“I want to both thank you and compliment you on a job well done. As you know, two and one half years ago I acquired a management team that was technically very competent, but which operated the Divisions of the company as independent fiefdoms and needed help in both team building and in forging unified goals for the future. I wanted a management team that could openly and objectively discuss the kinds of issues needed to build a longer-term strategy and plan for the company as a whole. I did not feel I could accomplish that goal on my own. With your help, we accomplished the following: 1.) The development of a Mission Statement and Values Credo; 2.) A dramatic improvement in teamwork and team morale; 3.) An understanding that I want issues put on the table and discussed openly until meaningful options are identified, a decision reached and commitment obtained; 4.) The development of a strategic plan for the company for the next 3-5 years; 5.) A solution to the problem of how to best restructure the company against the objectives outlined in the Mission Statement. These things could not have been accomplished without your help moderating the group and your insistence on educating us with regard to concepts and methods before we launched into tasks. You gave us the tools and disciplines to move forward. Those tools were as follows: 1.) Team building concepts; 2.) Problem solving techniques; 3.) “Sticky Wall” planning methods to simplify complex strategic issues into something manageable. Lastly, I’d like to comment that I liked your low key, flexible approach. Without it we would not have solved our problems. You allowed us to complete our tasks without letting us abandon the disciplines needed to complete the tasks. That’s a tough balancing act. Obviously, I’m happy. I still have some challenges with one or two members of my team, but we have come a long way and I believe we are much better prepared to tackle our near term future. Thanks again.”

Charles L. Colman, President

The Colman Group, Inc.

Elkhorn, Wisconsin

“Bill Harley worked with us as an organizational consultant to help figure out how to get our ‘stalled’ quality improvement efforts back on track. I was impressed with Mr. Harley’s willingness and interest in really understanding our organization, its culture, and the issues we faced. Unlike many consultants, Bill did not come to us with a ‘canned’ set of solutions. Rather, he listened carefully and suggested that he talk with many staff from all areas and levels of our agency before recommending a course of action. He was able to establish rapport and trust with every employee–from the Executive Director to the clerical staff. Bill created training materials from the input he received and was able to forthrightly, yet gently, deal with many of the issues that were impeding our agency’s ability to move ahead. He has excellent communication and facilitation skills and is able to present concepts clearly and simply, yet backs them up with a theoretical and conceptual framework that satisfies our more analytic staff members. In addition to agency-wide training, Bill has worked with at least four work groups in our agency, helping them to set goals, problem solve, and work on interpersonal issues. In every case, the group has made significant strides toward becoming a high-functioning team, not just a group of individuals. In checking his references before contracting with Bill, everyone raved about his approach and the results that had accrued to their organization. After my experience with Bill, I would concur with those assessments.”

Dr. Leslie K. Mercer, Director

Policy & Program Planning

Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board

St. Paul, Minnesota

“Bill Harley’s group facilitation skills and depth of knowledge in the field of organizational change were clearly demonstrated through his work with my product development and manufacturing company. He effectively guided very diverse groups of people through difficult and sometimes controversial topics, resulting in strong consensus around the actions that need to be taken. Bill’s inclusive approach and his calm and focused nature make him a very effective change management coach.”

Don Haupt, Business Unit Engagement Manager

New Product Introduction (NPI) Excellence

Caterpillar, Incorporated

Peoria, Illinois

“Bill Harley’s work with us has made it clear how our organizational quality initiatives relate directly to my behaviors as a manager. He is an exceptional educator offering an excellent blend of real life examples and theory, an approachable manner and very strong group facilitation skills.”

Ed Valdez, Segment Accounts Manager

Microprocessor & Memory Technologies Group

Motorola, Inc.

Austin, Texas

“Thank you again, Bill, for all you did with our Nutrition Advisory Committee. You make things happen! There is nothing in the world of Child Nutrition Programs more controversial than the food served and/or for sale to children for school lunch, breakfast, and in vending machines. Your process of consensus decision-making enabled our group to accomplish in a few months what other states and school districts cannot come close to in many years of meetings. It was especially satisfying to watch the process take a widely diverse group of people and solidify the commitment of each individual for the benefit of the entire group and, ultimately, for the health and well-being of Nevada’s children. The commitment continues. I continually get queries from the Nutrition Advisory Committee members as to when we can get back to work. I have absolutely no doubt that what we accomplished is due almost entirely to your facilitating and coaching us through this project. I hope we have the pleasure of working together in the future.”

Michelle Riva, M.S., R.D.

