Henry Bass
Moderator - CEO Councils - Blacksburg, VA
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Henry has over 30 years of leadership experience from both startup and military endeavors. He earned both a BS in Engineering and an MBA from Washington University in St Louis in 1989, then served in the Army for three years before earning a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and starting Automation Creations, Inc (ACI).
ACI has been in the Blacksburg Corporate Research Center since 1996, producing custom-developed software and web applications for local, national, and Government customers. He became a peer group member in 2005 and put his group to good use when he deployed to the Gulf region in -2009. He attributes his company’s survival during that period to his peer group! Today, Automation Creations (ACI) has over 22 employees and 200 local and national clients for web development, software support, and custom software development.
Henry is a board member in both the local Chamber and the Technology Council and is an active leader in the Scouts BSA program and the non-profit competitive robotics organization, FIRST.
He retired from the Army after 28 years of Active and Reserve service. He and his wife Lisa have been married for 30+ years with two sons also in the Blacksburg region. He has been an LXCouncil moderator since 2012.
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Email Me
Call Me
540-320-1590
Schedule a Call
calendly.com/henrybass
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/in/henrybass -
LXCouncil has been hugely valuable. My fellow peers are very thoughtful with the feedback...Going into a round-table of CEO's I had an assumption they were experts...they all bring humility to the table. There is a good deal of trust present in order to say "I don't know".
Jessica Wirgau, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Community Foundation of the New River Valley
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...our conversations have helped me to anticipate issues, look ahead, and think more strategically about the growth of my company. LXC is definitely valuable to my development as an executive and the success of my enterprise.
Michael O’ Brien
CEO, Rgolf, Inc.
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I have felt more confident and assertive in my decisions since joining LXCouncil
Jason Doyle
President, Alliance Energy Services
Kevin Dell’Oro
Licensed Partner - CEO Councils - Annapolis, MD
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My focus is on enabling business growth by supporting the execution of a company’s strategic vision. Throughout my consulting career, I have served others by developing strategy and implementation plans that seek to capture the business’ growth opportunities.
The BainBridge Group facilitates CEO councils with the support of LXCouncil, the global leader in mastermind groups. Our councils are located in the Washington, DC area and Annapolis, Maryland in partnership with Cresa Commercial Real Estate and M&T Bank.
In addition, the firm provides operational and leadership advisory services for small to medium size businesses. Our expertise centers around execution of strategy. We utilize proprietary tools and processes in operational, leadership, and cultural support to assess and make recommendations.
My business approach could best be described by the Japanese proverb, “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.” Commonly, businesses do not have both vision and action working in tandem. Execution of a strategic vision is vital to success and growth.
I engage with my clients and use my unique set of skills, education, and experience to align with them to solve problems. I understand how important it is to work on the business instead of in the business. I also own and operate a company I acquired three years ago and have increased revenues 50% by applying this principle.
ACI has been in the Blacksburg Corporate Research Center since 1996, producing custom-developed software and web applications for local, national, and Government customers. He became a peer group member in 2005 and put his group to good use when he deployed to the Gulf region in -2009. He attributes his company’s survival during that period to his peer group! Today, Automation Creations (ACI) has over 22 employees and 200 local and national clients for web development, software support, and custom software development.
Henry is a board member in both the local Chamber and the Technology Council and is an active leader in the Scouts BSA program and the non-profit competitive robotics organization, FIRST.
He retired from the Army after 28 years of Active and Reserve service. He and his wife Lisa have been married for 30+ years with two sons also in the Blacksburg region. He has been an LXCouncil moderator since 2012.
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For my business and me personally, LXCouncil is one of my most valued investments. When COVID shut the world down, our services were still deemed essential, and our clients counted on us to be there for them. My LXCouncil group played a vital role in helping me process extremely challenging obstacles and navigate my business during a time of great uncertainty. In addition to the members, LXCouncil as an organization was proactively pushing out information to the members that were relevant and timely.
Bojan Simendic, Managing Partner
Apartment Restorers
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LXCouncil is unquestionably a crucial component of my personal and professional development. I recently completed the “Perspective Report” and presented the findings to my Council. Going through this process gives me visibility into my organization and an introspective view of myself and why I make the decisions I make. Other benefits of the perspective report include identifying blind spots, potential opportunities, and limiting risk for key decisions I need to make. Having a trusted group of my peers and a skilled moderator allows me to see the road ahead more clearly.
