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Forensic Engineer
I am a licensed professional engineer by training and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame's mechanical engineering program.
For over 15 years I ran a successful consulting practice as an "engineer of last resort", called in to solve the unsolvable problems in large commercial buildings. It is common that my clients today tell me that I've just performed forensic engineering on their life or business.
LEADERSHIP Strategist
My mind lives in the realm of keen observation, insightful questioning, and creative possibilities. I naturally provide the framework for leaders to uncover truth, see possibilities and chart their pathway. From 2010 - 2017 I was retained by Otterbox™to guide their leaders through the LifePlan™ process. I've helped hundreds of individuals create a crystal clear strategy to proactively chart their pathway in life. For my entire vocational career I have facilitated process that leads to breakthrough thinking.
Story Teller
I am an authority on the slow death that occurs when one is misaligned with their true self and as a result I lived for years with limiting chronic pain.
Clarity helped me see the truth of my story and gave me the courage to do the work to transform to freedom from pain and a world of possibilities. I am living proof of the physical manifestation of emotional pain. My journey and my story shape who I am. Today I use my story and energy to help others unleash their potential.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
I've had the honor of speaking at a number of notable gatherings in the Northern Michigan area, including the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce Leadership at the Movies and Maximum Impact.
• • •
"The strategist’s goal is not to find a niche within the existing
industry space but to create new space that is uniquely suited
to the company’s own strengths—space that is off the map."
- Harvard Business Review
• • •
"The strategist’s goal is not to find a niche within the existing
industry space but to create new space that is uniquely suited
to the company’s own strengths—space that is off the map."
- Harvard Business Review
There is a difference between strategic thinking and strategic planning.
Innovative strategic thinking is the key to charting new territory. Crystal clear strategic planning is the key to focused and effective action. Bold leaders engage strategic thinkers and strategic planners.
I have spent a lifetime in the realm of strategic thinking. Creating Maverick Strategies has given me the ability to operate fully in the space of strategic thinking while bringing in a team of others to engage in the strategic planning.
What Others are Saying
Jonathan is an intense, life-obsessed, 'I'm gonna cheer you on to your best life' kind of guy. I love his energy, compassion, and his restlessness not to live a mediocre life. If you spend any time with him your life will be better for it."
Dan Webster | Founder - Authentic Leadership, Inc.
What Others are Saying
Jonathan is an intense, life-obsessed, 'I'm gonna cheer you on to your best life' kind of guy. I love his energy, compassion, and his restlessness not to live a mediocre life. If you spend any time with him your life will be better for it."
Dan Webster | Founder - Authentic Leadership, Inc.
THE ORGANIZATION:
THE PROBLEM:
We came to Jonathan with a great problem. After eight years we had taken our small nonprofit start-up and created an innovative, effective, and sought after organization. This left us filled with energy but confused over next steps.
THE SOLUTION:
Jonathan came in and compiled our history and the current state of our organization. He generated space for us to see all the relevant data that had got us to where we were at. We applied this data to our mission, vision, and core values. The messaging and direction we were searching for seemed to pop off the page at us.
THE RESULTS:
As a result we were able to confidently begin operating as a national authority, convey our messaging in a clear and compelling way, and generate an organizational plan that is unifying our team and community.
THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIp:
THE PROBLEM:
My internal tension was great. I excel in the realm of design and have risen quickly in my career to the top. However I was struggling to see how my full talent set could be brought into the whole picture of my profession.
THE SOLUTION:
Through working with Jonathan over a two day period I could clearly see the different aspects of my life that lit me up. It became evident the values I hold and how they need to help fuel the work I do.
THE RESULTS:
As a result I used this new awareness to move into new territory. I was able to apply my talent set and values in the creation of a new business entity that is giving me incredible energy.
THE MISALIGNED LEADER:
The Problem
After founding an innovative and successful start-up I felt stuck, misaligned, and I could see the negative impact it was having on
our culture and business.
THE SOLUTION
Working with Jonathan I got to the heart of who I am, discovered I am a CVO (Chief Visionary Officer) and not a CEO, and created an objective framework that
led to clear strategic direction.
THE RESULTS
I now have the band with to pursue the big idea, the structure to execute it in, and we are seeing the potential for
explosive growth.
THE DIFFERENTIAL RESULT:
THE PROBLEM
In a sea of other communications professionals I struggled to see and articulate my differential.
THE SOLUTION
I did my homework and spent half a day with Jonathan. In just half a day he helped me clearly see who I am at the core, how I apply this understanding of self in the space I function in professionally, and we were able to craft crystal clear messaging to articulate my differential to others.
THE RESULTS
The reward of this has been great. Not only did we reach our fundraising goal of 1.3 million, being able to articulate my differential and operate in it made this
feel so right/fun/good and gives me
clarity about future projects.
My Story
IN OUR BUSY AGE WE TYPICALLY ONLY LEARN ABOUT WHAT
PEOPLE DO, NOT WHO THEY ARE. THE BEST WAY TO GET TO KNOW SOMEONE IS THROUGH THEIR STORY.
My Story
IN OUR BUSY AGE WE TYPICALLY ONLY LEARN ABOUT WHAT
PEOPLE DO, NOT WHO THEY ARE. THE BEST WAY TO GET TO KNOW SOMEONE IS THROUGH THEIR STORY.
MAVERICK LOST
We all start out as Mavericks - with our own style and way of creating, our own thoughts of shaping our world. Somewhere along the way we lose it.
I lost my Maverick somewhere between junior and senior high school. I started to listen to the noise and follow the conventional path. My strong creative streak, entrepreneurial spirit, and thirst for big adventure in life began to fade.
A love of hands-on creativity and proficiency in math and science led to an engineering degree and work as a consulting engineer. Limiting physical pain shut me down and radically changed my life three years into my career. My physical condition, frustration and rebellion led me away from employeedom and to self-employment.
For many years my pain limited me - physically, emotionally, relationally. Proficiency, familiarity, and stoicism kept me on the same path. I listened to the noise and became dulled by it. However I had a sense that something needed to change - I had no idea of how big that something was.
MAVERICK REGAINED
A sabbatical from work in 2008 opened space for serious reflection, and some deep personal work on my part. It was a walk into the truth of my story, a re-connection with who I was, and a re-direction in my life. Participation in a LifePlan™ during this time gave me the clarity and confidence to move in a new vocational direction. Experience with Dan Allender's Wounded Heart material allowed me to re-connect with my heart, my emotions, and my adventurous self.
Over the course of two years of hard work I stopped listening to the noise and started listening to my heart.
I left my pain behind
I gained a new life
I chose a new vocation that fits my calling
My personal experience with LifePlan™ led me to become certified in the Paterson Process. Tom Paterson's genius mind, methodology for strategic process, and focus on perspective and clarity of purpose is something I can get behind. There is no other strategic process as significant or as effective as Tom's.
Dan Allender's profound work on the importance of narrative for healing and growth is why I am free from pain today. The effect of trauma on any level impacts how one interacts with themselves and others. It can go unrecognized for years and wield unrecognized power. My personal experience with the Allender Process is what led me to become certified.
Both processes have a common thread of the importance of story and narrative for clarity, truth, and growth. As a Leadership Strategist I have the opportunity to draw from the methodology of Tom and Dan's processes and bring possibilities to others they may never have thought of before.