Client Testimonials
"I was particularly impressed by your help to create fruitful dialogue with our internal client groups, building consensus on critical issues, and securing commitments to work together for better service... Without your help, I'm sure this would have taken a lot longer and would have been a lot more difficult to achieve.”
Speros Kanellos
Director, Real Estate and Construction Services, City of Kingston
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"Richard and I have collaborated on several projects in the past. When it came time to develop the business plan for my organization, he was the "go to" man. Richard has the talent to boil down complicated things to their simple essences that allow clear decisions to be made. We are now in our second year since Richard assisted us with our plan and we have not been required to change much from the original product - proof that we got it right at the outset. Without Richard's help, I have no doubt we would not be in this fortunate situation."
Steve Young, Lieutenant-Colonel
Commanding Officer, 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Reserve)
"Richard Martin provided our management team with sound observations and guidance in facilitating strategy development for Kingston Transit. Richard worked with us to create a clear mission, vision, and values for transit. He helped us confirm that more than ever the driving force of our business is our ability to move people effectively and efficiently within a high quality network. This confirmation is already providing dividends as we implement network upgrades and new routes and invest in our infrastructure."
Denis Léger
Commissioner of Corporate Services, City of Kingston, Ontario
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"Richard, I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for an insightful presentation filled with thoughtful concepts. I already did make time to review its content and I blocked time this weekend to actually do the exercises thoroughly so I may fully benefit from your presentation's value. Our team is looking forward to making further inroads to our current success by actually using your toolbox. Thanks again for making such contributions."
Claude Rouleau
Vice-President and Portfolio Manager, RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
"Richard Martin helped us to formulate our strategy and operational plan during two intensive work sessions. His vast military experience and in-depth knowledge of organizational strategy and development were instrumental in allowing us to create a compelling mission and vision for our unit. We were able to identify the main developmental thrusts for our unit over the next three years, with the main thrust of succession and leader development as the critical tasks. We never would have made this much progress, much less identified the critical nature of leader development for our organization, without Richard's help. With these plans in place, we are moving forward on implementation and have the full confidence of the higher chain of command. My leadership team is also fully mobilized to meet the challenges ahead."
Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Young
Commanding Officer, 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Militia)
"Richard Martin's coaching had a very positive effect on my time management and personal effectiveness. His unique point of view and constructive criticism were instrumental in allowing me to markedly improve my performance, especially my ability to establish priorities. He also gave me the benefit of his vast leadership experience as well as excellent advice on efficiently balancing work and family life. I recommend him highly as a coach to any entrepreneur or manager who wishes to radically improve his or her performance. Coaching isn't just a passing fad, and it is refreshing to work with a coach like Richard, someone who meets your needs while staying aware of his own strengths and weaknesses, even though he may not yet be a household name. It's even better to work with someone who willingly involves you as the key actor in setting your course as well as personal and professional goals, someone who is willing to be a partner in climbing to the next summit and staying there. Thank you Richard."
Daniel Atangana
Financial Advisor
"I'm writing you this short note to let you know our great satisfaction with the strategic consulting you did for us. The project involved coaching and guiding the company leadership through scenario-based planning. The work you did with us will have a major impact on the company's top and bottom lines, and will serve us well in our planning over the next three years. In addition, your disciplined approach and keen sense of organization allowed us to brainstorm freely within a structured framework while staying focused on the main objective."
Linda Daoust
Chief Executive Officer, Mutuelle des municipalités du Québec
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"Your expertise in facilitating the process for learning how to determine key outcomes in corporate planning enabled our team to work through complex and detailed information/issues. You provided significant observations and input for our decision-making process and enabled us to understand how to answer the tough questions. This was a very productive learning opportunity which will have long-lasting positive effects for this corporation."
Gerard Hunt
Chief Administrative Officer, City of Kingston, Ontario
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"I
wish to thank you for your presentation - It Takes All Kinds of
Leaders - for the members of the Quebec Chapter of CANASA, the Canadian
Security Association. Our members got the benefit of your great
experience on the subject of leadership. They were able to assess
the leadership style that they use with their employees and colleagues,
which was very useful. Your sense of humour was also instrumental
in making for a relaxed and good-humoured evening."
