Testimonials
Leslie Harrison - Chair-elect, East Texas Food Bank Board of Directors
“We were immensely pleased with TD’s facilitation of the East Texas Food Bank board retreat. He assisted us in formulating our goals, sent a proposed agenda to review, and structured a program that incorporated everything we conveyed to him. He was in contact with us for several weeks prior to the event, checking in to see if we had questions and making suggestions to ensure that we had a successful retreat. He kept us on schedule, his presentation was thorough, and he was engaging and energetic. We appreciated his congenial style and expertise and would absolutely use his services again.”
George Carradini - President, Tulsa Farmers Market Board of Directors
“TD is a superb coach. His thoughtful, inquisitive technique helped clarify my purpose and optimize my strengths. Working with him kept me focused through ambiguity and helped me lead my entire board to higher performance. I highly recommend TD if you are looking to take your organization to the next level."
Jason Ray - CEO, Clayton Youth Enrichment
"The coach experience has been extremely valuable. TD has a fantastic ability to understand the issues I'm working on/through and to walk me through a thought process that allows me to come to an effective way to see problems and opportunities. He's been an excellent coach and I highly recommend him..”
Eric Weinberg, MPA, MBA - Managing Director, Charter Oak Pty Ltd
"The best thing about being a great leader is seeing those you mentored do great things. TD Smyers is that leader who wanted to make you better than you thought you could be and told you that you could be even better than him - even though he was the best you ever saw. Grateful for my time under his wings.”
Kenneth J Simpson - Chief Executive Officer, MedStar Mobile Healthcare
"TD is a tremendous coach. I appreciate the way he utilized my strength assessment to help me improve my approach to problem solving and presentations. He holds you accountable in a way that conditions you to make changes in how you manage time and what you emphasize in your schedule. I highly recommend TD to anyone committed to next level executive leadership!"
Dawn Koffarnus - Chief Health Systems & Financial Officer, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
"TD was recommended to me for executive coaching by my current CEO who had recently been recruited to the role despite my interest in pursuing the role as well. TD was instrumental in getting to understand my professional background and helping to identify how to leverage my strengths to build confidence in my leadership abilities and identify behaviors to incorporate into my leadership style. Over the course of a 6-month engagement, TD has helped me build the confidence I needed to become an impactful, charismatic, and effective CEO. I can honestly say TD has changed my career trajectory through his coaching and I would recommend him to anyone looking for executive coaching without reservation."
Lindsey Garner - President & CEO, Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County
"TD was the perfect person to facilitate our Board’s recent strategic planning session. He brings executive presence and years of leadership experience, which is obvious in how he directs the flow and pace of conversation. At the same time, his friendly and energetic personality ensured our team accomplished our objectives while still having a fun and engaging time. We would certainly use him for future leadership sessions!”
Mark Fava - Vice President, Boeing
"For those looking for some inside advice and practical leadership coaching, TD Smyers is the best! Learned a lot from him and I have no doubt you will, too. Nothing better than someone who tells it like they see it!”
John G. Self - Executive Career Transition Expert
"TD Smyers is an accomplished coach but more importantly, before he focused on helping others, he was a highly successful leader - for the US Navy as a Captain and later in the often challenging world of not-for-profits. In my global executive search career, I interviewed thousands of people. This guy is rock solid. You can trust TD. He cares for the people in his care.”
Karen Wald - Board Chair, My Possibilities
"My Possibilities engaged TD to assist in developing a strategic framework for the organization. Planning meetings and communications prior to our strategy sessions were efficient yet comprehensive and ensured we were well prepared. TD skillfully guided our sessions—every voice was heard, respected and valued. The result is now MP has a strategic road map that is actionable and will help create a world of inclusion, dignity, and opportunity for people of all abilities. On a lighter side—working with TD was fun! If the opportunity arises, we would engage TD again.”
Kenneth J. (KJ) Braithwaite - Senior Advisor, Silicon Valley Bank; 77th Secretary of the Navy; Former US Ambassador to Norway; RADM, US Navy (ret)
“I have known TD Smyers since we were Plebes (freshman) together at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis ….a long time ago! He is an incredibly accomplished professional in all regards and an absolutely outstanding leader. Moreover he’s got the gift of communication, a unique and impressive capability to weave a story into an important lesson of life. You’d be hard pressed to find a better coach or mentor.“
Russel Prieto - Exec. Leadership MA, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
“TD Smyers may not have known then, but because of his leadership, impact, guidance, and natural ability to get people to change for the better, I am where I am today. Not because of my military success, but because I am alive today!”
Derrick Chubbs - President & CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
"TD was Regional CEO for one of the American Red Cross' major markets - Dallas/Fort Worth and all of North Texas. His strategic leadership there was visionary, and set national precedents in disaster response, preparedness and service to our Armed Forces. He was also a pretty fun guy to have a drink with. I can imagine no better consultant for strategy or executive coaching.”
Leah King - President & CEO, United Way of Tarrant County
“If you’re lucky, you’ll get to experience it like I did. What is “it”? It’s a level of synergy and trust in a professional setting that merges high performing and motivated individuals into a high functioning team. Leadership is an essential element to moving strong, individual performers into a highly productive team, and that’s exactly what TD delivers. If you’re looking to hone your skills as a leader of high performing teams, take the opportunity to learn from the best!”
Steve Borden - Director, Center for Military & Veterans Education, Tidewater Community College
“I was at a career crossroads when TD signed on as my coach. What started out as a journey into the unknown wound up with me landing the position I wanted, in the place I wanted to be. TD’s insight, empathy and counsel helped me leverage my professional skills and experience with confidence.”
Eric Royse - President, CEO & Board Member, Continental Battery
“TD led our Mission, Vision and Values sessions when I was in charge of sales and operations at PrimeSource BP, and I was so impressed with his thoughtful, deliberate and effective facilitation style that I hired him to guide my team through the same process when I took the helm at Continental Battery. He thoroughly prepared us with insight and inspiration, then conducted a comprehensive, efficient process, leaving us with the strategic framework that guides the company to this day. Not only were the sessions successful, we also had a lot of fun and achieved buy-in across our executive team.”
George Judd - Strategic Advisor & Board Member, Blue Wolf Capital
“I needed to align the global sourcing and distribution enterprise I led as CEO. To get the process started, I pulled TD in to inspire and align our top executives, then facilitate a two-day strategy session. TD comprehensively educated himself on our industry, then expertly managed some healthy team friction as he focused our brainstorming. The result was a strategy that moved us to a new culture and a high level of operational alignment. I’ll call TD in a heartbeat before heading down that road again.”