Compass Executives, LLC
Nashville Management Group
Memphis Management Group
CE Financial Solutions
NMG Advisers, Inc.

How We Work

Success Stories

Our expertise has been utilized in many different fields - from public companies like Caterpillar Financial and Central Parking; to family businesses including Ideal Chemical, Stansell Electric and Standard Candy; not-for-profits like the Salvation Army, TPAC, and the Memphis Arts Council; and educational institutions including Belmont, Rhodes and Vanderbilt.  Compass Executives offers an extra set of hands and eyes, and an objective perspective, to help guide organizations to success.

Change Management

Succession Planning for a Family Business As the third generation grew interested in leading a family-owned business, we worked with the current business leaders to develop and guide transition planning.  The business has successfully transferred leadership and ownership to the younger generation.
 
Acquisition Advisory for a Music Business We served as adviser for the acquisition of a music publishing business by a start up firm. We guided the acquisition process and facilitated the financing.

Succession Planning for a Real Estate Management Company The current owners and next generation management team of this company recognized the need for succession planning.  However, they all were too busy running their successful business to plan this important step and asked us to guide the process.  Key to its success was our executive coaching to accelerate the external development of the younger leaders as they assumed the ownership and leadership of the business.

Project Leadership

Process Improvement for a Southeastern University We supported a liberal-arts college in a process improvement project for students. Our task force began by looking at students’ needs, and then examined existing processes. We identified process improvements required to better meet the students’ needs.

Bank Refinancing for a Growing Financial Services Company Due to costs associated with rapid growth, a financial services company required additional working capital.  We performed a credit analysis, prepared a term sheet, and guided the company as it negotiated with a lender and an equity partner to secure the necessary funding.   

Facility Review for a Health Care Company A Tennessee-based not-for-profit healthcare provider had grown to 60 locations and needed to evaluate existing facilities and plan the future.  We worked with 20 managing directors to develop and implement a process they could use along with their architects to evaluate existing and potential facilities, and develop specs leading to the next steps.

Interim Management

Interim CEO for an Insurance Company While recruiting a new CEO for the head of an emerging division of a large public company, our client needed an individual who could quickly come in and lead the organization in the interim.  We provided a full-time CEO to meet the client’s needs during the search, and worked with them to transfer knowledge to help jumpstart the new CEO in the new role.

Interim CFO Duties for a Real Estate Development Company When the CEO of a growing southeastern development company needed a new CFO and an investment leader, Compass stepped in. After an accelerated business assessment, Compass provided an immediate full-time CFO and a part-time Investment officer, while leading the recruitment for a new CFO to fit the company’s growing needs.

Interim Human Resources Executive for a Global Logistics Company When the director of human resources of this international company needed to take a leave of absence due to a child’s illness, the CEO called us.  We were able to offer full-time HR leadership immediately.  This was particularly important to the CEO because the firm was engaged in an international transaction at the time.  With our help, the company was able to focus on the transaction, and the HR department thrived.

Business Risk

Management Guidance for a Troubled Importer of Consumer Goods When a key Chinese broker informed a U.S. importer that the manufacturers were immediately changing credit terms, Compass stepped in to help the importer negotiate with his bank. We facilitated a financing and payback plan acceptable to the bank and importer.

Turnaround for a Family Distribution Business We worked with the leaders of a family-owned distribution business to help restructure an underperforming division. Our work also involved coaching and leadership development for the third generation during the restructuring process.

Management Guidance for a Construction Firm during a Period in Special Assets We worked with the owner of a construction company and helped guide relations with the company’s bankers and vendors during a crtitical period. We also helped lead the company into a new partnership to facilitate securing larger projects.

Planning

Strategic Planning for a Real Estate Investment Company The business owners needed to involve the management team in the discipline of using a long-term planning process as part of a transition in management responsibility.  We designed a strategic planning process and guided its implementation. 

Continuity Plan for a Financial Services Company To prepare a growing finanacial services company for unforeseen business disruptions, we created, implemented, and tested a business continuity plan. With the plan in place, the business has the capability to continue to deliver service during unforeseeable crises.

Technology Plan for a Not-for-Profit         We worked with a large not-for-profit arts organization to review its technology strategy and long-term plans. We helped develop specific recommendations on where to focus technology initiatives and financial resources necessary to support organizational goals. We also helped develop a process to evaluate future technology investments.

Leadership Development

Advisory Board Development and Recruiting for a Professional Services Company        The sales of this privately owned entrepreneurial company were steady, but the company faced competition in a business area where it wished to expand.  We engaged in a strategic review of the financial issues and specific challenges the company faced.  We then detailed characteristics of  ideal members of an independent advisory board, guided the company in selecting board members, and established governance policies and procedures.

Executive Coaching for the CEO/Owner of a Fast Growing Manufacturing Company   A fast-growing manufacturing company had moved rapidly from a start-up with fewer than 10 employees to a company with 30 plus employees serving the southeastern U.S. Overwhelmed, the CEO/Owner asked us for help.  We did a business assessment by interviewing key employees while assessing the financial information.   Our findings resulted in the CEO’s decision to use one of our experienced Executive Coaches to guide him during the next steps of his company’s steady growth.

Leadership Training for a Newly Promoted Sales Executive for a School based Training Organization        A local entrepreneurial firm was engaged in selling training services to school systems throughout the country.  We assisted the newly promoted sales director in developing sales and marketing techniques to help improve sales and thereby increase revenues and profitability.