Alpine Link Client Testimonials
Chris Heger, Project Manager, Turner Construction Company
“Thank you Mike very much for the insights and coaching that you shared with me. Not a week goes by that I don’t think of your comment that they are all “A players” and I have worked much harder to help them discover their strengths to succeed. We just completed a project that is being considered one of the most successfully executed in many years, and I was lucky enough to shepherd it from inception to a successful completion. The teamwork on the project was unique, special, and at times almost magical, and I wanted to say thank you, because the knowledge that you gave me contributed to creating a great experience for over 2,600 people working on the project.”
James Hamilton, Director, Dixon Hughes PLLC
“The coaching I received from Mike was practical, principled and targeted; never in the abstract. He guided me through some rough waters in my business, using insight from his own experience and timeless principles I will carry in my toolbox, beyond merely situational guidance. His rare combination of professional coaching and personal friendship developed our time into a highly valued relationship.”
Steven Hofmeister, Managing Principal, Thornton Tomasetti
“Given the opportunity to choose between several very qualified executive coaches, I chose Mike Hawkins. I truly appreciated Mike’s approach to the whole person, not just the business and executive side. We explored my development from family to health and fitness to the many aspects of leadership and coaching. Being one who is somewhat stubborn and resistant to change, yet understanding the need to change, I appreciated Mike’s delivery – tactful but strong and direct when required. My personal challenges that we worked on were managing health and fitness within the confines of a demanding job and improving my delegation and coaching abilities. The tools that Mike provided helped me develop from an accomplished ‘doer’ and seasoned technical leader to a coaching style of leader who effectively leads a 600 person group.”
James Lewandowski, Executive Vice President, McAfee Inc.
“Mike did a great job in helping our management team develop key leadership competencies. His one week SCOPE of Leadership™ boot camps energized our team and renewed their passion for becoming better leaders, both professionally and personally. His SCOPE of Leadership™ program provides a unique experience to allow leaders to step back from the busy day to day grind and sharpen their leadership skills. Most of our managers and executives that attended the workshop felt it was the best leadership development program they attended in their careers.”
Chuck Morreale, Vice President, WW Field Operations, Cray Incorporated
“We hired Mike Hawkins to speak at our world-wide sales kick-off dinner banquet and to conduct a training workshop. Mike worked with us to understand our key issues and opportunities. He customized the content to address our specific needs. He delivered his presentation and training in a highly engaging, interactive, and professional manner. He left us all with a number of top takeaways that we will use throughout the year as we evolve our sales culture.”
Jim Nissen, Executive Vice President, Pepper Construction Company
“I selected Mike as my executive coach after interviewing several coaches. Mike seemed to be well experienced and capable… and I wasn’t disappointed in my selection. Working with Mike was a great experience. He had a way of challenging me by uncovering issues, getting to root causes, and facilitating great solutions in a friendly way. He operated across strategic, tactical, and behavioral domains to increase my self-awareness and improve my leadership skills.”
Tim Sissel, President Elect, Fortis Construction
“As not only a coach, but also whom I consider a friend, Mike Hawkins has been instrumental in my growth as an effective leader, both personally and professionally. His ability to assess my strengths and opportunities for improvement and then develop a personalized path for growth is impressive and impactful. Many of the tools that Mike has added to my toolbelt have already had a profound impact on my effectiveness with my peers in the workplace and my family at home. I owe a lot of credit to my growth as a leader to Mike’s influence and look forward to continuing the journey with him as my coach and friend. The value add is priceless!”
Brad Kahler, CEO, Fort Transfer Company
“We hired Mike Hawkins to coach and train us on several areas of our business. He coached me and our COO as well as led our management team in learning best practices in decision making and problem solving. The changes we put in place because of his coaching, training, and facilitation have had immediate impact on our organization and will benefit us for years to come. I highly recommend Mike and Alpine Link Corporation to any executive who wants practical and impactful coaching and training.”
Doug Wride, President and COO, Websense Inc.
“Mike and his team at Alpine Link provided some of the best consulting, training and coaching services our company has ever received. They worked closely with us to develop a customized sales approach. Working together, we created a training workbook for our sales team and future new hires. They also provided coaching workshops, complete with materials, for our global sales management team. During the past seven months, they led nineteen workshops training over 600 people that consistently produced comments such as ‘Alpine Link’s sales training programs were the best I’ve ever participated in’. We use Alpine Link because they deliver high-impact services and consistently exceed our expectations.”
