Client Feedback

Testimonials from Entrepreneurs and Corporate Leaders on the Value of our Leadership and Business Development Coaching

“In our small company we had a need to overhaul our IT infrastructure and applications strategies which required an interim CIO that possessed a wide breadth of skill sets beyond our talent level. I hired Bob specifically to handle this project. The project started as a initial situation assessment through deployment and installation of a new IT infrastructure platform. Weaved into the project was a disaster recovery strategy and modeling an IT infrastructure that was linked to the corporate strategy and objectives.

Bob attacked the project challenges through gathering an intimate understanding of our business needs and providing executive briefings along the agreed upon check points. He provided the leadership team with various options that encompassed technical solutions linked to our business needs and third party providers which minimized our business risks and enabled our multi site operations to become more effective. Bob’s work during this project was methodical, professional, and on time. I would highly recommend him for professional services in this capacity.”

~David Brakenwagen, C & M Corporation, SVP Sales and Marketing

“Bob has been my strategic advisor and career coach over the past 6 to 8 months. In that time, Bob has helped me in taking an unstructured IT department without many formal processes and quickly and effectively guided me to turn that around. He has a great depth of knowledge IT Governance processes and IT Strategy work. He has challenged me to think more strategically and has helped me to position the IT department of my midsized company to be more effective and more strategically aligned with the business goals. We now have an IT governance framework, from which to plan and work from, and an IT Strategy that is aligned to the business strategy.  Without Bob’s coaching and expertise, I would still be struggling in this area.

I look forward to continuing my mentoring sessions with Bob as I continue to grow in my IT leadership role. I encourage anyone looking for an expert in IT leadership to seek Bob’s guidance to help run a more effective IT department. You will not be disappointed!”

~Renee Furr, IT Director, Latrobe Specialty Steel Corp.

“Bob partnered with us on one of our recent client projects. We were contracted by an investment group to conduct an IT effectiveness assessment for one of their business services firms. In spite of the inherent tensions around such an engagement, Bob was able to readily engage the members of the firm’s management team and quickly become a trusted advisor.

His approach helped us to rapidly identify high-value changes in business processes and technology platforms. At the same time, we were able to begin to build buy-in for the resultant changes on the spot.

Bob’s contribution was a significant factor in the very positive feedback that we later received from the firm and the investment group. I look forward to partnering with Bob again on a similar project, and have recommended his services for follow up work.”

- Christopher Mauro, Technical Director at InSys Consulting Services, Inc.

“One of the keys to success for any business owner is surrounding yourself with the right people both internally within your organization as well as externally teaming with strategic consultants. In August 2009, as I made the transition from Partner at Deloitte & Touche to small business owner, Bob Kantor was my strategic advisor and coach.

His insight into the world of IT solutions and marketing played an integral role for me as my business plan developed. His ability to think out of the box and ‘in the real world’ has played a critical role in my success. He challenges my ideas and makes me think beyond the obvious, which has led to key client wins as well as future opportunities. Business today is tougher than ever. Having access to Bob’s vast knowledge and experience has enabled me to focus my attention on critical areas of my business and not get bogged down.” 

- Michael Mintz, COO, AMG Payment Solutions

“Bob has helped me think about growing my business — as well as starting a new venture, in ways that I never previously considered. In effect, he’s helped me to think not only in three dimensions but outside of the box altogether. He has a strong ability to take a highly conceptual business idea and turn it into an executable technology strategy and operational business plan. In the process he has also suggested a significant number of options to improve the concept.”

- Louis Gerzofsky, Partner, Global Treasury Resources, Inc.

“I was cynical about business coaching before I started working with Bob on my photography business. I didn’t see how talking about my challenges would make any real change in my situation.

But… the initial impact on my vision, energy and plans has been huge! I’ve moved from  focusing on all the reasons why I couldn’t to a whole new set of “I coulds”.  I’ve discovered that the obstacles to realizing my dreams as a professional photographer were not the economy, the market place, or my lack of knowledge or contacts. But instead it was only my set of limiting beliefs.

Bob’s coaching has gone way beyond helping me “feel good”. He’s enabled me to identify several very specific approaches to building a photography business unique to my skills and interests, and that will make great use of resources that I can readily develop.

I’ve already made several new contacts as a result of taking action that I came up with as a result of Bob’s coaching, and have several new options for pursuing a project right now that I used to think I’d have to wait years to accomplish.

I’ve found funding for one project, sponsors for other projects, and several new channels for reaching my target market place. Bob is helping me stay focused on using this new outlook, plan and enthusiasm to ensure that I achieve all my exciting new plans.

Bob helps break through a lot of noise that obstructs progress, and cuts right to the essentials. He guides you to identify clear goals and strategies, rather than allow you to hold yourself back with the same tired excuses. Bob pushes you to think beyond a narrow task-oriented scope, to a broader vision of greater success. I highly recommend him to any professional who wants more for themselves or from their business.”

- Ara Kantardjian, Owner, Ara Kantardjian Photography – akantardjian.smugmug.com

Note from Bob Kantor: I recently received an email from Ara that said, “I’m leaving for Armenia tonight! Will let you know when I return.” He’s there creating photos for one of his new projects.

“I can always count on Bob’s candid feedback, useful insight, ability to see meaningful patterns and understand their implications, his eye for detail, and his ability to anticipate problems and solve them before they happen. For taking excuses out of the system, you can’t find a better partner!”

- Jeff Grimshaw, Partner, CRA, Inc.

“Ever wonder why some companies find success? I believe that it is because they have access to people like Bob Kantor. Bob brings to the table a wealth of knowledge. He is a thinker who is able to clearly see the challenge, tackle it and provide direction to a profitable solution … and he does it in a timely and cost effective manner. As the founder of a company in the health industry, there have been many hurdles for me to cross.

Bob’s approach and ideas have seen vast improvements in my company’s product development and marketing efforts.  He is supportive, thoughtful and a true ‘straight-shooter’ who doesn’t hesitate to share his knowledge or constructive criticism in the pursuit of excellence. He has been involved for some time in the introduction of our new product, the LIFECompass Personal Health Record.

The value of his advice and support has been inestimable, beginning with our first conversation. I look forward to a continued relationship with Bob as EMERG-e-Solve moves forward toward achieving our greatest potential. If you are seeking an individual who will plot the course and follow it the extra mile, I would recommend his services to you. “

- Wendy Blair, President, EMERG-e-Solve Inc.