Brunson L. Cooper, Managing Director
Corenic Construction Group
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I grew, developed, and appreciated what others go through alone at the top and how we are not really alone together. It has proven to be an invaluable experience
Chris Wright
President Union Quarries Trusted Advisors
Martin Griffin
Moderator - CEO Councils - Milwaukee, WI
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Marty is a passionate award-winning financial services executive who has excelled in leadership roles at GE, Aon, Ameriprise and Ohio National. Over his 30-year career, Marty has consistently delivered success. Working collaboratively, he architects strategy, vision and cohesive leadership teams where financial targets are exceeded, people grow and develop, and the enterprise grows exponentially.
Marty has led effectively up, down and across organizations. This has allowed him to successfully integrate acquired teams, build new businesses, turnaround dysfunctional businesses, and moderate executive level teams through difficult, mission critical decisioning and execution. In this process, he builds trust quickly and moves organizations from an “us and them” mindset to a “we” mindset.
Recently, Marty and has chosen to partner with LXCouncil to build CEO Peer groups in the Milwaukee and Chicago areas while growing his consulting practice.
"I love business. I was raised in Chicago and live in Milwaukee. I am excited to bring my love of business and leadership to these local businesses and contribute to the success of the local business community.”
Marty is a lifelong learner. He received a BA from Marquette University and an MBA with distinction from DePaul University. He is currently pursuing a master’s in Transformational Leadership and Coaching from Wright Graduate University and the Wright foundation for the realization of human potential. He is a Certified Investment management Analyst (CIMA) and hold Series 7 and 24 licenses with FINRA.
Marty lives in Wauwatosa Wisconsin. He has three wonderful adult children who are gainfully employed. Marty enjoys all forms of exercise, skiing, reading, and connecting.
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At first, I was concerned about the time commitment but soon realized that the meetings forced me to be more focused on the big picture, rather than be bogged down in day-to-day operations. Ultimately, LX was instrumental in helping me evaluate how I was doing business, spending my time, and prioritizing what was most important. I have a renewed energy and better strategic approach for the future because of my time at LXCouncil.
Marshall Weston
President & CEO, Restaurant Association of Maryland
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Being a member of LXCouncil has been very valuable. Having a group of peers with whom I can bring up real issues and get great instant feedback and counsel has been tremendous. Also, the general sharing of knowledge and resources has been helpful, especially last year regarding PPP loans.
Sue Hickerson
CFO, Ad Astra
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Addressing some of the hardest leadership challenges with genuine colleagues is both rewarding and reassuring.
Mark Zaroogian
GRWS & Generation Next Solutions
Ross Passantino
Moderator - CEO Councils - Kansas City, MO
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Steve Jobs said, “Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people.”
Ross Passantino believes that committed groups of people produce better results than individuals. He has been known as a team-builder, connector, entrepreneur, and confidant to local business owners throughout his career. His balanced and objective approach to overcoming challenges has served him well in getting the most out of teammates and business leaders.
Passantino serves as the V.P. of Sales & Marketing for Watchmen Security Services in Kansas City. This role began as a consulting engagement that turned into a larger and much more rewarding experience. Passantino's strength as a sales and marketing leader has helped this locally-owned building security integrator achieve record revenue levels during his time at Watchmen Security.
Many recognize him for opening Accelerent in the Kansas City market in 2009. During his ten years with Accelerent, he helped create the most consistent market with great recruiting of talent and solid leadership principles. Kansas City Accelerent Partner companies enjoyed increased levels of new business revenue through a system of relationship-building and database mining. He successfully moderated executive-level environments where local business owners learned how to become referral sources for each other and to be more effective from each other.
Passantino is also a Partner in Passantino Marketing. Local business owners trust the Passantino Marketing team with maximizing their sales and marketing investments. Services include website design, SEO, social media management, traditional advertising campaigns, and fractional sales and marketing consulting.
Ross Passantino lives at Lake Lotawana, Missouri, and spends his free time with family and friends at this beautiful suburban lake community in the Kansas City area. Ross and his wife Tracey enjoy their big happy family of seven children and three grandchildren.
Helping others is at the core of his value set. For over 15 years, he has been the Tournament Chairman of the Operation Breakthrough Golf Fore Kids tournament to raise funds for Kansas City’s largest inner-city daycare center. He served as President of Media Mix of Kansas City and is a member/volunteer of the UNICO Kansas City Chapter that sends local Kansas City high school seniors to college with Festa Italiana events.
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"My participation in an LX Council has helped both myself and our company in numerous ways. A few items of significance include the scheduled 4-hour meeting per month which requires me to take a step back and analyze the business with the peer group, providing valuable insights from others, and tools provided by Tina for additional analysis. LXC has increased my self-confidence to allow me to be a better leader in my company."
Tim Scott, President
Gibbens Drake Scott, Inc.
