Rick Cottrell Top Business Coach |TAB St. Louis

Rick Cottrell is the owner of The Alternative Board (TAB) St. Louis – Metro East, TAB Central Missouri and BizResultz.com.

He brings over 35 years of business experience including ownership in multiple independent businesses, as well as holding several corporate leadership positions. He has assisted companies in many industries, internationally, including automotive manufacturing, vehicle rental/leasing, hospitality, high tech, utilities, wholesale merchandising, pharmaceutical and medical, oil and gas, apparel and footwear, sports, teleservices, sports and database marketing, heavy duty and farm equipment, HVAC, food and groceries, banking and credit card, health insurance, the pet industry, and many more.

Rick has spoken and presented internationally on leading edge solutions regarding customer relationship marketing and management.

TAB is a selective, invitation only membership organization made up of presidents, CEOs, and business owners who meet in peer boards or think tank groups to address issues and concerns as well as identify and act on opportunities to improve company revenue, profitability and efficiency.

As a previous member of a TAB Board, Rick understands the value of the products and services that TAB has to offer. His last company grew from less than $1 million in sales to over $8 million during his tenure on a TAB Board. According to Rick, “the ability to work with other independent business owners to discuss issues, concerns and opportunities was priceless. My fellow TAB Board member businesses were in different industries, but the challenges we all were experiencing were similar. It was nice to have access to the wealth of experience that existed within my board and to capitalize upon that to grow my company.

As a TAB member, through the regular coaching sessions and monthly Board meetings, I gain invaluable mentor and peer support. The TAB ethos and coaching approach has helped me to plan personal and business goals and set direction. This is supported by the wealth of knowledge, skills, experience and support that is shared by the board who provide Impartial, informed and considered guidance and advice on all types of business issues, that enable me to gain fresh perspectives, identify blind spots and fill my skill gaps. Over the last twelve months TAB has effectively become my company’s non-executive board and its members my trusted colleagues.

Saul Goldfarb

Goldfarb & Associates

With each meeting at my TAB board I have become more convinced of its merit to anyone really wishing to grow or change their business. You get in-depth evaluation or your problems and excellent suggestions of how to solve them. However, the most important part is you are held to account. It is not just your issue that adds value to your experience, those of others are just as useful. I have found the experience invaluable in my journey through the start-up process. Having seasoned business owners to bounce ideas off and give robust feedback has been crucial to my confidence in my plans.

Rob Shaw

The Cracking Egg Company

I have worked for AES for 20 years and I assumed full ownership and control of the business, following a 5 year management buy-out. I joined TAB with the expectation that it would provide me with an opportunity to discuss, implement and manage changes that would allow the business to grow, with the support and experience of other business owners. During the last 12 months that I have been a member, TAB has been a vital resource to challenge my ideas and enable me to make better decisions. Working on a Business Advisory Board with other like-minded business owners from various sectors has enabled me to access support, experience and knowledge to help me to run my company.

Lee Johnson

Advanced Electrical Services

TAB helped me to focus on the things that have made my business scalable. I was tempted to divert my attention to another endeavor, but TAB helped me determine that was not prudent. The economy, and specifically new building starts, have helped, but the degree of capitalization would not have been possible were it not for TAB. I compare my situation with another franchise owner who was in my shoes several years ago and I am way ahead, in fact we just bought him out. My revenues have doubled, and my capacity has increased four times from what it was three years ago. I have time to be with my girls, work on my hobbies and enjoy life.

Bill Armstrong

President – ProHome Colorado

My TAB coach has gotten me on track and kept me on track since 2005 toward the goals I’d originally stated," says Perlmeter. "I’m totally confident that we’ll continue to realize the vision that I have for the company in our second decade.

Stu Perlmeter

President – First Resource

I have found my investment in TAB to be one of the best things I have done. One of the benefits of joining TAB has been the Peer Board Member’s help in designing a sales program that works. It works because I took the time to help our sales people become better salespeople, not merely pressure them to do more of the same. By being around people who think differently who are going to ask me each meeting how I did, compels me to make the improvements that enable me to enjoy life, and boy, do I enjoy life. I recommend this amazing program without question.

Anson Thompson

The Thompson Group

The Alternative Board is a place to learn and gather information. It is a group of people to bounce my solutions or ideas off before I try them. I gain valuable input for the decisions I have to make. Also it is very easy to see other’s mistakes, but not realize you have made the same mistake or are currently making the same mistake. Decisions, solutions & especially employee issues become obvious.

Scott McManus

Something Greek

Feedback from other business owners who understand the nature of entrepreneurs and their businesses, and can share their own experiences with proven solutions and creative conceptual thinking.

David Hirsch

Charles Leonard, Inc MEMBER SINCE 2011

I find that the sharing of ideas and problem solving in others businesses helps me think creatively about my own business. Stepping outside of my day to day work helps me look at the bigger picture and focus on short and long term goals.

Bob Makofsky

Conformer Products, Inc MEMBER SINCE 2011

The independent coaching sessions, the accountability to work on my business rather than in my business, the insights from my board members, the spark I get from helping my fellow board members.

Nelson Martins

DiPaolo Machine Tools

I have been a member of The Alternative Board for 10 years. My board knows me, holds me accountable and gives practical real world advice. My private coaching sessions are amazing.

Mark Rickard

Rickard List Marketing

There are numerous benefits. Certainly having a great coach is a huge asset. Secondly, having the opportunity to vet business opportunities, strategies and plans is a great help. Last, it is very gratifying to help fellow board members work through their issues as well.

