I picked the coaches at CO2 because of their strong intelligence and strategic capability, and their high emotional intelligence—really relevant to my situation, given the personalities and closely-held nature of our business. The chemistry was good, CO2’s team value system is similar to mine, and they also had the right combination of hard and soft skills. I’ve been working with the coaches at CO2 for five years now, and CO2’s business model—monthly fee for service, two meetings a month, available as needed—provides a good combination of consistent and emergency support. I also work with the coaches at CO2 in the strategic planning process on an annual basis. That has been catalytic. They’re often introducing new models from their readings and research, which I find helpful. The planning process helps galvanize plans for the entire year, and the monthly check-ins are like the maintenance program. It’s change through osmosis. Because of some of the structural changes we’ve implemented, my business is expanding, and I’m able to spend more time in my week focusing on bigger things. I’ve been willing to take on greater levels of personal responsibility inside the organization in terms of my role, and I think I’m a much better leader—some due to coaching, some due to more experience. We’re building apartment buildings now ($25-50 million transactions), which are 5-10 times the size of transactions from before. It does pay dividends to stay the course.

Bill BIsanz
CEO Real Estate Equities

Brian Nau
Global Truvia Brand Leader at Cargill

The coaches at CO2 has the unique ability to focus in and pinpoint the actual issue at hand—the one that lurks below the surface-level symptoms. By being able to accurately articulate the issue, the resolution(s) seem a lot more clear.

Amy Langer and John Folkestad
Co-Founders, SALO

I went into coaching, frankly, with very little expectations, but an open mind. Why wouldn’t you want to be coached? Even if you only got a little bit better. I told Gary, the more time he spends sharpening my axe the less time it’s going to take me to chop the wood. I’m very happy with CO2. I’m a Gary guy. I believe in his methodology and his style. Gary works with you. With YOU specifically. Everything he does is customized to that person and that moment in time. And he offers multiple-choice solutions. The goal never changes, but the path might. A good coach will let the ‘how’ change. Gary’s techniques and strategies change even over the course of an hour and a half. At the end of the session, though, we get to the goal. All of a sudden he’ll say, ‘See? You’ve got it,’ and I will. I’ll see it for myself.

Stuart Sneer
Chairman, United Prairie Bank.

It’s remarkable how we were able to cut through barriers and design a plan to execute. When you’ve been in a business for a long time, you sometimes need another perspective or, in the case of CO2, someone to ask the tough questions.

Howard Paster
CEO Paster Properties

“I was surprised by how many of my YPO colleagues were already working with them and with outstanding results. Now we are too.”

Steve Gullickson
President & CEO, MGK

” CO2 brought to our organization the ability to untangle our weekly lives in the business and step back to work “on” our business by guiding and stretching our team to look at the “bigger picture”. Not only did the coaches at CO2 help align our strategy to our purpose, but he also mentored the leadership team through numerous challenges giving us the tools and confidence to tackle any issues. Our organization would not have catapulted into success at the rapid pace if we didn’t have CO2 helping lay the guide rails to stay laser focused to hit our dream. “

Ken Schempp
CEO of eDocument and Sr. Executive Databank

“We’d been in business for about 15 years prior to doing strategic planning with the coaches at CO2. The direction, clarity, communication and, most importantly, the buy-in from our company’s leadership has been priceless. We follow the CO2 way of planning every year.”

David Burley
CEO of Blue Plate Restaurant Company

I have to admit, there are days when I think ‘I just can’t do this!’—but after every meeting with the coaches at CO2, I come away with ideas that inspire me to avoid procrastination and move forward. I would recommend the coaches at CO2 to anyone seeking an executive coach.

Alicia Carr
CEO, Kelco Supply Co.

[CO2’s] business success is matched by [their] compassion in service to others. With the help of the coaches at CO2, you can be ‘Outward Bound’ to high performance and personal leadership.

John Read
President, Outward Bound

Our company was a fast-growing, entrepreneurial-based business that had started to grow out of control and needed structure. The coaches at CO2 helped us firmly establish our mission, vision, and objectives; define and build an accountable culture; hire a President & VP of Finance who fit perfectly in that culture; and create a 3-5 year strategic plan. More than anything, I love the fact that the coaches at CO2 works with us in a way that allows us to answer our own questions and, therefore, better prepares us for the future. It has been a remarkable time in our company, and I am convinced we would not be here today had we not met the coaches at CO2.

Rick Gilbert
CEO, 247 Express Logistics