Robert Branchaud
President, CANASA-Quebec
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Actual Testimonial (.pdf)
"Your speech about the different styles of leadership was a great success. The topic was extremely interesting and you were able to hold the audience in rapt attention. As a video production director and business owner, I am often called upon to lead a production team. I must also get the best possible performance in order to provide matchless service to my clients. With the help of Mr Martin's presentation, I was quickly able to identify my own leadership style as well as my strengths and weaknesses. I look forward to applying these new skills. Thanks!"
Dominic Bouffard
db promédia Inc.
"We wish to thank you for your speech on 12 November. After surveying audience members, they were all in agreement that you had given an excellent presentation that met all of their expectations. Moreover, they found the information and your explanations highly pertinent. The only negative point, if we can call it that, was that the presentation wasn't long enough, because the subject matter was so interesting."
Ginette Bourdua
Association québécoise des intervenants en sécurité
Read Actual Testimonial (.pdf)"I wish to thank you for your high quality presentation... You have a very pragmatic approach to leadership that applies well to the current context where leaders must face highly complex situations and where the contribution of every member of the group (or company) must be encouraged in order to create novel solutions. As you pointed out, organizations need transformational leadership, but the command and control paradigm is still the norm in many organizations. I found your presentation very refreshing on that account."
Jean-Pierre Metabanzoulou, PhD, MBA
Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs
Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.
"Thank you very much for your presentation. As a professional coach, I really appreciated your comparison of coaching and mentoring. You showed us the nuances and differences of both methods and this helps to dispel much of the confusion over these two concepts in the business community. Your discussion of supporting concepts such as the learning curve, progression by leaps, and the principles of information and feedback contributed greatly to our understanding and knowledge and synthesized much of the discussion. You also encouraged a free exchange of ideas in a relaxed atmosphere through your interactive approach and your open-mindedness."
Sylvie Boisvert, FIAC
Professional Coach, Member of the International Coaching Federation
"I really appreciated your presentation yesterday on coaching and mentoring, especially as I'm a coach and mentor myself. Your discussion of these topics in terms of leadership development was new to me. I regularly promote the need for leadership with my technology clients. Now I will be able to better serve them and refer to your expertise in that area."
Jo Lanoë
Business Development Consultant, Expert-Conseil Qualitas
"Richard brings his superb military background and discipline to public and private sector clients to create rapid but controlled change. He's a compelling speaker and a great collaborative partner."
Alan Weiss, Ph.D.
President, Summit Consulting Group, Inc.
"I've known and have worked with Richard for several years. He is smart, creative and talented and is devoted to constantly improving his clients' condition. If you are looking for a thought leader, with great experience, who can help you and your organization, Richard is the one I highly recommend."
Chad Barr
President, CB Software Systems, Inc.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your presentation on crisis leadership, organized by Canasa. Your planning philosophy is applicable well beyond the field of crisis management."
Geneviève Leblanc
Service and Equipment Coordinator, Loss Prevention Department, Reitmans (Canada) Limited
"I would recommend Alcera for the design and delivery
of complex
management subjects to anyone who has the need as Richard is able
to
bring a wide base of experience to play in all aspects of the
successful delivery of these training initiatives."
Timo Hytonen
Vice-President, Human Resources and Community Relations
The Empire Life Insurance Company
"The workshop was a great success and Mr. Martin clearly had a lot to do with that result. The participants and members of the management team were unanimous in recognizing the top quality of his observations and interactions. His ability to bring out key points during discussions also proved to be very valuable for the team running the seminar. There is no doubt that his abilities as a facilitator are useful for all types of professional development forum or management retreat. We heartily recommend Mr. Martin's services."
Colonel Richard Milot
Director, Human Rights and Diversity, Canadian Armed Forces
Read Actual Testimonial (.pdf)"Richard Martin is an expert in the field of leadership and decision making in emergencies."