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"Being a member of LXCouncil has been very valuable. Having a group of peers with whom I can bring up real issues and get great instant feedback and counsel has been tremendous. Also, the general sharing of knowledge and resources has been helpful, especially last year regarding PPP loans."
Sue Hickerson, CFO
Ad Astra
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"My LXC experience has been instrumental in being continually stretched as a business owner and leader. Listening, learning, and hearing the perspective of trusted peers who face many of the same challenges I face are key highlights. It is also rewarding to share from my personal experiences and add value for others in their journey. I look forward to each monthly session and always have a key takeaway."
Don Bishop, Owner
Beacon Contracting
Richard Sasson
Licensed Partner - CEO Councils - Oakland, NJ
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Richard is an Innovative Global Leader Driving Operational Excellence and Customer Experience:
With over three decades of executive leadership, he built and scaled global operations that transformed customer engagement and fueled exponential growth. His career spans opening offices and leading teams across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Highlights include Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, and India, while driving revenue from $80M to $2B through strategic vision and operational mastery. He specializes in creating systems and experiences that deliver lasting value. From designing and implementing enterprise-wide CRM, VoIP, and knowledge management platforms to building multi-tiered technical and customer support organizations handling 300,000 cases annually he has consistently improved efficiency, reduced costs, and elevated customer satisfaction worldwide.
His leadership includes:
Global Expansion: Established and managed operations across five continents, setting the standard for international scalability. T
raining Innovation: Grew global training programs from 300 learners to 24,000 annually, implemented LMS platforms, and standardized training facilities in 30 locations.
Customer Experience Design: Created immersive experience centers in the U.S. and Europe, managed multimillion-dollar AV installations, and produced large-scale events and trade shows, ranging in scale from 10' by 10' to 100' by 100' booths.
Strategic Transformation: Directed seven departments with 350+ staff, launched new business units, and drove major product releases across hardware, software, and firmware.
Passionate about building inclusive, high-performing teams and delivering measurable results, I combine strategic foresight with operational excellence to help organizations scale, innovate, and thrive in a global marketplace.
Fun hobbies: Planning, organizational, and team-building skills as an inflation street leader. Oversee a crew of 100 people to ensure the successful setup of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade Balloons. Certified by the City of New York to pilot a large character balloon. Balloon pilot for the Balloons of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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Website
Email Me
Call Me
201-895-1931
LinkedIn
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Leon Adato Itinerant wandering IT storyteller & DevOps ferret. #Monitoring, #Observability & automation fanboi. Author @ adatosystems.com. Leon worked with Richard but they were at different companies July 16, 2008, Leon worked with Richard but they were at different companies
I have worked with Richard as a business partner as far back as 1985, and have looked for every opportunity to work with (or for!) him since that time. Plainly put, Richard is a "natural". He knows how to lead (and he exemplifies the difference between that and simply knowing how to manage staff); he has a vision about what he does, along with a passion to get it done; he can inspire others to see and support the goals of the company; and he has an uncanny ability to accurately predict "how much" - whether the subject is staff, time, materials or funds. His bids and estimates are always spot-on target. I've never seen him miss.
Richard is not only a good choice for a company, he's a must-have. His presence on a team has a ripple effect that makes everyone around him more efficient and effective.
John T. A. Miller I help developers, IPPs, and utilities deploy energy storage, microgrid, solar, and wind projects at scale. I help developers, IPPs, and utilities deploy energy storage, microgrid, solar, and wind projects at scale. October 27, 2008, John T. A. worked with Richard, but they were at different companies.
I've known and worked with Richard for over two decades now. To say that "he gets things done" would be a vast understatement. He doesn't simply achieve what you never thought possible - he achieves what you never even considered.
Larry Prince
Licensed Partner - CEO Councils - West Orange, NJ
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Larry Prince possesses deep experience as a business growth consultant, performance coach and leadership advisor. His passion is helping business owners and leaders to achieve their company and personal goals. As a trusted advisor, he applies creative ways to help teams solve critical business problems, make tough decisions and lead through change.
As CEO of PrinceLeadershipTM, his approach with clients begins by taking a deep dive assessment of a business employing a validated, analytical business tool. The process identifies and quantifies key company strengths and areas that are current weaknesses eroding value and creating roadblocks to growth. Then, through his strategic facilitation, Larry helps the owner and leadership team develop a prioritized action plan. His council moves the client through four stages: Strategic thinking, strategic planning, strategic doing, which leads to new strategic habits.
