As a West Point graduate (USMA 1978), “Leadership” was always a subject near and dear to my heart.
After service as a Captain in the Army, my primary profession was as a retained executive recruiter. My job was to build leadership teams by finding leaders that made an immediate positive impact on a client’s organization.
In the civilian world I saw leadership explained and extolled in a myriad of ways. Some courses came close, others fell deficient. That was until I attended the Academy Leadership’s three-day “Leadership Boot Camp Experience” (now evolved into a new course — the Leadership Excellence Course) in August of 2009.
I was so impressed with the structure and message of the course, built around the Navy’s definition of Leadership- “Know yourself, Know your People, Know your Stuff”, that I knew I had to a part of this team.
After the course, I met with Dennis Haley, (USNA 1967) and asked if he needed a new franchisee in Chicago, and if so, I was his man. The deal was done and I have been part of this growing company ever since.
From the start I believed that that my Executive Search practice would always be my bread and butter. That couldn’t have been father from the truth. With diligence, I offered this life changing course to business clients and through our affiliation with the Project Management Institute which has awarded the course a very sought after 36 Project Development Units (PDUs). I found a great need and even a thirst for “Leadership” in all endeavors—public, private, and not-for profit. Some clients found a way to pay for the course even though it was not budgeted. That need is as true today as it’s ever been.
The potential with Academy Leadership is limitless. My Academy Leadership business has grown six-fold since my first full year in 2010. I have established major Clients such as Abbott Laboratories and Siemens Energy but also have a core of smaller emerging companies that understand “investing” in leadership training is the difference maker and the “margin of excellence” that enables them to compete in the global and local market. They know that “Leaders” get results. I also have a cadre of faithful graduates that have followed me on to complete “The Advanced Leadership Course”.
Facilitating this course has been personally and professionally rewarding. Knowing that I have been able to motivate and inspire new generation of “Leaders” and are making a real difference in my client companies is something I will always cherish.
The camaraderie of the veterans involved in Academy Leadership is special as well. I have never felt so much mutual respect, so much mutual support and complete honesty and integrity from everyone associated with this company. We are truly brothers and sisters in arms committed to changing individuals, organizations, and perhaps the world — one “leader” at a time.
The day I joined Academy Leadership changed my life and met those aspirations I have had regarding promoting leadership development since the day I graduated from West Point.
For more information about the Academy Leadership franchise please visit www.veteransbusinessservices.us/product-item/academy-leadership/