About Me

Advancing Today's Leaders for Tomorrow

My Bio

My working career was initially forged as a Marketing & Sales Executive for Ford Motor Company. I loved it; loved the excitement of contributing to one of the biggest and best companies in the world. The business acumen I call on today is grounded in the responsibilities I had as a Regional Manager for Ford: market strategy, employee development, customer satisfaction, retail and wholesale sales, market share, company and dealer profits, dealer representation, and community relations. Within these roles, I developed valuable perspectives and skills.

How to lead an organization – the Kansas City Region. How to build a team; how to mold a culture; how to develop a business plan; how to lead by example; how to stand behind commitments; how to deliver results.
How to thrive and survive within a corporate environment. How to collaborate; how to get things done; how to anticipate the needs of bosses; how to think critically, strategically and for the long term.
How to work with entrepreneurs – the Ford dealers. How to build a business; how to protect the bottom-line; how to hire, develop and retain employees; how to advertise and use promotion effectively.
How to be a good teammate. How to share best practices; how to accept responsibility and share credit; how to develop an all-for-one/one-for-all mindset.

My focus changed during the past ten years as I took on the role of Executive Coach and Roundtable Chair. I developed a mission of doing whatever possible to equip my client-partners as leaders. My goal, every day, has been to listen to, think alongside, and talk with my client-partners in a way that moves them closer to becoming outstanding leaders. The reward of helping others grow became an exciting motivation for me.

Today, I have the excitement of doing this at my own company – Leadership Evolution, LLC. My business model includes one-on-one coaching, executive roundtables, and in-organization leadership development programming. From my perspective, three attributes define me and my work. First, is the heart I have for my client-partners. I am all-in / all-the-time when it comes to serving my client-partners. Two, thanks primarily to my time at Ford, I have a keen sense of business and leadership acumen. Three, I hold myself to the highest of high standards. For that trait, I thank my Dad.

My education degrees are a B.A. in Economics and an MBA from Wake Forest University. I am a graduate of two Strategic Planning Programs from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

My wife Diane and I have been married for 42 years. We have four beautiful daughters and five wonderful grandchildren who mean everything to us.

Since moving to Overland Park, I have served as Chairman of Ford’s Community Relations Committee and as Vice-President of the Board of Directors for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

My Core Values

Hard Work

I’ll be prepared at every meeting; ready to discuss those topics we have identified for each session. Often I won’t ask you to do something without agreeing to do the same thing myself.

Faith

I draw on my faith in everything I do. I strive to live my life in a way that others can see Him in me. That certainly includes all my work with Leadership Evolution.

Heart/Family

I want to know about your family and I’ll share things about mine as well. Who we are as leaders cannot be separated from who we are as spouses and parents.

High Standards

There is a right way to do everything. Thanks to my parents, my wife Diane, and Ford Motor Company, I know the difference between the right way and every other way. You will always get the right way from me.

Loyalty

My client-partners see and feel that their interests are my Number One priority every time we sit down together.

Years Coaching

Companies

Clients

Ginny Rometty

“Growth and comfort cannot co-exist.”