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TAB San Mateo County - TABsmc
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 Take your business to the next level
The Alternative Board brings together owners and principals of
non-competing, privately held businesses to solve challenges, seize
new opportunities and to support and hold each other accountable.
Board members meet monthly in a facilitated board session
to learn from one another's successes and lessons learned, and to grow
their businesses to the next level.
Members also meet each month with their Facilitator for a private coaching
session to prepare for the next board meeting and to help advance their
strategic and tactical agendas.
TABsmc also facilitates and encourages resource sharing, business development and networking between members and other TAB boards. Sign up for our free management newsletter - TIPS from the TOP
The Alternative Board
is the world's largest CEO membership, executive coaching and management consulting organization.
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A few years ago, we were dismayed at declining sales, and with no real direction we were just muddling along. Both my cousin and I joined two different TAB Boards and while I was initially sceptical, within a couple of months we had a written business plan, identified specific financial goals, had defined the markets we were strong in, and now have a sense of direction—we know where we’re going.
Our employees are also more motivated now that they see the company’s direction and progress. All of this has created more time for me to pursue my personal interests, because I no longer need to be there every minute.
Stan Sheppard, co-CEO, C.H. Bull Company, South San Francisco, CA
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A few years ago, we were dismayed at declining sales, and with no real direction we were just muddling along. Both my cousin and I joined two different TAB Boards and while I was initially sceptical, within a couple of months we had a written business plan, identified specific financial goals, had defined the markets we were strong in, and now have a sense of direction—we know where we’re going.
Our employees are also more motivated now that they see the company’s direction and progress. All of this has created more time for me to pursue my personal interests, because I no longer need to be there every minute.
Stan Sheppard, co-CEO, C.H. Bull Company, South San Francisco, CA
I initially joined TAB to learn how to better deal with ‘me’ and the fact that I perceived myself as a primary obstacle to growth. With TAB, I got plenty of ideas on how to view myself and the business differently and this has definitely improved my business.
TAB has also taught me that my business plan is a living document and we track it periodically using the monthly progress report. In short, TAB has helped me design business processes that are more systematic, efficient and that get results.
Since joining TAB three years ago my sales have more than doubled.
Ramon Canova CEO, Marque Foods, Inc., South San Francisco, CA
With only about 5 years to build the value of my business and prepare for my gradual exit, I most value the perspective and accountability that the TAB process provides in fundamental business functions such as marketing, human resources and business planning...
Most importantly, there are no excuses for postponing progress or following through on what I say I’m going to do each month—I don’t want to disappoint my fellow Board members. I have been a member for over three years.
Ron Holden, CEO, Collier Building Specialties, San Francisco, CA
Through TAB I developed a realistic business plan and subsequently identified a competitor as a possible acquisition target, although the asking price was way too high.
Not only did my Board give me the confidence and offering price strategy to go forward with a company acquisition, but they helped me get through every stage of the acquisition itself. I was able to acquire the company at literally a fraction of the asking price. To say the least, the return on my TAB investment has been huge.
Simon Vivian, CEO, Bay Imaging Inc. San Carlos, CA
I orginally joined TAB to get an effective and easy way to learn how to run the business more efficiently, hire employees; learn more about how to use my financials as a business tool and to implement key processes.
That said, I just recently acquired a new business which more than doubled the volume and revenue of my business...
Thanks to TAB with its support and added perspective, I had the confidence that I was ready for this significant step and up to meeting the new challenge—I never would have entertained the acquisition prior to joining TAB.
Melinda Manley, CEO, RSVP Publications, San Carlos, CA
I joined TAB to “get some business practices in order”, and also for marketing support, lead generation processes, assessments, presentations to owners, and to better perform the sales function in my company. As a result, I improved my hiring and retention and now have the best people for my company.
The bottom line result? Well, last year, in just 6 months, I had the same bottom line that I did during all of the previous year. Now I’m having so much fun that I’ve decided not to retire early. TAB helped with the tools and helped to share the experience of other seasoned business owners.
Mel Springs, CEO, Walter M. Springs Construction, Redwood City, CA
Working with my TAB Board members in our monthly meetings is like working on a series of business school case studies - only it’s real life, and one of those cases is my business. The written TAB Monthly Progress Report ties to my Business Plan and helps me prioritize what's important - not just what's urgent.
I think any CEO needs a fresh set of eyes—certainly other than your bankers! Now, I’ve refocused my product line into the specialty hardware market and am much more energized and focused.
Peter Bloom, CEO, Bright Ideas Unlimited, South San Francisco, CA
TAB challenges you…everyone needs to be challenged in their position. It forces me to think, helps to clarify where you are, where you are headed and how you're going to get there.
It's amazing - when you get 7 or 8 people together the ideas that come up and how one idea triggers the other..and, how easy it is for someone else to see where you are missing the mark.
Vern Boyett, Boyett Construction Inc., Hayward, CA
I get a lot out of our board discussions and I have been a member for over five years.
Preparing for a meeting really forces me to take time out to think through what is really going on—otherwise I would never look up. It is a forced cadence of stepping back and as result it helps me better manage my business.
How TAB members interact and support each other outside the board has been truly remarkable.
Walt Lemmermann, CEO, Advantage Enterprises Inc., South San Francisco, CA
TAB has been a very good support group to help me make good decisions and provide good ideas. It’s an ongoing process and things change.
The expertise from my facilitator, the guidance and coaching, skills and experiences allow him to easily advise which I really value.
I am very supportive of the TAB board experience. Our COO and my partner is also a TAB member.
Howard Lee, CEO, InfoIMAGE, Menlo Park, CA
I have found the TAB experience very rewarding. I look forward to the meetings and have found them to be benefical both in dealing with issues specific to my company and in providing a better overall perspective from which to view business in general.
The individual meetings with my facilitator have also been of significant benefit - in particular in helping to provide specific focus on both near term and long term goals. I have tremendous respect for his experience and am very comfortable with discussing issues with him. I have also found the two yearly planning sessions we have been involved in to be of real value.
Bill McFayden, GM, Automatic Gate & Access, Redwood City, CA
The greatest value of TAB for me is the continuing attention to long term issues and having the connection with the board members and my facilitator as you deal with the day to day...it’s like a conscience, it allows you to focus your efforts. There are a lot of things I would not have done without board pressure which has been a huge benefit to my business.
My facilitator is sincerely connected, (too many faciitaltors just just facilitate), there is an intellectual, emotional and theoretical challenge combined with peer pressure which provides the motivation, I feel supported, I am a believer and have been a TAB member for close to five years.
Carter Warr, Principal Architect, CJW Archtecture, Portola Valley, CA
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