From humble beginnings...

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) was founded by a Sunday School class in Hesston, Kansas in 1950. With that modest start, some 70+ years ago, MDS now coordinates thousands of volunteers each year to respond to disasters across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

In contrast to some disaster relief organizations, MDS is present in the communities they are restoring for months - even years - at a time. Yes, homes are rebuilt and communities are restored. More importantly, MDS responds, repairs, and rebuilds hope and faith in the people they serve.

Josh Keefer and Roger North share MDS’ story in the latest episode of The North Group Podcast.

To view or listen to the other stories in our 25 Stories for 25 Years series, visit https://northgroupconsultants.com/ and view our blog and podcast pages.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, another special organization is celebrating their 75th. Paul B. Zimmerman, Inc. seeks to serve their customers, employees, the church and community in humility and with a strong commitment to their faith. 

Roger North and Daryl Leisey share the principles learned from this longstanding fourth generation family business in the latest episode of The North Group Podcast.

To view the other stories in our 25 Stories for 25 Years series, visit https://northgroupconsultants.com/ and view our blog and podcast pages.

Blending great business practices, tremendous creativity, and living out a mission-based purpose is certainly not easy, but it is possible.

Many of us are familiar with the outstanding example of this principle in our community, Sight & Sound Theatres. From humble beginnings with multimedia presentations in the 1970s, to bringing Bible stories to life as one of the top three theater destinations in the country, Sight & Sound Theatres and the Eshleman family have had a significant, eternal impact.

Roger and Gina share the story in this episode of The North Group Podcast.

While it is easy to fall into the habit of “keeping your head down and getting work done,” lifting your eyes to focus on investing in a cohesive team makes a difference in the lives of your employees, within your organization, and ultimately in the surrounding community. 

Over the course of their 94-year history, Risser’s Poultry has maintained this focus throughout the four generations that have led the company. With each generation bringing a unique skillset, Brian Black and Roger North share the Risser’s Story in the latest episode of The North Group Podcast.

25 years. 300 months. 1,304 weeks. 9,131 days. It’s been said that the older you get, the faster time goes. April 1, 1997 was the very humble beginning of North Group Consultants. On day one we had one client. Over the years we have been privileged to serve a few more.

In 2022, we will be recognizing 25 clients whose stories should be told. In fact, without these organizations our vibrant communities simply wouldn’t be as vibrant. Over the course of the next year, we will be telling those 25 stories – blogs, podcasts, Instant Insights. There are many other stories we could tell. All of them worth telling.

Honor. Humility. Humor. These three words perfectly describe Gary Houck, CEO (Chief Energy Officer) and Head Cheerleader of Houck Group, Inc. And, also serve as the company's core values.  In our first podcast of the "25 Stories for 25 Years" series, Roger and Gina share the story of how those values came to be. The Houck Group is a shining example of a business that by honoring its history and core values brings benefit to employees, families, and customers.  As a specialty contractor with over 300 employees, Houck's beneficial effect on the communities it serves is undeniable.

Recently, we’ve shifted our podcast focus to the unique challenges business leaders are facing in the current environment. Episode 17 encouraged leaders to remember and implement the disciplines of a healthy organization.

In Episode 18, we focus on the strategy of self-care. Addressing challenging organizational issues with clarity and remaining steadfast in pursuing mission requires that leaders remain healthy. Carving out time to reassess priorities and create reasonable leadership expectations for each day is critical to organizational success.

Join Roger North and Jerry Murray as they encourage investment in self-care and conclude this conversation in Episode 18.

Since we launched The North Group Podcast in 2020, we've focused on our theme of "Brought to Light," discussing the degree to which popular phrases are truthful, usable, and applicable to organizational, leadership, and cultural development (Episodes 1-16).

In episodes 17 and 18, our focus will be on what we've been hearing in our daily conversations with you, as business leaders seeking the best for your organizations in the midst of facing the unique challenges of the current environment (e.g. employee recruitment, supply chain challenges, leadership exhaustion).

When under pressure, it is easy to forget the disciplines of a healthy organization. However, these times can provide great opportunities to build cohesion and re-enforce alignment with the commitments of our organization.

Roger North and Craig Schloneger encourage leaders with timeless principles as they begin the conversation in Episode 17.

First impressions carry significant weight in how we perceive and relate to others. And yet, as the saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

While a book cover can serve as a telling indicator of the content inside, it does not share the full story. In both reading materials and relationships, Roger and Kent encourage us to open the pages, suspend judgment and pursue curiosity.

Enjoy the last conversation in our "Brought to Light" series!

When we have a goal in mind and want to ensure its accomplishment, we often decide to measure our progress. Is it true that what we measure is truly what “gets done?”

In this episode of The North Group Podcast, Roger North and John Zeswitz discuss how to ensure we are measuring the right things while balancing the quantitative and qualitative.

It’s a hot, summer day. Despite the scorching temperatures, you decide to go for a walk. Later, you’re questioning this decision as you look down the shade-less lane and feel beads of sweat forming on your forehead. “Maybe,” you ponder, “I should walk the path along the creek instead.”

As you head in that direction, you are unpleasantly surprised to find the entranceway to the shady, cool path blocked by the neighbors’ grumpy dog - asleep.

Leaders frequently find themselves in similar situations. Rather than facing a grumpy dog, however, they must decide whether or not to wade into conflict for the benefit on the other side. How can we be sure the “shady path” is worth the extra effort? Is it ever better to “let the sleeping dog lie?”

Roger North and Gina Breslin consider these questions together in this episode of The North Group Podcast.