savings

Institutions.• United Way of Illinois.• United Way of Suburban

Chicago, member United Ways and funded agencies.

• Youth in Crisis.



Talk to us.We build organizations.We can help you achieve more.

FORREST CONSULTING135 Dewey DriveAnnapolis, MD 21401 USAOffice +1 630-909-9360 www.forrestconsult.comLee Crumbaugh, PresidentCell +1 [email protected]

Forrest Consulting - We Build -v2

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