Strengthening the Team by Planning for Your Absence

WHAT:   August CEO Tools Workshop
WHEN:  Thursday August 14, 2014
WHERE: Suquamish Clearwater Casino  

Leaders can create great value in their companies while reducing risk by making sure the business can operate just fine without active involvement by any one individual over a period of time; even when that person is the CEO! Having key knowledge locked in the mind of any single individual, including the CEO is risky for a company and stressful for many, including the CEO’s spouse or partner. 

Albert Einstein once said that, “everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”  This workshop is meant to inspire attendees to develop a plan with steps necessary to ensure business as usual happens when any one person is no longer able to function in their role.  This workshop will focus on the role of the CEO.

MEMBERS:

Members arrive at 7:45am for breakfast and Member check-in.

MEMBER CANDIDATES:

Member Candidates are invited to attend the event from 7:45am-12pm as their schedule permits. 

• Breakfast at 7:45am
• Check-in at 8:00am
• Workshop from 9:00am- 10:45am 
• Member issues from 11:00am- 12:00pm 

Please RSVP to Michele Bosworth by August 1, 2014, regarding your attendance. Please include what portion of the meeting you will attend so we can make arrangements for breakfast and materials.

EMPLOYEE GUESTS: RSVP BY August 1st

Employee Guests are invited to the workshop from 9:00am - 10:45am (please arrive by 8:50am and wait in the lobby to be brought into the room.)

HOST:

Mike Hall of Hall and Company

WHERE WE WILL MEET:
Suquamish Clearwater Casino-15347 Suquamish Way NE, Suquamish, WA 98392

The Workshop will be held in the Hawks Nest Board Room outside the lobby of the Hotel

Click HERE for Google Directions

TITLE OF WORKSHOP:

Strengthening the Team by Planning for Your Absence

AGENDA:

Click HERE for the agenda.

QUESTIONS CEO'S SHOULD BE ASKING

• Where does “risk” reside in the company, where you are the only person who has ownership of or knowledge regarding a key customer or vendor relationship; a specific job task or job functions? Is this risk you are willing to live with? 
•  If so, how are you quantifying risk and why is this level of risk acceptable? 
• If not, what are the challenges that you will need to overcome ensure bad things don’t happen (in your absence?) in these specific areas?
• What will your spouse or partner do if you are suddenly unable to run the company?

TAKEAWAYS

•  Why it is important to identify, quantify and where appropriate, mitigate business risk that resides within your company.
•  How to give your spouse peace of mind about how they can proactively become involved managing events in your absence.

PREPARATION

Bring a bullet point list of critical actions that you need to take that will help to ensure your company will survive and thrive if you were suddenly no longer serving in the CEO capacity. 

 

Information examples include:

1. a list of online access to certain websites; sign-on/passwords.  
2. Contact information for your banker, insurance agent, key customers and vendors.
3. Key contracts, loan agreements and covenants, and insurance policies. 

Process examples include: 

1. Who is in charge if you are no longer around, 
2. Who must be involved for developing and ultimately executing the plan, 
3. Who will communicate it 
4. What they will say?

PRESENTER: EARL BELL

EARL BELL is the author of, Winning in Baseball and Business, Transforming Little League Principles into Major League Profits for Your Company.  Earl is also founder of the Winning in Business Master Academy™.

Earl works with owners, business leaders and their teams, teaching them how to dramatically reduce the time it takes to improve profitability, customer experience, employee engagement and company value.  Earl believes that business is the ultimate game which should be fun; that winning in business is more fun than losing. He also believes that creating hero experiences for customers and clients is how companies can win consistently.

Earl has served in the Chief Financial Officer role for numerous companies throughout North America. His personal passion is youth sports and he has coached 28 teams since 2002.  Earl is a CPA, graduated from SU (Seattle University) with a BA in Accounting and from the MILL (Mercer Island Little League) with a Master’s in Youth Baseball.

How to Use Your Numbers to Make Better Complex Financial Decisions

WHAT:   July CEO Tools Workshop
WHEN:  Thursday July 10, 2014
WHERE: Martha & Mary, Poulsbo

We all want to build a sustainable business that provides a return on our (or our owners’ investment). So, how much profit does it take to produce the real returns that you not only desire, but also require? The first step in the process is to answer the question: what is your breakeven sales annually, monthly and even daily? We will all first go through our Profit and Loss Statements to determine how our expenses “behave.” We will separate out our variable and fixed costs and then calculate the answer to the breakeven question. With this new structure we will be able to have a better understanding of which costs need to be focused on to improve the bottom line.

But nobody wants to just break even! We will also now be in position to project the future and determine useful strategies. 

