The Next Level

I had the great fortune to find Al Katz, and my life has been on a more positive trajectory ever since.  We meet once a week to discuss life and business, and he is available anytime I have an issue or something that I need help navigating.  Al has had great success both professionally and personally and his vast experience can help you improve a current situation or resolve an issue.  We have navigated some tough issues in my business life, and I am happily on the other side now!  However, new issues come up every day in all our lives, and I count myself blessed to be able to continually lean on Al’s knowledge and judgement.

I appreciate Al’s style of coaching.  Instead of telling you what you need to do, Al helps you work through the situation and find the best solution because you are the only person that knows the whole picture and can truly find the solutions to improve your life.  He is gentle in his approach to coaching, but he can also push you in the right direction when you need it!  I don’t want to think about how different my life would be if I had not found Al Katz those years ago, and I am quick to tell everyone how much he has done and continues to do for me.  Do yourself a favor and call Al!

“Sincere appreciation goes out to Al Katz for being such a superb motivational coach. Understanding the customer in a new light and improvements in our inventory control system have greatly improved our bottom line. I would highly recommend Al and The Next Level to anyone wishing to improve their business.

Al Katz is a great leader and instructor.  He has gained a tremendous amount of insight through his many years in the business world, and he is able to leverage that experience when coaching individuals.  His one-on-one sessions are thought-provoking and focused, and he tailors each meeting with the goals of the individual in mind.  His real-world stories add another level of context to really help in driving a message home.  Al takes pride in his coaching and truly wants each person to succeed.

When I first met Al Katz, he was giving a presentation on “Succession Planning” at the Family Business Forum quarterly meeting. Ten minutes into his presentation, I realized everything he was saying was directly relevant to my business situation and future retirement. As I listened to Al’s presentation, the light came on and I realized I needed to do something if I expected my upcoming retirement to become a reality. I knew Al had the knowledge to help my business. Now I have a succession plan in place to ensure a successful transition of responsibilities and ownership of my company.

Al, you have been a huge help confirming many things that I have felt for a long time. I always believe that it is a positive thing to bring in a professional
to answer questions and give another prospective outside of the ‘family box.’ And you have done just that! I thank you for everything.

Al’s capability to provide a bird’s eye view of a business is a skill to be admired. I needed someone with Al’s sound advice and recommendations. He played a significant role in helping me make some tough decisions to move forward.

Our company met Al Katz after a Family Business Council meeting where he was the presenter. He brought up many points that we as business owners had never considered especially now that our children are grown and beginning families of their own. Al’s lifetime of business experience, firm yet easygoing and engaging style helped our family deal with a subject that was completely unknown to us. He is the first to say, “It’s a process that really never ends.” We found his involvement to be just what we needed to begin engaging in family discussions of when and how the business can successfully transition to the next generation. All businesses either are sold or transferred to another generation or come to an end. It is reassuring to have someone who understands the process to be part of that discussion and help keep it on track. Our family would enthusiastically recommend Al Katz.

We met Al weekly and step-by-gentle-step, he coached us to adopt new practices that are key to running a successful business. He was unfailingly upbeat. Perhaps his greatest gift in working with us was his ability to navigate that tension between encouragement and pressure; something important with young adults. He seemed genuinely delighted to learn more about the work we were doing and that was very affirming. He even did some networking for us with his other clients. He worked to make sure we had the discipline and tools we needed to maintain our progress.

Al Katz and the concepts that he has developed at The Next Level have deeply impacted our business. His business coaching style combined with his focus on planning, communication, and personal development have made our company a much more effective organization.

It has been my distinct pleasure to have been well acquainted with Al Katz for over ten years – first as a client of his when he worked with my former law firm, then as a friend as we worked together closely, then as a business colleague as we worked co-operatively to try to assist each other and to cross market our respective services. Al’s unique interpersonal skills enable him to be singularly effective in dealing both with groups and with individuals. He has a superb ability for listening and then rapidly discerning group dynamics, individual personality make ups, as well as individual and group resources, capabilities, and needs. He capably facilitates enhanced communications and fosters co-operative efforts. I have seen Al in action on numerous occasions and believe that he is the best at what he does, i.e. business coaching. I have spoken with a number of Al’s clients who share my admiration of his skills and have experienced the beneficial results of having utilized his services.

Al’s insight and business knowledge have proved invaluable to my growth, both personally and professionally. He’s really a personal coach who helps you discover the best within yourself, then helps you develop the tools to take your business to the next level.

I found Al at a critical point in my career as I was moving from my role as an individual contributor to becoming responsible for others as a leader and a mentor. Al gave me the guidance and the confidence to create my own path with this growth. Our business as a CPA firm is often so hyper-focused on client deadlines and the customer perspective, Al helps to contextualize this within the greater scope of business by focusing on our clients and staff. Al brings a fresh perspective having worked across various industries over his successful career.

Under the guidance of The Next Level and Al Katz, my partners and I were able to take our growing company and effectively apply our core values and business principles in a people centered environment. Al showed us how to lead our people and not just manage them during an important transitional time. All companies who experience growth have key associates who fear change. Al strategically showed us how to implement the necessary changes by working beyond our fears. As a result, we are able to have a strong balance of leading our company’s growth through its people while giving us the ability to meet our personal goals. Al showed us that it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing atmosphere. A balance in the workplace can be achieved and we did it!

The Next Level has honestly taken my business to ‘the next level.’ Al’s ability to quickly analyze my current business model, introduce sound business practices and develop new revenue sources has reinvented my business. Thank you Al Katz.”

Working with Al, we were able to take a step back and look at our business and our lives in a much different way. We have saved ourselves many hard years of learning what it takes to run a great business. The simplest solutions are the most apt and Al showed us that in all scenarios that approach should be the same.

Al Katz and his rock solid advice have served as the cornerstone for me and my business during these economic times. Having been in the commercial real estate business for over 17 years, I found myself at a critical crossroads. I needed someone to look at my business, understand my objectives, and coach me through the process. The results have been outstanding and certainly beyond my expectations. Al is a great coach, business mind, and I am proud to say, a great friend.