Child Nutrition Programs Consultant

Nevada Department of Education

Carson City, Nevada

“Bill Harley helps us immensely with our strategic planning—both at the operating company level and the holding company level. He is an accomplished planning practitioner with an approach that builds consensus and unity. But even more importantly, Bill understands the human dynamics of our management team. He provides valuable insights and coaching to me as the company’s leader. Bill Harley delivers significant value to our company.

David R. Carlsen, Chairman & CEO

Upper Midwest Industries, Inc.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

“Bill Harley skillfully facilitated sessions with our staff members who are very diverse in age, ethnicity, experience, and in their professional expectations. Through authentic and respectful interactions, Bill earned the trust and confidence of our staff enabling us to work together productively while retaining and even celebrating our differences. With Bill’s guidance, our staff created a set of common core principles to guide our professional interactions and to utilize our differences in productive ways. More than a year later we utilize the same core principles as a powerful uniting tool for accomplishing our mission.”

Dr. Robert Poch, Director

Minnesota Higher Education Services Office

St. Paul, Minnesota

“Bill’s training and consulting work with us in the area of creating a more customer-focused organization has been very valuable and effective. He demonstrates the ability to both relax us and challenge us to rethink the managerial methods and organizational systems which may be getting in our way.”

Robert Agazzi, President

Strategic Data Systems

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

“Your assistance in facilitating the development of our first system-wide Information Technology (IT) Strategic Plan was a key factor in our success. One of your key strengths was in keeping us focused on the broader, strategic business issues of technology application rather than yielding to our natural tendency to focus on the more technical aspects of IT planning. This emphasis clearly helped us create a plan that is strategic, not operational, in nature and that is adaptable, with a lifespan well beyond the short-term.

Ken Niemi, Chief Information Officer

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities

St. Paul, Minnesota

“One of Bill’s greatest strengths is his ability to bring numerous (and somewhat divergent) perspectives and opinions to a point of consensus. This strength was evident throughout the planning process and was especially visible as the group worked on defining and articulating the organization’s values and internal mission—a process involving over twenty people. Bill has the ability to draw people out, to get their opinions, and to get to the heart of the matter. With Bill’s facilitation abilities, using a consensus building process, we were able to reach an agreement on these and other strategic issues important to the organization.”

Heidi Gesell, President

Cherokee Bank

St. Paul, Minnesota

“Harley Consulting & Coaching was an outstanding organization to work with. The Minnesota Department of Health Diabetes Program developed a 10-year State Plan for Diabetes in 2002 and worked with Bill Harley to develop and facilitate the process. Bill Harley’s strengths included: providing technical expertise in designing a process for developing a state strategic plan, excellent facilitation skills, a remarkable ability to move large groups and small groups to reach consensus, an effective strategy for compiling and summar-izing large amounts of data collected from brainstorming sessions, and skill in writing up summary results. Bill Harley has an exceptional ability to work with diverse groups of people with differing viewpoints and help them reach consensus on direction and mission. He facilitated 14 meetings statewide in 2001-2002 with over 200 diabetes stakeholders throughout the state. He also facilitated 10 work group meetings with five different topic areas and five Minnesota Diabetes Steering Committee meetings as part of the whole State Diabetes Plan development process. The key element that Bill Harley brings to his work is a highly professional, open-minded, low-key facilitation style, which encourages diverse groups of people who have strong and divergent opinions to respect each other and work towards achieving a common goal. Bill is also very flexible and can adapt to the changing needs of an organization or system as they arise. I highly recommend Harley Consulting & Coaching for any organization that is involved in strategic planning efforts to develop a mission, vision or strategic work plan. ”

Martha Roberts, Coordinator

Minnesota Diabetes Program

Minnesota Department of Health

St. Paul, Minnesota

“I would highly recommend Bill Harley to any organization. Bill has been instrumental on our campus in helping groups in varying states of dysfunction and disarray move toward greater productivity and collaboration. He has unique abilities to help diverse and divergent groups move toward consensus and develop the ability to move forward in a respectful and professional manner.”

Loretta Lamb, Director of Human Resources

Minnesota State University

Mankato, Minnesota

“We have completed two consulting contracts with Harley Consulting & Coaching, Inc. We are in the process of extending a third contract because of the positive affirmation that all staff members have given towards your involvement in the organization’s development and internal cultural change. Coming from the private sector, I have found State Government and a unionized operation to be a difficult environment in which to implement change. Fortunately, the tools and process that you introduced and your professional manner of presentation have made participants of even the skeptics. Your process of group participation in identifying facts, values, and solutions has in many ways empowered people who have otherwise not participated as active contributors in problem resolution. In many ways, all staff members have been enabled to better understand the position and perceptions of other staff members–dramatically improving communication and understanding. The recent development of our Mission Statement was a clear example of consensus development between staff members that formerly opposed each other’s positions on the laboratory’s purpose and direction. While we have not solved all lab concerns, your services have given me a new hope that we can move forward with an ability to accomplish positive and constructive change in a manner that staff will understand and support.”