Larry possesses more than thirty years of business, health care and pharmaceutical industry leadership experience. His corporate roles have included running the Marketing Communications function at a major Pharma company, leading award-winning sales teams, building new sales forces and leading corporate-wide change management initiatives. Larry was the founder and owner of a medical-based weight loss business. He is proud of his time as a high school and college teacher before entering industry.
Larry is a highly regarded public speaker. He engages audiences through interactive keynote talks, workshops, and webinars – and gets people to think differently about how they lead and achieve organizational success in the face of change and uncertainty.
He is certified in the facilitation of strategic planning by the American Management Association and has written numerous articles for publications that include: Sales and Marketing Management, Small Business Today Magazine, New Jersey Business, Small Biz Daily and the Journal of Community Health. Larry and his wife also gain great satisfaction in giving back to their community, including working with a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. Larry also is passionate about staying fit and growing a large vegetable garden, including great tasting potatoes.
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Larry Prince lives up to his tag line, 'Bringing Out the Best in Executives,' especially in a time of great uncertainty. We’re now able to pivot seamlessly, putting our learnings toward successfully rebooting and rebuilding. His coaching helped my team be highly effective leaders, in reaching our bold strategic goals. We’ve learned how to prioritize our work, test assumptions and strengthen decision making skills through problem solving. And we’ve built business plans that will take us far into the future. Larry’s one-on-one methodology has helped us refocus and rejuvenate our leadership team. We now have more opportunities for growth and for becoming more efficient and profitable. I highly recommend Larry Prince to any organization looking for new and different ways of leading their organizations to boost business results.
Blair Wilson
CEO, Morris Habitat for Humanity
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With strong command and business experience, Larry facilitated a process for us to discover a path for additional business growth. His methods and use of validated assessment tools, uncovered our strengths and areas that were holding us back from achieving some of our growth goals. Larry's guidance and final report provided a clear roadmap for us to move business forward in a coordinated and prioritized fashion.
Ken Hoffman
President, DPC Data
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I first learned of Larry several years ago when I heard him speak at a conference on leadership. When it came time to take the helm at a company that had challenges, I looked to Larry as a coach to help guide our success. He helped us identify key areas that needed focus, challenged my ideas and assumptions, and acted as a sounding board when tough decisions needed to be made. He’s helped guide our company through enormous challenges that have allowed us to get on track and focus on implementing our vision for the future.
Rob Love
Executive Director, Butte Home Health and Hospice
Tim Rhode
Moderator - CEO Councils - Baltimore, MD
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Businesses today must be nimble and willing to embrace or drive change to succeed and become the obvious choice for their market. This requires insight, vision, and a committed team aligned to thrive in new and more effective ways.
I help business leaders and teams develop that insight and commitment with experience, coaching, systems, and tools to accelerate progress and succeed with change.
Having personally launched and led multiple high-service-level 7 and 8-figure businesses in the highly competitive health and fitness space, and having more than 35 years of experience as a business owner, manager, and consultant, my purpose is to develop and implement growth and success strategies for organizations.
⏩ To devise innovative new approaches for business and leadership.
⏩ To inspire and develop talented teams of caring, service-minded individuals.
⏩ And coach them toward a positive, confident mindset with insight, challenge, and determination.
Clients say that I’m able to help capture their vision and bring it to life. I accelerate growth and results, tailor solutions for each situation, and coach their executives to greater success.
Specialties include strategy, systems, leading successful change, repositioning for business growth, leadership and management development, team building, and problem-solving with innovative solutions and systems.
I also offer a 4-week online coaching program called Changing Lanes for Business. Four simple steps to help business leaders accelerate progress and succeed with change
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Jane Sommers-Kelly
Licensed Partner - CEO Councils - Raleigh, NC
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Jane has run businesses ($35MM +) and advised CEOs in manufacturing, technology, business services, and healthcare thru-out her 25-year career. Starting on Wall Street with JPMorgan, Jane delved into each client’s business value-chain and strategic priorities, in order to understand their context. Chosen to be Country Head of Bankers Trust Czech & Slovak office in Prague, Jane earned the respect of Bank Presidents and CFOs, winning the first ever Slovak crown Euro-bond issuance.
After 11 years in Finance, Jane pivoted to the leadership side of business strategy. For the next two decades at Duke and INSEAD, Jane and team advised MNC’s on how to grow their business thru their leaders. Clients included GE, Honeywell, Clorox, and Citibank. Jane was also asked to launch INSEAD OnLine and succeeded with SingTel in selling the first on-line course available via your phone.
Since 2017, JSK Leadership has partnered with over a dozen medium-sized companies to achieve business results – thru their Top Team. The Head of Americas at one client said: “Jane, your best-practices and business logic motivated us over these 3 months to clarify and communicate our priorities differently. Our execution effectiveness and therefore Time to Market have already improved.” Jane understands each business and team require a different solution.
