Pat serves as the Chair for a Vistage CEO Advisory Board where he provides coaching and helps Business Owners plan for and execute successful exits. An entrepreneur at heart, Pat developed sales channels for EPAY Systems, a start-up SaaS business utilizing the cellular network for M2M data transmission to a cloud-based service platform. Recruited to operate another young SaaS business, Pat was GM for the TankLink division of Telular Corp in Chicago prior to a roll-up as part of the PE ownership exit plan. Pat is an IT Industry veteran and former IBM executive. A channel sales expert, Pat developed and managed new sales channels for IBM’s PC and mid-range computer business during a 15-year career. After leaving IBM, Pat was VP of Sales and Marketing for a DeKalb, IL entrepreneur business Micro Solutions Corp. which he grew sales from $20M to $60M in two years through channel expansion in international distribution, e-commerce, and retail. Pat also has corporate reseller management experience as VP and GM for Insight Direct USA (NASDAQ –NSIT) where he had P&L responsibility for a budget of over $500M in hardware, software, and service B2B sales.
Pat has a beautiful wife and two wonderful adult sons who grew up sailing on Lake Michigan together with their dad.
Mr. Barron is a double graduate of Northwestern University. He holds a B.A. in Psychology and Masters of Management (MM) degree from NU’s Kellogg Graduate School. Mr. Barron served on the Board of Directors of Chicago based non-profit i.c.stars and is an active member of the Union League Club Chicago.
Linda Lindquist-Bishop is president of Courageous Thinking Inc., where she and her team specialize in guiding leaders through challenging transitions. Facilitating the tough questions which reveal clarity as the foundation for making the best decisions, the Courageous Thinking team brings decades of experience and discernment in guiding leaders to accelerate growth, navigate change and define purpose to fuel fulfillment. Linda has blazed trails in the all-male world of offshore yacht racing, sailing on over 100 teams in the past 28 years. Winning two world championships in 2004 and 2009, she thrives in high-risk, stretch-goal team environments.
Making history as a member of America3, the first and only all-women’s team to compete in the America’s Cup, she simultaneously competed as a team member and co-spearheaded their highly successful sponsorship program, bringing several reputable companies into the sports business for the first time. Continuing to compete successfully in sailing at an international level, Linda never tires of the thrill of a challenge and the sweet taste of victory. Prior to America3, Linda drove the marketing and branding for the world’s largest marine paint company, creating new product lines in the bass and offshore sport fishing, and high performance sailing markets. As publisher of Yachting Magazine, she leveraged her grand-prix sports success and 15-years of brand building in the luxury goods market, to create an array of non-endemic business opportunities and aggressive profitable growth.
Awarded Glamour magazine’s ‘Women of the Year’ in 1995, International Women in Boating ‘Woman of the Year’ in 1996, and Lifetime television’s list of ‘100 Women of the Century’ in 1997, Linda is committed to creating success in others. Working with start-ups to multi-national corporations, including faith-based, education, non-profits, military and government – Linda brings decades of expertise to the process of facilitating, planning and executing change.
A passionate mentor and advocate for inspiring and developing women leaders, Linda is also co-founder and executive director of the Rising Tide Leadership Institute (RTLI). RTLI utilizes the high-tech and high-performance competitive platforms of sailing, aviation and motor sports to inspire and equip women leaders. These platforms develop both individual and team leadership skills, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) expertise, all necessary for women leaders to excel in a global knowledge-based economy. Continuing to compete successfully in sailing at the international level, on both water and ice, Linda and her husband, Air Force Major General (ret) Brian T. Bishop, live in Leland and Traverse City, Michigan.
Larry has over 40 years of successful business and leadership experience. His passion is working with CEOs, business owners, and their senior level teams to develop strategies to accelerate profitable growth – helping them achieve at exit, both their professional and personal goals in life.
He founded his consulting practice, GrowthPoint, in 2002 to help business owners succeed through effective strategic planning, action plan implementation, and leadership development. He is also an award-winning Vistage Chair and mentor who has worked with over 50 Kansas City area CEOs and business owners. Larry is a Master Chair and was recognized as the national Chair of the Year. He has served the Vistage Midwest Region as a Best Practice Chair and was Executive Vice President-Field Operations of Vistage Worldwide for seven years – supporting ten regions in the US, including 500+ Chairs, and 14,000+ members.