André Gagnon CD, CEM
Chief Instructor and Leader, Emergency Management Program
CÉGEP de Drummondville
www.preparation-urgences.net
Read Actual Testimonial (.pdf)"Richard Martin of Alcera Consulting Inc. was exactly what we were looking for. Richard has vast expertise in creating and managing large-scale training programs for the Canadian Army. He was able to use these skills and knowledge to help us identify the individual and organizational training requirements to support digitization and to develop a comprehensive plan for implementing the required systemic and organizational changes. He was also able to make realistic recommendations that can be implemented with minimal disruption to existing training and processes. His in-depth knowledge of complex training requirements and his ability to bring together numerous stakeholders with divergent interests proved to be very useful. ...It is clear that Richard Martin has the expertise to help any type of organization to develop and implement training plans and programs. He is the right person to assess your company, derive your training needs and effectively and efficiently help you implement your training program by working easily with all members of your company."
Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Cooper
Director, Canadian Army Digitization Office Kingston
Read Actual Testimonial (.pdf)"As Commander of the Land Force Doctrine and Training System, I have been able to appreciate first hand the strategic impact of Richard Martin's work. Richard led and managed a number of projects and assignments that were critical to our success in training Canada's army for operations. Moreover, his leadership and influence were critical in securing the support of senior commanders for these initiatives."
Major-General Stuart Beare
Commander, Canadian Land Force Doctrine and Training System
Read Actual Testimonial (.pdf)"We were able to create a clear strategy to make Kingston (Norman Rogers) Airport a more viable and self-sustaining element in terms of long-term growth and development. In particular, defining market segments, formulating precise goals with measurable targets and identifying the means to deliver performance will be valuable as we move forward in our business planning the future challenges of the aviation industry."
Shirley de Silva
Airport Manager, Kingston (Norman Rogers) Airport
Read Actual Testimonial (.pdf)"Richard Martin's military background is extremely beneficial to the business world. His real-life experiences with leadership, decision-making, crisis management, and planning under the toughest conditions enable him to provide unique perspectives that help his clients address their own challenges. Richard's keen insights and intelligence make him a valuable resource for senior executives and businesses that want to raise the bar on performance to world-class levels."
Pamela S. Harper
President, Business Advancement Inc.
Author: Preventing Strategic Gridlock (Cameo Publications)
"Thank you for the overview on Crisis Leadership from your conference call; there sure was a lot of information to absorb in an hour."
Ray Kucharik
Manager, Carp Airport
"We really appreciated your insight on leadership and crisis. I want to share this with my people, especially our municipal senior management"
George Friesen
Manager, Dryden Regional Airport
"Richard, thank you for the presentation today on Crisis Leadership. I found the information to be both useful and insightful."
Marcel Pinon
Manager, Level of Service and Aeronautical Studies - East, Nav Canada
"Richard Martin worked directly for me on a number of very important internal consulting projects during my time as the Director of Army Training. His most significant contribution was to help us in rationalizing our training programme by identifying recurring savings of over $ 1 million as well as a 25 % reduction in total human resources input, all while maintaining the quality of instruction! The Canadian Army must train thousands of soldiers each year, so these reductions had a major impact. Even more important than the quality of his analytical work, though, is his proven ability to motivate and lead teams of specialists and professionals in the execution of complex and often highly emotional projects. The bottom line is that Richard Martin knows how to lead in demanding and high-pressure situations."
Colonel Michael Jorgensen
Canadian Forces
"Rich Martin has an insightful, counter-intuitive Weltanschauung that I highly recommend to anyone who seeks analysis that goes far beyond the mere assertions of recycled media reports, suspect think-tank assertions, and the mundane. Experienced in the military arts, including command, and possessing experience with complex organizational and ethno-political environments, Rich Martin should be anybody's first choice for those who want to go one step beyond."
Sean M. Maloney, PhD
Royal Military College of Canada
"Your course on Leadership in Emergency Situations is highly relevant to anyone engaged in decision making before, during or after an emergency situation, whether they be involved in politics or in management."
Richard Blondin
Director of Public Safety, Town of Westmount, Quebec
“I was very satisfied with your course on Leadership in Emergency Situations. This training fits in well with the requirements of crisis management. Your relaxed teaching style encourages the exchange of ideas and experiential learning, while allowing us to reflect on these matters."