Success Stories

When Buz Artiano was launching Rebuildex in January of 2007, he knew from the experience he had with a construction company he owned previously that he wanted to get an “outside view” on how to manage certain aspects of the company.

“He wanted some objectivity so he wouldn’t repeat any mistakes of the past, such as with hiring personnel and using systems that were being done manually and needed to be automated,” says Wayne Andrutis, general manager and part-owner of Rebuildex, a Carver, MA-based home restoration company.

Kevin Lister of Paradigm Strategies helped Buz and Wayne with organizing their ideas for the company and putting them into a business plan that is producing results.

“Kevin got us focused on what was a priority and what needed to be done,” says Wayne. “He helped with selecting software so we could go to completely paper-less systems. He became someone we had to answer to, encouraging us to be disciplined and getting us committed to doing our homework for the weekly calls. If something isn’t working, he wants to know why.”

In addition to Kevin’s experience and knowledge in small business operations, Buz and Wayne have been impressed with the personal attention he provides

“I’ve worked with other consultants before and the experience was not favorable,” says Wayne. “They would tell you what to do and walk away, not help put those things into action. But Kevin works with us on getting things done. He cares that we do the things we need to do to become successful.”

In a very short time, Kevin was able to ensure Rebuildex got off to a strong start and on track for steady growth.

“Because he’s kept us disciplined and gotten us to be efficient in what we do, we’re on our way to being a successful construction company,” says Wayne.

After experiencing a revenue increase of 70% from 2004 to 2005, Ed Gillen of New England Refinishing realized he needed to find a way to manage that remarkable business growth.

"I had a nearly half-million dollar business that I was still operating with a one-car garage mentality," Ed laughs. "We were buying too much sandpaper and finish, and we didn’t have any hard data on the hours we spent on projects because we didn’t keep time sheets. We needed tighter controls."

On the recommendation of his CPA, Ed hired Paradigm Strategies in September 2005. Immediately, Kevin developed a business plan that helped Ed get organized and established structure for his company for both the present and the future. “Kevin advised me to focus my business more on kitchen cabinet refinishing and commercial jobs because they offer a greater profit margin and are less time-intensive,” Ed says. Kitchen cabinet refinishing has now become about 55% of Ed’s business.

Only a few months after he began working with Kevin, Ed says “things started falling into place. I got a better handle on my cash flow by implementing things such as a time card system that tracks time spent on individual and specific types of projects. Now I know the exact amount of labor spent on a job so I can charge appropriately.”

Ed continues to work with Kevin on the long-range planning, which allows him to move his business forward smoothly and stay focused and on track. “I’m no longer reacting day-to-day. Kevin assists me with hiring the right people, advises me on my follow-up with prospects and coaches me on selling my versatility and the many services I can provide.

“Kevin’s been invaluable to my business and an incredible resource for me. He knows exactly what you need to do,” Ed concludes. “I’d tell anyone, ‘you gotta talk to this guy.’”

After five years of running a business doing everything from additions and general contracting to roofing and siding, J. Kelly Shepard, owner of All-Weather Tite Roofing in Marlborough, MA, reached the point where he needed to get focused. “I was doing too many different things and going nowhere,” he says. “I was struggling from day to day, but then Kevin brought it all together for me. He pointed out the benefits of focusing on one trade and providing the service I’m most skilled at and enjoy doing.”

Now, Kelly’s business concentrates exclusively on roofing, as well as siding and gutters. “Kevin guides you toward the decisions you need to make for your business, however he makes you feel like you’re the one who’s making the decision,” says Kelly.

Kevin has helped Kelly with various business aspects of his company, such as identifying where to find work, bidding jobs, marketing his business, following up with customers, what contracts should include, and selling to a customer’s neighbors. “He’s helped me with everything from A to Z,” says Kelly. “Kevin has been a big contributor to bringing me from a roofer to a business man.”

Kevin’s guidance on business planning has been pivotal in getting All-Weather Tite Roofing through the current slump in the housing construction industry. “Kevin has good ideas for getting you through the down times,” says Kelly. “He’s helpful not just for growth but for longevity as well. He knows when you need to make the cutbacks.”

Six months after he started working with Kevin and Paradigm Strategies in January 2005, Kelly had doubled what his business was previously making. In the year 2005 overall, he tripled what he made in 2004, and in 2006, business increased by 60%.

As a result, Kelly sings Kevin’s praises: “Kevin is smart at handling business situations, particularly those involving customers. He’s really good at trouble-shooting difficult circumstances. Kevin also thinks things through and does the research before doing something. He’s a very honest guy and truly wants to help his clients.”

Asked what he would say to someone looking for a reference on Paradigm Strategies, Kelly replied, “To make your business succeed and prosper, you’ve got to hire Kevin.”

When Paul Montalbano of Monnick Supply Company in Marlborough, MA, started working with Kevin Lister in 2000, employee issues and other matters related to running a retail business were consuming all his time. Lister helped him by setting up a program for hiring, training and managing employees as well as addressing the other time-consuming areas.

“Kevin taught me how to delegate more and manage my time better,” says Montalbano. “Once we put out some fires, he got me focused on being more proactive and planning for the future. He helped me with running my business more efficiently.”

Lister took Monnick Supply through a business planning process to set precise goals and implement a marketing program that included optimizing the store’s Website and advertising online. As a result, Montalbano expanded his family’s store to three times its original size.

