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Kirk is like the “company whisperer”. He interviewed me, our executive team, and many of our managers and directors, and quickly synthesized a key area we were underinvesting in. I was impressed to see him find a blindspot this quickly, and it became a rallying cry for our company. He definitely understands the key challenges you will face as you scale. I was so impressed with Kirk’s work that I asked him to join our Board of Advisors, which I’m glad he accepted.
Brett Hurt, Vice Chair of Board of Directors
Bazaarvoice
With growth in our company, we realized we needed a change in our management and organizational capabilities to reach the next level of success. We contacted Kirk Dando with Dando Advisors to assist us in evaluating the strategy we needed to pursue to reach the next plateau.Kirk’s open, approachable style made it comfortable for our employees to relate to him during the evaluation process. The results of this process allowed us to take positive steps to implement the changes necessary for our future growth and success. Kirk has helped us to remain focused on the proper course of action and to make sure that implementation is occurring. He has been persistent in following-up and in holding us accountable for the things we agreed to accomplish. Kirk’s coaching has had a tremendously positive impact on every aspect of our business.
I can, without hesitation, recommend Dando Advisors, and I look forward to a long-term relationship with Kirk Dando.
Neel White, CEO
White Construction
A born skeptic, particularly of ‘management consultants,’ I have had to set my skepticism aside with respect to Kirk Dando and Dando Advisors.As an architectural firm in the throes of expanding from 50 to 75 people during 1999, one of my partners and I attended one of Kirk’s professional seminars essentially to earn some required continuing education credits. Kirk captured our interest. Figuring that we had little to lose, we began by buying a few hours of his time. That decision has subsequently become one of the smartest that we have made.
Completely unlike most consultants, it is Kirk that you get, and it is his ear and his insightfulness that you want. Without pretense or textbook processes, he very simply studies his clients inside and out and inevitably makes the distinction between how they say they do business and how they are really doing business. He has the very unique ability to see the difference between a firm’s stated organization and its real organization. It almost always comes down to understanding the sometimes-complex personal chemistries that interact within each firm.
For any company seeking to continue developing over time, that is precisely the skill required in a management consultant. In the end it’s not nearly as much rocket science as it is psychology. Kirk is the only one I’ve seen pulls it off. He continues to be an advisor we rely on.
Jim Susman, Principle
STG Design
Most management consultants typically tell you what you already know with few recommendations on how to remedy a problem. They expect to be paid whether the problems are fixed or not.
Not true of Kirk Dando! Kirk’s easygoing, non-threatening approach, plus his solid experience of successfully running large companies, makes Kirk a pleasure to work with. Kirk not only defined the problems, he helped us take a number of issues we were experiencing caused by rapid growth and helped us focus on the three or four most critical issues. Kirk offered valuable advice and, most importantly, hands-on guidance on how to deal with them.
Kirk is on our team and he will continue to be an integral part of our company’s future.
Paul Bury, President
Bury + Partners, Inc.
“I have known Kirk Dando for 5 years, working with him on development projects and as a community leader, giving very generously of his time to those in need and projects that serve the larger good.” Bill Ward, CEO
Front Range Internet Inc.
“Over the years, Kirk has provided Applied Mechanical with valuable insights that have helped us avoid some of the pitfalls associated with both rapid growth and the ongoing evolution of our business.”
Johannes Brinkmann, CFO
AM Technical Solutions (formerly Applied Mechanical)
“Kirk was hired to be a coach to our CEO, to the executive team...and really for all our company. He has a knack for seeing company patterns that get them tripped up on their own successes. Knowing Kirk for years, he has the highest integrity and possesses a unique balance of emotional intelligence, strategic foresight, and detail-orientation.”
Sam Decker, CEO
Mass Relevance
“Kirk is a person of high integrity and an open mind. He provides wise and honest leadership to any business seeking to reach its goals and potential. Kirk has a unique way of finding the roots of business issues and helps direct companies toward successful realization of their strategic objectives.”Ed Goodman, Chief Experience Officer
TST Inc.
“I have had the opportunity to work with Kirk over the past few years. I am continually appreciative of Kirks wonderful pragmatic yet personal approach to challenges. His integrity allows for instant trust, enabling very effective and efficient discussions.” Chad Walker, Principal, CEO
Pinnacle Consulting Group, Inc.
“Working with Kirk has been a real pleasure. He always has a positive attitude and brings out the best in people. Kirk is someone who communicates well and listens attentively and accurately allowing him to work towards positive outcomes in his business endeavors. He is very much admired and is an outstanding leader in our community.”
Carla Hawkins, Director of Administration
Pinnacle Consulting Group Inc
In a young venture’s rush to achieve success the focus is often, understandably, exclusively on funding. However, perhaps the most important capital for a maturing company is not cash, but having seasoned executives who know how to quickly scale a business and survive the inevitable chaos. Unfortunately, in this day and age, proven executives are a scarce and valuable asset, hard to find and expensive when you do find them. Until now…I cannot tell you how many times I have conversations with (semi-retired) executives who enjoy the experience of assisting organizations with their growth but are no longer interested in a full time position. They may be doing some light consulting, but often find themselves either getting consumed by a particular company or are not able to achieve the desired results. The conclusion is consulting is a different skill set than being a full time CEO, President, VP, etc.
