Employee Spotlight – Ken Reiser

MasterThink’s success can be attributed to our exceptional team members. In today’s post, we put the spotlight on MasterThink consultant, Ken Reiser.

My Dream Vacation:
I’m more than ready to head to where I have heard might just be the most unusual place on the planet: the Galapagos Islands, with its species that can be found nowhere else. And being an avid snorkeler, I hear the underwater view and the vast amount of tropical fish are just as spectacular.

What is the best thing you have read this year:
I really enjoy the “Killing” Series books by Bill O’Reilly. Not only are they well written, but the amount of research and information he includes in each volume is amazing. My latest read was Killing the Legends: The Lethal Danger of Celebrity, exploring the lives . . . and the tragic ends of three of the greatest modern idols—Elvis Presley, Muhammed Ali, and John Lennon.  In addition to reading, I am a huge wine fan and I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts about it. My favorite podcast right now is Wine 101.

What experience in your life has made you prepared to work at MasterThink:
Owning and operating, buying, and selling two different businesses has been a huge help. My first venture was as the owner of a commercial flooring contracting company, after which I bought a high-end lighting and electrical business which I ran for twelve years. I was able to appreciate and prosper in the good times and weather the storms of the recessions.

In the gap between the flooring and lighting business, I worked for the publicly held company that had purchased my flooring business. What a great education from being a sole proprietor to handling the sophisticated finance and operations of a major company.

Finally, I worked as the Executive Director for a 17,000-member Methodist church, learning to work with people and tackle planning from an entirely different perspective. It was an incredible learning experience!

What is the best thing about working with MasterThink?
I love being able to help business owners and leaders achieve what is most important to them. Experience has taught me that owning and operating a business can be a lonely place. Where does someone at the top of the chain go for objective and impartial feedback in their decision-making? That’s where we come in. Being able to help others out is a great satisfaction.

What is the best advice you ever received?
At the ripe old age of 35, I was struggling with whether or not I should buy out one of my competitors in the flooring business. Contemplating such a risky move had me all tied up that doing so might put my currently thriving company at risk. After confessing my anxiety to a friend, he looked at me and said, “Make the acquisition. You are young enough to make a huge mistake and recover.” It was great advice. I made the acquisition. I learned a big lesson that I’ve carried with me: It’s perfectly okay to be concerned, but fear is paralyzing. Never let it dictate your decisions!