Jane’s business experience is anchored by her passion for ongoing market-place learning, as seen in her INSEAD MBA, Georgetown Leadership degree, and summa-cum laude UNC BA. She has moderated executive Peer Groups since 2019 and chose LXCouncil as the best CEO Peer Group due to its model. Members benefit from experienced Peers, time-efficient meetings and quarterly business assessments. Jane pays it forward by Chairing and serving on relevant Boards, including the Hotchkiss School, the Compass Center (DV), and her church. Her family of three men are soccer-obsessed, one playing professionally. Her HQ is based in Chapel Hill, NC, where she walks her dogs and plays competitive tennis.
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By making time to participate in LXCouncil, gives me the opportunity to step away.
I get the opportunity to think through different areas of my business that make me more confident about executing.
Chris Steinbach
CEO, The Newberry Group
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LXCouncil has been a tremendous benefit for me both personally and professionally. Once a month, I spend four hours on my business - rather than in my business, which has resulted in more clarity, vision, and an increase in our overall business during the last three years…
Burman S. Clark
President, Muneris, Inc
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LXCouncil brings value to my companies in two specific ways – the accountability of knowing others are invested in what we are doing forces me to work strategically and the input I get from the other leaders helps me fill key gaps
Bruce C Bryan, President, B2C Enterprises, The Spot on Kirk, LB2, LLC
Jorge Titinger
Licensed Partner - CEO Councils - Nashville, TN
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Jorge is a highly analytical and incisive Strategist, Leadership Consultant, Speaker, and Board member, with 30+ years of experience directing substantial growth and leading the turnaround of underperforming organizations in Silicon Valley.
He is an accomplished Board Member and C-level executive known for producing results by developing strategies, establishing new processes, building effective leadership teams, driving innovation, and implementing initiatives spanning all business areas. Jorge was also a Director of the Alliance of CEOs, where he leads a group of CEOs from different industries in their journey to maximize their success. He is now a Licensed Partner with LXCouncil and is bringing his experience to the Nashville area.
He holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management and a Master and Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. He was recognized as CEO of the Year for Operational Excellence by CEO World Awards in 2013 and received the award as one of the Top 100 Latinos in Technology by HITEC for 5 years. In 2017 he received the Estrella Award by HITEC as the top Latino in technology.
Jorge is an award-winning author. He co-wrote the book “Differences that make a Difference” with Pedro Espinoza. The book was published in October 2019 and aimed to show how inclusion and diversity positively impact the results and companies' bottom line. Jorge and Pedro interviewed over 150 executives from different industries and continents and brought their insights into the book.
Jorge serves on several public and private company Boards, as well as non-profit Boards. He is a mentor and advisor to several startups in Silicon Valley, Nashville, and Peru and is an angel investor.
Jorge is an avid soccer player, and in his youth was a collegiate, professional and national team member. He also enjoys golf, tennis, and travel.
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We all might come from different industries and backgrounds, but we all face very similar challenges and questions. Overall it is a great experience and an opportunity to look “outside of the box," widen your horizons and engage with your peers from outside of your industry.
Arif Mamedov
President, Regula Forensics Inc
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My LXC experience has been instrumental in being continually stretched as a business owner and leader. Listening, learning, and hearing the perspective of trusted peers who face many of the same challenges I face are key highlights. It is also rewarding to share my personal experiences and add value for others in their journey. I look forward to each monthly session and always have a key takeaway.
Don Bishop
Owner, Beacon Contracting
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LXCouncil has been a tremendous benefit for me both personally and professionally. Once a month, I spend four hours on my business - rather than in my business, which has resulted in more clarity, vision, and an increase in our overall business during the last three years…
Burman S. Clark
President, Muneris, Inc
Sandy Waggett
Moderator - CEO Councils - Osage Beach, MO
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Sandy Waggett is a digital agency owner 23 years (MSW Interactive Designs), an author (Bold Moves - Take Back Your Power, Reclaim Your Peace, and Live Happy on Purpose), a Certified High-Performance Coach, and a Certified Maxwell Leadership Coach. In her spare time, she loves to hike, kayak, bike, and spend time with her dog Charly.
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Email Me
sandy@transformandinspireyourlife.com
Call Me
573-480-48372
Schedule a Call
meetings.hubspot.com/sandy-waggett
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mswinteractivedesigns/ -
Elise Cambournac
Licensed Partner - CEO Councils - Nashville, TN
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Elise Cambournac is a transformational CEO, culture strategist, and executive coach with over 25 years of leadership experience across the technology and healthcare sectors.
