Bruce Hodes

Bruce Hodes, President and Founder of CMI, is dedicated to helping companies grow.  The focus of his work is developing work teams, business leaders and executives into powerful performers.  Bruce has an MBA from Northwestern University and a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work.

As a business strategy consultant and a former psychotherapist, Bruce brings a diverse blend of skills and education to his work with teams, business leaders and executives.  Bruce developed a methodology, called Breakthrough Strategic Business Planning.  This planning format is specifically designed for small and mid-sized companies; it is also useful for departments and corporate divisions.

Bruce has over 30 years of experience working extensively with privately held companies from five to 100 million dollars in size.  He is an expert in small business advising and family business coaching.  Bruce’s diverse skill set and adaptable approach allows him to work with a wide variety of companies including food processing, manufacturing, insurance, health care administration, technology, staffing and commercial laundry sectors.  Bruce has coached and planned with numerous companies that have experienced real tangible revenue growth.  Bruce has also facilitated team building retreats for employees of the Chicago Public School System, and other Not for Profit Organizations.

Bruce is a prolific writer.  Bruce’s writing often appears in Textile Rentals Magazine and on the Strategy Driven blog.  His book, Front Line Heroes: Battling the Business Tsunami by developing Performance Oriented Cultures was published in February of 2012.

Bruce Hodes
CEO, Business Coach, Author, Speaker

Bruce’s Bio and Pictures

Since growing up in his family’s boating business to founding his company CMI, Bruce Hodes has dedicated himself to helping companies grow by developing executive leadership teams, business leaders and executives into powerful performers. Bruce’s adaptable Breakthrough Strategic Business Planning methodology has been specifically designed for small-to-mid-sized companies and is especially valuable for family company challenges. In February of 2012 Bruce published his first book Front Line Heroes: How to Battle the Business Tsunami by Developing Performance Oriented Cultures. With a background in psychotherapy, Hodes also has an MBA from Northwestern University and a Masters in Clinical Social Work.

Full Length Biography

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Radio and TV

March 2014: Bruce Hodes is invited back as a guest on EPN Radio to discuss driving mediocrity out of organizations. Listen Now >>
April 2013: Bruce Hodes shows how to grow a powerful profitable business and achieve sustainable growth in challenging times on LA Talk Live. Watch Now >>
April 2013: Bruce Hodes discusses achieving sustainable business growth on EPN Radio. Listen Now >>
March 2013: Bruce Hodes discuss strategy execution management, KeyneLink and Front Line Heroes on the Price of Business Radio. Listen Now>>

Webinars

February 2014: Bruce Hodes moderates “Family Business Transitions and How to Solve Them” with Panelists: Phil Schmidt, David Schmidt, and Craig Freedman.

June 2013: Bruce Hodes moderates “Profitably Growing Your Family Business” with Panelists: Phil Schmidt, Joseph Krusinski, and Jerry Freedman. Watch the videos:
Joining a Family Owned Business >>
Family and Business Coexistence >>
Family vs. Business >>

Media Mentions

Bruce’s presentation to HQ USMEPCOM titled “5 Ways to Enhance Team Performance” highlighted in their Mentoring Moment Newsletter
Bruce gives advice to family business employees: How to Keep Family Business Tensions in Check
Bruce quoted on the Ride: Which Services Best to Expand?
Bruce Hodes interviewed on MO.com: Are you ready to stop playing victim to the times?
Front Line Heroes is reviewed by the Oak Park Oak Leaves: Book Reveals Techniques to Grow Businesses
Front Line Heroes reviewed by the Daily Herald Business Ledger: Book Shows how to ‘Battle the Business Tsunami’
Front Line Heroes recommended by New Equipment Digest: Tools for Growing a Business
Front Line Heroes recommended by B2B Marketing: New Book – Battling the ‘Business Tsunami’
Front Line Heroes is featured on Landmark Education’s Website: Business Executive, Author, Address Business Performance
Bruce Hodes mentioned in the Northwestern Alumni Fall 2012 Magazine
Bruce Hodes offers advice about the do’s and don’ts of sales contests in Textile Services Magazine
Bruce Hodes quoted in Quality Plant of the Year, see page 47

Press Releases

The Family Owned Business Network, Financial Poise, and ChamberWise to Present “Family Business Transition Challenges and How to Solve Them” Webinar
The Family Owned Business Network and Financial Poise Announce Strategic Relationship to Provide Webinars Irreverent New Book Shows Business Owners & Executives How to Thrive in Changing Times

Published Articles

September 2017: The Mama and The Papa

April 2017: Burger Boy

February 2017: The Mama and The Papa
April 2016: A Fish out of Water

August 2014: That Dog Don’t Hunt
July 2014: A Keyne Way to Coach Employees and Improve Performance
June 2014: 5 Ogres and an Angel
May 2014: It’s All About the Ducks
April 2014: ABCs Oh Baby Now
April 2014: A Keyne Way to Set Goals
February 2014: 5 Ogres and an Angel
January 2014: 5 Ogres and an Angel
January 2014: Why Hold Annual Kickoffs?
December 2013: Goal Setting: The Keyne Way
December 2013: The Benefit of Stupid Games
October 2013: Go Live with the Whales
September 2013: Stupid Games
August 2013: Go Live with the Whales
August 2013: Easy as ABC: Gaining People and a Performance Edge
June 2013: Making Green from Green
June 2013: Getting Away see page 3
May 2013: Taking the Family out of Business
April 2013: Go Live with the Whales
April 2013: Let’s Take the Family Out of Business, see page 11
February 2013: Kickoff Meetings, see page 12
February 2013: Let’s Take the Family Out of Business
December 2012: Seven Rules of Strategic Guessing
December 2012: Creating Customer-Focused Teams
November 2012: The Tasty Center: Three Strategies for Middle Management
September 2012: Mission and Vision: Align Behind a Winning Message!
September 2012: Raving Fan Customers
July 2012: Creating Teams
July 2012: 5 Basic Truths about Creating and Building Teams in the Workplace
July 2012: The Four Cornerstones of a High Performance Culture
March 2012: Developing People: A Coach’s Handbook