The Planning Group 20th Anniversary

April 17, 2023

Thank you for our First 20 years.

Today marks the 20^th anniversary of The Planning Group. It has been an incredible 2 decades assisting clients, learning, and making some great friends along the way. I am proud of the work we do and the difference we have made for so many organizations. We have assisted more than 250 clients across every imaginable corner of for-profit and non-profit organizations in 20+ countries. I am grateful for the reception and support we have received along the way. Starting with my two remarkable mentors at Sunlife in Bruce West and Kevin Strain to my early boosters John Dinner and Hubert St. Onge, I have been lucky to the extreme. Bruce taught me how to be a professional and got me hooked on strategic planning. Among many other things, John introduced me to Lynn Beauregard at Governance Professionals Canada. Our multifaceted partnership with GPC is foundational to much of the business we now enjoy with co-ops, regulators, universities and major associations.

I have had the constant support of Jim Beretta across the years, first as a client at ATS and later as a fellow consultant and frequent collaborator. Jim introduced me to the team at A3 and is single handedly responsible for opening the door to the municipal work that is now so important to The Planning Group. Jim is a great sounding board and still my best salesperson. Britta and I count Jim and his wife Janet among our closest friends. Dave Park at Equitable Life, and the teams at the CCAC and Public Health of Waterloo Region gave us our first big strategy projects and helped make our early years a success.

The release of our Planning Boot Camp product in 2006 was pivotal to our growth partly as an introduction to the business we now enjoy with associations and because that product introduced our methodology and approach to so many valued corporate clients. Through the purchase of The Planning Boot Camp, Sam Appiah at Tremco opened the door to our most important corporate clients and 2 incredible leaders: Reiner Eisenhut at illbruck in Cologne and Chuck Houk at Tremco in Cleveland. I continue to have tremendous respect for the skill and professionalism of Reiner. Chuck is the most adept, strategic and successful business leader I have worked with in these 20 years. Britta and I count Chuck and his wife Cathy and another important Tremco connection, Doug Tovissi and his wife Lisa as important friends.

While the work of trade and professional associations is often overlooked by the public, these vital organizations are critical to so much of our economy. We have worked with scores of associations, and the talents and impact of so many stand out. Jeff Burnstein, Alex Shikany and team at the Association for Advancing Automation are a superb example of the professionalism and impact of the best. JF Champagne and his team at the Automotive Aftermarket Association, Nick Neuheimer at the Canadian Association of Radiologists, Lisa McDonald at the Prospectors and Developers Association, and Elisa Beselt and Krissy Bell at the Canadian Physiotherapy Association are making a difference in this world and have all helped make me a better consultant.

Farm mutual insurance companies are also sometimes overlooked but they continue to play a crucial role in society. Tracy MacDonald and her board at Trillium Mutual have embraced our approach to strategic planning readiness and many other sophisticated practices as they strive to serve the agricultural community and punch above their weight.

We have been truly humbled to help charities, regulators and many specialized agencies who do sometimes thankless work but help keep us safe and improve the fabric and vibrancy of our society. Audra Krueger at Co-operatives First, Danette Dalton at the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie, Cynthia Johansen, Louise Aerts and team at the BC College of Nurses and Midwives, April Stadnek at the Insurance Councils of Saskatchewan and Paul Andre and Cindy Hunter at Workplace Safety North are beacons of professionalism and making a meaningful difference in our world.

Throughout this all, we have had the support of incredible partners like Stephanie Breed at Stephsco who is a great web designer, and a heck of a sales person.

Of course, Britta has been my biggest supporter, advocate and partner in every way. Thank you for our first 20 years.