"I measure my success by the free time and less stress I have now,” says Montalbano. “Kevin provides good advice, but he also listens. I can bounce ideas off him and he’ll look at them analytically and point out the pros and cons. I’ve found Kevin to be smarter than other business consultants I’ve worked with.”

Warren Fish, owner of Pristine Home Solutions in Marlborough, MA, sought the services of Kevin Lister and Paradigm Strategies in early 2004, after receiving a referral and reading client testimonials. “It sounded like Kevin would be able to help me too,” Warren says.

“I’m not a ‘business owner,’” he confesses. “I ended up owning and running a business without knowing how. The business was running me.” A major issue for Warren was finding he didn’t have enough hours in the day to accomplish what he needed to do.

“Kevin knows how to manage time and gets things done,” he says. “He has helped me focus and he has enlightened me on what I should be doing as far as sales, marketing, and bookkeeping. He’s advised me on employee relations, hiring practices and setting up a lead carpenter system, which allows me to reduce man hours and fully utilize, not waste, manpower.”

Kevin has helped Warren to the point where he now says, “There are not enough hours in the day to implement all the great suggestions Kevin’s had.”

Kevin has become a mentor for Warren as much as a business consultant. “He’s provided the advice and support I needed when times were hard,” explains Warren. “I feel I’m in good hands, and I sleep better.”

Elaborating further, Warren says, “Kevin tells it like it is — when he sees something wrong, he says so; when something is working, he says we should build upon it. He has confidence in what needs to be done to have a well-run and successful business.”

Prior to when he began working with Kevin Lister in March 2007, Gary Morrison of Morrison Remodeling and Repairs was experiencing erratic cash flow and he was struggling with estimating. “I didn’t have the level of confidence I needed and I didn’t have the systems in place to better manage my finances,” he says.

Kevin worked with Gary to devise a formula for determining how much to charge per hour for each of his workers, and he helped him with estimating jobs more accurately. “Since my estimating software does not calculate hourly work, Kevin showed me how to maximize and make the best use of it,” says Gary.

Kevin also provided support with hiring by supplying Gary with detailed job descriptions, and he urged Gary to create and use a schedule for his workers, both of which relieved Gary’s overall stress with employee management.

Gary originally met Kevin through NARI, but before that, he had never encountered a business advisor to the construction industry. “I worked with a coach before, but he was too general and did not know about the construction business,” says Gary. “Even though I have a degree myself in management and finance, I knew I needed a business consultant, but it had to be someone who understands the issues I’m having and with whom I can bounce off ideas.”

“Working with Kevin has been very good for my business,” continues Gary. “I feel like I have a partner in my company now. If I’m unsure of anything, I can go to him and he’s always accommodating. He is someone I can discuss issues with because they are issues he understands and has solutions for.”

Dani Chedid, principal and co-founder of Phoenix Construction Group in Watertown, MA, wanted to conduct an assessment of his business in correlation with the industry to see how it was doing. Through NARI and a colleague in BAGB (Builders Association of Greater Boston), he found Kevin Lister and began working with him in early 2007.

“We wanted to get a sense of our size in relation to other construction businesses and find out what bucket we are in,” says Dani. “We hired Kevin because he knows the industry and could assist us with clarifying our vision and advise us on how to jump to the next bucket. We have taken real world situations and issues and figured out how others have addressed them and do things.”

Kevin worked with Dani and Phoenix Construction to create a business plan with a well-defined set of goals and objectives, and he has guided the company through implementing the necessary activities to achieve them. “Now, we monitor our progress, assessing where we are, where we need to go and how to get there,” says Dani.

The planning process was effortless for Dani, largely because he found Kevin easy to work with. Currently, the business is on track toward realizing its goals, which Dani attributes to Kevin’s diligence.

“He is very pleasant and someone you can click with,” says Dani. “And, because he’s driven to see you succeed, he keeps you focused on what you need to do. That’s exactly what I was looking for. I know that people are sometimes skeptical of consultants, but I say to them they should give Kevin a chance. He’s good at what he does.”

“It was hard for me to get perspective on what was going on in my company, so I was looking for an outside opinion,” Roger explains. He hired Kevin Lister of Paradigm Strategies to take a fresh and an objective look at his business.

Once Kevin familiarized himself with the company, how it was run and the growth rate it attained, he helped Roger and his team with defining their business goals. Those goals were the focus of a business strategy Kevin developed along with a revised marketing plan that outlined optimal tactics for attracting new business and increasing sales.

“Working with Kevin was a positive experience,” says Roger. “He maintained frequent contact and kept us on track as we worked to pursue our goals. Kevin holds people accountable for the goals they’ve committed themselves to, and, as a result, we ultimately accomplished what we set out to do.”

Roger further comments, “Small business owners can benefit from getting help from an outside source. If you want to bring in someone to look at your business, work with your team to develop goals, and follow up on meeting those goals, Kevin is a good fit. He’s very professional and able to help a company move in the right direction.”

"At the time I contacted Paradigm Strategies, I did not have a professional business plan in place. Kevin then proceeded to set up a plan for me that was practical and effective for my company. The plan was easy to follow and well-organized. "

"Kevin is a true professional and I thank him for the hard work he put in to creating my business plan. My business now operates more efficiently and I have more free time to be even more successful and proactive for my customers. I would recommend Kevin and Paradigm Strategies for any small business that is starting out."

Thank you,
Robert R Swartz
Rob’s Dyno Service, Gardner, MA

To schedule a brief appointment to discuss how we can help you make your organization more competitive, productive and profitable, call Kevin Lister at 508-480-0010 or email info@paradigmstrategies.com