Get one-on-one support, guidance, and accountability with Business Coaching

Designed for Business Owners, Business Coaching builds your confidence for running a thriving organization by providing one-on-one accountability and guidance from a trusted advisor who situationally pulls in proven tools, frameworks, and resources to support your goals and growth.

Get one-on-one support, guidance, and accountability with Business Coaching

Designed for Business Owners, Business Coaching builds your confidence for running a thriving organization by providing one-on-one accountability and guidance from a trusted advisor who situationally pulls in proven tools, frameworks, and resources to support your goals and growth.

“I finally felt like I wasn’t alone. [My Business Coach] challenged me on things that I never would have changed. I realized that my Coach was there to help and guide me. So I listened — and if I hadn’t listened, I would be out of business.”

Danny McGeady, owner of JEM Designs

“I finally felt like I wasn’t alone. [My Business Coach] challenged me on things that I never would have changed. I realized that my Coach was there to help and guide me. So I listened — and if I hadn’t listened, I would be out of business.”

Danny McGeady, owner of JEM Designs

Benefits of Business Coaching

Learn from the experiences of others

Your Business Coach will bring not only their own professional management experience but also real-world examples they’ve seen while working with other professionally managed organizations.

Get judgment-free perspective

Your Business Coach will become your trusted friend who will listen to the issues you can’t process with anyone else and challenge limiting beliefs that are standing in your way of progress.

Find focus

Your Business Coaching sessions help you get out of the weeds and offer protected time and space to move the most important parts of your business forward in a distraction-free environment.

Develop practical, lifelong skills

When you learn a concept or tool, you’ll be able to immediately apply it to your real-life situation. This learn-through-doing approach ingrains what you’ve learned to build skills you’ll leverage for the rest of your career and life.

“Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely place… No one knows exactly what you’re dealing with, and it’s hard to talk through feelings or challenges because you don’t want to alarm people. But you have to have a space for vulnerability and support to really thrive. That’s what our Aileron team has been for me.”

Jim Smith, CEO of Keith Smith Company

“Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely place… No one knows exactly what you’re dealing with, and it’s hard to talk through feelings or challenges because you don’t want to alarm people. But you have to have a space for vulnerability and support to really thrive. That’s what our Aileron team has been for me.”

Jim Smith, CEO of Keith Smith Company

At-a-Glance Service Overview

Who it's for | Aileron

Who it’s for

Business Owners, Presidents CEOs

Service Location | Aileron

Location

Virtually, at Aileron’s Campus, or at your location

Who's in the room | Aileron

Who’s in the room

You and your Aileron Business Coach

Service Format | Aileron

Format

One-on-one sessions plus just-in-time support to process challenges between sessions via phone or email

Service Investment | Aileron

Investment

12-MONTH PACKAGE OPTIONS

12 sessions
$3,750

6 sessions
$1,875

“I learned there’s so much to running a business that I hadn’t considered, but I was never overwhelmed. Our Business Coach was a knowledgeable guide; he helped us clarify what we wanted from the business and what we wanted the business to do for our family, staff, patients, and the greater Cincinnati community.”

Dr. Mike Hill, founder of The Hill Hear Better Clinic

“I learned there’s so much to running a business that I hadn’t considered, but I was never overwhelmed. Our Business Coach was a knowledgeable guide; he helped us clarify what we wanted from the business and what we wanted the business to do for our family, staff, patients, and the greater Cincinnati community.”

Dr. Mike Hill, founder of The Hill Hear Better Clinic

What can I talk about with my Business Coach?

