Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/1059224
OWN IT | AD Today 2018 | 111 W h o 's Yo ur S o un din g B o ar d ? and provide counsel within a moment's notice should something of great significance need immediate discussion and action," she confirmed. "Our Advisory Board has been a strength and stabilizer for us in both the tough and bountiful times that the business and economic environment have served up in the last decade-plus." Like Behler-Young and Consolidated Supply, Risoul has also benefited from the creation and presence of a strong Board. "Our Board provides an easier way for us to move forward and our process is good; we meet for two days each quarter, during which I and my direct reports present to the members on our activities and get feedback," Ayala shared. "We now report to a Board, which is different than reporting to an owner; the process has created more discipline in terms of presenting numbers, discussing our activities, following a business plan, and instituting formal policies and procedures," he said. "Overall, the Board helps make all decisions, which has created a process that's richer." BEST PRACTICES IN BOARD DESIGN AND LEADERSHIP Build to Scale – According to Dentons' Boyajian, "Boards often start at 1-3 members for small companies and get bigger as the business grows and has different branches," he said. "Many companies ultimately land on a 3-9 member board and may reserve a couple of spots for non-family members." Consider Culture – "Culture is the most important piece of building a Board," Boyajian confirmed. "People must be aligned so that they can understand why you're doing something." Frown on Friends – "Your Board shouldn't be a group of your friends," advised Behler-Young's Young. "If you want them to provide value, they must have capabilities and be able to tell you things that you might not want to hear." "Our Advisory Board has been a strength and stabilizer for us in both the tough and bountiful times" – Karla Neupert Hockley, Consolidated Supply Co. HUBBELL COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS www.hubbell.com/wiegmann/en ® www.hubbell.com/acmeelectric/en Power Conversion & Conditioning Products WIEGMANN ©2018 Hubbell Incorporated (Delaware) Electrical Enclosure Options For Any Environment Continued on page 114