Gary Polsen

Senior Business Strategist

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Gary is a Senior Business Strategist for Generational Consulting Group. He is a transformative leader with a proven track record of generating dramatic improvements in performance and value across a wide range of industries and business situations – entrepreneurial, turnaround and established businesses. His experience includes 20 years as a senior operating executive with prominent international companies and 20 years as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and a boutique firm focused on middle market companies.

Gary was the President of six different companies. Four businesses were each transformed into the best performing firm in their respective industries across five core metrics – employee engagement, customer satisfaction, organic growth, productivity, and profitability. During his 20 years as a business leader, Gary significantly contributed to the $1.3 billion increase in the value of those businesses.

He was the CEO a $400M material handling distributor in which he led the turnaround of the company, leader of the overall $700M worldwide material handling group, President of a food processing company, President of $100M cement business unit, President of a $30M specialty chemicals company and eventually a Group executive in the overall $700M building products company, President of a $15M third-party telecommunications service company, a business he started, and the head of Marketing and Sales for a $100M cutting tool business.

Since retiring from his operating career, Gary has dedicated himself to working with mid-market companies helping them to transform and optimize their businesses. Over the past 15 years, he has worked with over 50 companies ranging in size from $5M to $200M in the construction, manufacturing, business services and retail industries.

Working as a hands-on advisor, he has helped his clients rethink their growth strategy plans, strengthen all elements of their organization, and optimize their operations. The results are higher and more sustained growth, a stronger, more engaged and motivated company, and significantly higher levels of profitability.

Gary has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He also served on multiple company and industry association boards and executive committees. For relaxation Gary enjoys sports, biking trips, theater and most importantly, playing with his grandchildren.

Industry Experience:

Construction – building renovation, commercial building, concrete placement, electrical, equipment installation & maintenance, HVAC, lighting, roofing and structural steel.

Distribution – auto parts, building products, fencing, generators, industrial products, material handling, paper products, structural steel, stone, tile and traffic control equipment.

Logistics – rail, trucking, warehouses and terminals and water transportation.

Manufacturing & Production – beverage processing, building products, cable & wiring, chemicals, circuit boards, construction products, cutting tools, die cast products, electrical products, food processing, injection molding, machine tools, mining, paper products, pharmaceuticals, printing, specialty chemicals, telecommunications equipment, textiles, tool & die and valves.

Retail – auto maintenance, clothing, hardware, hospitality, pharmacy, restaurant and truck stops.

Service – equipment renovation, funeral homes, helicopter service, recycling center and salvage yards.