Elise is a two-time CEO and board director known for driving growth, revitalizing organizations, and building high-performing, people-first cultures. She has led global teams in Fortune 100 companies, startups, and trade associations, and brings deep expertise in strategy, operations, and digital transformation. Most recently, as CEO of the Greater Nashville Technology Council, she led a post-pandemic turnaround that redefined the organization’s impact, launched the Nashville Innovation Summit, and strengthened the region’s tech ecosystem.
Now as a Licensed Partner with LXCouncil, Elise brings her experience and insight to the Nashville business community. She facilitates confidential peer groups for CEOs and business leaders, fostering connection, accountability, and strategic clarity among high-performing executives.
Elise holds a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from SUPELEC (Paris) and completed executive programs at Vanderbilt University. A passionate advocate for authentic and empathetic leadership, she is also the founder of The Catalyst Multiplier, a leadership and culture coaching firm. Elise has spoken at national conferences including TechImpact and Becker’s, and was featured on CNBC’s Cities of Success.
Fluent in English and French, Elise brings a global lens to her work and has lived and led teams in the U.S., France, and India. She lives in Nashville with her family and enjoys travel, cooking, scuba-diving, kitesurfing, and mentoring the next generation of leaders.
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Website
http://www.thecatalystmultiplier.com/
Email Me
elise@thecatalystmultiplier.com
Call Me
615-351-9214
LinkedIn
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Kelly Berry
Licensed Partner - CEO Councils - Eau Claire, WI
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Kelly Berry is the owner of Learn Start Grow LLC dba Second Stage Growth. She has been helping small businesses find new ways to grow since 2005. Kelly is a licensed CEO Peer Group Facilitator, a certified market research specialist, and a Venn Diagram superfan. She helps small businesses solve problems, find new customers, and prepare for the future through business intelligence, futures thinking, peer groups, and accountability forums. Kelly taught undergrad and graduate level courses in market research and entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for over 10 years. She has an MBA, with her undergraduate degree in mathematics and business from Drew University (Madison, NJ). Kelly is on the Board of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP), and a member of the Advisory Board for the Western Wisconsin Women’s Business Center, as well as a long-standing volunteer for Junior Achievement.
When she’s not working or volunteering, she is walking her dog, reading, curling, playing tennis or spending time with her husband and adult children. Kelly’s passion is running business owner roundtable groups. She can connect you with your peers where you can learn that you are NOT alone, and your fellow business owner peers are here to help you on your journey. A peer group can give you more confidence in your decisions, help you make difficult decisions, provide accountability for your goals and push you to be more strategic with your business. Kelly has seen firsthand how well peer groups work and now it is her mission to get every small business owner she meets into a peer group (hers or another one).
After teaching business classes for many years, and serving as a small business consultant for many more, Kelly says that THIS is the best way she has found to help small businesses grow – through the power of their peers. Let her do all the work finding the right people and connecting you and making sure meetings and events are scheduled, and the topics discussed are timely and relevant to your business. All you have to do is show up! -
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“I've found much success in being a part of Kelly's group because it's a set-aside time to focus on whatever is top of mind at that moment. Often things are so 'busy' that we don't take the time to slow down, stop, uninterrupted, and just process through and even solve or decide what the next step is. As business owners sometimes we're too close to the issues and we get lost in the weeds. It's beneficial to hear from the group what their experiences have been with similar but ultimately different situations to help us gain perspective for how we might reframe how we look at and address our own problems. Through this process, we're able to look for opportunity or focus on growth.” – Ashley Kosharek, Founder & CEO, AMK Cleaning Services
“The group helps in a number of ways. It offers a unique opportunity to spend one morning a month concentrating solely on being a small business owner, without the day-to-day interruptions that always come along with the role. You are able to speak to other owners who know exactly what you’re going thru and can understand and sympathize and help on a level that no one else can. It doesn’t matter how different each business is – we all share concerns on hiring staff and taxes and money and how to keep everyone happy and motivated (including ourselves!).” – Nancy, Partner, Commercial Services Firm
“We have all heard it, you need to take time to work on your business not in your business. The group creates a focus for me and helps me hold myself accountable for the things I should be doing. It centers my focus on what is important and I enjoy hearing that our group has helped members with issue they were struggling with.” – Glen Senger, President, Mavrix Welding Automation
“When I was first approached to see if had interest in the Business Owners Roundtable group, I was reluctant. My company is small and I wasn’t sure that I could benefit from it or be of value to the group. What I have learned is big or small we all have the same issues! People, marketing, sales, websites, recruiting or simply time management. Once a month we get together and the first thing that is always said is, did a month really just go by?” – Todd Wagner, President, Peter Albrecht Company
“Meeting with other small business owners helps keeps focus on growth, provides insight that I would not otherwise receive, and encourages me. I always leave those meetings with ideas, inspiration, and feeling like I have friends who get it.” – Michael Frederick, Owner, Heale Manufacturing
“The confidentiality in the group is one of the things I appreciate the most! I feel comfortable talking about the business issues I have that I cannot share with anybody else. I also appreciate how we tackle issues together (brainstorming and finding solutions). I always leave the meetings with solutions and in a better state of mind!” – Tomi Stoyanova, Owner, ToyVentive
Jeffrey Rands
Licensed Partner - CEO Councils - Las Vegas, NV
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Jeffrey Rands is a growth-driven entrepreneur and executive leader with a proven track record of scaling businesses, building high-performing teams, and delivering operational excellence. As President & CEO of TRC Success, Jeff brings a strategic mindset and a hands-on leadership style to help companies unlock their full potential.