Brian Myers, Senior Pastor, Dillon Community Church
“Mike Hawkins has an uncanny ability to crossover from the for-profit to the non-profit, and specifically the church environment. I don’t know of a pastor who couldn’t use Mike’s coaching. After thirty years in ministry to congregations from 300 to over 1,000 in size, he has helped me transform some of the deeply ingrained patterns we all have that hinder our full blossoming as leaders–not to mention his ability to hone basic skills with surprising clarity and ease. From understanding the need for communication frequency and intensity, and precisely what it means, to efficiently organizing my work flow, to more efficient time allocation, to developing key leadership competencies, I have far more traction than ever before. Add to all this Mike’s strong but kind way of confronting with firm care, and his sincere “atta boy” abilities as a coach, and you have a good prescription for the personal change that must precede organizational transformation.”
David Pearson, General Manager, Dealer Partner
“We conduct regular off-site meetings and Mike did a great job in leading/facilitating our gathering. Our need to build trust within the team and encourage a challenge culture to drive performance was spot on. He was prepared, professional and capable of directing content and discussion towards the most effective resolution. We enjoyed the energy and his passion for people development. Great Job!!”
Randy Vandewater, Director, Swinerton
“I really enjoyed working with Mike this past year. I appreciate his comfortable style that still holds you accountable to your goals. I also appreciated the flexible agenda that allowed us to discuss current relevant issues as they were happing.”
Mario Wijtman, Executive Vice President, XL Construction
“Mike’s very insightful questions and guidance have helped me navigate through the implementation of a major corporate reorganization and a transition of my role in the company. He quickly captures the essence and commitments made of our work sessions and always leaves me with an understanding of what my next deliverable will be.”
Charles T. Graft, President, G.H. Phipps
“Mike has been my personal coach for the past year. Along with being my personal coach, I have had Mike work closely with my Management Team. Mike’s role is to help me understand my roles and responsibilities to my Management Team, to be a member, leader and friend. Mike periodically interviews each one of the Management members (5) and provides me feedback (report card) on how I am doing. This has become an invaluable tool for me and my Management Team. It really has taken down walls and barriers for our team. I truly value Mike’s candid, honest, and professional style.”
Chris Kennebeck, Chief Financial Officer, Plote Construction
“Working with Mike provided the structure and refinement needed to push my leadership skills to the next level. Our discussion of my individual characteristics as well as my working environment provided beneficial insight into not only my strengths and weaknesses but of our organization. This allowed us to develop a balanced approach to identify and design improvement of myself and of my colleagues. Mike helped me understand and emphasize a holistic view of leadership and how to enlist the resources of others in becoming a better leader. What I have learned from my coaching with Mike will be of continuous benefit as I continue my career.”
Ryan Maibach, President, Barton Malow Company
“Mike has been my coach for the past year and I look forward to working with Mike again this year. Mike has deep experience in business planning, team collaboration, employee performance management, time management, and decision making. Mike’s coaching has helped me better manage my professional development as well as address various operational issues at our company.”
Steve Elliott, President, Seko Construction
“Mike’s coaching has not only been an inspiration, but it has broadened my whole thought process. It has provided me with the skills and strategies necessary to identify and focus on various different situations objectively. Mike encouraged me to develop a better perception of myself and my values by learning to balance, prioritize, and manage my time, both professionally and personally. After our discussions, I feel more confident and focused, and have a better sense of control and determination throughout various aspects of my life. I appreciate his guidance and for investing in my development and growth as a leader.”
Chip Toth, Consultant, The Leadership Group, FMI Corporation
“It has been our pleasure to have Mike Hawkins working within our Coaching Advantage practice at FMI this past year. Mike was recruited to fill the strategic role in our coaching practice of developing our senior most leaders. Mike’s many years of real business experience along with his interpersonal warmth, intellect, confidence, and drive toward results make him a dynamic coach to our clients.”
Chad Cleveland, Project Executive, Catamount Constructors
“Working with Mike Hawkins as my executive coach has been excellent. I found great success in reviewing specific situations with him as well as learning general principles through his real examples. His perspective, knowledge, and vast experience provide a wealth of information. His approach, demeanor, and character make a true impact. When learning how to work with an underperforming employee, for example, I felt as if I was in the dog house. I never wanted to disappoint him. He is clear, articulate, passionate, and fair. He has armed me with the tools and guiding principles to be a great leader.”
Chris Solomon, President and CEO, Surveying and Mapping LLC
“We hired Alpine Link to create and facilitate our annual strategic planning process. It was no trivial task as strategic planning is one of the most important processes for us to execute well in achieving our mission and aggressive growth goals. Mike and Linda did a great job. Through several workshops they coached us on strategic planning best practices and crafted a repeatable, objective, and multi-dimensional planning approach. They provided extensive support, analysis, and documentation. They facilitated our new planning approach in a two-day planning session which resulted in a plan that far exceeded anything we had done before. They showed us how to plan, kept us focused, and helped craft a hard-hitting actionable plan that addresses our key issues and opportunities. Our senior leadership team all thought the content, process, and outcome was extremely well done. We plan to engage Alpine Link on an annual basis.”