Larry sold his high growth, Inc. 500 award-winning company, Marketing Communications, to an NYSE billion-dollar public company over 20 years ago. After selling his company, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer for a number of operating businesses for this global leader in database marketing and led the pharmaceutical services division. He leverages his expertise and experience with his exit planning clients and has a deep understanding of the right pathway to grow a small entrepreneurial start-up into a profitable high growth company being sold at the right time for the right price. This winning combination supports a great legacy and provides the financial freedom for business owners to enjoy the next chapter.
Larry began his career with the General Systems Division of the IBM Corporation. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and banking from the University of Missouri – Columbia.
He lives with his brilliant wife of 37 years, Mary, in Leawood, Ks (near Kansas City), and has three terrific grown children. Their 40-acre farm, Running Deer Farm, serves as a great retreat where they host family reunions, weddings, and other important celebrations.
Bonnie is an accomplished CEO, senior executive, entrepreneur, and board member.
As a NAVIX Exit Planning Strategist, Bonnie helps business owners develop and execute a strategy for a successful exit that secures financial freedom and provides continuity for family, employees, and clients. Bonnie’s long history advising CEOs as a board member, consultant, coach, and investor makes her a valuable asset for companies seeking guidance on strategic choices and creative problem-solving. She is passionate about helping CEOs and entrepreneurs achieve success.
Over her nearly 40-year career, Bonnie has founded and exited from three business ventures. Through her consulting company, DKH Business Advisors she has advised companies on strategies for growth focusing on strategic choices, capital decisions, execution, and preparing for exit. She has held leadership roles in angel investment groups.
Bonnie holds an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is active with Entrepreneurship Programs at Salem State University as a program advisor, CEO Group Leader, workshop presenter, and judge for the business plan competition. She similarly supports The Wharton School and judges its business plan competition.
Originally from the Midwest, Bonnie has lived for over 30 years in a late 18th century home in Salem, Massachusetts. She and her husband raised three children there and continue to support a wide range of nonprofit institutions to achieve their missions including their church, economic development, and historic preservation. Bonnie is a Trustee for Montserrat College of Art, a member of the Leadership Council for the Essex County Community Foundation and serves on the parish council for her church.
Gary Hirsch joined NAVIX to help business owners plan and execute successful exits, achieving financial freedom and clarity regarding what comes next. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of The Leader's Edge, an Arizona executive coaching, consulting and training firm. A professional certified executive coach, he helps CEO's, business owners and their management teams work more effectively, create a more collaborative work environment, overcome challenges and find more enjoyment and meaning in their work.
In 2008 during the height of the recession he opened the Tucson market for Vistage International where he built and chaired three Vistage peer advisory groups for CEO's, business owners and their key executives for a decade.
His clients have included CEO's and managers from consulting; manufacturing; engineering; medicine; real estate; design; law; investing; show business and more. He has worked with clients on five continents, has developed business partnerships with companies in Europe, Asia, and Eastern Europe and is a "coach's coach," helping other executive coaches refine their coaching techniques and build their practices.
Prior to joining NAVIX Mr. Hirsch has enjoyed a variety of business successes. He served as Vice President for Macro International, a Washington DC division of the Opinion Research Corporation, and for Global Energy Partners, a Lafayette, CA energy consultancy where he advised some of the largest energy companies in the United States.
Mr. Hirsch currently serves as a Director for an Arizona-based National Private College and a regional solar construction company. He has been recognized for excellence in leadership and sales in every one of his positions. He holds a bachelor's degree in energy policy and engineering.
As a Rotarian he has led the Rotary District 5500 Ride to End Polio, a Tucson based bicycle event. His efforts have raised more than $45 million over 9 years including a generous match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with every cent going to support Rotary International's efforts to eradicate polio.
In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, studying classical piano, working out, traveling and learning.
Tim Kinane is an Executive Coach and CEO Peer-Group Chairman. Tim believes that everyone can do better. Through his broad experience and unique perspective he coaches clients to greater success. Tim's coaching clients include a broad variety of professionals, businesses, governments and not-for-profit organizations. Working with CEOs, executives and business owners, he helps build and develop their work teams.
With more than 35 years of business experience ranging from start-ups to small and large cap businesses, Tim uses his experience in operations, strategic planning and marketing to coach clients to explore and reach their goals. As a CEO Peer-Group Chairman, Tim facilitates a private advisory board of business owners.