With over two decades of experience across roadside assistance, battery distribution, and customer service, Jeff has led organizations through transformative growth. At Pop-A-Lock, he expanded operations from a single location to six major markets, doubling the book of business and becoming the largest franchisee in the system. At Interstate Batteries, he drove annual revenues beyond $25 million while managing multi-site operations and leading a team of 140+ employees.
Jeff’s leadership philosophy centers on innovation, accountability, and connection. He’s known for designing scalable sales programs, nurturing key relationships, and fostering cultures that attract and retain top talent. His ability to blend strategic vision with operational execution has earned him top provider awards and consistent recognition for customer satisfaction.
Beyond the boardroom, Jeff is a connector at heart—building networks, mentoring leaders, and championing community engagement. He brings this same energy to his role with LXCouncil, where he facilitates peer groups that challenge, support, and elevate business leaders.
Jeff lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and when he’s not leading teams or launching new initiatives, you’ll find him exploring the outdoors, investing in people, or crafting the next big idea.
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Mark Weston
Moderator - Sr. Leader Councils - Virtual - Tampa, FL
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Mark is a leader in Operations, Technology, and Account Management for Direct Travel. In his tenure there, he has doubled the sales and profits six-fold. Mark achieved this through creating greater efficiencies, reliable systems, goal achievement execution, accountability, and most of all, having a great team in place.
Mark Weston earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Chapman University. While in college, he supervised eight Shakey’s Restaurants, using management skills and theories learned in school and applying those lessons to real-world situations. The owner of those eight units once said of Weston, “I am not crazy about your style, but you have provided me the best results I have ever had.” That is the mantra that Weston lives by: “What are the results that will be achieved from any activity?”
From there, Mark went on to a 10-year career in Financial Management. Starting with trading for Goldman Sachs and then on his own as a member of the New York Futures Exchange. This allowed him to understand how our financial world works, and from there, his career moved to the retail side of the financial world by working for Merrill Lynch. There, he created sound financial plans for individuals and corporations to help them manage their finances and was a member of Merrill Lynch’s Executive Club based on outstanding performance.
Wanting to do something completely different, Mark, intrigued by the business of travel, ventured into his own travel management firm: The Business Travel Experts. He began his exciting and challenging voyage by owning a franchise. He handled all daily aspects, including sales, technology, financial management, operations, and management – assuring that each area was thriving. During this time, Entrepreneur Magazine followed and wrote about its journey during the first year of business, motivating him more than ever to succeed.
After three years of rapid growth and receiving the Travel Management Company of the year award, Mark decided he had outgrown the franchise's usefulness and decided to take his company independently. The business continued its growth organically and through acquisitions and a partnership to be in the top 10% of the industry. This life cycle continued for a total of 17 years until an offer too good to refuse created an occasion for the business to be sold and allowed Mark new opportunities.
The next chapter in Mark’s life led him to join the business-consulting firm: Management Action Programs. This opportunity has given him the chance to work with leadership teams to improve their overall performance in the organization, planning, communication, goal alignment, accountability, execution, and leadership skills.
Mark’s experiences have taught him that he loves to coach and mentor teams to greater personal and business success, which is why he is happy to be a part of the LX Council team, and lead our members to their next achievements.
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I have been with LXCouncil for almost a year now. That means that I joined right when the world has been facing significant changes due to the global pandemic. Being part of the group and seeing the challenges faced by my peers made me realize that my situation is not unique. The information shared during the meeting helped all of us to navigate through the hardship of COVID lockdown. Discussions later in the year have helped me grow personally as a leader within the company and grow personally. To name few topics of those discussions:
How to quantify a company’s global strategy.