Dando Advisors and its founder, Kirk Dando, provide a truly unique offering. A no nonsense group of proven executives who have cracked the code on how to assist and support organizations wanting to mature to their highest level of performance. They differentiate themselves by making sure their clients are focused on the ‘right things’ and implementation is occurring. Their strategy is simple, but it has achieved profound results. If you want help and not hype, check these guys out.
It is my privilege to serve on Dando Advisors Board.
Lawrence A. Waks, Partner
Jackson Walker. L.L.P.
I’ve worked closely with Kirk Dando since July of 1999, and it’s been a wild ride!! After growing to three units over a five-year period of time, we’re poised in calendar 2001 to grow by three additional units in three new cities – all of which will be built from the ground up. And we’re up to challenge!Kirk has been amazingly perceptive in fully grasping the essence of the Central Market brand – great people presenting great products. More importantly he recognizes the enormous complexity involved in maintaining our brand integrity and the dire consequences associated with any drift toward mediocrity. It is refreshing to find a bean counter that can take off the eyeshades and appreciate retailing as an ‘art’ not a science.
If you’re looking for quick fixes, don’t call Kirk. And if you’re looking for somebody to humor you, for sure don’t call Kirk. If you’re willing to tackle root cause and can get past the shock of discovering YOU ARE THE ROOT CAUSE, then Kirk IS your man! It was a rude awakening for me to realize that while it takes the single-mindedness and zeal of an entrepreneur to develop a successful concept, it takes leadership to develop a successful company. And entrepreneurs aren’t always accomplished leaders. The good news is Kirk has a knack for coaching, coaxing, and cajoling entrepreneurs until we finally GET IT!
Although I can safely say I’ve never seen Kirk fail to present an invoice or deposit your check in the bank, I will assure you that Kirk won’t take on a client that isn’t willing to work. It is just that simple. His gratification comes from making a difference. And that is a whole lot more than just making a living.
Kirk is smart and he has principles. If you’re successful today, but know you haven’t yet achieved that breakthrough that takes your operation to the next level, trust Kirk to roll up his sleeves and work right along with you to shore up the foundation and posture you to be in control of your future. You owe it to yourself and to the folks who are part of your organization to hit your stride.
John M. Campbell, III, Vice President
H-E-B Central Market
We first began working with Kirk Dando at Dando Advisors in July of 1997. His coaching has had a tremendous positive impact on every aspect of our Company operations.Change is very painful; Kirk has helped us to prioritize so that the disruption has been minimal while the positive impacts have been remarkable.
Other Consultants have helped to initiate change and then disappeared. One of the things I have appreciated most about our relationship has been his consistent follow-up. Kirk holds us accountable and we are a much better Company because of his guidance.
I would recommend his services to anyone who is ready to take their Company to the next level.
Rocky Turner, Founder/President
LPR
They helped me be more productive in my interactions with our board, helped us develop a strategic plan that replaced our outdated original business plan and facilitated organizational and financial changes that improved every financial indicator within 6 months.Royce Glader, Founder & CEO
Merit
Kirk helps us identify and prepare for critical inflection points in the growth and development of our business. Last year, for example, Kirk’s advice helped us remain profitable despite a 50% sales decline in the second half. Kirk’s broad and practical experience with evolving organizations adds tremendous value to our strategic planning process.Tim Self, President
Applied Mechanical
Growth and success often mask issues that rob an organization of it’s maximum potential. When we found that our morale was slipping and that our structure was ineffective, we turned to Kirk Dando for a diagnosis. Kirk interacted with our team at every level with his superior relational and intuitive skills. He decoded the various complexities that we failed to address as we grew.Our governing body (elder board) is made up of people who have been successful in business, management, education and the high tech industry. Kirk was able to relate to this diverse group on a professional level, while remaining sensitive to the unique character of our church and the challenges we face. His straightforward honesty and clear thinking was universally embraced by the whole board. Our staff team also accepted the new direction Kirk recommended and set out with a renewed energy that exists still.
Our bottom line: Kirk accomplished what we hired him to do – effect real change. And, I personally had a great time working with Kirk. My experience tells me you will too.
Tim Hawks, Senior Pastor
Hill Country Bible Church
As a young and rapidly growing company with over 800 employees across the state, we relied on Kirk Dando to analyze the unique talents of our upper management, how we worked together, and where we wanted to go. Kirk has the innate ability to see the big picture and organize it in such a way that makes sense. After which, he supplied a no nonsense approach that fit comfortably with our group and produced the desired outcome.Kirk comes across as someone who not only communicates well but listens attentively and accurately. He clearly defined a strategy that allowed each team member to be themselves and at the same time form the cohesive unit needed to accomplish a common goal.
Bill Morrow, CEO
CSIdentity
We knew and understood the essence of where we wanted to be and what we wanted to be doing, but it took Kirk Dando to guide us through the process of creating and implementing the individual steps of how to get to that point. Kirk has been able to coach us on how to keep moving along that path, even when it may seem more comfortable to stick with the familiar. Kirk provides a fresh set of eyes and ears, and then lets you see the organization through those eyes so that the resolution seems obvious. I only wish we had invited Kirk to review our plans earlier.Sandy Gottesman, President
Gottesman Company
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