Testimonials

Hey guys,

I wanted to take a few days to reflect and absorb the training and see how some of the suggestions and realizations from last week played out once I was back in “the real world”, before sending this email to you. I won’t lie and tell you that I did not come into this training with a certain amount of skepticism. I have done a few of these types of things over my career before and quite frankly, I thought they were a great way for the people presenting to make a living. I mean, you get to stand up in front of a room full of people and tell them how to be a better (fill in the blank here), and how to contribute to their companies in a more effective manner. And get payed for it!

A few things that I observed to help make this a different dynamic are as follows.

1. You all sat at the same level as us.
   • There wasn’t any feeling of this being a PRESENTATION. It truly felt like a discussion. Which I’m sure was by design. It made it so comfortable to actually share thoughts and ideas. It’s much easier to check out when you are being “talked to”.
     1. I have tried to be mindful of my body language and positioning when I have had discussions with team members, co-workers, or family.
2. You allowed us to have different goals.
   • What I mean by this is, you allowed us to have different end games for this training. I know some of the team wanted to try to reach problem employees or be a better manager, while some others wanted to focus on how to be a better husband, father or friend. As well as the evolution of that goal. Some of the statements about the takeaways at the end were not in line with what they thought they would get out of it.
     1. No names, but several folks that said they wanted to be a better manager or better leader at the end talked about not being real or open with personal relationships versus the professional aspect. I think the correlation between who you are outside of work, as a person, and who your team thinks you are was eye opening. At least it was to me!!
     2. I have made a concerted effort to try to make sure that I am sensitive to the fact that different people want/need different things. And that’s OK!
3. You were real!
   • This is huge for me. I like to think that I have a pretty good B.S. meter and the minute the needle starts to move; I tend to shut down and just get through the interaction as quickly and painlessly as possible.
     1. From the second we came in, you all had big smiles and warm invite
     2. You shared personal stories that left you out there, vulnerable. This helped me be real and open.

I can’t tell you how much warmth and genuine compassion I felt from all of you during the training. I know my goodwill score is 96, which I’m sure contributes to me being a bit sappy at times, but I was a bit surprised that I got emotional in a room full of strangers when I talked about how I want to make things better with my family. I know that is a direct result of the environment that you ALL built over the course of the 3 days.

Not to keep going on, but I wanted to share a couple things that I have already done differently that I know was appreciated, even though nobody said a word. The first was as my family sat down for our weekly board game night, I made sure that I was the one to make sure that everyone had drinks, snacks whatever we needed before we started. That has always just been handled by Michelle, my wife. There is NO reason that she needs to be the last one to sit down, even if she doesn’t complain. Another thing is we were going to the grocery store and I turned the radio station to the one that my family likes. The world stopped for a minute…LOL . I despise 95% of the music on “their” station! I mean how can you go wrong with listening to Boston or Van Morrison??? But in that moment of pain and despair of listening to the latest and greatest from, whatever the flavor of the week was, I noticed all 3 of them kind of bounce their heads a bit to the rhythm. That was cool. I mean really, why should I get to decide what music we listen to ALL THE TIME? Just because I happen to be the one driving, which oh by the way, I don’t want anyone else to drive but me??? To quote a very wise man…that’s BAD, BAD, BAD. STOP IT! Haha, I must have heard Rick say that 40 times last week!!

Seriously guys, thank you all for the love and compassion that I felt from all of you. It means more than I can tell you! I look forward to speaking with you soon. Take care.

—Ernie Edgell, Manager C&I Field Sales: IGS Energy

Very effective tool for evaluating candidates. Extremely helpful in creating expectations for those hired. It is helpful to understand individual strengths and weaknesses as well as providing direction for goals and improvement. We will not hire any new key employees without having them evaluated through a Performance Dynamics® assessment.

—David Cistoldi, President: FLN-MAR Rubber & Plastics, Inc.

Ross and Laura were always there to answer our questions, and we felt grateful and super comfortable with this intimidating process. They allowed us to focus on helping our son make a very important decision.

— Dr. Neil N.

Most definitely a life changing training session. My personal life relationships have already improved. The relationship between me and my wife and parents have improved already. The experience of being in a room with 30 high energy high productivity people was breath taking. It helped build my self-confidence and opened my mind to many perspectives. The trainers were strong enough to manage this group, keep everybody on topic and still managed to make it a personal improvement discussion.

—Rui Parracho, Sales Technical Service Manager: Bixby International Corporation

People often say after their time at this training that “they learned a lot about themselves.” I see it differently. I knew a lot of what their assessment said. I just didn’t know how it all tied together. This assessment and training have changed my life. It has given me a perspective that I never had before. I went into this expecting to learn how to be a better manager. It taught me how to be a better man. To be the leader I wanted to be, I first had to become the person I wanted to be. I have always attacked everything in my life with passion and a drive, with the purpose of being successful. The problem I had was how I measured success. To me, success was how much money did I make? What job title did I hold? Did I win or lose? After my time with Rick and Ross I have learned the true measure of success will be my legacy. How many lives have I impacted? What will people say about me when I am gone? I have tried to instill this in my associates to build a culture of striving to be the best people we can be and to always do the right thing. What it has shown us is that if we can motivate people with more than just money and give them a larger purpose, the rewards are longer lasting and more fulfilling.