Your Business Coaching sessions are private, protected time to process issues you can’t discuss with anyone else. You’ll meet with your Business Coach to get guidance on the biggest challenges you’re facing in your business and leverage their perspective between sessions with just-in-time support via phone and email. Business Owners commonly use Business Coaching to:

Focus on the most important parts of the business

Alleviate overwhelm and find clarity

Get unstuck and determine how to get to the next level

Process challenges standing in the way of your business goals

Uncover your desired outcomes for the business and create a plan to reach them

Process options when making decisions

Understand the best way to spend your time and energy as a Business Owner

Plan for or process a difficult conversation

Transition out of or into the CEO role

Process how to get out of the weeds and move from reactive to proactive

Reduce the organization’s dependency on you

Diagnose the real obstacles preventing you from creating the results you desire

Business Coaches

  • Erika Alessandrini
    Facilitator and Leadership Coach
    Erika Alessandrini
    Facilitator and Leadership Coach

    Erika joined the Aileron team in 2019 to surround herself with like-minded leaders who share a passion for helping people, businesses, and organizations uncover their potential. Prior to Aileron, Erika spent 23 years in the automotive aftermarket and participated in four post-acquisition integrations at the executive level. Through those experiences, Erika learned why most leaders fall short, give up, or burn out. She went on to start her own coaching business in 2015.

    Erika is a fearless communicator who harnesses her values of love and protection to speak the truth with passion and compassion. Through this balanced approach, she evokes the wisdom of a trusted friend and the care of an older sister. She will give you a hand when you need it, and a push when you really need it. While Erika is driven by task and logic, her intuition and empathy shine through when supporting others.

    Outside of work, you can find Erika in her home with her husband and kids. She’ll find any excuse to entertain or gather a group of family and friends for a shared meal; carrying on her mother’s tradition, there is always a seat at her family’s table.

    What’s something you’re constantly striving to get better at?

    “A conscious improvement I am looking to make is being a better human — in all ways. Embracing the inherent vulnerability and imperfection of being human promotes humility. I believe achieving some degree of self-mastery is crucial in all facets of life, business, and relationships.”

    What are the values that drive you?

    “I strive to intersect my responsibilities and passions in my pursuit of results. I prioritize personal and social responsibility, autonomy, and connection. I weave creativity and love into all that I do.”

    Why Aileron?

    “My life purpose is to unleash potential in all things: people, opportunities, and organizations. What sets Aileron apart is how it allows me to live my own purpose at scale through the people at Aileron and the community at large. At Aileron, I work with people who are achieving things they never thought possible every single day. It is the highest honor to be trusted to have a front row seat in people's lives and businesses, and to witness their transformation.”

  • Dave Allison
    Business Coach and Facilitator
    Dave Allison
    Business Coach and Facilitator

    As a Business Coach, Dave helps Aileron community members answer the big-picture question: What’s next? He brings to Aileron decades of experience helping large corporations like Honda and BF Goodrich answer that question through leadership positions in engineering, packaging, procurement, and international relations.

    Dave is known for his relatable coaching style; he’s quick to lean on his business experience – and its many ups and downs – to empathize with his clients. He’s situationally motivational, easily meeting people where they’re at emotionally to support them when and how they need it. And he’s tenacious; he’s known for being the person who will take on the hardest problems and face them with unrelenting energy and resolve.

    When he’s not supporting business leaders as they plan for the future, Dave enjoys playing volleyball, competing in triathlons, and rating golf courses for Golf Digest.

    What’s something you’re constantly striving to get better at?

    “Self-reflection and self-development; professionally I’ve done a lot, but on a personal level, there’s always room to improve and do better.”

    What are the values that drive you?

    “I value being helpful, courteous, and kind. I find that a little act of kindness can make a big difference, even if you don’t know it.”

    Why Aileron?

    “I chose Aileron because I wanted to make a big impact helping several organizations rather than being a leader at a single one. That’s what drives me – making an impact on people’s lives.”

  • Tony Collins
    Business Coach and Facilitator
    Tony Collins
    Business Coach and Facilitator

    As an Aileron Business Coach and Facilitator, Tony Collins works with business owners and their teams to help them get more of what they want out of their businesses. Prior to Aileron, Tony started and led multiple small to medium-sized businesses in a variety of industries for more than 25 years.

