Testimonials

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.

For nearly 30 years, our team at Riverlake Partners has engaged Giombetti & Associates to help improve our odds of success for key hires across our portfolio companies nationwide. As we build executive teams, we rely on Giombetti’s Performance Dynamics® to assess the qualities and characteristics of each leader, with the goal of assembling highly functional teams where individual strengths and weaknesses complement one another.

One of the first steps in building our leadership teams is the implementation of Giombetti’s 360 Degree Review process, beginning with the CEO and expanding from there. This approach creates buy-in, encourages honest feedback and provides real data to address challenges and build on strengths. Without real feedback, credibility—and ultimately success—is difficult to achieve.

—Erik Krieger, Partner: Riverlake Partners

Trust the process and be true to yourself and the people around you. The leaders at Giombetti are the best of the best. They are there to support you and highlight all the things you do well and support you to dial in the things that will make you a better leader at work, and better person in your family life. Have open and honest conversations with them, they will lead to a positive transformation. I have never met a more trusting, honest and kind group of people. I’m excited to see myself grow. I only wish I met them and worked with them sooner in life.

—Melissa Peters, Human Resource Generalist: Notch Mechanical Constructors

I hope you are well. I just wanted to take a minute and let you know how much I truly appreciate the opportunity you gave me. Not only were you a fantastic, energetic and knowledgeable teacher but you became a person that I have much respect and admiration for. You have many things I am working towards, including what seems to be the perfect balance between career, life and fun. 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. I will never change the energy or good spirit I feel I have but I have taken serious notice when I begin to just give in or hold back what I REALLY want. 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. I will always remember the things I learned in class as well as in the leadership program. This program has given me the chance to become a leader now. I am able to give my opinion and not worry about if everyone in the world is happy with it. It has made me aware of changes I need to make to be more successful. The lessons are unforgettable, and I hope that I can pass even a small bit of what I took in on to others. So – again, thank you millions for providing me such an amazing opportunity and a chance to start living truly happy. Cheers to you and your father!

—Heather Caisse, participant in Leadership Development Training and a graduate student in Ross’s Organizational Leadership class

This assessment has not only helped our organization immensely, but it has done great things for the personal development of some very talented people.

—Steve Mitus, Executive V.P. and CFO: Balise Motor Sales Company

This is the coaching of being you that so many teenagers and adults need.  We are all perfectly imperfect and have limitless growth potential to be our best selves.

—Stephen Hale

As President & CEO of ESI, A Xerox Company, it is imperative to me and to the success of our company that our leadership team receive professional development that places them in the best position to steer our organization forward in a unified manner while providing an environment that inspires commitment, accountability and collaboration.

We engaged Giombetti Associates to work with us to achieve our developmental goals and received what I consider to be the best personal and customized training ever! Through their Behavior Dynamics Profile and Institute of Leadership Program, Giombetti Associates explored and addressed the behavioral profiles of my management team, then worked with them to develop the skills to solidify their leadership effectiveness.

The investment has definitively been worth it. Our leadership team has been putting the knowledge and tools to use throughout the organization and we are seeing more consistent communication, respect for all personality types and the desire to drive continuous improvement. As a result, relationships between our leaders have improved, as has the overall culture. In short, by strengthening the leadership team, we have strengthened our entire company.

We have been working with Giombetti Associates for several years now. Ross Giombetti is an expert, the training is dynamic, and the ROI continues to exceed my expectations. In addition to the ongoing training they provide to our management team, they work with new leaders within our organization as part of our onboarding, which enhances the process and holds everyone accountable right from the start. Furthermore, Ross and team are constantly following up within our organization to make sure our leaders are utilizing the tools to drive the overall success of our mission. I highly recommend Giombetti Associates to any company looking to help their leaders become the very best versions of themselves.

—Anthony Lane, President & CEO: ESI Electronic Systems, Inc.

The feedback we get from Giombetti allows us to get a deeper view into what each prospective employee brings to the table. We know that the best teams include a range of personality styles, but that can sometimes lead to clashes as well. We work closely as a team, so the insight Giombetti provides helps us learn the best ways to work together and communicate. That understanding goes a long way and has really helped in our hiring process and our growth as a team.

—John Morely, Managing Partner: Incline Equity Partners

Giombetti’s 360 Degree Review process provides leaders with clear, actionable feedback from every angle, which is critical in fast-moving, highly collaborative environments. We use the process at Incline and across our portfolio companies to help leaders understand how they are experienced by teams, peers and stakeholders. That awareness fuels better coaching, stronger communication and teams that work together more effectively.

—April Simile, Partner: Incline Equity Partners

For me personally it was a wonderful experience. It was an eye opening, life changing, team building exercise. I could go on and on about the positive impact it has had on ME, my team and my family.

