Two years ago, I was under so much stress I was ready to sell our business. After 16 years of growth, the systems just hadn’t kept up. Things looked “successful” from the outside, but behind the scenes it was chaotic – and I was done. Instead of selling, I hired Doug. That decision changed everything.

Over the past two years, Doug has brought clarity, focus, and structure to our business. He helped us move from reacting to problems to proactively leading. He implemented a sales tracking system that brought a daily focus and visibility into what was driving results. He guided us away from vague, year-over-year comparisons and into intentional budgeting, forecasting, and accountability including a payroll calculator that helps us schedule to our payroll/revenue goals.

He’s helped us set higher standards – from annual performance reviews, quarterly bonus structures, attendance policies – and stick to them. That meant having hard conversations: knowing which priorities to tackle first, which employees to let go, and where we were compromising far too much. One of the biggest shifts was moving away from a patchwork of part-timers to a more stable, full-time team. Doug helped us restructure wages and leadership roles to support retention and raise the bar on quality – a shift that’s already paying off. I lost a bet to Doug about the wrong employee in the right seat that we hesitated to release – (we’ve got a laminated $50 bill on the wall that says “NEVER AGAIN!” as a reminder). That story perfectly sums up what Doug brings: experience, truth, and grace.

He’s also gifted at coaching through leadership issues. Recently, one of our team members came to the realization – with Doug’s help – that her role was no longer a fit. Instead of forcing a demotion, Doug guided the conversation in a way that helped her see it for herself, and embrace a change that will help her and the company succeed.

Today, we’re in a much better place. I’m not looking to sell the business anymore. I’m excited. We still have more to improve, but we’re on a clear path – and with Doug’s continued guidance, I see a future where the business runs smoothly, and I get to focus on what I love: spending time with my grandkids, representing the business in our community, and finally enjoying the work I do.

Jerry Lecy – Owner – Great Harvest – www.greatharvestlafayette.com

As the Head Coach for the Purdue University Wrestling Program, it is my distinct pleasure to recommend Doug Griffin who has been a valuable asset to Purdue Wrestling, as well as, the Boilermaker Regional Training Center (BRTC). As the Head Coach, I worked closely with Doug as he engineered the reorganization of the BRTC to support Purdue Wrestling in pursuit of its vision and goals. He was instrumental in the restructing of the BRTC board, securing 501c3 status, and establishing sound financial health protocols. These decisions gave us the ability to chart a new course which was in the best interest of Purdue Wrestling and its staff.

Doug takes initiative and routinely demonstrates a high level of adaptability, confidentiality and critical thinking. These skills were apparant as he led the BRTC through a complex coaching transition. Additionally, his compliance expertise in state and local regulations helped to keep our board on track.

Tony Ersland – Head Coach – purduewrestling.com

“When your husband also happens to be your secret weapon for business growth, you don’t keep it a secret. Over the last four years, he’s helped me take my business from $9 million to $25 million and that’s not by accident.

From business planning to financial analysis, from choosing the right agents to building out operations that actually work, he’s been the key to integrating all the moving parts. We’ve grown from 2 to 6 selling agents, and just this year, with his guidance, we hired a marketing specialist to launch our luxury brand strategy.

I get the fun job of selling homes – he makes sure the business behind me is strong enough to scale. And trust me, he’s as good at balancing a budget as he is at encouraging me and making me laugh when I’m stressed out (which may be his most valuable skill of all).

If you’re looking for someone who can help you grow with clarity, structure, and a little bit of humor along the way – I highly recommend him. After all, I’d know better than anyone.”

Kristy Griffin – President – griffinrealestateteam.com