Tim is a knowledgeable guide through often unfamiliar territory:
Tim offers customized workshops, private coaching, peer groups, staff and board retreats, and a toolbox of unique employee motivation and business tools.
With the NAVIX team, Trent Lee is a certified consultant helping business owners plan for and achieve successful exits. Trent is the founder and CEO of Compass Leadership Advisors, which is dedicated to improving the lives and businesses of chief executives and business owners. He is the Chair for two CEO/business owner private advisory boards for Vistage Worldwide and an EOS Traction Implementor.
Trent is a former small business owner, divisional president/general manager and senior executive with over 25 years of business experience.
Through college, Trent worked at Ralston and Norwest Banks and then joined the sales and management trainee program with Ferguson Enterprises (a Wolseley PLC company, the world largest distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and industrial piping products). While at Ferguson and Wolseley, he worked throughout sales, operations, branch management and then running his divisions as president/general manager across Iowa, North Dakota and Northern Minnesota. During his last years with Wolseley, he found his calling working with former business owners who had recently sold their businesses to Ferguson/Wolseley. Most specifically, working with the business owners and management teams to ensure a smooth transition, a successful exit to their sale and the ongoing business legacy.
Trent has been a Chair for Vistage Worldwide since 2013, leading and facilitating peer groups for CEOs, business owners and senior executives across the Red River Valley. His two groups span across many industries including; agriculture, banking, construction, distribution, engineering, medical, manufacturing, professional services, IT/software development
Trent grew up in the Omaha, NE and spent his summers living and working on the family farm in central Nebraska. He and his wife Kerri have three children, Kati, Teegan, and Tanis. They live in Fargo, ND and are often seen volunteering at Hope Lutheran church. Trent is active in Boys Scouts, Tri-City
Trent is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney and holds a BS in Business Administration: Finance and Management.
David Magee is an independent exit planning certified consultant at NAVIX where he helps business owners efficiently navigate successful ownership transitions. Leveraging NAVIX’s industry-leading resources and deep experience, David strives to maximize the financial, operational, and personal satisfaction outcomes when business owners begin planning exit strategies.
Prior to joining NAVIX, David spent 30 years as a financial analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey in Atlanta, Georgia. As a Managing Director/Senior Equity Analyst since 1992, David regularly conducted extensive market and financial due-diligence to generate detailed financial models and research reports on a variety of companies, highlighting the key macro and competitive attributes relevant to making investment decisions.
During his time at SunTrust, David was quoted in numerous newspaper and magazine publications, interviewed on CNBC and other TV/radio outlets for his views on changing market dynamics. In addition, David has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal and Thompson Reuters StarMine as a high performing equity research analyst.
David earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Wake Forest University (Economics), an MBA degree at Georgia State University, and completed the rigorous Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) distinction early in his career (1997).
When not working or spending time with his wife (Kelly) and three (almost) grown children (Sarah, Alex, and Annabelle), David enjoys various musical pursuits, golf, and boating.
Together with the NAVIX exit planning team, John helps business owners chart and follow a course that allows them to build business value and achieve exit success. In joining forces, they provide clients a powerful organizational development and exit planning toolbox coupled with the expertise of seasoned business consulting specialists. Both elements are essential to unpacking the emotional and technical decisions clients face when building value and exiting from their business on their own terms.
John is the CEO and founder of PMP Corporate Solutions, Inc. and J-2 Consulting. These firms help CEOs and business owners tackle the operating challenges of today while meeting their business and individual goals. He is an entrepreneur, business owner, management consultant, Gallup Certified Executive Strengths coach, speaker and adjunct professor at New York University.
Adopting a “no excuses, reasoned choices” philosophy, John helps businesses prepare to win in the market place today and build brand value for tomorrow. Starting with the premise that “People are the Engine,” he helps business leaders and associates alike spot relevant structural issues and confront cultural beliefs, assumptions and behaviors that hinder excellence, harm customer relationships, and weaken brand.
John’s clients view him as a trusted partner advocating for their success. His forthright and unbiased insights help them rapidly move beyond the short-term, tactically focused operating strategies to which most are accustomed. As a consultant and coach, he brings business leaders the planning, development, and engagement skills needed to create passionate, engaged teams aligned with company values.
