TESTIMONIALS
"Adkinson and Associates was instrumental in assisting Sunrise Banks in first accurately assessing our project management capabilities and then ultimately assisting in the implementation of a PMO process that allows us to drive projects through completion and maintain appropriate regulatory level documentation. We could not have done this PMO implementation without them."
-Nichol Beckstrand (President and COO, Sunrise Banks)
"I was lucky to start my management career with tutelage from Bob. Bob taught me the all technical fundamentals a leader needs but what really stuck with me were the lessons Bob reinforces subliminally; integrity is everything, lead by example, show passion every day and crucially, we win or lose as a team. I will continue to try to live up to his standards because there is truly nothing more impressive than a prepared guy or gal fighting for the person next to them. This is how you unleash the potential of your own organization."
-Kerry James (CEO, Archway Marketing Services)
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"I had the pleasure of working with Bob at two different companies where he held executive leadership roles. His management style has no peers. He strives to strengthen the team by mentoring leadership skills. His passion for customer advocacy while driving corporate earnings is second to none. Bob’s forte’ is significantly enhancing corporate culture to a level that nurtures each team member, such that they strive to leave their ‘fingerprints’ on every action and decision they make... I've never had a leader that made us all feel like we were a part of something bigger. Bob has an extensive passion for developing leadership skills. Additionally, Bob excels at Continuous Improvement. This culture allows each team member the opportunity to leave the company, themselves, or the client in a better position. Bob has a drive for Innovation, Integrity and delivering excellence at all levels of the organization."
-Brian Albright (VP Portfolio Management U.S. Bank)
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“Employee Engagement is practically non-existent in the educational sector, which is unfortunate because in my opinion, preparing our future workforce and leaders is paramount. If we don’t have engaged educators, we won’t have engaged learners! Bob Adkinson is an Employee Engagement guru. He has opened my eyes to the importance of employee engagement in education. One of my first “aha moments” was when he pointed out the correlation between our Gallup Q12 scores and our student test scores at each school. Bob is an expert at identifying areas of strength and areas of opportunity for each leader in our school. He has an uncanny ability to describe the leader by looking at the Q12 scores without ever meeting them. I wholeheartedly believe that Employee Engagement is the most important practice an educational institution should be focusing on. If we want to be the best, we have to work with the best. Bob Adkinson is the best when it comes to Employee Engagement.”
Tim Widiker (St. Croix Central Schools-District Adminstrator)
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“While spearheading a reorganization for my division, I turned to Adkinson and Associates to help successfully implement a new structure with clearly defined outcomes. Bob has the uncanny ability to quickly understand complex corporate cultures and team dynamics… with all of the challenges and opportunities they represent! Bob excels at getting the best out of people and teams for organizational effectiveness. But he also implements processes to drive the “soft side” of business towards measurable business outcomes. This combination of talents is truly rare and I doubt you will find anyone better."
-Todd Louden (Global Marketing Manager, Graco)
"I met Bob while conducting my High Performance Organization (HPO) research at Archway. I was very impressed by Bob's commitment to quality and excellence and the results he had achieved at Archway. Therefore Bob 'landed' in my book "What Makes A High Performance Organization" (Global Professional Publishing, 2012) in the case study I wrote on Archway. And I still quote Bob during my presentations!"
-Dr. Andre' de Wall (Author and Researcher)
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"I place a strong emphasis on applying experiential learning techniques to my students at Towson University. Each semester I invite Bob to speak to my students and share his insight on leadership, engagement techniques and other skills needed to improve their success as they begin their professional careers. Bob delivers one of the most powerful and effective messages that I've experienced. His presentations to the students relate to managing (and owning) their level of engagement as a company employee. Several of my students have told me that Bob's messages were the most powerful advice of their college career."
-David Litterello (Adjunct Professor- Towson University)
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"Adkinson and Associates stepped in to a very trying and difficult situation that our company was dealing with in 2013 and provided invaluable leadership, professionalism, and a positive can do attitude. Bob, after learning of our situation came up with an entirely different approach to solving our very complex issues. As a result of Bob's leadership and guidance he saved our company hundreds of thousands of dollars in continued legal fees. Bob's negotiation skills are second to none. I personally witnessed his mastery to resolve our very difficult situation in a very timely manner. Bob did in a couple of months what our own hired attorneys could not do in over one year of expensive litigation. These words can't possibly convey my level of appreciation what Bob did for our company!"
-Mark Rehbein (CEO, Rehbein Environmental Solutions, Inc)
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"Being a leader and knowing that employee engagement means engaged staff + engaged students = learning for all, holds it at the forefront of our priorities. We have seen tremendous growth in our success at St. Croix Central as the result of leveraging Bob Adkinson's engagement methodology, and the Gallup Q12 measurement tool. I continue to reach out to Bob when I have questions or concerns regarding employee engagement and he is always responsive and delighted to share his expertise. He has the wisdom and heart to help the people in our world succeed!"