MEMBERS:

Members arrive at 7:45am for breakfast and Member check-in.

MEMBER CANDIDATES:

Member Candidates are invited to attend the event from 7:45am-12pm as their schedule permits. 

• Breakfast at 7:45am
• Check-in at 8:00am
• Workshop from 9:00am- 10:45am 
• Member issues from 11:00am- 12:00pm 

Please RSVP to Michele Bosworth by June 30, 2014, regarding your attendance. Please include what portion of the meeting you will attend so we can make arrangements for breakfast and materials.

EMPLOYEE GUESTS: RSVP BY JUNE 30TH

Employee Guests are invited to the workshop from 9:00am - 10:45am (please arrive by 8:50am and wait in the lobby to be brought into the room.)

HOST:

Chad Solvie of Martha & Mary

WHERE WE WILL MEET:
Martha & Mary; 19160 Front Street NE, Poulsbo WA 98370

Click HERE for a map and Google Directions

TITLE OF WORKSHOP:

How to Use Your Numbers to Make Better Complex Financial Decisions

AGENDA:

Click here for the agenda.

QUESTIONS CEO'S SHOULD BE ASKING

• How much profit do I need to reinvest in my company?
• How much profit do I need to pay back additional long term debt?
• How much profit do I need form y bonus and/or retirement plans?
• If I hire additional staff what will I need insoles to cover their costs and make more profit?
• If I add on to my building (take on more space or open a new location) what will I need in increased sales to make that a good investment?

TAKEAWAYS

• What does my company's cost structure really look like
• How can I use this knowledge to make better decisions for the future around issues such as: pricing, expense control and investments in projects, equipment and people
• Learn how targeting a specific profit to determine your sales goals.

PREPARATION: DUE JUNE 30TH

There are some key steps to complete beforehand to help you get the most out of this workshop: get familiar with the concept of breakeven, determine which of your expenses are fixed versus variable, and use that info to fill in the Questionnaire part of the worksheet. Your workshop presenter, Steve Abercrombie, will review the rest in class. The end goal: gain a great tool for better decisions using your own numbers!

1.  First, read the handout, Guide to Breakeven Plus. It will give you some background on  breakeven analysis and walk you through some sample case studies.

2.  Second, enter your sales and expense numbers into the 2014 Breakeven Calculator.  Click to open the 2014 Breakeven Calculator and download it by clicking on the download button that appears on your screen.  Fill in the document and click save. 

You will find detailed instructions for how to do so on the first worksheet entitled “Instructions.”  You will enter your own numbers on the Questionnaire worksheet. You will need:

•  Current month–end Profit and Loss Statement 
• Year-to-Date Profit and Loss Statement
• The number of invoices/jobs and/or active customers for those same time periods

3.  You will first need to decide which expenses are fixed and which are variable (that’s where reading the guide first will come in handy). Because this work will take us beyond breakeven and into future “what-if” analysis, you might have to do some consolidation if you have a lot of expense categories. Once you get done entering your numbers, you are welcome, but not required, to practice doing breakeven analysis on the Calculator worksheet.


4.  Once you are finished, please print the Questionnaire and the Calculator pages and bring them with you to class.


5.  Save the worksheet using your company name and email it as an attachment to Michele Bosworth at michelebosworth@excellpugetsound.com by June 30.

We estimate that it will take you about one hour to read the materials and about 1-2 hours to fill out the Questionnaire worksheet. Some of you will want to work with your CPA/bookkeeper/CFO on this project and to invite them (along with your other key team members), to attend the July CEO workshop with you.Please be sure to read the handout guide yourself, though, so you are personally familiar with the concepts.

Steve won’t be sharing anyone’s individual financial data with the other members in the workshop. But, if you are willing to let him use your worksheet and calculator pages in class as a “live” case study, let me know when you return your pre-work and Steve will be in touch with you before the workshop.

Questions? Don’t get stuck! Contact Steve directly at 360.320.8770 or steve.abercrombie@profitsoup.com. He will be happy to help!

PRESENTER: STEVE ABERCROMBIE   

Steve brings passion and personality to company financial strategies. His life experiences as a banker, financial educator and business owner have shown him that having financial knowledge of your business model is in many cases the absolute key to success. His clients all say that Steve excels at taking the mystery out of the numbers with his common-sense approach and always-compassionate personal style.

He has a talent for rallying the troops behind improvement initiatives by organizing, understanding and appropriately communicating the financial story of the business to the management team and key staff. Then he integrates this connection to financial success with ongoing structure and support around company goals and strategic steps. With key players aligned and focused, everybody accomplishes more.

