Endorsements
I feel as if Mark is a partner with me in the business. It is great to have an advisor with no hidden agendas to help in making major decisions as well as act as a sounding board on new ideas.
Larry W. McAdams, President
Construction Imaging Systems
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"The way to look at the value of a consultant is their ROI. Does the consultant enable you to achieve results that would not otherwise be achieved without their help? With Mark Frohman the answer is a definite “YES.” As the CEO of a robotics firm and as a Board member of companies that engaged Mark, I saw firsthand the investment in utilizing Mark each time was well justified by the results.
Mark has the unique ability to help leaders and teams sort out issues, solve problems and clarify critical actions while at the same time building their skills. On top of that is his rapport with all levels in the organization reduces the isolation CEO’s are subject to and improves understanding, communication and commitment in both directions and at all levels. His abilities make Mark the consultant with the best ROI I have ever seen."
Chief Executive Officer, National Council for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM)
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“Mark challenged the status quo and got us to think critically about what it would take to successfully grow our business. He took the time to understand the issues and developed a trusting relationship with our leadership team and managers. He is perceptive and knowledgeable, and his experience was extremely valuable in helping us create a strategic plan and ensuring it was implemented. He’s been a tremendous change agent, consultant and confidant for our business.”
Chief Operating Officer, Summit Retirement Plan Services, Inc.
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"When Summit Retirement Plan Services hired Frohman Consulting Corporation in 2005, our firm had big goals but little understanding of how to get there. It was also unclear if we had the right team in place to get the job done. Mark helped us discover that we needed to make some changes in our senior executive team, coached us through the process, and helped us evaluate the candidates that would be necessary to go to the next level. The Summit team is far stronger today than it was before Mark was engaged.
We have reached the next level and Mark has been instrumental along the way in strategy development. Mark has been invaluable in helping us clarify the best growth opportunities for our firm and how to capitalize on them. Because of his insights and thoughtful advice, we're stronger, more competitive and we are implementing our growth plan.
Mark Frohman has gained the trust of our management team and our Board with his knowledge, patience and listening ear. As a respected coach and counselor, Mark is a key resource to our Board, senior management and the next layer of company management. And as a result of his coaching I have been able to grow into a “real” CEO. Thank you Mark!!!"
President, Summit Retirement Plan Services Inc
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"It has been my privilege to partner with Mark Frohman for almost 20 years.
Mark has challenged and guided me and our organization in a way only a quality mentor could. He is insightful and shares his real feelings. He has helped me and others see a bigger picture. Mark has been an important part of our success."
President, OPRS Foundation
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"Our company has a tendency to get swept up in the emergencies and fires that come up on a daily basis. Mark Frohman helped us identify the long term objectives we needed and he made sure we followed up on them. He showed us many practical tools and techniques used by other companies like ours that we were able to immediately implement, and which provided positive results."
VP of Engineering, Thomas Engineering, Inc.
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"I have used Mark for a variety of assignments over the last 15 years. Initially it was as a young executive when I needed sound advice and basic management skills coaching which was a role Mark played perfectly. More recently, as the new CEO of a pharmaceutical equipment manufacturer, Mark has guided me and my team in laying out a meaningful strategic plan which involved identifying the key result areas for our company to meet our growth and operational objectives.
Even more important was his experience and counsel to me and my management team in the execution of the plan. Specifically he provided us with the tools to set measurable time -based initiatives tied to the “Key Result Areas”. These tools enabled people to “own” their assignments and, at the same time, enabled me to manage the organization’s execution of the plan. As a result we accomplished significant process improvement driven cost savings and reduced labor hours in the assembly of our capital equipment products. We also initiated cross functional product build teams which improved communication and cooperation among key departments. He also guided us in the development of in a new aftermarket sales strategy. I could cite many other examples of the tangible results achieved with the assistance of Frohman Consulting.
What sets Mark apart is his ability and willingness to “read” and understand the client and then tailor his consulting approach to the specific needs of the executive and the organization. With each engagement we benefited greatly from Mark’s guidance."
President, Thomas Engineering Inc
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"Mark provides a solid external voice and guided our senior leadership through a number of business reorganizations and planning processes. He knew how to train individuals and teams and adjusted his style and speed to match their needs. He was a reliable source for both assessing and addressing strategy, cultural, organizational & operational issues"
General Manager, Trellis Software
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“I was the sole owner of our family’s manufacturing business. For the 10 years prior to my son joining the business, Mark and I met quarterly, and he was my partner and guide in helping me to manage our cyclical business through the myriad of macro and micro issues that face every organization. During that period, Mark posed all the important questions to me and forced me to be presidential rather than merely being the firm’s most dedicated associate.
As a consultant Mark’s strengths are: an uncommon insight into what makes organizations and teams tick; an ability to ask relevant and discerning questions about the business and interpersonal relationship matters; and his willingness to be frank, objective and sincere.
When the time approached that my son considered joining the company after college and working elsewhere, Mark ably structured and managed a formal negotiation process whereby both of us committed ourselves to specific training and communication practices that would insure a successful leadership succession over time. It worked and is still working.
Looking back, I can’t imagine our business surviving, as many of our competitors did not, let alone growing into an industry leader, without my partnership with Mark.”
President, The Federal Metal Company
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"I’ve worked with Mark in several organizations, both for-profit and not-for-profit. His work in these organizations involved leadership coaching, organizational assessments and strategic planning. In all cases, the organizations were at key inflection points in their growth and they each benefited greatly from Mark’s work.
Here is why each benefitted from engaging Mark:
- His coaching results in high quality, team-based solutions.
- He works at getting the right people involved and is adept at developing how they work together.
- He gets individuals and team members to see the bigger picture, their role in the solution, and how they must work cross-functionally to achieve desired results.