Shelly Clay (Principal- St. Croix Central Schools)
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"While we were working on several high-profile projects, Bob was able to navigate organizational politics and remove roadblocks so that the project teams were able to focus on delivering high-quality deliverables to the business. His leadership style kept everyone energized and focused, which lead to great team morale and a positive attitude all-around. Outstanding performance!"
-Andrew Black (Chief Information Officer, Stein Mart)
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"Bob is the most influential person I have worked with in my career. First and foremost, Bob is a charismatic leader that cares equally about the success of the company and the development of its employees. Bob demonstrates this by continually coaching and mentoring. Bob created the Leadership Academy, a curriculum and a methodology used to develop leaders and help them achieve their goals. Bob has a very keen awareness of how to monitor and manage for success."
-Jeremy Sacker (VP and General Manager, Archway Marketing)
"Bob is an inspiring leader and knows how to get the most out of the team. Bob's 'people acumen' is second to none. He has the ability to make an emotional connection... and coach. Bob is one of the best leaders I have ever had the pleasure to work with."
-Jason Flagstad (VP of Operations and Supply Chain, Arrowhead Electrical Products)
"I have had the privilege of working both for, and with Bob. Bob is a consummate leader. He understands what it takes to motivate people - people of all types, skills and personalities. What makes him unique is that he is driven and is a VERY high performer; and has the ability to work with individuals and teams to create a sense of shared vision to attain similar levels of excellence and performance. He has a broad portfolio of leadership skills that allows him to motivate different individuals, different teams, in different circumstances. Bob has said, "Top performers have edge." He has 'edge' and knows how to reach inside people and tap that spirit, the need to excel. Working for Bob, or on teams with Bob is exciting and fun. Every day brings new challenges and Bob is not a prescriptive leader who says, "here's how we will execute today." He works with the team to collaboratively get the best solution out of the best people. He is a consummate businessman and has shown himself to be successful in whatever role he has undertaken. Not only does Bob succeed, but he breeds success. His organization succeeds, his team succeeds, and people grow (both as individuals and in their careers)."
-Kevin Casson (Senior Director- Forsythe Technology Group Inc)
Educational leadership is a tough business partly due to the world of education being constantly inundated with a new way to fix our system. When I first met Bob, I thought he was just another salesman pitching a new fix (and a "business model") that would not fit in an educational setting and would be short lived like many others. Soon after working with him, I changed my thinking. Bob's knowledge, methods, and personality are a perfect blend to assist all leaders in improving the culture in any type of organization in which they lead, including education. Some of Bob's leadership suggestions may bring about abrupt changes, while others are very subtle. Regardless of the type of change he brings to you as a leader, it will be based on years of research, data, and personal experience. I feel I could call Bob today, ask him a question, and get an answer that would benefit my organization and myself as a leader almost immediately!
-Glenn H. Webb, PHD Superintendent of Schools, Elmwood, WI
Working with Bob has been a true game changer, as related to my professional growth. Not only did he help me better understand employee engagement, but also helped me better communicate with my executive team. Bob teaches the importance of high integrity and invites healthy communication among team members. I have been impressed that even low employee engagement scores can be turned around with the cultural improvements that were easy to make. Every company large or small could benefit from the influence his strategies help develop.
-Jennifer Giannone Director of Bundled Services, Trialon Corp
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"Bob is one of best leaders I've had the privilege to work for. He does everything that a good leader is supposed to do. He provides the vision and direction. He provides the resources and removes the barriers to make his team successful. Although he’s supportive of his people, he has a great sense for when he needs to step in for a course correction. Where ever he is, he makes the work environment better, and his teams are consistently successful."
-Dan Nelson (I.T. Manager, Target Stores)
"Bob is one of the most inspirational leaders that I have ever had the privilege of working with and learning from. His relationship and team building skills makes him an executive that can take an organization 'from zero to sixty' and cross the finish line successfully. A truly remarkable leader and person!"
-Donna Bauer (Senior Director, Oracle)
"I have had the pleasure of working for Bob, with Bob, and have known him both professionally and personally for over a dozen years. Bob was - and still is - a terrific mentor to me. He developed me into a better executive and partner across IT and the business during our years at Best Buy. Bob was also instrumental during that time one year in particular to rescue our struggling dot com business in time for the holiday selling season. We simply could not have done it without his untiring leadership and dedication to his team's and to the company's success. Later, during my executive years at Payless ShoeSource / Collective Brands, Inc., Bob was a source of insights and inspiration that helped me through many a challenging decision or situation. Bob is a champion for his team. He gave us many opportunities to take on more and more responsibilities, and then he helped to present us to the world so to speak, advocating our capabilities as leaders and practitioners in both IT and Business. He trained us. He led us. He helped us to take the next steps in our careers and our lives. By bringing out the best in his whole team and especially his direct leadership reports, he simultaneously ensured the company's success. In all my experiences with many different types of leaders in both the military and the business worlds, Bob is an icon and a force of nature as a leader, team builder, and outstanding communicator."
-Tony Briggs (Vice President IT Global Solutions Delivery & Divisional CIO, Payless Shoes/CBI)