—Rob Phillipo

W.F. Young, Inc. has worked with Giombetti Associates for more than 17 years. We have every employee go through the process at least once when they start with the company and many go through multiple times as they develop within the company or need some additional guidance in their career.

We find the information to be valuable for the company, helping to understand the employees, knowing what motivates them, how much or little information they need to do their work and how to best match up teams, just to name a few. However, the biggest benefit, I believe, is for the employees themselves – most come into the company without ever having done much self-reflection.

It is incredibly empowering to understand your own make-up and get a sense of who you are and how you approach your life and work. I have personally been through the assessment multiple times and I continue to learn and figure out how to enhance the areas that are helping me develop, and working with the team at Giombetti, better manage those traits that are maybe preventing me from growing both personally and professionally.

—Vicki Evans, Vice President/CFO: W.F. Young, Inc.

The team at Giombetti Associates has been one of the best support firms I’ve had the pleasure in developing a strategic partnership within 30+ years of global leadership experience. The high-performance persona of Giombetti Associates is noticeably apparent at the very start with Ross’ high energy and no bull$#@% approach to providing accurate, honest, and meaningful feedback regardless of the situation; creating an authentic and trusting relationship Day 1…

Ross and the team have been instrumental in effectively assessing our personnel for continued internal development along with becoming a key aspect to our Company’s talent acquisition. Everyone at Giombetti Associates is a solid individual as well an expert in their field and very much unlike most other agencies and/or consultants; they all effortlessly become an extension to your organization from their candid style and positive attitude during every engagement.  They clearly model and instill the culture they strive for every organization who embarks upon a relationship with Giombetti Associates.

Additionally, I experienced one of the best developmental sessions when attending their Leadership Training in 2018. As with all MagSeal Management Team members who have also participated within this three day Leadership Training, upon our return to the office we strongly noted this workshop as being one of the most impactful developmental sessions and very worthy of the time spent off site/away for their own enrichment. The designed curriculum and structure alone provide insight for individual growth while the presentation of the content clearly drives home valuable substance for personal acceptance and positive change.

I always look forward to having a conversation with anyone within Giombetti Associates since it always feels like you’re talking with family. I can only hope Ross and his team will continue to expand their services for other aspects of team acquisition, personal coaching, and organizational training & development!

—Bob Garde, President: Magnetic Seal Corporation

So you want to be a superstar? This assessment is not only accurate, it’s fun! I now know my own behavior in personal and professional communications. It has been extremely helpful in sales and conflict management with fellow team members and business associates.

—Ken Stacey, Sales Engineer: Belt Technologies

Our company, particularly upper management, put a lot of stock in the Performance Dynamics® assessment. It is fast becoming a crucial criterion for selection to executive positions in our company. We are also beginning to utilize the PDA for selection of new managers, as well.

—Rick Lamb, Plant Manager: Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

We cannot thank her enough for the amazing support she has provided to [my child] during this exceptionally stressful and difficult time.  As a parent, I am convinced that this experience has been one of the best gifts I could have provided.

—Michelle Pastore

We have used the Giombetti pre-employment assessment and Leadership Development classes for our management positions for several years. The assessment is so simple yet so accurate, I am always astonished at how deeply they can understand a person by having them answer just a few questions. The feedback sessions are probing, educational and most important, supportive. The assessment provides invaluable information that helps put the right person in their best role so both they and the organization see success. It is also a great tool for leaders/coaches to help guide and develop their team members, building on each person’s individual strengths. The Leadership Development classes get high marks from those who attend. They create a fun and safe environment to look inward, everyone leaves with skills to help them be a better person, co-worker, coach, leader.

—Kelly Turley, SVP Operations & Administration: W.W. Williams

In addition to recommending and placing A+ leaders within our organization, Giombetti Associates has also provided our leadership team with the tools, structure, and guidance which has helped enable us to successfully scale our organization to meet an increased customer demand for our products and services. Our relationship with Giombetti Associates is now into its 7^th year and continues today due to not only their expertise and breadth of services, but also the manner in which they provide their services. The GA staff is always friendly, outgoing, and energetic. Their honest and personal approach that they take with their clients is something that sets them apart from the ‘fly-by-night’ and internet competition. It is because of these that we hope to continue our relationship for years to come!

—Bobby O’Neil, Director of Operations: Aegis Energy Services

I highly recommend the services and programs of Giombetti Associates. Our experience with them has been a very successful and prosperous partnership over the last 8 years. We’ve had over 300 individuals utilize their assessment, training and development services with great results. During our engagement with them, we believe they’ve had a direct impact on our company’s bottom line. Since 2001, our revenue has grown from $350 million to over $1.1 billion this past year. They’ve helped us to understand and cultivate the best we have in our people, and it has proven to be well worth the investment.

