What makes up a good Board of Directors? How does a CEO manage and maintain a “healthy” Board?
Fred Coon, CEO of Stewart, Cooper & Coon, interviews Don Russell and Dr. Doug Lind of Clearwater Business Advisers on how CEOs can effectively handle their Board of Directors.
About the Guests:
Don Russell is a partner with Clearwater Business Advisers LLC and a trusted advisor to C Level executives. Don began his career as a commercial lender with National Westminster Bank, USA. For over thirty years, Don was active in investment banking, private equity and merchant banking. Don orchestrated over $7 billion dollars in transactions primarily in the cable television, media and telecommunications space. He also has experience in healthcare, aerospace, oil and gas, and water industries. His years of experience as a board member, investor, deal maker and banker have required him to be a trusted advisor and coach to countless CEO’s, board chair and senior executives in portfolio companies.
Additionally, Don led the cable television and broadcast division of Communications Equity Associates, one of the largest boutique firms serving these industries. He was also President of CEA’s New York subsidiary. Don was Vice President of the International Radio and Television Foundation. Don has also been the President and CEO of a South American media company, Old UGC Inc., employing in excess of 400 people. Don is currently the Chairman and CEO of Ectero Southwest LLC, a water company providing water to oil and gas companies, as well as municipalities. He is experienced in leading high performance teams and brings personal, hands-on business leadership experience to each client engagement.Don’s Extensive Experience Includes: Managing Director of CEA Media Group, LLC (“CEA”) Chairman of the Investment Committee for CEA Capital Partners USA, L.P., a $150 million equity fund since its inception in February 1997 and Member of the Investment Committee of Seaport Capital Partners, II, LP, a $262 million equity fund since its inception in February 2000. Don is currently a director of Fuzzie Buddies, LLC. He is also on the Board of Directors for Lead Like Jesus and is a manager of BOF Earthwater, LLC. Don was lead director of one public company, Aerosonic Corporation, and numerous private companies.
Don has an extensive background of successfully preparing organizations and their leaders for investment and growth and is an expert in creating compelling messages for potential investors. Don has also successfully consulted with senior management in litigation situations.
Don received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Colgate University. He was also elected to the Society of International Business Fellows in 2000.
Don resides in Clearwater, FL and Cullowhee, NC.
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Dr. Douglass T. Lind is a seasoned management consultant and a pioneer in the field of executive coaching. He began his consulting career fifty years ago and added executive coaching to his armamentarium in 1973. His clients extend from some of the largest industrial companies, financial services enterprises, retail companies, professional service firms and the like all the way to start-up companies and advisory work with private equity organizations. Additionally he has worked extensively as a trusted adviser to large and small not-for-profits, colleges and universities, as well as churches and religious denominational entities.
Throughout his career he has also served on boards of companies and not-for-profit organizations and has offered advice and counsel to corporate boards.
Dr. Lind was a founding partner of The Sigma Group later to become Clearwater Business Advisers. He concentrates on issues that engage the leadership of the client organizations he serves and his fifty years of experience has been with individuals at the general management level – CEO’s, COO’s, CFO’s, Group Executives, Division Presidents and others on the senior team.
A significant part of his coaching has been with executives and professionals who are making a huge leap forward in their careers. Also, he has worked with those highly valuable senior individuals who have an area in need of correction, yet are already important contributors. He focuses on strengths that can be developed. He is known for his ability to link strategy, corporate purpose and organizational mission with the growth of the individual being coached.
Since 1968, Dr. Lind has worked as a general management consultant and combines his business knowledge with his understanding of human behavior. His clients have included many of the largest industrial companies, financial services institutions, packaged goods companies and professional service firms. Additionally, he has consulted and coached in the not-for-profit sector in higher education and the Church.
In his work as a general management consultant he has concentrated on strategic planning and competitive analysis, organization and operations studies, compensation reviews and industrial marketing.
Doug’s work as a consultant and a coach has led to extensive experience in conflict management, partnership counseling, team- building, executive assessment and succession planning. Additionally, Dr. Lind has a few start-ups and high growth young companies in his practice each year.
Dr. Lind was educated at Harvard where he received his Baccalaureate Degree with Honors. Additionally he holds degrees in theology, psychoanalysis and pastoral care and counseling. After forty years as a Presbyterian Minister he is now an Episcopal Priest and a certified psychoanalyst.
Stewart, Cooper & Coon offers Human Capital Strategy Services to both individuals and corporations. Our staff is dedicated to our clients’ success via innovative job search processes, employment management strategies, and state-of-the-art technologies. Contact Fred Coon – 866-883-4200, Ext. 200
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