John’s client experience includes multi-national, national, regional and locally owned firms in a variety of industries. In addition to his professional work, John has served as a corporate board member, pro bono volunteer to non-profits and president of a regional Chamber of Commerce. He continues to give back as an account director for the NYC Taproot Foundation by delivering pro bono development grant work to nonprofit organizations in the greater NYC area.
He is an active member of The Organizational Development Network, Entrepreneurs Network, Business Leadership Forum and other related professional organizations. He resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Sherri Neasham is a successful entrepreneur, venture philanthropist, and experienced business coach.
As a NAVIX Exit Planning Strategist, Sherri helps business owners plan for and achieve a happy exit that secures financial freedom and leaves a legacy of success for family, employees, and clients. Having successfully transitioned the companies she has built, Sherri is uniquely qualified to assist owners in preparing for future sale, liquidation, or transfer of ownership to partners, employees or family members.
In the last 3 decades, Sherri has built companies in 4 different industries. In the last 7 years, she has served as Partner and Board Director of San Diego Social Venture Partners, investing capital and coaching time in organizations focused on solutions for homelessness, hunger, poverty, education, youth violence, and foster care. She also now serves as Chairwoman of the Board for Leadfusion, Inc. and is an Entrepreneur in Residence for Connect in San Diego.
As Founder and Owner of True North Consulting, a California based company, Brett Sargent is an independent exit and succession planning strategist for NAVIX, the leading organization helping business owners navigate and achieve successful exits. He also chairs five CEO/Business Owner groups totaling 60+ members in the Sacramento area on behalf of Vistage Worldwide. Brett also owns Sunbelt of Sacramento, California and Reno, Nevada where he and his team broker business sales of main street and mid-market businesses. He also owns Lendio of Sacramento, California, where he helps to get funding for small businesses in Northern California.
Brett is a former C-Level executive and business owner of several small businesses working with both large companies and small companies throughout his 20-year career.
Through college, he worked at Dupont in Electrical Engineering, designing medical equipment. After college, Brett transitioned to be a nuclear engineer/physicist working on both nuclear submarine design and training at Lockheed Martin as well as commercial nuclear plants at Commonwealth Edison in the Midwest. He spent a portion of his career with General Electric in various executive roles in supply chain, manufacturing, quality, product management, engineering, sales and marketing and completed several leadership programs and training while at GE. His last role was the Global Sales Leader for General Electric’s transmission and distribution products, responsible for global sales of $600M.
Brett transitioned from GE and large corporations to work in various startups and small businesses and start his own companies in numerous industries on both the east and west coasts in a variety of leadership and ownership roles. These roles involved starting operations in China, India, Brazil and Europe. This included being GM/CTO for LumaSense Technologies, Inc. in Santa Clara, CA and President of GridSense, Inc. in West Sacramento, CA.
Brett holds an MBA from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA; an MS in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY; and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Widener University in Chester, PA. Brett has also completed the Naval Nuclear Power School from the US Navy and the Reactor Plant Design Analysis Program from Knoll’s Atomic Power Laboratory. He is also Six Sigma Black Belt certified.
Brett is active in the cleantech startup community working as a venture advisory board member of the i-Gate Innovation Hub and advisor to Clean Tech Open. Brett resides in northern California with his wife and three children.
As a NAVIX Consultant Dann helps business owners find their successful and happy exits. He understands the business owners’ challenges because he has lived through multiple exits. For the last 20 years, he participated in the business exits of five small entities, four of which he was the founding stockholder and CEO.
Dann’s perspective comes from comparing his successful exits against his less successful exits. “Needless to say I have learned significantly more from the ‘less’ successful. There are no do-overs, and it is not enough to get most of it right when you most probably will get one home run that has taken decades to round the bases.”
Dann also believes that NAVIX Consultants supports his strengths as an exit planning facilitator and a team quarterback communicator.
He believes that exit planning is a benchmark of entrepreneurial and business maturity. Not an end but a phase to be embraced by ownership. Serving clients and mentoring associates bring financial and time freedom to enjoy the rewards of risk-taking.
Mr. Scheiferstein graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a BA in Biology and subsequently received his MBA from Cleveland State University.
Originally from the Midwest, Dann and his wife Susan moved to Mt Lebanon Pa. outside of Pittsburgh and raised five children. As a family they get their priceless memories from adventure travel both far and wide and spend the rest of their free time skiing in the Laurel Highlands, playing tennis and struggling with golf.