William R. Krueger, Director

Laboratory Services Division

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

St. Paul, Minnesota

“I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for your excellent abilities in working as a facilitator with our organization. Through your guidance we were able to work objectively to discuss many valuable issues pertinent to the long-term growth of Badiyan Productions. Your ability to include everyone as a team player throughout the sessions proved to be an extremely valuable tool. As a unified team, we are able to focus on our strengths as well as work through our weaknesses. In addition, the methods you trained us in for team building and group problem solving will help us solve the many challenges that arise in the future. I must also mention that our clear Mission Statement and Values Credo have given us a renewed sense of pride and inspiration. I would not hesitate to use your services again.

Fred Badiyan, President

Badiyan Productions, Inc.

Bloomington, Minnesota

“Bill is a phenomenal group leader. He has a keen ability to facilitate consensus from diverse and sometimes contending groups of people. He designs group processes to achieve specific results and the results are achieved. Bill helps groups to come to a unified purpose and gives them hope for the vitality and success of their organization. He is a consummate professional who takes his important role very seriously.”

Dr. Mary Raeker-Rebek, Dean of Educational Services

Anoka Ramsey Community College

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

“Through skillful facilitation and consultation, Harley Consulting & Coaching helped the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office create mission and values statements that are embraced and understood by all of our employees and utilized daily to guide our decisions and actions. By leading us through a highly participatory process, Harley Consulting & Coaching enabled every person in the Services Office to have a voice—and thereby ownership—in the creation of the mission and values statements. Given the excellent service that we received, we continue to utilize Harley Consulting & Coaching and recommend it to others without reservation.

Dr. Robert K. Poch, Director

Minnesota Higher Education Services Office

St. Paul, Minnesota

“Bill Harley is a dynamic, effective, and sincere management consultant and trainer who practices and demonstrates the very principles he teaches.”

John Kester, Vice President

Valmet Paper Machinery, Inc.

Appleton, Wisconsin

“Bill’s work with us on mission and strategy development was very, very useful. Our goal was to create a mission statement for our organization that would be customer-focused and get us beyond our current thinking on what function we should perform. Bill’s process helped us think about what we do in new and greatly expanded ways and then led us through the easiest and most effective drafting of a mission statement that I’ve ever been involved in.”

Dr. Leslie Mercer, Director of Policy & Planning

Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board

St. Paul, Minnesota

“Bill Harley’s work with us in the area of leadership development has been very valuable–especially in the areas of developing a vision and generating group/team involvement. His approach is very , credible, easy to understand and involves a good balance between presentation and group participation. Most importantly, his information and illustrations applied directly to our work environment.”

Mike Williams, Liaison Engineering Manager

Lucas Aerospace, Flight Structures Division

Jamestown, North Dakota

“I wish to thank you for your thoughtful, thorough, patient and professional consulting work with our office. Your analysis of the difficulties that we faced was accurate and your approach to their solution was very fruitful. Your method was both consistent with common sense and an intelligent application of individual and social psychology. I heartily recommend your work to other offices and organizations.”

Harry M. Walsh, Revisor of Statutes

Office of the Revisor of Statutes

Minnesota State Legislature

St. Paul, Minnesota

“Just a quick note of appreciation and sincere gratitude for your work with Hamline University’s Information Technology Services Department. With our guiding principles and strategic action plan in place, we are now undoubtedly on more solid ground and able to make more unimpeded progress as a result of your efforts. Thanks, particularly, for the generous extra time you provided on several occasions. It was extremely helpful and is also deeply appreciated.

Dr. Harry Pontiff, Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology & Innovation

Hamline University

St. Paul, Minnesota

“Thank you, Bill, for the business friendship we have developed over the past 20 years. It is always a pleasure to work with you. Your sincerity and honesty are trademarks of your character that I value. The consulting, coaching and Action Selling sales training you have provided to Badiyan show your tremendous effectiveness, flexibility and sensitivity towards a diverse group of people. The Badiyan team has always felt uplifted by your services and warm acceptance.

It has been 7 years since my staff went through your “Clarifying Values, Defining the Mission and Designing the Strategic Plan”. We still find the results to be effective in today’s marketplace.

I have had to call on you to go beyond your normal requirements of the job. You have always been there exceeding my expectations. Thanks for helping us to realize our potential and encouraging us to go for it!”

Fred Badiyan, President

Badiyan, Inc.

Minneapolis, MN