One of my favorite questions to ask senior executives about their organizations is, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" The question seems rather simple, after all many of us answered this when we were toddlers - perhaps you wanted to be a firefighter or a doctor or a pilot. The initial thought process might have been simple and straightforward, perhaps you liked fire engines or the idea or taking flight in an advanced plane, but as we mature, we start to think about the underlying reasons for our choice. Firefighters might have a passion for rescuing those in acute need, doctors may want to help heal those who suffer from conditions they have experienced in their families, pilots may want to help people come home safely. These underlying motivations reflect what I see as the strategy involved in what you want to be when you grow up.Organizations are often no different. They may start by manufacturing a product or providing a service, with little long-term strategic thought beyond generating revenues and reaching breakeven. While these are laudable goals (after all the dot-com bubble vividly illustrated that successful companies cannot be built on "cash burn") they fail to consider the ultimate end goal. What is the shining city on a hill that we are aiming to build? Failing to adequately answer, or even consider the question of why we do what we do can result in limiting our success.In this new adventure of writing strategy-focused blog posts, my goal is to be a guide that helps provide direction for those who choose to wrestle with the big questions. I thought about what to call this effort, perhaps the Strategy Sherpa or Strategy Co-pilot, but they didn't adequately describe my goals. I don't want to make the decisions for you, but rather provide insights and direction that help you make your own decisions. Hence, I have landed on the Strategy Compass, a guide to the true north of your strategic adventure.

Managing Director in the Capital Markets Group leading a team high-caliber financial professionals to provide award winning investor relations and capital markets counsel to public companies in the recreational vehicle, automotive and manufacturing industries. Expanding our service offerings to include analyst training for executive teams and development of Corporate Social Responsibility Reports to enable clients to meet their evolving ESG reporting goals.

Part-time faculty teaching a variety of investments and finance course in the MBA program and undergraduate business program.

A 25-year Wall Street and Investor Relations professional providing independent investor relations, financial and business consulting services to public companies, investors, entrepreneurs and service providers. I offer a broad range of services including strategic review of investor relations programs and related materials, content production, writing of press releases, peer review and analysis, and executive coaching for investor interactions.

Manage the Investor Relations and corporate communications function at one of the leading producers of Recreational Vehicles in North America. Responsible for quarterly earnings release process and coordinating all investor interactions, including relationships with sell side analysts, buy side analysts and portfolio manager and individual investors. Also share primary responsibility for design, production and distribution of the annual report to shareholders.

Lead a team working with a variety of public company clients to develop and execute investors relations strategies as well as quarterly earnings releases and conference calls and other investor communications. Provide a variety of specialized expertise in corporate actions, including technical assistance and strategic counsel on shareholder activism and proxy contests.

The CFA West Michigan Society is an association of local investment professionals consisting of portfolio managers, security analysts, investment advisors, and other financial professionals. As a CFA Institute Member Society, we:•promote ethical and professional standards within the investment industry, •encourage professional development through the CFA Program and continuing education, •facilitate the exchange of information and opinions among people within the local investment community and beyond, and•work to further the public's understanding of the CFA designation and investment industry.We also connect our members to CFA Institute, a global, nonprofit member organization of financial analysts, portfolio managers, and other investment professionals.

Adjunct Professor of Finance teaching FIN 330, Ethics in Finance during the fall semester. I have a vision of sharing my professional experiences in Finance, Investment Research and Investor Relations with students with a goal of raising the level of ethical awareness and practice among the future leaders of our profession.

Work closely with senior management and the Board of Directors in establishing the long-term strategic plan and annual operating plans for the company’s $700 million operation. Manage relationships with the company’s major institutional shareholders and members of the investment community, including investor visits, conference calls and conference presentations. Responsible for the composition of quarterly earnings releases, preparation for quarterly conference calls and production of the Annual Report and Proxy.

Assumed a leadership role in the development of a new research group, including mentoring new members of the research team. Performed research on 13 companies in consumer retail and recreational vehicle industries, published in-depth research reports and notes, maintained detailed earnings models, worked closely with institutional client contacts and developed close working relationships with management teams at several Fortune 50 companies.

Founding member of a new research firm committed to providing independent research on small-cap equities to institutional clients. Developed the research process, and built the research team to four members covering twenty companies within the first four months of operation. Formed and maintained extensive relationships with institutional clients in major financial centers.

Actively managed a staff of three analysts in addition to writing feature articles and research reports for small and micro-cap stocks for biweekly publication in the Red Chip Review. Coverage focused primarily on heavy industrial and consumer products sectors. Traveled extensively in pursuit of new companies for potential coverage, as well as continued monitoring of companies currently followed.

Planned, coordinated and executed internal audit test work at the Pershing Division, developed and presented audit recommendations to senior management, and coordinated year end test work with the external auditors. Strengthened written and oral communication skills through presentations and reports made to Senior Vice Presidents and Managing Directors.

Planned and performed internal audit test work, and worked on a number of special projects relating to the acquisition of Shearson. Reinforced analytical skills while designing and implementing management reporting system for the Mutual Fund Operations area during a merger-related special project. Led the transition of this system to area management.

Assisted in the planning and performance of internal audit test work in the operations area. Strengthened analytical skills while developing several key audit issues. Showed initiative in formulating audit standards for the Operations Audit Group.