How to deal with “toxic” employees.
How to better manage all the tasks on our plate.
How to deal with personal burnout.
We all might come from different industries and backgrounds, but we all face very similar challenges and questions. Overall it is a great experience and an opportunity to look “outside of the box," widen your horizons and engage with your peers from outside of your industry.
Arif Mamedov, President
Regula Forensics Inc
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LXCouncil provides the tools to become a better leader! LXCouncil has a passion for growth and innovation within team dynamics, and that is reflected in each of their meetings. From the foundation of treating people the way they want to be treated to deep dive into the true value of your company, every senior leader is sure to benefit from joining an LXCouncil Mastermind group.
Constance Polamalu
Zachary's Jewelers
Chief Operating Officer
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Any good leader wants to hear multiple viewpoints.
Wes Bridges
President, CB Design Group
Larry Van Sant
Licensed Partner - CEO Councils - Frederick, Md & Hagerstown, Md
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With over 30 years of experience as a business owner and leader, I bring a proven track record of driving growth, building high-performing teams, and fostering organizational excellence. As the former owner of a 165-person company, I understand the challenges and opportunities that come with scaling and sustaining success. For the past 11 years, I’ve led The Van Sant Group – Sandler Training as Owner and Platinum Award Winner, specializing in world-class sales and leadership development. My work is supported by certifications in Extended DISC and Caliper, enabling me to help organizations improve communication, strengthen culture, and achieve measurable results.
Today, I also serve as an LX Council Moderator, facilitating strategic peer advisory conversations among executives. Previously, I contributed to the business and education communities through service on multiple bank boards and a college board as well as Chairman of Frederick Health’s Board, providing governance and strategic oversight.
My background spans industries including HVAC, plumbing, heating, banking and wholesale operations, giving me a unique perspective on operational and leadership challenges. I am passionate about empowering leaders and teams to reach their full potential through strategic coaching and advisory support.
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Email Me
larryvansant@vsiadvisors.onmicrosoft.com
Call Me
301 748 1500
Schedule a Call
https://meetings.hubspot.com/larry-vansant -
I have been with LXCouncil for almost a year now. That means that I joined right when the world has been facing significant changes due to the global pandemic. Being part of the group and seeing the challenges faced by my peers made me realize that my situation is not unique. The information shared during the meeting helped all of us to navigate through the hardship of COVID lockdown. Discussions later in the year have helped me grow personally as a leader within the company and grow personally. To name few topics of those discussions:
How to quantify a company’s global strategy.
How to deal with “toxic” employees.
How to better manage all the tasks on our plate.
How to deal with personal burnout.
We all might come from different industries and backgrounds, but we all face very similar challenges and questions. Overall it is a great experience and an opportunity to look “outside of the box," widen your horizons and engage with your peers from outside of your industry.
Arif Mamedov, President
Regula Forensics Inc
----
LXCouncil provides the tools to become a better leader! LXCouncil has a passion for growth and innovation within team dynamics, and that is reflected in each of their meetings. From the foundation of treating people the way they want to be treated to deep dive into the true value of your company, every senior leader is sure to benefit from joining an LXCouncil Mastermind group.
Constance Polamalu
Zachary's Jewelers
Chief Operating Officer
----
Any good leader wants to hear multiple viewpoints.
Wes Bridges
President, CB Design Group
Mutual Trust
Internal CEO Peer Groups - Australia
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I have been with LXCouncil for almost a year now. That means that I joined right when the world has been facing significant changes due to the global pandemic. Being part of the group and seeing the challenges faced by my peers made me realize that my situation is not unique. The information shared during the meeting helped all of us to navigate through the hardship of COVID lockdown. Discussions later in the year have helped me grow personally as a leader within the company and grow personally. To name few topics of those discussions:
How to quantify a company’s global strategy.
How to deal with “toxic” employees.
How to better manage all the tasks on our plate.
How to deal with personal burnout.
We all might come from different industries and backgrounds, but we all face very similar challenges and questions. Overall it is a great experience and an opportunity to look “outside of the box," widen your horizons and engage with your peers from outside of your industry.
Arif Mamedov, President
Regula Forensics Inc
----
LXCouncil provides the tools to become a better leader! LXCouncil has a passion for growth and innovation within team dynamics, and that is reflected in each of their meetings. From the foundation of treating people the way they want to be treated to deep dive into the true value of your company, every senior leader is sure to benefit from joining an LXCouncil Mastermind group.
Constance Polamalu
Zachary's Jewelers
Chief Operating Officer
----
Any good leader wants to hear multiple viewpoints.
Wes Bridges
President, CB Design Group