Don Sando
San Diego, California
Don brought a wealth of relevant experience and leadership to Inner Circle when he joined us in 2007. He has had responsibility for all aspects of marketing - sales training, channel development, future product planning, forecasting, production planning, and strategic planning - with a Fortune 100 company. He also worked as Director of Marketing and Sales with a $60 million international technology company, which he helped grow to $115 million through core product development and two acquisitions.

In addition to facilitating Inner Circle groups, Don owns Strategic Results Group, a company he founded to help clients develop and execute their strategic growth plans to create a sustainable competitive advantage. "In working with various organizations, I've always used peer group interaction to create best thinking, regardless of the level in the organization with which I'm working," says Don."There's nothing more powerful than having a group of respected peers offer advice and solutions to your specific business challenges, usually from a perspective that you haven't considered. Being able to do this at the CEO and business owner level is a great thrill for me. Business owners grow and develop more rapidly, more sure-footedly when they are willing and able to leverage the lessons others have already learned on their behalf."

Dr. Donald N. Sweet
York Harbor, Maine
After 25 years of domestic and international business experience in various industries and several business degrees, Don opened his first business, Performance Consulting LLC. The following year he bought into a mid market family owned manufacturing firm where he was President for six years before selling it to a public company in early 2007. Earlier in his career he held positions as Plant Manager, VP Finance, CFO, VP Operations and Acting President and he learned many lessons – most of them the hard way.

Don knows first hand there are some things you just can’t share with anyone, board, employees or family. Business owners are concerned about meeting payroll, about losing or landing a large customer, hiring the wrong person or firing the right person. They need a safe haven to bring issues and ideas and get open honest feedback from people who are business owners or managers like themselves.

“When I first heard about Inner Circle I remember asking, where were you guys when I needed you?” I’m thrilled that Inner Circle is available to help people avoid some of the mistakes that I’ve made. At the end of the day we’re all in this together and on the balance we collectively make much better decisions than we do individually.

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Baltimore, Maryland
Paul has been operating Inner Circle groups since 1988. Earlier in his career he organized and managed three profitable bank subsidiaries, managed a 500 person operations division and designed, implemented and marketed the world's first integrated, full-service/self-service consumer banking delivery system. For Paul, Inner Circle franchise ownership is all about connections. "I have many interests and contacts in many industries, therefore I am able to connect my members to the ideas and people they need to solve problems."

Norm Stoehr
Minneapolis, Minnesota
As the original founder of Inner Circle, International, Ltd., Norm finds that maintaining his own franchise and continuing to facilitate Inner Circle keeps him close to the heart of the business. And he is good at what he does. Some individuals in his meetings were charter members in 1985. Norm ran a dozen businesses before starting Inner Circle, Inc. and continues to be excited by the energy of this business.

"To me, doing well in life means having the freedom to spend my time as I choose. Fulfillment comes from doing the work I was put on earth to do. The Inner Circle process can be cathartic for facilitators and members alike. It is during those intense three hours every month that fresh ideas and breakthrough insights, if nurtured, take seed."

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Floyd Adelman
Twin Cities, Minnesota
Floyd became an Inner Circle member in 1992, and was so impressed, he decided to become a franchisee. Floyd has rolled up his sleeves and built companies from the ground up as well as worn the hat of CEO in a mature business. In addition to growing up in a family business that ultimately became a public company, he owned a chain of franchise stores, sold companies and has developed numerous complex marketing campaigns.

"I was a business owner who loved being in business. After selling my company, I still needed to be involved. Inner Circle was the clear answer for me. Inner Circle allows me to be involved in 30 or 40 businesses all at the same time. It really keeps my juices going. I enjoy the process of meeting new people and learning about their businesses - whether they choose to become members or not."

Michael Synk
Memphis, Tennessee
Michael became an Inner Circle affiliate in July 2002, ironically after being contacted by a competitor suggesting that he start a peer advisory group with their organization in the Memphis area. Michael stumbled upon Inner Circle in the research process and favored our concept and focus. A business educator and coach with more than 20 years experience, Michael is an author, columnist and Customer Relationship Management specialist. His book "How to Create Customers as Loyal as Norm Peterson: The Cheers Model of Marketing" (In-Synk, 2001) is currently being used by the FedEx Leadership Institute to teach the principles of Customer Relationship Management.

"Inner Circle is a perfect fit for me," Synk said. "My position as an Inner Circle affiliate complements my existing business education and coaching business. Inner Circle provides a new sense of community to Memphis entrepreneurs that will help them compete and succeed - both personally and professionally."

Jeff Redmon
Hudson, Wisconsin
Jeff had been an Inner Circle member for two years when he decided he enjoyed the experience so much he wanted to purchase a franchise and start his own circles.

With over twenty years of experience as a business lawyer, and having recently opened his own law firm, Jeff is well acquainted with the tough issues entrepreneurs face in defining, growing, and protecting their businesses. While he had no desire to stop practicing law, he was interested in an adjunct business that would be a source of recurring revenue.

Inner Circle proved to be the perfect fit. As he explains, “I’m able to keep everything I love about practicing law — the intellectual challenge, the variety, the focus on problem solving, the chance to influence major decisions in several different businesses, and the meaningful relationships — while I step away from some of the pressures of the billable hour. It’s been invigorating for my career, and the experience as a facilitator, especially the concentrated focus on listening is making me a much better lawyer.”

One other thing from the past that Jeff holds on to is his original Inner Circle membership. He now gets sage advice from his peers on growing both his law firm and his Inner Circle franchise.

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