Steve has helped many clients prepare their businesses for the financial scrutiny of lenders and investors when financial restructuring or expansion is imminent. He understands the language of lending from his years in banking, where he has held roles from branch manager and lender to bank President and CEO. As President and principal of a leading financial training company, he mastered business expansion from the other side of the desk – with the perspective of owner and rain maker. He gained notoriety as a sought-after convention speaker for graduate schools of banking, corporations and associations throughout the US, Australia and England.

Steve’s clients include Choice Hotels, ProSource Floor Coverings, Graduate School of Banking of the South and Bright Star Franchising,

“I have had the good fortune to work with Steve Abercrombie at both ProSource and BrightStar. Both times, he provided these companies with top-shelf financial literacy training for our franchisees. I have found Steve to be not only well versed in financial management, but able to easily convey concepts to franchisees. His breadth of knowledge and ability to make financial concepts "real world" for franchisees is one of the things I most appreciate about Steve.”

Bob Lange, Vice President of Field Support, Bright Star Franchising

“Steve is exceptional at taking complex financial information and terms, and making it easy for people understand and use. Steve is one of the best professional speakers I've ever heard. Interesting, captivating and helps the audience truly understand and apply what he is talking about.”

Evan Hackel, President and Engage Consulting 

PROFIT SOUP

WWW.PROFITSOUP.COM

steve.abercrombie@profitsoup.com

Work Your Business Plan

WHAT:  June CEO Retreat

WHEN: June 12, 2014

WHERE: Tim Ryan Construction; Poulsbo

June is our Members Only ~ Work Your Business Plan CEO Retreat 

We will meet at Tim Ryan Construction; 19307 8th Avenue NE, Ste A, Poulsbo WA 98370

Click here for Google Directions

New Habits, New Solutions: Strategies for Systemic Change

WHAT: May CEO Tools Workshop
WHEN: Thursday May 8, 2014
WHERE:  Pacific Northwest Title

In this experiential workshop participants will be introduced to systems thinking concepts, habits, and tools and will practice inquiry to increase understanding of human systems.

MEMBERS:

Members arrive at 7:45am for breakfast and Member check-in.

Please RSVP to Michele Bosworth by April 30, 2014 if you will be bringing employee guests or Member Candidates.

MEMBER CANDIDATES:

Member Candidates are invited to attend the event from 7:45am-12pm as their schedule permits. 

• Breakfast at 7:45am
• Check-in at 8:00am
• Workshop from 9:00am- 10:45am 
• Member issues from 11:00am- 12:00pm 

Please RSVP to Michele Bosworth by April 30, 2014, regarding your attendance. Please include what portion of the meeting you will attend so we can make arrangements for breakfast and materials.

EMPLOYEE GUESTS:

Employee Guests are invited to the workshop from 9:00am - 10:45am (please arrive by 8:50am and wait in the lobby to be brought into the room.)

HOST:

Chris Rieland of Pacific Northwest Title

WHERE WE WILL MEET:

Pacific Northwest Title; 2021 NW Myhre Rd #300, Silverdale WA 98383

The Workshop will be held in the Third Floor Boardroom.

There is plenty of parking available on site.

Click HERE for a map and Google Directions

TITLE OF WORKSHOP:

New Habits, New Solutions: Strategies for Systemic Change

AGENDA:

Click HERE or the Agenda

QUESTIONS CEO'S SHOULD BE ASKING

• What is a system?  What is systems thinking?
• How will systems thinking help me and my organization address adaptive challenges
• How might I ask questions in a more effective way so that I help others gain insights in to the challenges they are facing?
• Where are the points of greatest leverage in my organization?

 TAKEAWAYS

• Understand why systems thinking is an essential leadership skill.
• Learn which habits of a systems thinker you rely on and which ones you can further develop.
• Engage in inquiry that is much more effective and yields a deeper understanding of the current reality.

PREPARATION

•  Come ready to fully participate.

PRESENTER:  COLLEEN PONTO, Ed.D.

Colleen Ponto is Associate Academic Dean and Faculty of the Organization Systems Renewal (OSR) Graduate Program at Pinchot University in Seattle, Washington. Grounded in systems and design, OSR offers a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership.  Systems thinking and leadership development is at the heart of Colleen's teaching and consulting and she specialized in helping clients develop their systems thinking skills and leadership capacities in order to address complex organization issues and opportunities.  Colleen also leads a nonprofit organization in her community dedicated to environmental education for children and their families.  Before beaching a professor and consultant, Colleen worked as a pulp and paper engineer and production manager for the Weyerhaeuser Paper Company.  She received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Seattle University, her master's degree in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University Seattle, and her bachelor's degree in Paper Science and Engineering from the University of Washington. She lives with her husband and three children near Seattle, Washington. You can reach Colleen at cponto@ponto.com  or 425-489-0549.

