Group Leaders
David Shapiro -CEO, Seattle/Bellevue Group
Dave draws on his extensive leadership experience to mentor CEOs and business owners throughout the Puget Sound and West Coast. He helps his clients gain clarity about what is holding their company back and what will propel it to even greater heights. He gives them concrete steps that help them achieve their new goals. Some clients hire Dave to roll up his sleeves and work alongside them to accomplish those goals.
In addition to individual work with companies from San Francisco to Seattle, Dave is currently Regional Director and Group Leader for his Seattle based business, Excell. CEOs are nominated and selected for membership in an Excell group of noncompeting peers committed to improving their leadership skills, the effectiveness and profitability of their organizations and their life-work balance. Some of the companies Dave has worked with through Excell include Gene Juarez, RAFN Construction, Cascade Designs and Apple Physical Therapy.
Prior to Excell, Dave owned, operated and sold a manufacturing company and was also hired by investors and owners to run a variety of successful ventures, including:
- Zat, Inc., a business-to-business application software development company
- PTS, Inc. (now Emerita) a health care products manufacturer and distributor
- Jet Stream, Inc. a catalogue company and distributor
- Capital Access, Inc. a boutique investment bank
In addition to this experience, David ran a program for commercializing technologies developed by University of Washington professors, leading to companies such as Sonicare.
Dave received his BA from the University of Michigan, Masters from Denver University School of Business and JD from Lewis and Clark College. He is a past board member for NCNM, a medical school, Jewish Center of Portland and a member of the allocations committee of the Jewish Federation of Portland.
His daughters attended Connecticut College and the University of Michigan and continue to make David kvell (be proud). An active swimmer and runner, Dave lives in the Seward Park / Mt. Baker area of Seattle with the love of his life, Roni, and their golden retriever, Kodak.
Jim Hessler
Jim Hessler brings over 30 years of business management and executive leadership experience to his role as Group Leader for Excell.
Jim has been an award-winning salesman, sales manager, general manager and executive specializing in turning around underperforming operations. In the mid-90s he helped lead a massive reorganization of a Fortune 150 company.
In addition to his work with Excell, Jim is the Founder of Path Forward Leadership Development Services, a firm committed to growing leaders using approaches that produce real and lasting results. Jim’s hope is that someday everyone in America will work for a great boss. He strives to make that possible through his work with Excell and Path Forward.
Jim’s experience in general management has resulted in broad and deep knowledge of nearly all aspects of a well-run business. From building and managing a sales organization to managing complex inventories and delivery systems, from leading complex restructuring efforts to generating vision and trust in demoralized organizations, Jim has earned a depth of knowledge and insight that serves Excell members well, regardless of the leadership challenges they face.
Jim lives in Issaquah, Washington with his wife of 34 years, Paula, who is a teacher in the Issaquah School District.
Lauren Owen, Group Leader, Tacoma/Kent Group
Lauren’s 30+ years of experience of working with businesses in a diverse area of industries has given her keen insights into the underlying drivers to superior performance and long term value. Lauren’s specific areas of expertise include:
- Developing communication structures to bring the “elephants in the room” out in the open so that they can get resolved;
- Creating smart succession plans;
- Identifying and improving the key drivers to cash and profitability;
- Improving productivity by assessments, coaching, and benchmarking;
- Implementing management structures to monitor, measure, and increase performance
Prior to establishing her own practice, Redpoint Succession and Leadership Coaching, Lauren was a partner with Business Resource Services (BRS), a company that specializes in financial training and industry benchmark studies for closely-held businesses. Lauren co-authored the acclaimed Profit Mastery financial educational program, Profit Mastery.
An experienced CEO peer group facilitator, Lauren is a true believer in the power of a group to help each member grow his or her businesses faster and more efficiently by sharing best practices, leadership insights, and accountability.
Some of the clients Lauren has worked with include the Xerox Corporation, UC4, the American Rental Association, INSTORE Magazine, Home Instead Senior Care, Professional Compounding Centers of America and the Association of Small Business Development Centers as well as numerous independent and family owned businesses.