As a NAVIX Consultant, Chuck is focused on helping business owners understand and take advantage of a proven system to maximize the value of their business and avoid the stress and pitfalls of selling their business.
A successful business owner and entrepreneur Chuck spent the first 20 years of his career in Fortune 100 companies in New York and Chicago working in Business Development, Strategic Planning, Marketing and Sales. His experiences range from heading Marketing for a $1.4 billion dollar division of R.R. Donnelley & Sons to helping to grow a Database Marketing start-up, Computerized Marketing Technologies from $5 million to $50 million in sales to owning and operating a top grossing franchise business, Cartridge World Tucson for the past 18 years.
Chuck holds a double major in Marketing and International Studies from the University of Oregon and a Master of International Management with a focus on Finance from the Thunderbird School of International Management. He is very committed to his community and to making it a better place through his involvement and leadership in the Rotary Club of Tucson.
Chuck and his wife Kathy of 38 years live and work in Tucson Arizona. They have three terrific children and a growing family with the addition of two spouses and their first grandchild on the way. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, golf and travel.
Driven by a desire to help Hawaii succeed in the 21st century by preparing the next generation of the state’s leaders, Craig founded Fresh Leadership to share nationally recognized best practices in executive coaching, strategic planning and leadership.
Craig is a protégé of Master Strategist Tom Paterson, whose strategic planning and leadership coaching processes have been used at global companies such as IBM, Disney, McDonnell Douglas, Northrop Grumman, RCA, Estee Lauder & OtterBox. His knowledge of the Paterson Processes, as well as his credentials as an International Coach Federation Professional Certified Coach, Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara Master Coach, and Sr. Birkman International Consultant have allowed him to become a trusted advisor to CEO’s and Senior Executive teams in midsized and large business such as: Kamehameha Schools, City Mill, JN Automotive Group, and the Hawaiian Electric Companies.
Craig discovered his passion for executive coaching and strategic planning through his work with the church, which he was involved in prior to founding Fresh Leadership. He was mentored by Dr. J Robert Clinton, the guru of Life-Long Leadership Development, while a full-time graduate student at the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He was also a part of the core church planning team with New Hope Christian Fellowship on Oahu from 1995 to 1999 in which the church grew from 0 to 6000 in weekend attendance.
Craig takes great joy in serving in the community as a YMCA Metro, Board Member; Salvation Army of Hawaii, Board Chair; and in his Church Blue Water Mission. Craig is also married to Sandy and they raise two beautiful daughters Sophie & SaraAnne.
Carlos joined NAVIX Consultants after successfully exiting his business, The Hire Firm, a market leader in staffing and executive recruiting in northern New Mexico. Through this experience, he became a firm believer in the importance of business owners developing and executing an exit plan on time to ensure a successful financial and emotional outcome.
Carlos is the CEO of
He worked for several US and Mexican global companies, including years of consulting with a leading global consulting company. He was CEO of Clean Fuels Technology, an alternative fuels company, and has been the owner and CEO of several business ventures. He is also on the board of an NYSE listed company.
Carlos is originally from Mexico City and has a BS and an MS degree in engineering and an MBA. He is a certified Executive Coach. Carlos is an avid reader, enjoys opera and classical music as well as exercising and playing with his grandchildren. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his wife Barbara and their six dogs.
As a NAVIX consultant, Dean brings 24 years of experience as a business owner with diverse expertise and a commitment to creating happy exits for other business owners. He has started, acquired, and sold several businesses in service, manufacturing, and distribution companies in B2B and B2C industries. Like all business owners and CEO's, Dean had multiple successes and his share of failures plus a lot of excitement, panic, joy, and tears along the way. His 24-year entrepreneurial journey came after 15 years as a business banker, gaining broad business knowledge while serving all sizes of companies in multiple industries, in all possible financial conditions.
As a leader with a core value of service above self, Dean achieves his purpose and fulfillment from helping others improve. In chairing a Vistage Advisory Group, his mission is to identify, assemble, and lead a group of executives and business owners that are courageous, self-reflective, driven, and open to change and growth.
Dean’s family is his priority, with his wife of 40 years, he shares two smart kids with spouses living close by, and four brilliant grandkids. In his spare time, he enjoys scuba diving, and is an active and long-standing Rotarian, where he spends time on community service projects.
