Company
Bryan Howe, Founder and CEO
"I don't think I've ever had a job—I've always had a business. I don't remember the last W-2 I got from someone else." And that's how entrepreneurs are. Bryan conceived MasterPlans when he was approached by a friend to help her write her own business plan. When the job was done and she opened her coffee shop she said to him, "How much do I owe you?" The light bulb went on, and the paperwork was filed.
To be a good business planner, you need to know the landscape of the competition. Bryan went to work for 4 months with the (then) highest-volume business planning firm and studied their process. "It was so flawed. You can't use 1099 contractors to write business plans. You have no control over them, the process, the output. Your plan can only be as good as that one person's skill set on that given day. It has to be about a refined process, not a person. People are too unpredictable, and generally can only do one thing really well."
Bryan's core skills are in financial modeling. He was the first consultant to receive Alight Planning's Certified Consultant status in the country, and now MasterPlans sells more Alight Planning models than all other independent consultants combined, worldwide.
Working now in MasterPlans:SP (the special projects arm of MasterPlans), Bryan continues to build financial models and business plans for large clients. Clients of note include:
- Carolyn & Co.
- Tyco Electronics
- E-Glance, Inc. (was offered CFO position pre-funding)
- LinkExperts
Bryan has a Bachelor of Art and an MBA with an emphasis in Finance. "But you learn by doing. We've grown MasterPlans by over 2000% in 3 years and helped clients raise hundreds of millions. You don't get that kind of education from a textbook or a tenured professor who's never done anything in business."
Brent Butler, Co-Founder and COO
“If you can describe to me where you want to be, I can give you a process for getting there.” Brent is the original developer of the Team Plan Model, a concept he created after joining Bryan during the Company’s infancy. When Bryan described how the lone consultant route just doesn’t work, Brent came up with an idea: “I can make a better system by taking smart people who excel in different fields and having them do what they do best on each section of the plan.” And away it went. Brent manages the business planning process on a daily basis and is referred to by the consultants as “El Capitan.” Brent has a passion for refining goal-oriented systems—specifically the application of working capital to processes and executions strategies.
“Absolutely nothing makes me happier than hearing that the work we have done with a client has resulted in a change in their life,” says Brent. “The client’s thought process and success is the real process, not just the business plan.”
Brent divides his time between managing MasterPlans’ day-to-day operations and consulting MasterPlans:SP. His list of distinguished clients is long, but a few of note are:
- Personal consultant to Al Pacino and Tim Judge, Pacino Judge Productions
- Personal Consultant to Gary Stowe, CCC, Inc.
- Project Manager to Benny Aboud and The Elephant Group
- Project Manager to Amir Ahmed and homes.org
- Project Manager to Rick Steel and SelectBlinds.com
Brent’s college studies were focused on business management and marketing, while he completed post-college work in applied logistics and operational management. At MasterPlans, Brent applies the latest team-building, management, and market communication strategies, as well as helping project managers and clients understand the fundamentals of operation and marketing in various markets. Brent does this by consistently analyzing businesses case-by-case to learn what works and what doesn’t and through continual education, application, and analysis.
Christian Brenneman, VP of Business Development
Christian came on board in 2006 to help elevate the level of attention our partners and prospective clients receive throughout the sales engagement. His varied sales background and commitment to MasterPlans became evident. Working diligently for 18 months, Christian helped grow company revenues by 300% through 14 hour work days and a tireless commitment to the client experience. He now leads the inbound client team as well as introducing clients to outside partners post engagement.
"I believe entrepreneurialism is the cornerstone to a free enterprise system, and nurturing that ideal is my passion."
Christian actively follows trends in the venture capital community along with keeping his thumb on the pulse of cutting edge entrepreneurialism. Personal interests include green technology and Web 2.0.
Mahesh Raj Mohan, Chief Editor and VP of Training and Development
It may sound like an exaggeration when Mahesh says, "If the business concept is out there, it has probably crossed my desk." But he has hardly overestimated the scope of his experience. Since Brent recruited him as the Team Planning Model's first writer, Mahesh has worked on thousands of business plans. Now the chief editor and corporate trainer for the company, Mahesh leads by example, and his efforts have ensured the satisfaction (and success) of numerous clients, including:
- Al Pacino and Tim Judge of Pacino Judge Productions
- OneWeekBath
Mahesh graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and creative writing from Pitzer College, one of the Claremont Colleges. An award-winning writer, he has also used his skills as a wordsmith to create the MasterPlans Style Guide—the first of its kind in the business planning field. As a former co-owner of a small retail business, he also understands what it's like to start a new enterprise from scratch. "Believe in yourself, set reasonable goals, and perform due diligence. By following those simple steps, you'll actualize success."
William Dean, VP of Operations
"I've always been a skilled writer, but as an academic and then a paralegal, I figured I'd wind up in a less dynamic occupation than business planning," William explains. Any gifted writer can develop a good story, but only the best can make dry or complicated business concepts into something engaging to read. William came on board with MasterPlans originally as a writer for special projects (the upper echelon of clients) where the material was difficult to digest. William still project manages for some top-level clients, but now focuses mainly on corporate operations at MasterPlans. Past clients of note:
- Carolyn Kepcher (from The Apprentice) and Carolyn & Co.
