Craig Stokely

http://www.estokely.com

Specialities Team Based Strategic Planning Buying and Selling a Business Marketing Plans and Branding New Product Development Product Licensing

Industries Office Products Furniture Food and Beverage Telecommunications Professional Associations Retail

Client Benefits

Since forming our firm in 1992 we have served satisfied clients throughout the United States as well as Canada and Mexico. We bring seasoned, practical, battled tested experience and a flexible, client-centered attitude to each assignment.

The Opportunity is Constant Change with Customers, Competitors, and the Marketplace. Our proven experience and results can help capture the Opportunity of Constant Change for your company.

Professional Background

Craig R. Stokely has over three decades of broad experience in successfully building businesses and brands. Prior to forming The Stokely Partnership Inc. in 1992, he was Senior Vice President Corporate Development for Fellowes, a worldwide manufacturer of office products. He led strategic planning, acquisitions, new product and marketing initiatives during a period of rapid growth.

As Executive Vice President of the LeeWards specialty retailing division of General Mills he was responsible for merchandising, marketing,and operations during a nationwide retail store expansion.

Craig was Vice President of Marketing and Product Planning for the Kenner Toy division of General Mills. During that time the company became the world's second largest toy marketer with licensed lines Six Million Dollar Man and Star Wars.

Mr. Stokely is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants, The Executive's Club of Chicago, and the Association for Corporate Growth. He serves on the Board of Directors of Showingtime. His articles on strategic planning and marketing have appeared in the Handbook of Business Strategy, Office Products International, M&A Today, Association for Corporate Growth Network, and Business Products Industry Report.

Mr. Stokely is a highly rated conference speaker and has been the featured guest on Chicago television. He has been quoted in Entrepreneur Magazine and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

He received his MBA in Marketing from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Psychology with distinction from DePauw University where he serves on the Board of Visitors.

What Some of Our Clients Say About Us

"All of the major initiatives our company has undertaken over the past several years are the direct result of our annual Strategic Planning work with your firm."
Douglas F. Brush, Chairman
Sentry Group
Rochester, New York

"I wanted you to know how pleased we were with the entire strategic planning process conducted for our board of directors and staff. From your precise articulation of how our goals should be established, your coordination of the marketing research phase, and your excellent leadership of the strategic planning session with the board, you demonstrated your professionalism. I am convinced that the new Association for Corporate Growth will be a direct outgrowth of your efforts."
Carl A. Wangman, CAE, Executive Director
Association for Corporate Growth
Glenview, Illinois

"Craig Stokely did an excellent job in facilitating our strategic planning meeting. He kept us focussed on the strengths and weaknesses of our company and the markets we sell to. The end result was a set of optimistic yet achievable goals and an action plan to reach those goals that all top managers agreed upon."
Karen Whistler, President
Redi-Tag Corporation
Cypress, California

"Our management team is focussed and excited about the direction set forth in our strategic planning session. Your facilitation and guidance was instrumental in creating the perfect "roadmap" for Power Sentry. We look forward to implementing/achieving our goals and continuing our relationship with your company."
Mark A. Schaffner, President
Power Sentry, Division of Fiskars Brands Inc.
Plymouth, Minnesota

"Craig Stokely did an excellent job working with us in our efforts to locate an acquisition candidate. He gained an understanding of our business and our goals as step one. He then located several candidates worthy of consideration. He did a fine job in communicating with prospects and helping evaluate these opportunities. He was always professional in his dealings with us and with prospects."
George L. Leasure, President
Ghent Manufacturing Inc.
Lebanon, Ohio

"We appreciate the role you played in this successful transaction."
Gary S. Miller, Executive Vice President
Herman Miller Inc.
Zeeland, Michigan

"You worked tirelessly to find the right buyer for our company, and then represented us with integrity in negotiating the transaction. I will be using your services again."
Walter Smith, President
Advantage Office Systems
Mountain View, California

"You helped our company understand what it takes to be successful in the new market we want to penetrate, and how to do it."
Laura Milani, President
Organizing Products Inc.
Chicago Illinois