Testimonials
“I never leave a meeting without feeling re-energized and ready to get to work. The one-on-one coaching sessions with Ed help to keep me focused and always get me back on track if I’ve deviated from my top priorities or objectives. TALEM is in a better position today as a result of my participation in TAB.
The value doesn’t stop when the meetings are over either. I have built relationships with my fellow board members and I can rely on their input or advice in almost any situation at any time. The value comes in having a group of peers who know me and my business and they aren’t afraid to hold me accountable so that my business can flourish.”
Ms. Jennifer Carter, President, TALEM, Inc., July, 2010
“TAB recognizes the unmatched value of people. The collective experience in the room equips us with the experience of some of Fort Worth’s bright minds to face our company’s challenges head on. The entrepreneurial capacity and knowledge of Ed, the TAB Facilitator, as well as the members, have been a great asset to any small business owner.
Allowing for open forum discussions has opened the door to new clients and business partners while providing objective views for better business acumen and practices internally. TAB has also challenged Tryton to strain for the successes ahead with accountability and encouragement in every meeting.”
Mr. Michael Unell, President, Tryton Project Services, April, 2010
“As an entrepreneurial business owner looking for ways to grow one’s business, The Alternative Board (TAB) provides resources that I could not find otherwise. First it allows us to venture outside our four walls as we seek ways to enhance client services, marketing exposure and operational changes to allow us to reach a goal of being the Best in Class.
TAB is a venue for me to develop both personal relationships, as well as potential business relationships through earned trust. Through TAB, members have an objective of helping to keep each other accountable for pre-established monthly goals.
Most importantly, my TAB facilitator, Ed Riefenstahl, has become a most valuable resource in developing techniques and skills to compete with major competitors and succeed in the company’s efforts. As a result of TAB, we have developed a renewed focus through the development of a true company business plan, as well as individual broker business plans and a company budget. Not only do we have a total focus in moving forward but we are also held accountable by our TAB facilitator and fellow TAB Board members.”
Mr. Richard Minker, CEO, MINKERTRAHANT & Associates, February, 2010
“TAB has served as a valuable sounding board for my ideas outside of my business. The monthly meetings are almost like a quick getaway that I plan for, making me spend time considering aspects of the business that otherwise fall by the wayside when I’m busy.”
“The other members of my board are great, and I enjoy interacting with them and getting balanced advice from them. It’s a warm and trusting environment that’s great for airing issues and asking questions. I think hearing the details of other people’s business issues is very interesting and gives me a lot of perspective on my business.”
“I’ve received valuable input on issues ranging from hiring and compensation best practices, to structuring new licensing agreements. The structure of the group and some of the tools included have also led me to take a bigger picture approach to my business, including integrating financial performance to sales and marketing activities and how they relate to our products and services. I’ve become more rigorous in managing the business because of the accountability the group provides me. I’ve been able to prioritize my activities and altogether throw out some that were not productive as a result of my board’s input.”
Mr. Will Atkinson, President, CAP Software, January, 2010
“TAB has provided me with several important benefits that have helped me focus more on the bigger picture of my business. The interaction with fellow TAB members, as well as the one-on-one meetings with Ed, are invaluable both in terms of knowledge gained and the accountability to them. Knowing that I have a meeting once a month also helps bring discipline to accomplishing what I had set out to do. Plus, getting to know and work with some of Fort Worth and Tarrant County’s best is a lot of fun.
Through TAB I was encouraged to go through a more formal and encompassing strategic planning process than I had ever done before. One of the benefits of this was in clarifying the plan I had been utilizing and making some key additions to it. A much more important result was that many more people at Essner were involved in its preparation and review, and this made it much more understood and effective for us.”
Mr. Dale Westerfeld, CEO and Owner, Essner Manufacturing, December, 2009
“Two years ago, I was faced with the choice of selling my 14 year old business or attempting to grow it to the next level. My board members were faithful to help me keep focus on the critical issues that really mattered in this decision and the subsequent results. I can honestly say that their counsel has been an invaluable resource in a variety of situations before and since we ultimately sold the company.
Today, as I have taken my experiences from starting several of my own companies into the M&A arena, my TAB board has been a terrific support during this ‘re-invention time.’
In my experience, becoming a TAB member was like being introduced to brothers and sisters I had never met, but who share my desires to grow outstanding businesses that serve our clients, employees, vendors and communities. The relationships in TAB are genuine, open-hearted and lasting.”
Mr. Tony Ford, Senior Associate, Kasper & Associates/serial entrepreneur/author/speaker/founder of Fort Worth Business Assistance Center/member Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of Year Hall of Fame, November, 2009
“Many times we are too close to the trees to see the forest. The truth is that we all need an extra pair of unbiased eyes to look at our business, or at least at our thought process. (Best it is somebody we choose as opposed to our banker or our competitor!)
What TAB has done is make me feel that I have made commitments to others and that I need to meet those commitments. Hold myself accountable to achieve my goals….before I get hounded about it from my Board members.
The additional years of knowledge and experience are tremendous assets, if used wisely. We have built our team to have a good cross section of industries represented. It is amazing though how many of us face similar problems. Or have faced similar problems in the past. Additionally, as one of the members goes through a difficult time, it is an opportunity to support that member AND to learn from their experience.