- SilvaGas® Corporation
- Lisa Raye (First Lady of Turks and Cacaos)
William was the Tristam Burges scholar at Brown University, where he graduated #1 with a Bachelors of Art in English and was awarded the Ratcliffe Hicks Prize for extraordinary scholarship. While in Rhode Island, William spent several months writing a critical research essay which won the Preston Gurney Prize in Literary Criticism. Now his writing has taken a back seat to his management. "I was planning on heading to law school when Brent and Bryan called me," William says. "They said law wasn't the best field my writing and interpersonal skills could be applied to—and they were right."
Paige Short, Project Manager
Starting at MasterPlans as an editor, Paige Short quickly progressed to writing business plan narratives, and then to project management. While she has managed several hundred projects, Paige has worked on countless business plans in all stages of development, excelling at each position. The key, she says, lies in foresight—having the perspicacity to intuit the needs of clients and business planners is an attribute that allows Paige to take on challenges with composure.
Paige finds the critical close reading, analysis, and interpretation skills she honed while earning her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in literature vital to her leadership role at MasterPlans. “Details are critical, and being able to understand the elements of a project as part of a larger context is also vital. It’s the synthesis that is often the challenge in project management.”
An Irving Story Scholar and honors student at Pacific University, Paige Short earned the Outstanding Graduate Award for her class, and worked as an editor and writing resource specialist for the university. She taught English in graduate school, and earned her Master’s Degree in literature from Portland State University.
Michael Cassella, Project Manager
Before finding a home with MasterPlans, Michael Cassella was a project manager with a successful construction firm, New Haven Homes, in Portland, Oregon. “There is no greater challenge than project management and contracting project management is especially challenging.” Day-to-day, Michael was involved in a position that involved quick-thinking, knowledge of various industries, and the ability to communicate well with clients and workers. “It’s serendipitous how those same skills translate to business plans.”
Above all, Michael’s philosophy about project management is simple: Listen to the client, help them establish their vision, and wear multiple hats all day long. “Whether it’s a client proposing the opening of a new downtown boutique or seeking investment for their brand new website concept, a project manager at MasterPlans needs slide from one frame of mind to another with ease, and I like to think I’m able to do that regularly.”
Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communications and
a minor in English from Portland State University. He has also freelanced
for several media websites and earned an honorable mention for Best
Review from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association.
Marisa Marconi, Project Manager
For Marisa Marconi, the process of creating the plan is as exciting as delivering the final product. Marisa joined MasterPlans as an editor and client induction specialist before moving into writing and eventually project management. Her experience has bred in her a distinct perspective of the evolution of the business plan from concept to development, revision, and final product. It is this intimate understanding of process and collaboration —built from her involvement in hundreds of plans—that allows her to effectively manage projects of any level of complexity. "The key," says Marisa, "is breaking down the big picture into manageable pieces. A masterpiece—or MasterPlan for that matter—is simply a series of small tasks done well."
Prior to joining Masterplans, Marisa conspired with two local producers to develop and launch a small video production house in Portland. Specializing in post production, she worked with large organizations as well as individual clients to create documentary shorts covering a range of topics from biographies and family histories to corporate trade missions and events. She continues to edit projects for the company in her free time.
Marisa earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Columbia University. As the captain of the university's varsity softball program, she was awarded All Ivy Academic and Athletic honors each year of her four-year career.
Louis Bartlett, Project Manager
After writing hundreds of business plans, Louis Bartlett still maintains that each company can offer a competitive edge in its industry: "it's just a matter of formulating a strong strategy and appropriate expectations during the business planning process." He prides himself in his ability to communicate each company's distinctive qualities through the business plan to help his clients attain their vision. With more than 500 business plans under his belt, Louis has become an expert at researching and analyzing market trends and understanding what entrepreneurs need and investors seek.
He learned early on as a grant writer for Portland State University that obtaining funding in any industry requires determination, expertise and developing close connections with funders. During his tenure at the University, Louis managed more than 400 partnerships and wrote grants for a variety of projects in the Middle East, Africa and Oregon. Now, as a Project Manager for Masterplans, he strives to make funding a reality for each client.
Louis Bartlett earned his undergraduate degree from Montana State University and his Master of Arts in literature from Portland State University. After a two-year stint in Peace Corps Africa, Louis became fluent in Portuguese and world travel. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling in local road bike events and climbing the Northwest's highest peaks.
Supporting Cast
Finance
Sabina Schmidt - Finance, Alight Certified Consultant
Kelly Hinkle - Finance, Alight Certified Consultant
Matt Westbrook - Finance
Market Analysis
Christina Hersey - Lead Researcher ("If it's out there, I can find it.")
Jonathan Rossitto - Market Research and Analysis
Jamey DeOrio - Market Research and Analysis
Kendall Cline - Market Research and Analysis
Marketing & Implementation
Laura Jean Long - Lead Writer
Brooke Strickland - Writer
Caitlin Weiss - Writer
Ellen Arndt - Writer
Editing
Heather Blackwell - Editor
Elizabeth Buelow - Editor
Meghan McCracken - Editor
Zoe Ratches - Editor
Support
Shannon Bosch - Reception
Shannon Gilligan - Reception
Brent Van Antwerp- Account Executive, Sales
Dino Cloward - Account Executive, Sales
Jessica Bernstein - Client Induction Specialist
Leah Wing - Accounting and Contracts
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