Business Consulting and Planning Services
- Cathy’s report guided us to staff our work appropriately
- She framed our work within budgets based in our market’s realities
- The path ultimately saved community resources to be better allocated
I would highly recommend Cathy for this kind of work, or other services that she offers. I found her to be well-organized, honest and clarifying while having a generous spirit that is most helpful.”
Tom Montague – Former Chair of Harvested Here Food Hub, Chattanooga TN
“My initial encounter with Cathy Boettner was through an article she wrote for our local newspaper in the summer of 2015. It discussed transitioning privately-held businesses from aging owners to the next generation. The article mostly focused on options for making this transition to children or other relatives. While this is not an option for me, it was clear that Cathy has a lot of insight into the process of transitioning a business. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I reached out to Cathy to see if she could help me clear up some of the issues I am facing, and I have been very pleased with the results.
My wife and I have been married for far more years than I have been in business, so we were both carrying issues about how/when/if to transition the business. Not to mention the fact that we were on different pages on any given day. So, what we needed from Cathy was help in getting and staying on the same page—together—and deciding what page we should be on—together!
Cathy was amazingly well prepared for this kind of task, and was the catalyst we needed to reach unity on our direction. My wife and I attended a white boarding strategy session which Cathy conducted. She followed up with a written summary of our thoughts and ideas. The document focused on the desires and interest that my wife and I have for our lives going forward, which obviously included what to do with our business. Interestingly, we had much more that we agreed on than didn’t, but it has taken Cathy’s assistance to bring us to mutual conclusions—something that we hadn’t been able to do on our own. We have used this document several times since then to bring us back to our mutual goals.
Through this engagement with Cathy, I realized that she brings a lot of balance and clarity to otherwise confusing or stressful situations, and I have used her steady counsel and wisdom on several other occasions relating to general business strategies. She has participated in critical meetings where her feedback and counsel has proven invaluable to me.
I highly recommend Cathy as a trusted, and dependable STRATEGIST, with strong business acumen.”
Phil Burkett, Chairman/CEO, Communications Resources, Inc.
“Cathy is the total package with experience, insight and warmth that will capture the hearts and minds of any founding or executive team. She is a strategic thinker in every sense and and ace facilitator. Truly, Cathy adds value the minute she walks into the room.”
Stefanie Crowe, SmartBank
“In the non-profit world measuring the effectiveness of programs is often difficult to do. Cathy worked with our chamber staff to identify “Key Performance Indicators” as part of a strategic planning project. She did an excellent job of guiding us through the process. Her perspective as a former Chamber Chair was invaluable.”
Gary Farlow, President & CEO, Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce
“Cathy offers extraordinary insights into organizations that are often missed by those closest to the work. Her guidance and counsel have proven invaluable and her desire to help others succeed comes out in her “over the top” efforts to make you better. Cathy is an expert in her field and brings a wealth of knowledge and a willingness to share. Any organization would benefit from partnering with Cathy for development, strategic planning, or organizational growth, as she will meet and exceed all expectations.”
Matt Ryerson, President, United Way
“I wanted to email you to say thank you and let you know how much your work was appreciated.
The beginning of the process from our perspective is full of the unknown and some mistrust, as is to be expected, and towards the end I can say we were all impressed with your ability to corral our group and maintain focus, and also in your ability to recognize and relate to our specific struggles throughout the entire process.
Thank you so much, and we are excited about our new focused direction.”
Paul A. Alvarado, Director of Business Development, ERMC IV, LP
“Cathy has a unique understanding of the challenges and issues that family businesses face which has been invaluable to us in our succession planning.”
Dan Cooke, CSC Investments/Cooke’s Food Stores/Fresh N Low
“After more than 20 years of being a business owner/operator, I was in need of a fresh perspective on how to manage my business. Often, I was frustrated and overwhelmed and any thoughts of growth were not an option.
After a few meetings with Cathy, I was able to envision a better business model with solutions for bringing a team together to meet common goals while operating more efficiently. She has the ability to see beyond the here and now with a pragmatic confidence of how things could be. With her insight and guidance, protocols and methods were designed and implemented that reinforced my vision of how I wanted the business to be conducted.
She has helped me to understand the value that my business brings to the community and the potential legacy that could be taken forward. Cathy’s wisdom, intuition, and expertise has truly been an asset to me and my company.”
Mark Woods, President/General Manager, Woods Electrical, Inc.