Balon B.Bradley

Law Firm of Balon b. Bradley

We have an excellent group of professional business owners. I learn something from them each month. Hearing and seeing what they are doing in their business is motivational for me. And they are not "yes" people. They tell me when I should be doing something differently.

Lynn Gastineau

Gastineau Log Homes, Inc.

Having insights from others as to how they solve business issues is helpful. Plus I am finding we have the same issues in common – staffing, cash flow, and business development. The diversity of the group is also valuable so for those of us starting out, it helps avoid pitfalls of which we are not aware. For those who have more experience, it allows them to realize how important getting back to basics can be.

Debra Lord

Job Ready Services, LLC

16 yrs. in business. Company was run like mom and pop shop for 14 years. Since joining TAB we have been able to identify our niche in the market and now the company is being run like a real company with focus and clarity as to where we are going and an actual plan on how we’re going to get there. Our company is poised to grow in size and wealth beyond my expectations and with TAB I will be able to sleep at night in the process.

Ted Curato

TLC Painting

The ability to leave my business and enter the world of being a CEO once a month was a fantasy to me. The friendships and learning experiences are life and business changers.

Neeshard Ahamad

The Orpheus Companies, Ltd

Our TAB Board members and facilitator have helped us deal with the on-going business issues we have faced over the years as a laser job shop. They have worked with us to plan strategically and helped ensure we are secure during the economic downturns and to capitalize on our strengths and grow in a controlled and targeted way. Our three partners now work together much more effectively as a team making all our working time more pleasurable. I am glad I found TAB.

Reto Hug

Maloya Laser MEMBER SINCE 2011

The best business decision that I’ve ever made (besides opening my store) was to join the TAB Board. It taught me how to structure and formulate basic fundamental policies and procedures; it has helped me sharpen my vision for future business and personal goals. The TAB Board provides a safe place to bounce around ideas and receive honest, creative solutions to important business challenges. Coaching sessions are professional, focused and very enlightening. They have helped me work on my business and not in my business. My recommendation – JOIN!"

Gina Snyder

Sunny Bridge Natural Foods

The TAB meetings bring together terrific expertise and creativity. Every meeting is a unique learning experience. My entire thinking about what I want my business to do has shifted. Sales are up 60% in two years. The support I need to make tough choices and start new initiatives may not be found within the company, but will be found in the TAB meetings and coaching sessions.

Don Rosenberg

Shorehaven Behavioral Health

There is no silver bullet to becoming successful, you just have to stay focused on your goals. TAB has helped my business grow significantly by encouraging me to take a step back and identify the basics I need.

Jo McCabe

Mr. Handyman

The guidance of The Alternative Board has helped me increase our revenue. The time I have saved and the return my firm has gotten has exceeded our financial and time investment. I am impressed with the organization.

Steven Kramer, Esq.

Feldman, Kramer & Monaco PC

Based on the input I got from my board on some specific things I should include in client proposals I was able to get two jobs valued at $1,300,000 that I feel I otherwise would not have gotten. And by working with one of my TAB board members, I’m saving $10,000 per year on my company’s medical insurance premiums – with better benefits. The savings drop directly to my bottom line – thank you TAB!

Joe Pacifico

Coastal Enterprises of NY Inc

I rely on my TAB board members to keep me focused on the positive ways to reach my goal.

Brent Mele

All Action Alarm

I receive feedback from other business owners who understand the nature of entrepreneurs and their businesses. They share their experiences with proven solutions and creative conceptual thinking.

David Hirsch

Charles Leonard, Inc.

Key Sales Metrics Your Team Should be Tracking

These days, the problem with compiling and analyzing sales-related information isn’t a lack of data. It’s an abundance of data. Sales performance ...

Why is Growth Important for a Company?

Doesn’t every entrepreneur and/or business owner start and maintain a business in order to see it grow? The answer seems obvious. But as many top ...

Working with Millennials – Get Used to It!

With most business owners in the Baby Boomer or Gen X generations, it’s no wonder I am often asked about how to handle millennial employees. ...

How to Boost Participation in Employee Surveys

Getting honest input from employees on workplace culture and conditions can be a valuable practice. But time and again, companies sending out ...

How to Create Actionable KPIs for Your Business

In business, what can be measured must be measured. There’s no excuse for neglecting metrics that inform you and your team how the business has ...

Your Must-Have Business Startup Checklist

As any seasoned business coach will tell you, starting a business depends on a wide range of factors. These include having the right personality ...

Quick Guide: Hard and Soft Skills Every Leader Should Have

What skills should every CEO and business owner have? Is it more important to possess a wealth of hard skills or soft skills? What about the ability ...

How To Sustain Quality In Your Business With Or Without Growth

As a business owner, there must've been a time when you were convinced that you had to grow your business in order to be successful. This couldn’t ...

It’s Time to Stop Measuring These 3 Marketing Metrics

Some days, it feels like we marketers live in a frenzy of numbers – from data analytics software that tracks every click on our websites to the ...

Involve Employees in Setting Goals and Reap the Rewards

In many companies, managers and other leaders assign goals to employees, then sit back and wait for results. This passive approach sometimes ends up ...

TAB St. Louis – Central Missouri

MISSOURI

Rick Cottrell

TAB Business Owner

TAB Central Missouri
MISSOURI