The Power of Resilience in Complex Times

WHAT: April CEO Tools Workshop
WHEN: Thursday April 10, 2014
WHERE:  Kitsap Bank, Port Orchard

Globalization coupled with the ongoing increase in uncertainty and complexity is fueling the need for new strategies and ways of thinking if a company hopes to survive and thrive in these turbulent times. This is impacting all types of companies - big and small - regardless of industry or geographic location. Most experts agree that increasing resilience in individuals and organizational cultures is one of the best ways to combat an unknown future. Fortunately, resilience can be taught and learned as you will see from the many examples we will discuss during our workshop. It starts with leadership modeling the way and showing others how to embed this competitive advantage into the culture of an organization.

MEMBERS:

Members arrive at 7:45am for breakfast and Member check-in.

Please RSVP to Michele Bosworth by March 28, 2014 if you will be bringing employee guests or Member Candidates.

MEMBER CANDIDATES:

Member Candidates are invited to attend the event from 7:45am-12pm as their schedule permits. 

• Breakfast at 7:45am
• Check-in at 8:00am
• Workshop from 9:00am- 10:45am 
• Member Challenges & Best Practices from 11:00am- 12:00pm 

Please RSVP to Michele Bosworth by March 28, 2014, regarding your attendance. Please include what portion of the meeting you will attend so we can make arrangements for breakfast and materials.

EMPLOYEE GUESTS:

Employee Guests are invited to the workshop from 9:00am - 10:45am (please arrive by 8:50am and wait in the lobby to be brought into the room.)

HOST:

Tony George of Kitsap Bank

WHERE WE WILL MEET:

Kitsap Bank; 619 Bay Street, Port Orchard Washington 98366

Click HERE or a map and Google Directions

TITLE OF WORKSHOP:

The Power of Resilience in Complex Times

AGENDA:

Click HERE or the Agenda

QUESTIONS CEO'S SHOULD BE ASKING

1. How will a focus on resilience make it easier for you and your organization to cope with continuous change?
2. Sooner or later your organization will probably need to transform itself in response to market shifts, customer demands or new technologies. How will you respond as a senior leader?
3. Do you see resilience as a core leadership competency worthy of your time and attention?

 TAKEAWAYS:

1. Understand what resilience is and how to maximize it in response to continual change and increased global complexity.
2. Recognize the importance of resilience as a competitive advantage both personally and professionally.
3. Learn three proven ways to embed more resilience into your organization, starting tomorrow.

PREPARATION:

1. Reflect on the past five years and list the significant changes you have experienced both personally and professionally.
2. Take the one page resilience self-assessment and bring it with you for our discussion

 Click HERE to view the Self-Assessment pre-work

PRESENTER:  Dora Summers-Ewing

Dr. Summers-Ewing is a business psychologist and executive coach who specializes in developing the professional competencies of individuals and teams. She is the Managing Partner of EXIDEO Consulting, a firm dedicated to ensuring their clients have the leadership capacity  needed to deliver results and achieve their strategic objectives. EXIDEO is based in the Seattle area but also provides services across North America, Europe and Asia through its affiliates and partners.

With over 20 years of experience, Dora’s industry expertise is broad and diverse and has spanned over four continents. She has worked with Fortune 500 clients in High Tech, Professional Services, Retail, Biotech, Financial Services, Energy, and Hospitality enterprises.  She has also worked with start-up organizations, family businesses, educational institutions, and nonprofit enterprises to build the needed capacity to sustain and grow their organizations. A well-known authority on leadership issues, she is a frequent speaker at international conferences on Executive and High Potential Talent Development and Strategic Change Management. Prior to joining EXIDEO, Dora was a corporate learning officer for a publically traded company, where she designed and implemented enterprise-wide programs to support Executive and Leadership Development, Succession Planning, Employee Engagement and Talent Management. In addition, Dora spent 13+ years as a business psychologist for two global management consulting firms where she partnered with clients to translate their strategic challenges into desired results, both as a consultant and coach.

Locally, she has served on the Board of Directors of Executive Service Corps, the Alzheimer’s Association of Western WA and two regional Humane Societies. She is a graduate of Leadership Kitsap and currently serves on their Board. Time permitting, she still volunteers for 501 Commons, which provides management consulting services to improve the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations. 

