Bill's Journey: From Military Service to Industry Leader
Bill's story began at 17 when he joined the Canadian military. After five years in the Army, he transitioned to the construction industry, enduring sub-zero temperatures on a swing stage, installing windows in high-rises in Alberta, Canada.
Known for his resilience and work ethic, Bill also worked in the northern Canadian oil fields, drilling for oil and natural gas in his mid-twenties. However, economic and political challenges in the oil industry led to widespread layoffs, leaving Bill without a job. Undeterred, Bill pivoted to the telecommunications industry, working for a national distributor and selling telecom peripherals across Canada.
By 1998, leveraging his telecom experience and his interactions with numerous managers and C-level executives, Bill transitioned into management consulting, working with SMBs across Canada and the United States. His talent quickly elevated him through the ranks in the US market, culminating in his promotion to lead the Southwest division of a $200 million management consulting firm in Chicago, equipping him with valuable entrepreneurial experience.
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Over the past 26 years, Bill has been instrumental in building and managing three startups, collectively generating revenues exceeding $100 million by providing unmatched consulting services to privately held blue-collar companies across the US. In April 2014, he co-founded Cogent Analytics, a full-service management consulting firm. His leadership in sales and business development drove the firm's rapid growth from 6 to 130 employees within four years. Under his business development guidance, Cogent Analytics achieved a remarkable 1900% growth rate, earning a spot on the INC500 list in 2017 as one of America's fastest-growing privately held companies and subsequently securing a place on the INC5000 list for three consecutive years. In May of 2020, during the height of COVID-19, Bill stepped away to spend more time with his family and explore new opportunities.
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In June 2020, Bill launched his own LLC as an independent consultant. This endeavor led him to meet George Lauber in January 2024. Both George and Bill hit it off immediately. With George's extensive experience in both business and construction, and Bill's unique expertise in business development, they recognized the potential to merge their skills to assist skilled tradesmen leading small to mid-cap privately held companies in scaling their operations and enhancing both operational and financial performance.
Bill's Expertise and Visionary Leadership
Bill's expertise spans various blue-collar industries, including all levels of construction, industrial manufacturing, contract manufacturing, supply chain logistics, transportation, and energy. He is celebrated for his innovative leadership, strategic vision, and exceptional ability to drive revenue and profit initiatives. With a unique blend of technical and business acumen, Bill offers invaluable guidance to business owners in the trades, senior executives, product managers, engineers, and technicians. His passion for facilitating profitable expansion and delivering strategic support has earned him widespread acclaim as a visionary leader, highly regarded by skilled tradesmen and business owners alike.