“Mark first ran several retreats
to help strengthen our infrastructure and systems. He then ran some
Core Team Meetings that focused on our growth. Since those retreats
and meetings, our revenue has risen 80%.
“Mark’s gift is that he
understands communications and business. With him as a facilitator
and coach, we’ve been able to do things like develop a strategic
plan, and create metrics around deals, transactions, and operations.
“We also approach our workday
differently. Before, everything was a fire drill. Now we’re more
mature. Mark helped us understand that everyone brings something valuable
to the table, and so we’re more patient with each other.”
Lester Friedman
CEO, Great American Group
Profits
Up 85%
“I had a facilitator who was
great. But I knew if I wanted my company to grow, I’d have to
raise the business sophistication level at our retreats. So I hired
Mark. We’ve not only increased our sales by 48%, we’ve
increased our profitability by 85%.
“Mark has an advanced ability
to get an agenda met, and to get buy-in from the team. You leave the
retreat having accomplished exactly what you wanted to accomplish when
you walked in.”
Barclay Hope
President, Alberts Organics
Valuable Sounding Board
“You are doing great as my executive coach and as a facilitator for our leadership team.
“As my CEO coach, you have been a great objective sounding board for strategies that assist me in organizing and managing my senior executive team members… managing my transition as the new CEO… and thinking through my overall strategy and priorities.
“As facilitator for our leadership team, you helped us to open up the communication channels and get some important team dynamic issues out on the table… your work with the individual executive team members has facilitated more understanding of the interpersonal dynamics and increased collaboration within the team… the increased levels of communication have really made a difference.
“Thanks again.“
Casey Sheahan
CEO, Patagonia
“Holding Us Accountable”
“Thanks to your work, we covered a tremendous amount of ground in our 2.5 days of off-site meetings. You did a great job of drawing out the best ideas from everyone without exception.
“The retreat left everyone energized and motivated. We’ve made great progress in meeting our target dates, thanks to the action plans and milestones set at the retreat, and to the highly productive follow-up meeting you facilitated.
“I look forward to our next quarterly follow-up / accountability session and to keeping the process going.”
Dana Roberts
CEO, C.W. Driver
A 9.9 Rating!
“Mark facilitated at our chapter’s
Presidents’ Retreat, and did an outstanding job. In fact, the
80 members who attended rated it a 9.9!
“Why was the retreat such a
hit? Mark got people to understand the importance of opening up to
each other, even though some of the stuff they were sharing was pretty
confidential.
“The goal of the retreat was
to connect people and show them how they could be resources for each
other. Thanks to Mark, that’s what happened.”
Rick Powell
Young Presidents Organization, L.A. Chapter
New Business and Better Teamwork
“Lawyers can be very, very skeptical.
The first time Mark held a partner retreat for us, no one wanted to
be there. In the end, though, everyone was energized, because the retreat
had real value to it. We learned how to drive new business to the firm
and how to work better as a team.
“That kind of thing has to be
facilitated. Just putting people in a room gets you to Level One, but
what Mark does gets you to Level Nine.
“Mark’s understanding
of situations is deep. He provides substance.”
Larry Braun
Senior Partner, Sheppard Mullin
“A Tremendous Success”
“We hold a retreat every year.
It has two functions. It’s serves as ‘The Year in Review,’ and
it helps us plan our future.
“We brought Mark in to facilitate.
He spent a great deal of time with us weeks before the retreat, and
went well beyond what most people would do to understand our business.
Because of that, we were all better prepared for the retreat once it
happened, and it turned out to be a tremendous success.”
Jim Freedman
Managing Director, Barrington Associates
Engaged and On-Task
“Mark put together our ‘Operational
Excellence’ retreat, which focused on capital planning, personnel
planning, and process improvement. He kept all fifty of us engaged
and on-task for two days, so we could get the job done. His help was
invaluable.”
Bill McGinnis
CEO, National Technical Systems
“Absolutely Invaluable”
"After 22 years in business,
it was time for me to negotiate with my venture capital partners and
prospective investors. Mark Lefko mentored me through this process
and was absolutely invaluable. We developed a strategy that resulted
in the outcome I desired.
“Mark was right there when the
pressure was at its height. He helped me maintain perspective, which
allowed me to keep my emotions in check. Mark's the best!"
Jane Kleinberger
Former Chairman and Co-Founder, Paciolan
No Gimmicks
“A lot of facilitators try to
sell you on some odd process that they use. Mark isn’t like that.
He doesn’t need gimmicks. He has a broad worldview, a great mind,
and a lifetime of practical business experience to draw on.
“He’s done many things
for my organization, including acting as my advisor and as a facilitator
at our retreats. One of the key things he’s done, though, is
to create my company’s advisory board model. We use that model
all the time, and most of the important decisions we make happen as
a result of it.”
Larry Hayes
CEO, Ventura Distribution
“Brought Balance to My Life”
"Mark brought balance to my life.
Since working with him, my stress level must have decreased by 400%.
“When we started working together,
every aspect of my life was out of balance and, because of that, I
was experiencing significant health issues. Mark came in and helped
me get perspective on my business and personal life. He helped me clearly
see what was keeping me from my potential.
“He has tremendous insight and
wisdom, and I have made him the Chairman of my personal Board of Directors.”
Tim Noonan
CEO, Lockton Insurance
To learn more, click About
Mark.