Lauren holds an MBA in Organization Design and Human Resource Management from the University of Washington and an A.B. Degree in Public Policy from Duke University. She received a coaching certification from Coach U, a leading coach training organization. She is also a certified Stakeholder-Centered Coach through a program created by executive coach Marshall Goldsmith.
Lauren lives in Shoreline, Washington with her partner Simon Siegl, a consultant in the wine industry. She has two college age sons, Patrick and Andrew, and enjoys spending time outdoors, entertaining, and travelling.
Dan Weedin, Group Leader, Kitsap County Group
Dan Weedin, an experienced entrepreneur, leader and speaker, has a passion for coaching and mentoring other entrepreneurs and business professionals. He has the unique ability to translate his success in the insurance industry, public speaking, non-profit world, and athletic coaching into applicable and transferable principles that dramatically improve the effectiveness of those he coaches and mentors.
Dan started his consulting firm, Toro Consulting, in 2005 after eighteen years in the insurance industry as an underwriter and commercial lines producer. Dan has consulted to countless leaders in quality companies such as: State Farm Insurance, the Seattle Sonics, the Seattle Storm, KPS Health Plans, the Washington State Coaches Association, the Department of Defense, and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. He also has helped drive performance improvements in numerous small to medium sized businesses and professional service specialists around the country. Dan now mentors and consults business leaders to help them improve presentation and communication skills, marketing and branding strategies, sales excellence, team building skills, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills.
Dan’s educational background includes formal education, certifications and ongoing professional development. He is a 1987 graduate of the University of Washington where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Dan earned his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation in 1996 and his Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation in 2011. Dan is only one of 34 “Master Mentors” in the Alan Weiss mentor community. He is a graduate of Dr. Weiss’ Million Dollar Consulting® College in 2009.
Dan resides in Poulsbo, WA with his wife Barb, and two daughters, Mindy and Kelli. He is an active member of his community where he is a past president of the Poulsbo-North Kitsap Rotary Club and is currently serving on the school board of directors for the North Kitsap School District. He is also active in Toastmasters International, the Miss America Organization (where he serves as a judge), and his church. He is also a volunteer boys basketball coach at North Kitsap High School after spending 6 years as the head girls basketball coach. He enjoys playing golf, reading, cooking and being walked by his two faithful canine companions Captain Jack and Bella.
Cindy Anderson, Group Leader, Women’s Group
Cindy Anderson is a professional coach who empowers, teaches and guides individuals, teams and organizations to explore what’s possible in order to create their best possible future. Prior to launching her own coaching practice, Potential Revealed, LLC, she had a successful thirteen year tenure at Microsoft. During this time Cindy has made a significant global impact with a focus on team building particularly during times of increased ambiguity and change.
Cindy’s career at Microsoft was a learning laboratory for understanding how to create and support high performing teams and individuals. She’s worked internationally and has gained valuable knowledge and expertise within several business units at Microsoft. Her broad range of experience includes product management, program management, business intelligence and sales with a focus on technical leadership and training, strategy and program development. Cindy is a dynamic public speaker and workshop facilitator with outstanding presentation skills.
As a trained expert in The Achieve System™ from the Achieve Institute, Cindy has helped teams in fortune 100 companies make significant gains on internal KPIs. The Achieve System™ is an organizational development tool that teaches individuals, teams and organizations how to sustain high performance even in times of extreme pressure and stress.
Cindy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with honors from York University in Toronto, Ontario and an EMBA from Seattle University with a focus on Leadership Development.
Michele Bosworth ‘s experience includes roles in management and directing recruiting for Enterprise Car Rental, NW Region. Michele graduated from Western Washington University with a BA in Business Administration. Her professional experience also includes sales and human resources. Michele has been in her role as Director of Member Services with Excell since 2008.
Michele currently resides in Snoqualmie Washington with her husband and two children. She enjoys skiing, running and watching her children play soccer.
