About Us
…if people are really passionate about succeeding with their business - they MUST do everything you suggest.
Nancy T. Nguyen, Small Business Owner, National Small Business Awardee
…provides a weatlh of information on marketing strategies and methods that you can begin using right now to increase your customer base…
Mike Minzes,
CEO,
Inevolve SB
A message from our founder...
Since 2006, I've had the pleasure of serving a variety of organizations and my varied background has helped me create the small business systems we offer. I've helped the Executive Office of the President establish strategy, the executive leadership team of multi-billion dollar firms improve their operations and tie performance to strategic goals, and many other large companies and government agencies improve their operations and relate goals to operations.
Simultaneously, we've helped hundreds of small businesses and have evolved into small business specialists. I've taken taken the best of large businesses: process orientation, accountability, budgeting, measurement, goals, etc. and distilled them into their essence and blended them into our process that we use to help small businesses succeed; the E3 Business Transformation System. I feel that by having a background in both entrepreneurial endeavors as well as high-level big business, government and military organizations, I bring a lean and results-driven solution to small business owners looking to grow their businesses and gain control of their time and efforts. Too many business owners work 50, 60, 70, 80, and even 90 hours a week and skip vacations as they try to make their businesses work. We help them succeed, eliminate feast or famine cycles in marketing, organize their businesses, and cut their time spent at work dramatically!
Before I started The Cogent Consulting Group, I worked in Aviation Management and directed and conducted worldwide VIP aviation missions on behalf of wealthy individuals and corporations. While I didn't own this company, the entrepreneurial lessons were easy to pick up on. We all wore multiple hats, everybody worked on building the business, and we interfaced directly with our clients. It felt like we worked too closely with our clients some times when billionaires would call in the middle of the night looking for advice on their aircraft…
My aviation career started in the United States Marine Corps, where I served for a decade as a Naval Aviator. As a KC-130 pilot, my family and I had the pleasure of living in Okinawa, Japan for three years. What a beautiful place and magnificent people! I spent the final three years of my Marine career on the Staff of the Commandant of the Marine Corps planning and running VIP missions for the Commandant and his guests.
My wife and I have three boys and find that all of our hobbies have been replaced with the activities they are in! All are avid soccer players and we get to watch at least three games a week when the seasons are going.
I have been fortunate enough to have been to over 60 countries, for work, study and pleasure. I was an AFS Foreign Exchange Student during high school and lived with a German family and attended school in Germany. During college, I spent a semester and interim studying in five Middle Eastern countries. Aviation has taken me around the world more times than I can remember and we love to travel as a family too.
Best wishes to you and your entrepreneurial endeavors!
Michael
My certifications:
*MBA from The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
*BA in History from St. Olaf College in Minnesota
*Six Sigma Black Belt (senior process improvement certification)
*ITIL Foundation Certified (backbone of how business and IT work together)
*Project Management Professional (PMP) Certified
*ATP - Airline Transport Pilot with Type Ratings in Gulfstream II, III, IV, and V aircraft
*Certified Business Coach
*Top Secret Clearance
*Trained Facilitator
…even at this early stage I'm seeing the truth of my business emerge, helping me make better decisions...
Paula Sykora, CEO, Real World Art Studio
…I'm just floored by my initial consultation with Cogent Coach Michael Nelson! WOW!
Annesa Lacey, CEO, @.l.interpretations
Who have we helped before you….
The Cogent Consulting Group
4222 Fortuna Center Plaza #155
Montclair, VA 22025
877-242-4812
info@thecogentcoach.com