Dora Summers-Ewing

Managing Partner- EXIDEO Consulting

Office: 206.842.5032

Mobile: 206.696.6601

www.exideoconsulting.com

Leadership: The Need for Vulnerability to Create Trust in your Company

WHAT: March CEO Tools Workshop

WHEN: Thursday March 13, 2014

WHERE: The Inn at Port Ludlow

What is professional vulnerability and how does it relate to trust? Why do vulnerability and trust lead to accelerated results? In this CEO Tools Workshop Steve Schaefer, Vice President of Finance for Virginia Mason Medical Center will share the story of vulnerability and trust within his company, revealing how these two critical “soft skills” are being leveraged to transform health care. Using the books “Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown, “Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni and “The Speed of Trust” by Stephen M.R. Covey, Steve will reveal how vulnerability leads to trust which leads to teamwork, which ultimately leads to speed…..all which are vital to sustaining success in a complex and ever changing business marketplace.

Shannon Bruce, Excell Kitsap Group Leader will partner with Steve to facilitate the discussion and provide participants with a practical tool to create a culture of vulnerability and trust in your company. The take way will support leadership development for the Exec and his/her team, acting as a foundation for improved relationships and enhanced performance and results.

MEMBERS:

Members arrive at 7:40am for breakfast and Member check-in.

Please RSVP to Michele Bosworth by February 28, 2014 if you will be bringing employee guests or Member Candidates.

MEMBER CANDIDATES:

Member Candidates are invited to attend the event from 7:40am-12pm as their schedule permits. 

• Breakfast at 7:45am
• Check-in at 8:00am
• Workshop from 9:00am- 10:45am 
• Member issues from 11:00am- 12:00pm 

Please RSVP to Michele Bosworth by February 28, 2014, regarding your attendance. Please include what portion of the meeting you will attend so we can make arrangements for breakfast and materials.

EMPLOYEE GUESTS:

Employee Guests are invited to the workshop from 9:00am - 10:45am (please arrive by 8:50am and wait in the lobby to be brought into the room.)

HOST:

Diana Smeland of Port Ludlow Associates

WHERE WE WILL MEET:

The Inn at Port Ludlow; One Heron Road, Port Ludlow WA 98365.

Click HERE for a map and Google Directions

TITLE OF WORKSHOP:

Leadership: The Need for Vulnerability to Create Trust in your Company

AGENDA:

Click HERE or the Agenda

QUESTIONS CEO'S SHOULD BE ASKING

1. What drives our fear of being vulnerable?
2. What price are we paying when we shut down and disengage?
3. How do we own and engage with vulnerability so we can create a culture of trust in our teams and companies?

 TAKEAWAYS:

1. An understanding as to why workplace vulnerability is critical to building a culture of trust.
2. A personal mindset shift around what it means to be more vulnerable as a leader.
3.  Practical strategies on how to create a culture of vulnerability and trust in your organization to improve both top and bottom line result in an ever complex and changing business climate.

PREPARATION:

1. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being “none” and 10 being “high” how would you currently rate the level of VULNERABILITY present in yourself, your team and your organization. Circle the number that number that best applies to the following categories at this moment in time.

• Yourself 1…..2….3…..4…..5…..6…..7…..8…..9…..10
• Your Team             1…..2….3…..4…..5…..6…..7…..8…..9…..10
• Your Organization   1…..2….3…..4…..5…..6…..7…..8…..9…..10

2.    On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being “none” and 10 being “high” how would you currently rate the level of TRUST present in yourself, your team and your organization. Circle the number that number that best applies to the following categories at this moment in time.

• Yourself 1…..2….3…..4…..5…..6…..7…..8…..9…..10
• Your Team              1…..2….3…..4…..5…..6…..7…..8…..9…..10
• Your Organization   1…..2….3…..4…..5…..6…..7…..8…..9…..10

PRESENTER:  Steve Schafer

Steve Schaefer is Vice President of Finance for Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. In his role at Virginia Mason, Steve oversees many of the functions that support direct patient care.

Steve has received his certification to lead Lean workshops, and is one of a handful of employees at Virginia Mason who has graduated from the Kaizen Fellowship Program. As a result, Steve has spoken on VMPS throughout the company, to hospitals around the country and in Canada and to clinics around the world who come to Seattle to learn more about VMPS. He also speaks regularly on leadership topics intended for the growth and development of the VM management team.  Some of the topics he has presented are:  Leading Like Shackleton, Corporate Politics, Reflection and Leadership, The Need for Vulnerability, and The Five Functions of a Team.

As an adjunct professor at Northwest University, Steve teaches the senior level Business Ethics class. He is also on Board of The Center Foundation and Puget Sound Christian Clinic, in addition to being on the Finance Committee of NeighborCare Clinic.