Please see below a few things from me and my team:

• I mark the time spent with Ross and Giombetti Associates as truly life-changing. To have clarity about my core values, to understand what makes me tick, to have tools to manage work and life situations – these are gifts. I’m grateful that MORSCO invested in me, and in all of us.
• Spending time with Ross and his team was truly a life-changing experience! Because of my time with Giombetti Associates, I have a greater self-awareness than I ever could have hoped for. This has put me is position to be a more impactful leader for my team, a stronger team member for my company, and a better leader for my family
• Ross and the entire team at Giombetti created a very direct, and self-reflecting approach to personal improvement.  I was struck by the correlation between personal and work. There are certainly things that I continue to struggle with, but I am very aware of my impact on people today. That was not the case in the past. The personal relationship that your team develops with their customer is second to none. I would also recommend the 360 review for any manager or leader. This was incredibly impactful to me on the things that I do that are both good and bad. I learned more about myself and the perception that others have of me. I will always value this time, and hope to continue my path of learning with the Giombetti group moving forward.

Thanks to the entire group for creating a customer for life.

—Nick Colletti, Regional Vice President: MORSCO

They did an amazing job of individualizing their advice to each of us. They recognized where our strengths were and found our weaknesses, but only sought to improve them.

—Will Ryan

Great experience! Gives you tools to improve your effectiveness. Provided the opportunity to role play and interact with peers who are faced with similar challenges to be effective with our personnel. I learned that collaboration and communication are important skills to use to solve any problem. Rick Giombetti and his staff created a challenging and fun packed seminar.

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

The Giombetti Associates 360 Degree Review process provides real insight into the difference between how your leadership is viewed and received versus how it looks to you. This perspective is difficult to obtain, yet vital to the development of serious leaders. If you are ready to receive an honest ‘grade’ on your leadership from the people who matter most, say yes to the 360 Degree Review and close the gap between you and your team.

—Sam Smith, Owner : Grower Direct Farms

Ideally, there aren’t huge surprises in these reviews. Even without major blind spots, there were a few takeaways that changed how I work with my team. The Giombetti review process validated that I remain calm under pressure, something I’ve always been proud of. What I learned, however, is that at times my calmness created doubt about whether I recognized situational urgency or would take necessary action. I also learned I wouldn’t lose credibility as a stoic leader if I occasionally expressed more direct and immediate feedback about things that can’t be tolerated.

We are all the masters of our intentions, but we can’t control how we’re perceived. Taking time to reflect on the gap between how we intend to show up and what others actually observe is important.

—Caleb Messer, Executive Chairman: GME Supply

We started using Giombetti several years ago when they were strongly recommended to us when I mentioned to another business leader that we were struggling to hire capable people that fit our culture. We are a small company, but growing rapidly, Giombetti has helped us hire and onboard about 20 people over the last several years and we are so pleased with the results. We are now bringing on top quality people who truly fit our culture. As we continue to grow, Giombetti is helping us develop the leadership team and improve our management staff. I consider them an essential asset to our continued growth and success.

—Dan Rocconi, President & CEO: Bixby International

It might go without saying that the personal assessments, group discussions, and skill building workshops were all integral components of this remarkable mentoring program, but what was truly exceptional in my mind was the genuine individualized care, attention, and motivation embodied by each and every member of the Giombetti team.

Their methods to ignite personal growth in students are truly top-notch, and the authentic compassion and energy that they bring to the table are truly unique and unparalleled.

—Timothy J. Scully

Ross shared a story in class about a guy who was always walking ahead of his family, it was like he was describing me. My family and I went to a pumpkin patch over the weekend and I made a conscious effort to SLOW down and move at their pace. I intentionally did not mention anything about my pace and could feel a better energy from my wife and kids from not being rushed around.

 I mentioned it before but feel it warrants being brought up again. I truly felt like I had known the Giombetti staff for years. It seemed that they all were there to help me be a better person. I know that we all make money doing our jobs, but you would have thought you guys were getting paid millions of dollars for each smile you invoked from the group. To me it felt like a real connection from the beginning. THANK YOU!

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

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

Working with Giombetti Associates has been a game-changer for us at Auxo Investment Partners. Their ability to assess executive candidates goes far beyond traditional evaluations—they have an uncanny accuracy in predicting not just a candidate’s strengths, but also their quirks and potential pressure points. That level of insight has been invaluable as we assess not only how someone will fit into the fabric of a company’s culture, but also how they’ll perform given the company’s specific stage in its investment lifecycle.

What sets Giombetti apart is their holistic view of fit. They enable us to think strategically about how a candidate will align with the needs of the management team, the board, and our partnership dynamic as investors. It’s not just about ticking boxes on experience or credentials—they help us anticipate how an individual will influence, lead, and integrate into a complex organizational ecosystem.

We trust them deeply and view them as an essential partner in our investment and leadership decision-making process.

Brandon Walsh

Vice President

Brandon Walsh Vice President

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

What was truly exceptional in my mind was the genuine individualized care, attention and motivation embodied by each and every member of the Giombetti team. Their methods to ignite personal growth in students are truly top-notch, and the authentic compassion and energy that they bring to the table are unique and unparalleled. I know that I would not be the person I am today without it.

—Timothy J. Scully