 “I
am the owner of a plumbing & heating contracting business in
New York, and am pleased to recommend the Business Support Services
of CornerStone. As background information, after viewing the CornerStone
website, I contacted them for a quote on a Foundation Assessment.
I must admit I was skeptical on what they could tell me about my
company. After speaking with one of their project managers, I felt
I could trust them with our financial information, and decided to
allow them to perform a Foundation Assessment for our company. In
addition to the financials I provided, they gathered extensive information
from our employees to help in their diagnostics of our organization.
The diagnostics, reports, and executive summary CornerStone provided
me was extensive. These reports showed me in exact terms the areas
of our company that profits were compromised. The focus was on the
areas of concern that I had, and included increasing sales volume,
profits, decreasing labor expense, increasing the efficiency of our
field labor, and the coordination needed within our office. As a
result of their Foundation Assessment, I then asked CornerStone for
additional Business Support Services to address the areas of need.
CornerStone has just completed a four week project to organize all
aspects of my company. The list of what was accomplished is extensive
and included: company-wide organization of all management, supervisory,
and technical roles; assumption of authority and responsibility throughout
all areas; documentation of all changes that have taken place, etc.
Almost immediately I noticed that the changes that were taking place
were allowing me to regain focus on my position as the owner, greatly
reducing the day-to-day details that always came back to me. I’m
now happy to say that my managers are now assuming their areas of
responsibility! CornerStone just installed our new accounting system.
A new job bidding & estimating system was also installed. Our
estimating is now automated - it’s easy to know the exact profits
on bids. Our labor operations are now monitored by our Foreman and
better controlled by our Field Supervisor to reduce any chance of
overruns. On one final note, another positive outcome is the morale
within the company. We have noticed many positive changes with all
of our employees as what appears to be a new found sense of direction
and position within the company. I am happy to provide a Reference
for CornerStone. But I am also a very busy business owner. For this
reason, I have asked CornerStone to give my phone number only to
those business owners that are truly serious about making positive
changes in their company”.
Owner & President, Plumbing & Heating Contractor
New York
“ The
results you accomplished have been impressive. Improvements are
expected to produce first-year savings of almost $70,000! I am
very pleased with the results of your assessment and support staff
and the professional and objective way they worked with all of
us, keeping in close communication at all times”.
President, Building Maintenance Service Company
Wisconsin
“You have given us back our hope for a profitable future and
a less stressful existence. In addition to all of the organization
you provided, you helped us evaluate our menu and create a new, PROFITABLE
one that will please our demanding tourist trade as well as faithful
local customers. I am more than satisfied. I would recommend you
to any unsuccessful business before they are overwhelmed. But more
importantly, I feel your Foundation Assessment method of evaluation
and business support reconstruction used would be of benefit to even
a successful business which has hopes of remaining healthy and competitive
in their field.”
General Manager, Family Restaurant
Minnesota
“
In the past 24 months, our company has undergone very rapid
growth - we have nearly tripled in size in terms of sales. I, as
President, have been put under an extreme amount of pressure. When
you arrived, you really hit the floor running. Now that we are organized,
I am quite satisfied with your efforts and am confident that your
services will pay off in the long-term dividends of the company.”
President, Canvas Manufacturer
Kansas
“Over the past six months, we have addressed issues to move
our division towards World Class Maintenance. As you know, I have
often used a numeric scaling system to evaluate the various processes
within our entire division. I would rate your involvement as a 9+
on a scale of one to ten, always leaving room for improvement. Your
involvement has been highly professional and intensely personal in
seeking to bring out the best in personnel and to move them to involvement,
even at times with personal risk to their positions in order
to create the best possible work atmosphere. I know we are a much
better group for having worked with your group the past six months.”
Senior Maintenance Foreman, Major Steel Manufacturer
Maryland
“The following are problems that prohibited our company from
being competitive in the local market: We did not know the exact
true cost of our labor; we did not know the cost of our overhead;
we were not able to control job costs. Company procedures were put
in place to correct these problems. These procedures have been installed
among my employees and I am very happy with the results achieved.”
President, Masonry Contractor
Virginia
“As my cardiology practice grew out of control, I found myself
dealing with multiple, conflicting personalities. Work efficiency,
performance and morale were at a dismal low. After four weeks of
your intensive business support, I am well-satisfied with the scope
and quality of work, and feel that the practice will continue in
an even more productive and efficient fashion to achieve its primary
goal -- of providing high-quality cardiology and internal medicine.”
President & M.D., Cardiology Clinic
Florida.
“I would like to say a word about your people. The overall
quality of work done and energy put into the project has been very
acceptable. I especially liked your business support person. He and
I have gotten along very well during the project, and he was very
supportive during some of the difficult decisions and changes that
we had to undergo for the company”.
President, Electrical Manufacturing Company
Michigan
“I requested immediate help for a family business counselor
to get assistance with our very difficult ownership situation. Your
business support staff immediately facilitated a board meeting (that
lasted well into the night) with my business partners (immediate
family). We now have clear direction for our company, defining ownership,
management and operations, so that no misunderstandings can occur
in the future. I am very pleased with the results and highly recommend
you to any company that has similar problems.”
Co-Owner, Steel Supply Company
Illinois
“Much of what has been accomplished was known by me and partner
to be needed. However in our rush in the past five years to grow
a corporation, the philosophy of growing rapidly replaced the details
of business planning for profitable growth. With your business support,
our company is now in a stronger and more secure position, and we
look forward to now doing our best.”
President, Trucking Company
New York
“One of the most important results from your support services
is that we now have the procedures that clearly identify the line
of authority in the company. It was interesting that in the minds
of our employees; apparently there was much confusion as to who was
in really charge of each company division and department. Also, the
new inventory and purchasing control systems will help us greatly
reduce stock that does not move. I thank you for pinpointing the
$100,000 in dead items in our janitorial division. We plan to sell
this inventory by September. I am very pleased with your level of
skill and efficiency, and feel you worked extremely well with the
personalities in our company.”
