Jim Soudriette

Jim@usund.com

(602)-955-8877

1. What led you to the consulting profession?

I have an undergraduate degree in management engineering. I was fortunate to have spent 4 years in the US Air Force doing that work. When I got out of the Air Force, I moved to Fort Wayne and got involved with mergers and acquisitions. From there, I was recruited by Booz Allen to do executive search, site location, and management consulting. I worked for Booz Allen in the Chicago office in Highland Park. I had an assignment here in Arizona in 1957 and I was enamored with what I saw. I moved here in 1958 and opened my business in 1959. I had a nice size staff and we operated here in the United States, in Western Europe, and in Asia. I had seven partners around the world. About fifteen years ago everybody decided to move home. We did a lot of strategic planning and implementation work.

2. Do you have a specialty or niche in the management consulting industry?

My specialty is site location, initiation development, and marketing management. I work with small and medium sized companies on strategic planning and execution. I’m stronger on execution than planning. I’m strong in that area too but the real trick is in execution, ‘making it work.’

3. Is there one unique thing that you would like the membership to know about you?

Charles Schaul and I are chapter founders. We founded the Phoenix chapter in the early 80s. I was a member of AMC and we merged in about 1976 or 1977. I was in the consulting association long before we came to the IMC. I merged two other organizations into the IMC. At that point, the IMC became the premier organization for independent consultants.

4. What one tip or piece of advice would you give to other consultants?

Continue seeking to diversify your competence. Make realistic sacrifices in order to achieve your goals.