The culture of our company, Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS), is something we take very seriously. It is critical for those partners we engage to understand and realize it’s not just what our people do that makes us successful, but that they do so by growing, developing and reaching their potential which matters most to us. Giombetti Associates has developed an innate understanding of ADS as a company. They’ve helped our people realize what they need to work on along with providing the tools and training that mesh with our company’s core values and culture, which is why it has been such a positive experience for us.

In these very challenging economic times, we can’t afford to make mistakes with our most important asset – our people. If we’re not investing in their growth and development, they’re going to go somewhere else and get it. Our employees take pride in what they learn from Giombetti, and their approach to what they do for us and how they do it has helped us to hire, retain and develop top performers.  We’ve leveraged several of Giombetti’s services including:

• Pre – Employment Assessments

The majority of our critical new hires are assessed by Giombetti before they’re offered a position. Giombetti’s assessment feedback provides us with an objective perspective which has helped us to improve our hiring rates over the years. It also helps us to identify potential areas of improvement in those we do hire so we’re already aware of what we can help them work on.

• Leadership Development

Every year, we have dozens of our high-potential employees participate in Giombetti’s Performance Dynamics training. This has helped them develop their leadership, management and interpersonal skills to the point where many of them have become top managers leading different organizations and initiatives within our company.

Since our initial engagement with Giombetti, they have become a true partner – one that knows what they’re talking about and is able to customize and implement truly beneficial and successful programs and training. We have employees who will tell you that it has changed their lives for the better, both personally and professionally. And, it has genuinely boosted employee morale because they see our investment in their future by providing opportunities for growth and development. We are a better company for having worked with Giombetti Associates.

—Erick Piscopo, Director: Human Resources: Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

As Managing Partner of a private equity firm, I dedicate the majority of my time to talent—because leadership, culture and people are the driving forces behind growth and innovation at Incline and our portfolio companies.

I first met Ross while evaluating the many talent assessment options in the market. What stood out—and has continued to prove invaluable—is the proprietary Performance Dynamics® system developed by Giombetti & Associates. Their assessment offers remarkable insight into 17 core personality traits that drive individual behavior and performance. There are no “good” or “bad” scores—just an honest, data-driven profile of what makes someone tick. This enables clear, objective discussions around personal effectiveness, team dynamics and leadership development.  Perhaps most importantly, it helps explain why individuals get the results they do. That self-awareness opens the door to targeted behavioral shifts and better outcomes. Many of our leaders describe their first feedback session as an “aha moment”—unlocking clarity about their challenges and path forward.

We also partner with Giombetti for talent evaluation in hiring. Ross and his team take the time to understand not just the role, but also the company’s culture, team composition, pace and strategic context. This nuanced understanding ensures better hiring decisions—placing high-performing individuals who thrive within the unique environment. As a result, we’ve significantly reduced turnover across the portfolio.

Giombetti has been our trusted partner for years, and their impact on our growth has been substantial. Their ability to unlock potential in people is unmatched, and we’re proud to have them as our exclusive partner for talent assessment and development.
— Jack Glover, Managing Partner

Jack Glover Managing Partner

I’ve partnered with Giombetti Associates for many years, and their impact is consistently exceptional. Their executive coaching approach strengthens leaders and teams in ways that directly improve business performance. What sets them apart is their ability to develop leaders from the inside out—their process is practical, insightful and deeply effective. They have been a trusted resource for every organization I’ve worked with.

—Lindi Lee, Vice President, Human Resources : Kopin

WOW! This program is a polite kick in the pants! If you truly want to improve, this program gives you the roadmap to follow for ultimate personal and leadership success. A must do for anyone at any level. I highly recommend this to EVERYONE!

—Nancy Marryat, Bank Manager: 360 Federal Credit Union

Ross, Rick and their team create an atmosphere of focused learning in their leadership workshop. The tool (Performance Dynamics assessment) that they have developed and refined creates a level of self-awareness that all leaders should be in tune with. They allow you to understand that you can manage that which you appreciate.

—Peter Brunault, Director of Human Resources: Williams Distributing

I won’t lie, at times hearing and then accepting some of the characteristics I possess was VERY hard, but how can I change those things without being aware of them? I can honestly say that within the last month I feel as if I am an entirely new person. There are days that I feel as if a gigantic weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I am much more aware of who I am as an individual now. It is beyond refreshing. This program has given me the chance to become a leader.

—Heather Caisse

She listened to what my daughter’s goals were – got to really know who she was as a person and was able to set her on her best path forward – and since we are in FL, all this was done via Zoom calls – even more impressive in my opinion to make that kind of connection over zoom

—Stacey Russo, Director of Sales

This program provided me valuable and honest feedback about myself that has allowed me to excel in all aspects of my life. As cliché as it sounds, this program has changed my life, and without this program, I would not be as successful as I am today.

—Kristin Rheault

The programs offered by Giombetti Associates were beneficial in both my personal life and my career in human resources. If I could have changed only one thing, it would be to have participated in this program much earlier in my life.

—Deborah Beauchemin, Human Resources Supervisor: Atlas Copco Compressors, Inc.