The Turnaround Specialist™ · Wichita, Kansas
Helping entrepreneurs push the envelope of business performance.
I partner with committed business owners to take control of their companies, address the issues holding them back, and achieve measurable performance improvements.
40+
Years of executive and turnaround leadership
F-14
U.S. Navy officer and fighter pilot
3
Books on leadership and performance
Weekly
One-on-one accountability with the owner
Experience includes work with
GE
Lockheed Martin
Goodrich
Aviall
M7 Aerospace
TECT Aerospace
Communication & Power Industries
Jones Alloys
Raptor Manufacturing
BlackTop Nationals
The problem
From chaos to moving forward
Many troubled business owners spend their days fighting fires and resolving lower-level problems while trying to keep the business running. They are working in the business rather than on the business.
Their attention is constantly pulled from one problem to the next, leaving little time to determine why those problems keep occurring. The underlying causes are never addressed, the same problems keep surfacing, and the organization remains trapped in a cycle of chaos.
Moving forward begins when the owner takes control of the business, identifies and prioritizes the most critical issues, and focuses the organization on the changes necessary to improve performance.
Sound familiar?
- You are constantly fighting fires.
- The business depends too heavily on you.
- Profitability or cash flow is under pressure.
- The same operational or employee problems keep recurring.
- Plans are discussed but not consistently executed.
- You know changes are needed but are uncertain where to begin.
My turnaround methodology
Five elements. One flight plan.
We begin by assessing where the business is today and how it is performing. Not everything can be fixed at once, so we focus first on the issues that have the greatest effect on the business.
Leadership
The owner takes control of the business and sets its direction. Moving forward starts here.
Planning
Identify the two or three issues that matter most, then build a practical, longer-term plan.
Execution
Convert the plan into specific actions, responsibilities, and timelines, then follow through.
Accountability
Weekly working sessions track progress, remove obstacles, and keep commitments on schedule.
Results
Continual, measurable improvement that moves the business to where the owner wants it to be.
Accountability
Accountability keeps the plan moving
Without accountability, priorities shift, improvement actions are postponed simply because everyone is busy, and the organization slips back into chaos.
I provide outside accountability through focused weekly working sessions directly with the business leader. These are not meetings for the sake of having meetings. They are structured reviews designed to keep the plan moving and make its execution a priority.
Several clients have told me that their most productive day is the day before our session. They know we will review their commitments.
Chuck Gumbert
Who I work with
I advise the owner. You lead the business.
I work one-on-one with committed business owners who want to improve their company’s performance and are prepared to make the necessary, and sometimes difficult, changes. When an outside advisor starts directing employees, that advisor can quickly become the default leader and weaken the owner’s authority. My role is to make you a stronger one.
What I do
- Advise and challenge the owner
- Provide an experienced outside perspective
- Hold the owner accountable for executing the plan
- Connect you with trusted specialists through The Tomcat Group when needed
What I don’t do
- Manage your leadership team
- Work independently with your departments
- Direct your employees
- Take over or run your company
Why Chuck
Operating experience, not theory.
I bring more than 40 years of executive leadership and turnaround experience to every client relationship. I have served as a CEO, COO, president, vice president, general manager, operations leader, sales leader, and interim executive.
My experience as a U.S. Navy F-14 fighter pilot shaped my approach to leadership: assess the situation, set a clear objective, develop the plan, execute with discipline, measure performance, and adjust as needed.
I am not a traditional business coach. I understand what it means to lead a struggling organization, make difficult decisions, and be accountable for the results.
I also serve as Executive Director of the Wichita Executives’ Association (WEA), a member-owned organization of Wichita-area business executives, professionals, and key decision-makers.
Client results
What clients are saying
Transformation
Chuck’s exceptional skills in organization and efficiency have completely transformed the way we operate. For the first time in 12 years, our business is running more smoothly and efficiently than ever before.
Kevin & Donna PayneOwners, Raptor Manufacturing
Direction
I now have a road map, and I am confident for the future.
Rick NuckollsPresident & Owner, BlackTop Nationals
Turnaround
Chuck is very good at grasping the issues, turning around a problem and not afraid to make changes.
Doris HarmsPresident, Electromech Technologies
The Tomcat Group
Specialists, when you need them
When specialized expertise is required, I can connect the owner with trusted professionals in financial management, accounting, ERP/MRP implementation, organizational development, and business exit strategies. I introduce these resources only when needed and with the owner’s approval. My advisory relationship remains directly with you.
Author
Lessons from the cockpit and the boardroom
Accelerating Performance
General George S. Patton on Accelerating Performance in Today’s Business World
Next step
Ready to move your business forward?
If your business is not performing as well as it should, let’s have a conversation. We will discuss where your business is today, the issues holding it back, and what you want to accomplish.