- In the end, participants feel it’s their product—not something handed to them by a consultant or a boss.
- Mark not only helps teams come to practical solutions, but he helps them recognize that without also addressing the “how” to implement, the solution will have little value to the organization.
- Mark ensures the processes and communications required to implement are developed and accepted by all team members.
- Mark stresses accountability. He helps leadership develop the desired results with metrics, reporting and scorecards. to hold team member s and others in the organization accountable.
- Mark’s analytical capability and broad and deep consulting experience give him the tools to probe for and discover the real, root issues to problems. He is adept at addressing both strategy and tactical issues.
- Mark recognizes the importance of aligning individual, team and organization goals and key performance indicators.
- But it’s not only what Mark does that makes him so good, but also how he does it. People quickly become comfortable with his style as well as his substance. I’ve seen CEO’s , CFO’s and other executives develop great confidence in Mark as their coach and sounding board.
Former CFO, Intimate Brands
Board of Directors and Audit Committee Chairs, Big Lots and Tween Brands
Board Chair, Defiance College
Committee Chair, Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ
Former Board Chair MAP Furniture Bank
Former Board Chair, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
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"In working with Mark for 8 years in two different companies it is clear that Mark is not the typical Consultant. He quickly demonstrated the ability to identify the true needs of the company and discern the pulse of the people. With most consultants it would stop there with text book answers to the issues. .....not with Mark.
Mark takes the solutions to a higher level by mentoring and training the people to a point where they themselves develop plans whether it be a 30-60-90 day action plans or KRA (Key results Area) goals or some other metric that meet both the company goals along with personal development goals to assist them in growing the company. Mark works to make sure that the company’s employees are a part of the overall solution, encouraging them to lead the charge. Mark has the experience and the special ability to tailor training to the specific needs of the organization.
Mark worked well at all levels in the company. In both companies he became an integral part of the process of upper management developing the strategies needed to meet the next 1-3 and 5 year goals.
Because of his broad background at all levels of business he is well rounded and can help any company succeed."
V P and General Manager, Distefano Tool and Mfg Co.
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"I am the third generation president of a family business. The transition of leadership from my father to me was a challenging situation for the company, our customers, employees, and uncomfortable for family members. Because of our own inability to grapple with the situation and based upon recommendations from other people whom had utilized his services, we asked Mark to help.
Mark is a calm, confident and very effective facilitator. Because of his experience, he was able to anticipate frustrations, passions and hopes and then help us deal with these constructively. Because he understood the issues in this twisting process and because his style is to listen carefully and impartially, he commanded trust and respect from us both. As a result he was able to advocate for either side when necessary ,which made it possible to resolve some emotional and contentious points during the process. Mark is fair.
This was not a fun process, but it was important and necessary. Mark was able to help us where we could not, or would not, help ourselves. Mark’s help was invaluable."
President, Vail Industries
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"Mark Frohman is the consummate consultant!
• He creates practical, relevant and timely business solutions.
• He brings a clear "performance model" to an organization, not the typical cookbook answer to problems ....like so many consultants provide.
• Mark is a very patient listener.....he first seeks to understand the client's vision, goals and needs. Then he offers suggestions and partners with the Executive team to create an IMPACTFUL program of action.
• He works at getting the right people involved and is adept at drawing them out. He helps them see the bigger picture, their role in the solution, how they work within their team, and how they must work cross-functionally to achieve desired results.
• Mark focuses on building internal capability and ownership. The organization embraces the effort as their own.
• Mark's quiet confidence is very powerful and his style endears him to all levels of the organization.
Mark added material value to both Nationwide Insurance and Victoria's Secret Stores, where we worked together. But it was his consultation with the Victoria's Secret Stores CEO and Executive Team- bringing strategic focus to our organization during a time of great growth-that was profound. The goal setting and implementation process he helped us develop at Victoria’s which we called “CFI” s or "The Critical Few Initiatives,” enabled our organization to gain clarity and align on the highest payoff activities! This process became the cornerstone of our annual planning. The entire Limited Brands organization adopted this methodology during the following years!
I confidently recommend Mark as a Senior Consultant!"
Former Chief Human Resources Officer,
Nationwide Insurance, Victoria's Secret Stores, Chico’s FAS , Coldwater Creek
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"In every aspect of our business Mark’s considerable talent and experience provided us with invaluable insight and coaching to improve the performance of our organization. , While working so well to create strong teams, Mark’s ability to assess individual strengths and weakness greatly amplified our capabilities and ultimately our results.
Mark was a great asset to our management staff with his ability to quickly collect and sort through data surrounding issues of concern to us. He is able to pinpoint core components of issues that were limiting our productivity and growth. Then he uses a concise approach to delivering his findings and recommendations for improvement
Marks work enabled us to achieve many of our goals including cost reduction, growth and profitability. . This level of accomplishment in our marketplace is uncommon and elusive, which without Mark’s assistance would not have occurred. Mark consistently delivers creative and business savvy perspectives to be weighed and often followed. His mix of professional background and real world experience allowed for accomplishments that continue to be held up as a benchmarks for other initiatives.
Throughout my 15 year business relationship with Mark, he was always ready to jump into issues and was continually a great asset to myself and our management staff."
Vice President, FANUC Robotics of America
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"I've worked with Mark for 10 years on large and small projects and also several improvement initiatives. If you're looking for a comfortable consultant who will just explain the latest management techniques, Mark may not be your guy. But if you want someone who is not afraid to challenge you and your team, will tailor the latest knowledge to your needs, will apply over 20 years of experience to your strategic planning, and will do the behind-the-scenes work to strengthen your organization, you should work with Mark."
Director - Engineering, FANUC Robotics America