There is the old adage that we all know, “It is lonely at the top.” Well, TAB makes it a little less lonely if you take advantage of the membership it provides.
The solution to our company’s growing pains was in my head but I was hesitant to do what had to be done. When I presented the problem to my fellow board members it did not take them long to set me straight. It is amazing how clear the decision can be when presented to your board.
Recently, things have been very hectic. Finding that I could let it out with my moderator and my fellow board members is what really helped me keep my sanity.”
Mr. John Brancato, Chief Operations Officer, Puente-Brancato Enterprises, October, 2009
“Our rapidly growing company needed infrastructure. My TAB facilitator worked with me to design and implement a much-needed selling process, sales management system, and appropriate sales compensation model.”
“My board has helped me think through several difficult decisions. Two of the biggest were weighing the pros and cons of moving to a new location and they pointed out a flaw in a potential compensation plan that would have made the sale of the business at a future date much more complicated.”
“One of the benefits of belonging to the TAB system is the use of the business tools that come with membership. Our entire staff did the behavioral assessment, and we now use our new knowledge to better communicate with and among individuals and teams.”
Mr. Chad Horany, CEO and co-founder, {algo+Rhythm}
“TAB allows me to bounce ideas off fellow board members and gives me a place to discuss my fears and worries as a business owner. I have made some wonderful friends and I am always amazed at the different viewpoints and insights that I receive from fellow board members. Every month I get fresh ideas to consider and apply to my business.
The value that I receive from TAB (besides the wonderful puns from Earl Kirkpatrick) is the different view points on how to look at and approach a problem. TAB provides the ability to have a sounding board where I can discuss my problems–which alleviates a lot of pressure on me.”
Mr. Justin Hewlett, Hewlett Office Systems
“TAB provides an opportunity for broader feedback, and to hear about different business practices and solutions to problems I wouldn’t come across in my normal sphere of working. I’ve got a problem; how would you deal with it? I treat the Board as a working, actual board – I develop my plans and courses of action and run them by the TAB Board for their approval. I defend my reasoning and conclusions to an independent group that has no political or financial stake in the decisions made.
From every TAB meeting and every TAB coaching session I come away with at least one minor epiphany or completely new bit of information that is directly useful in my business. I have received some good, solid advice that my thinking was correct or that I did not miss anything in a decision making process. Basically reassurance. Recently a fellow board member helped me when SpeedDirect was in the quest of acquiring the assets of another company and we needed a simple purchase contract. Another TAB member had just completed a similar transaction and had a document that fit SpeedDirect’s needs almost perfectly.”
Mr. Eric Flavin, Owner, SpeedDirect
“TAB has been a valuable source of information and insight. My association with TAB has provided a forum for everything from a practical business model to long range growth planning. It has also provided me with input and discussions related to a personal exit strategy when that time comes.
Fellow TAB members have been a reliable sounding board for many aspects of my business including personnel, general administration, and innovative accounting functions. TAB has proven to be an invaluable resource both personally and professionally.”
Mr. Earl Kirkpatrick, President, Elk Engineering Associates, Inc.
“As a co-owner of family businesses, TAB has proven to be an invaluable outside resource to help us improve a controlled direction of each company and especially the collective future plans of myself and my father. All the shared experiences and resources of the other board members have greatly facilitated my personal growth and most importantly be a much stronger partner.”
Mr. Jon Pastusek, Co-owner of XS Sight Systems, Inc., Horizon Tech Industries, Inc., and Practical Industries, Inc., April, 2009
“TAB means a place to work with other executives in an environment of trust, where we meet regularly and help each other think through whatever issues we are having with our businesses or organizations. I’m currently the executive director of a nonprofit, but I was previously the founder and owner of my own manufacturing company, so I understand the issues associated with both types of entities. Sometimes I figure out my own next steps when I’m helping someone else work on theirs.
TECH Fort Worth’s first big event, since its formation twelve years ago, is taking place on May 5, 2009. My TAB Board has helped me think through every aspect of this event, giving me outside objective feedback that I could never have gotten from all of the people closely affiliated with the organization. It is that input that allowed us to raise enough sponsorship money to breakeven on the event in its first year and in a bad economy, as well as to sell out the tickets to the event itself. Huge success, and Ed Riefenstahl and my TAB Board members played a big role in helping us get here.”
Ms. Darlene Ryan, Executive Director, TECH Fort Worth, May, 2009
“TAB has been an invaluable resource for obtaining much needed feedback in all aspects of my business, from business structure to key ingredients of leadership, etc. You name it, TAB helped me with it, and my company is taking off as a result. Additionally, TAB has provided me with a tremendous network of people who truly want to help me succeed. It is rare to find a support system like TAB.”
Ms. Janee Harrell, Founder and Chief Executive, HopeHelpHeal, August, 2009
“The TAB board has pushed me out of my comfort zone in the area of marketing and business development and their advice pays off every time. The open exchange of ideas and insights in the board environment is extremely helpful, and I find it equally rewarding to give and receive advice with my fellow board members. I am grateful for Ed’s tireless efforts as a facilitator, coach and constant promoter of Sweek Consulting.”
Mr. Jeremy Sweek, Owner, Sweek Consulting, September, 2009
