We are a talent management consulting firm specializing in helping companies execute their strategy, transform their organizations, improve their effectiveness and take their organizations to the next level. We do this by focusing on building talent, aligning culture, elevating performance and accelerating change
Through our AMBITION, PRINCIPLES and PURPOSE, we contribute to the vitality of our client's success by helping them grow and transform themselves, their teams, their organizations, their companies and their industries.
AMBITION
a story one creates and intends to fulfill in order to take care of concerns; an earnest desire for achievement or distinction, and the willingness to strive for its attainment
To build a great company admired for our . . .
Unwavering dedication to the success of those we serve
Contributions to deliver superior business outcomes
Reputation for bringing forth simple, integrated, meaningful, relevant and scarce solutions to address talent related business challenges
Thought leadership around the talent equation
Ability to inspire, attract and retain accomplished talent in search of opportunities to:
:: Pursue mastery
:: Exercise autonomy
:: Fulfill purpose
:: Make a meaningful difference
PRINCIPLES
a set of rules or code of conduct that influences your actions
These principles guide who we are and what we do . . .
We believe in the power of:
Alignment of our solutions and our collective efforts behind a common sense of purpose for our clients and each other.
Innovation by bringing forth the best ideas whether we are the source of them or not and whether they are new ideas, or just old ideas being applied to new situations.
Simplicity to drive value, lower cost, minimize distractions and accelerate change – we strive to ensure our solutions are no more sophisticated, complex or costly than absolutely necessary to meet the need.
Execution with a sense of urgency and a relentless focus on meaningful outcomes, not activities.
Candor with our clients who engage with us for our knowledge, expertise, insights and perspective. We do not hold back – we tell it like it is, say what needs to be said, not what others want to hear – and we do it in a timely, constructive and respectful way.
Ownership for every aspect of our client’s experience and our collective success – as owners of our company, no task it too big or too small, we hate job descriptions, we do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done regardless of title or tenure.
Integrity for being who we say we are and doing what we say we’ll do, living our values and honoring our commitments, at all times, period.
PURPOSE
a feeling of being determined to do or achieve something
To optimize the human element of business by unleashing the potential of talent to achieve superior individual, team and organization success.
Unleashing the untapped potential of talent
is at the heart of what we do.
Our purpose . . .
Keeps us laser focused on what we’re best at and most passionate about
Puts our work in service of something greater
Inspires us to learn, innovate, differentiate and contribute
Enables us to be clear on our contribution to help our client’s win, and win big!
MEET THE TEAM
Tom Simon - Managing Director
Tom is an accomplished Talent Management thought leader with demonstrated success helping companies drive superior business results through practical, proven and powerful solutions to build talent, align culture, elevate performance and accelerate change. He has held significant senior level talent related leadership roles across a wide-range of industries and privately and publicly held companies like Motorola, Baxter Healthcare, Hewlett Packard, CNA Financial and most recently US Foods. At these firms, Tom led teams of up to 70 people and annual budgets of nearly $20M.
Relevant Experience
Worked with CEO and executive team to lead cultural integration for proposed merger of company with its largest competitor. Completed comprehensive culture assessment of each company and developed strategies for culture integration, flight risk, talent selection, leadership alignment and change management.
Partnered with CEO and executive leadership team to lead company-wide cultural transformation effort to align talent and culture with strategy. Co-facilitated culture workshops for over 1,200 leaders and implemented solutions to engage leaders and sustain the desired culture.
Collaborated with sales leadership teams at multiple companies to drive year-over-year sales growth and increased time to productivity through performance coaching, selling skills development, process improvement, sales narratives and new hire on-boarding programs.
Identified and implemented standards of high performance across a range of roles and integrated with performance coaching, leadership development and talent selection.
Designed and implemented practical leadership programs to align leaders with transformation initiatives and build coaching, change leadership and improve sales effectiveness.
Developed and implemented numerous global and company-wide talent review systems processes to upgrade talent, build leadership pipelines, drive succession planning and support leadership coaching and development actions.
Partnered with Columbia Business School to facilitate strategic planning process with top 200 leaders across the company. Outcomes included a winning proposition for the enterprise, key customer segments and a detailed plan to align talent, organization and culture to the new strategic direction of the company.
Professional Education & Development
Tom completed a fellowship program in Business Transformation at the Wharton School of Business and received an MBA Degree and B.S. in Computer Science from Northern Illinois University. He also completed the Business Professionals Program through the Aji Network and executive programs in strategy at Columbia University, University of Michigan and Stanford University.
Nicole Cicak - Marketing Advisor
Nicole has partnered with numerous large brands over the course of her career in marketing, merchandising and design. She specializes in helping brands communicate compelling messages that are in line with their core values.
Nicole spent four years working at Wendy's International in Columbus, Ohio. At Wendy's, she art directed large-scale photo shoots, managed the design of national merchandising campaigns, and directed all Wendy's logo usage across the country. Nicole has a breadth of knowledge in branding, illustration, print / social media and art direction. She advises Tannin on marketing, design, communications, messaging and brand strategy.
Professional Education & Development
Nicole earned her Bachelor's Degree in Strategic Communications from Miami University. After earning her degree, she attended the Chicago Portfolio school, where she studied Art Direction.
OUR NAMe
OUR NAME
White Rose Estate, Dayton, Oregon
While attending a wine tasting event at a vineyard in Portland, Oregon a wine steward was overheard describing the impact “tannins” have on their wine. She stated that, “tannins bring out the best the wine has to offer, pulling together all the ingredients, giving it character, distinctiveness, flavor and completing the wine.”
What tannin does for wine (as well as leather and chocolate), we do for organizations by bringing out the best of your talent. We are committed to optimizing the human element of business because we know from first hand experience that talent, culture, performance and an ability to change makes the difference between merely “competing” and “winning”.