At the time, we weren’t yet big enough to qualify for YPO. So I went looking for something that didn’t quite exist: a peer group of CEOs running similar-scale businesses. Eventually, I found my way to the Rafoni Group—now known as Katahdin Group—and joined one of their CEO peer groups in 2009.

The experience transformed my business. Over the next decade, Kurgo quadrupled its top-line revenue. Even more importantly, we dramatically expanded profitability and distribution, moving into major retail channels across North America and internationally. When it came time to exit, I was ready—because my peer group had helped me prepare every step of the way.

After the sale, I agreed to facilitate one of the groups I’d benefited from so deeply. I had planned to travel and take time off—but something about this work kept calling me back. I loved being in the room with CEOs. I loved the honesty, the rigor, and the caring these leaders had for each other’s journeys. In 2021, I acquired the business.

Today, we’ve grown to six CEO peer groups and two Key Executive groups, serving mid-market companies from $5M to $1B+ in revenue. We also offer a disciplined strategic planning process—Strategic Ascent—that helps teams turn ideas into execution.

I’ve lived the value of having the right people around you—and now I help other CEOs do the same.

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