BJ Howard
B.J. Howard is the current President/CEO of Convergenz, LLC and is responsible for directing all the activities of the firm, including strategic planning, operations, and all things financial. He has over 30 years of coaching, consulting, and business leadership experience in a broad cross section of industries.
He is an adjunct professor at Williamson College, where he teaches Strategic Planning, Financial Analysis, and Entrepreneurship.
He is a member of the Association for Strategic Planning and is a frequent guest speaker on many topics related to growing a business enterprise.
In addition to his role at Convergenz, Mr. Howard currently serves on the following boards:
- Williamson College, Board of Trustees, Chairman
- Better Business Bureau, Corporate Board of Directors, member
- Better Business Bureau, Advisory Board, member (Williamson County)
- Freedom’s Promise, Advisory Board, member
- CGA, Inc. Board of Directors, member
His certifications include:
- Certified Management Consulting (ASTD),
- Certified Strategic Planning (Harvard Business School),
- Certified Leadership Development (Harvard Business School),
- Certified DiSC Profile Instructor (Rollins College)
- Certified Six-Sigma Black Belt (IASSC)
- Certified Group Facilitation (Rollins College)
His areas of expertise are:
- Strategic Planning
- Business Models – Viability, Sustainability, and Scalability
- Value Chain Assessments
- Capital Structures – Raising capital/Incurring debt
- Industry Research
- Exit Strategies
- Organizational Effectiveness
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Post Acquisition Integration
Q. What excites you most about the Wond’ry?
A. The opportunity given by this institution to develop the hopes and dreams of young innovators.
Q. What do you feel are the most important skills you have to offer in your role as a mentor?
A. Business model development, viability, market, and financial research, capitalization needs and structures, and strategic planning. Our firm works mostly with early stage to mid-market companies, so we have extensive experience with high-potential, high-growth companies.
Q. What has been your proudest moment in your career?
A. The successful launch and development of my firm and the success associated with our clients.
Q. What has surprised you most about your job?
A. It was three times as hard, took three times as long, and required three times the resources I originally anticipated to reach a level of sustainability.
The number of professional service firms, led by incredibly bright people that have developed world class skill sets, but due to their academic track, have not developed a strong business acumen.
Q. If you could do everything over again, would you make the same career choices?
A. Absolutely!Without question.
Q. In your opinion, what is the most important quality for success?
A. Once you have determined the viability of your project, the passion, and perseverance to see it through to fruition.
Q. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A. I wanted to follow in my Father’s footsteps and own a Ford dealership. Not only did I realize that dream, but I also went on to have an incredibly valuable career with Ford Motor Company, before I took an early retirement to found our consulting firm.