Rich Kohler is one of North America’s leading business growth experts. With over a quarter century’s experience in marketing, business strategy, new business development, business and executive coaching, he has worked extensively with business owners and senior executives at small and mid-size privately-held firms, as well as Fortune 500 companies, in a wide range of industries. Rich specializes in helping organizations achieve new sources of profitable growth domestically and internationally.

His passion for growing businesses and helping catapult already accomplished leaders and their teams to the next level of personal and professional success, led to creation of Kohler Consulting Group and FocalPoint Business Coaching of Michigan. As a “lifetime coach,” Rich has dedicated a large portion of his career to helping top leaders, professionals and companies successfully align their priorities and maximize their potential.

A GE executive distinguished him above other senior level marketers by his “strategic approach and willingness to question the status quo to develop innovative marketing strategies.” These attributes have been hallmarks of Rich’s career. He provides a unique blend of Marketing, Business Strategy, New Business Development and M&A experience. Typically acting as the point person responsible for the Big Picture perspective, he helped define strategic issues and strategies that shaped the business’ future, and led mission critical initiatives, in challenging, mature and emerging, global markets.

As a thought leader, Rich throughout his career has combined vision and innovation to architect creative, transformational strategies, pioneering efforts to drive growth, enhance brand image & profitability, most recently for Fortune 500 industrial firms: General Electric, Smiths PLC, Eaton. Recognized as an enterprising problem-solver, Rich is respected as a sage with credibility built from experience. Level headed and unshakable, he is considered a diamond cutter with the ability to unlock the potential from a rough stone. He combines exceptional relationship skills with unyielding integrity and personal values.

Rich’s responsibilities have included Vice President, Marketing and Business Development where he provided strategic leadership and spearheaded global business expansion to accelerate growth, Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Strategy and Vice President, Marketing and Product Management where he architected and executed growth & profit improvement strategies, rejuvenating product marketing and product line strategies. His innovative approaches have spanned vision creation, strategic planning, strategic marketing, fortifying the product portfolio, regional business development, acquisitions and strategic alliances.

His approach to volunteering has included soccer coach, education of young people, acting, fund-raising, preserving neighborhoods and counseling. He and his wife Arlene have two children and live in the Grand Rapids, MI area. They enjoy international travel and the great outdoors. Rich, a former college football player, enjoys sports of all kinds, visiting historic sites, along with rides in the countryside with his convertible and motorcycle.

Rich received a B.S. in engineering from Southern Illinois University, an M.B.A. in marketing management from University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, and has completed both the Advanced Management Program from Duke University, Fuqua School of Business and the Global Management Program at American Graduate School of International Management. His Leadership Profile.

Rich Kohler can be reached via email or telephone at 616-818-6250.