President, Janitorial Distribution Company
Minnesota
“During the past eight years since opening my practice, we
have continued to experience steady growth in patient load but have
continued to use the same procedures. The result has been a decline
in profits despite increased yearly revenues. During your stay, you
have given us the tools needed to help me become a more effective
manager and my personnel to become more organized and effective,
and this will result in retaining more of the profits that we have
lost in the past. I am very happy with the work you have accomplished
for us.”
President, Dental Clinic
Kentucky
“During the past three weeks, your company has diagnosed, developed,
implemented and indoctrinated our employees with the organization
support services for our company. It is an understatement to say
that the work of your personnel has been satisfactory. They have
given us the tools to become a much better organized operation and
have shown us how to continue to grow. Their efforts have been outstanding,
and it has been a pleasure to have them in our offices.”
President, Telecommunications Company
Kansas
“I was surprised at your fast service. The entire shop was
organized from A to Z, including management, supervision, finance
and our operations. Your support person did a fine job. He was easy
to work with, tough at times, but everything he did had a very good
reason for it. I recommend your company to anyone that has need of
it.”
President & Operations Manager, Steel Fabrication Company
Minnesota
“You have worked hard and have given us good results. The support
procedures will help us to grow with control. The computer hardware
and software installed is a good choice and will help our office
manager now provide the numbers I need. You worked with poise, confidence,
and we enjoyed your stay with us. I am very satisfied with the work
done and will keep in touch should additional support become necessary
in the future.”
President, General Contractor
South Dakota
“A business man in my position should look at the actions that
have taken place the last 3 weeks as being analogous to major surgery.
As with any surgery, it was needed. There were real fears that existed,
but in essence, in order for my business to survive, I had no choice
but to act. But I view the end result as being well worth the emotional
price that was paid.”
General Manager, Pharmacy & Medical Equipment Rental
Mississippi
“I am again writing to tell you about the continued improvement
in cooperation among employees and the big change in their morale.
Your support staff is always strong, supportive and aggressive, and
continues to use many tools in bringing it all about. Your company
has a real ability to read people and convey their unbiased impressions
to others.”
Vice President, Data Services Company
Iowa
“We have been more than pleased with your support staff. He
has demonstrated the highest level of both professionalism and personal
concern for our business. We believe that he brought exactly what
we needed to regain control and profitability of our company. It
is our desire to have you return to complete additional support work.”
Owner & Sales Manager, Flooring Distributor
Kentucky
“Your hands-on managerial training has been extremely productive,
and employee attitudes are significantly better than before. Your
support staff has been very professional in his task. We expect extremely
profitable results.”
Vice President, Auto Dealership
Texas
“The appearance of ‘consultants’ seven weeks ago
created quite a stir with our entire company. However, as the support
services progressed, this was replaced with a genuine feeling of
respect for the leadership and professionalism of your staff, having
a positive effect on the attitudes and behaviors of my employees.
With your support I look forward to the continuing improvement of
our effectiveness as a company”.
President, Ambulance Service
Indiana
“We are very satisfied with the results achieved by your support people.
We would like to retain you for an additional 90 days to make sure we stay on
track and provide us with more business ideas and recommendations.”
President, Heavy Equipment Manufacturer
Iowa
“Once the plan was developed, the managers were retrained in their jobs,
and things began to happen very quickly. The training process has continued in
earnest for all managers. A complete, flexible budget will now help us control
our expense as we grow. The new marketing plan is in full swing. And as our production
area now has accurate time studies for each model of equipment we produce, the
revised employee incentive program will now be much more accurate and effective.
I am very satisfied with your business support services. As our cash flow is
tight, your business support services were priority expenditure, but we are confident
that the results accomplished will return our investment in great measure.”
General Manager, Heavy Industrial Manufacturer
Iowa
“Hello, my name is Charles Bailey, owner and general manager of Southern
Metal
Fabricators and a very satisfied client of CornerStone. At our request, CornerStone
conducted a Foundation Assessment of our company. While gathering much information
from our key personnel and existing reports, they looked closely at the relationship
between our operational performance and profit position. The Foundation Assessment
quickly revealed key reasons why our financial performance was suffering, and
indicated areas needing improvement. With our key people, a detailed course of
action was developed addressing a broad spectrum of issues, including our organizational,
financial, production and sales/marketing needs. This plan of action was then
implemented to put the missing profits back into our business. CornerStone viewed
our organizational structure as nonfunctional, due to the fact that the well-meaning
key people in our company were doing their jobs as each individual thought best,
rather than doing what was required of the business. Intensive meetings were
conducted with all key personnel to explain the need for designing a functional
organization, built upon the exact operational needs of the company. During these
meetings, the relationship between the responsibilities of ownership and the
operational duties of the general manager were highlighted. After we understood
the vast difference, CornerStone then further explained the operational and functional
role of administration, production and sales/marketing. During these meetings,
many issues of nonperformance in key areas began to surface. As the key areas
of responsibility were fully discussed, I saw my key people struggle to accept
their past performances and were pleased to see the positive changes took place
in each one of them as they began to understand the level of commitment that
must accompany each new area of job responsibility. As a result of the support
services of CornerStone, I would estimate that we saved a total of $50,000 annually
resulting from 1) more efficient cost estimating, 2) production based profit
sharing, 3) direct cost accounting, and 4) improved employee morale. I also estimate
that our sales volume will increase by 30 percent over the next year, resulting
in additional revenues of $400,000.”
President, Metal Fabricating Company
Alabama
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