    Tony is a curious-minded individual who is passionate about helping business owners find ways to do more with less effort. He is often called upon by business leaders for advice and input on how and where to grow themselves and their businesses. And he thrives on learning from his clients about not only what makes their businesses tick, but what they know that he doesn’t.

    When Tony isn’t helping and empowering business owners, you can find him at home in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife, Janet. In his free time, he is reconnecting to his artistic side as a budding watercolor artist.

    What’s something you’re constantly striving to get better at?

    “Asking better questions. Someone once told me, “The quality of your life is related to the questions you ask yourself.” It’s not only the questions I ask myself, but how can I ask questions to others as well that helps them see new possibilities and approaches that they otherwise might not have seen.”

    What are the values that drive you?

    “Curiosity - I am always striving to be a continuous learner, and at Aileron that is something that comes easy. I am always learning something new from anyone and everyone I interact with. The humble and hungry clients I work with all feed my curious mind.”

    Why Aileron?

    “The main reason I chose to work at Aileron is we were after the same thing - helping businesses get better. Aileron introduced me to a professional management system, but what got me interested was the kind of companies they attract and their culture. Everyone I work with is humble and just as curious as I am. I am really fortunate at the latter part of my career to have found this group of people to work with.”

  • Wes Gipe
    Business Coach, Facilitator and Leadership Coach
    Wes Gipe
    Business Coach, Facilitator and Leadership Coach

    Wes Gipe works with business owners and their teams as a trusted facilitator, business coach and leadership coach. Known for his enthusiasm and high-energy approach, Wes’s willingness to boldly approach tough issues and go the extra mile have gained him loyal clients who look to him for help with strategic planning, leadership and culture development, and conflict resolution.

    Wes started his journey as an Aileron client in 2008. After applying Aileron’s Professional Management principles to build a self-managing company, he now spends much of his time helping other organizations—big and small—build a strategy that endures. Through this work, he has logged over 9,000 coaching hours with more than 500 individuals throughout North America and Europe. His work has been featured in Forbes as well as other national media outlets. Wes resides in Miami County, OH with his wife and three rambunctious boys.

  • Chuck Huggins
    Chief Operating Officer, Business Coach, Facilitator and Leadership Coach
    Chuck Huggins
    Chief Operating Officer, Business Coach, Facilitator and Leadership Coach

    As Aileron’s Chief Operating Officer, Chuck is responsible for pushing the organization’s products and business model forward through concepting, testing, and implementing new solutions. Previous to Aileron, he founded and sold two businesses, an experience that arms him with an empathy for and understanding of the community Aileron serves.

    Chuck has a keen eye for identifying problems and an unrelenting passion for pioneering ideas, and spends much of his time at work experimenting. He’s naturally humble, which fuels his experimentation by freeing him from fear that his ideas will fail. And Chuck is hyper-focused on the future; every day he asks himself: “How do we prepare our clients for the future to ensure they’re thriving ten years from now?”

    Chuck will tell you there’s no other way he’d rather spend the weekend than with his wife, son, and daughter. In the summer, you can find them soaking in the sun at Indian Lake, where Chuck occasionally sneaks away to enjoy his favorite hobby: bass fishing.

    What’s something you’re constantly striving to get better at?

    “My contribution to Aileron – I’m constantly asking myself: How can we touch more people, create more change, and improve the quality of life for the people that we touch?”

    What are the values that drive you?

    “I value innovation and experimentation. If I was somewhere I couldn’t do those things, that would be tough for me. I also value responsibility, which can be at odds with innovation – sometimes you have to be less responsible to innovate.”

    Why Aileron?

    “People ask me this a lot, because I sold my business to come here. But I did that because I can impact more people here than I could running my own business.”

  • Luke Sargent
    Business Coach
    Luke Sargent
    Business Coach

    As a Business Coach at Aileron, Luke helps business owners realize their potential, navigate the challenges of running a business, and eliminate the loneliness that can come with a presidential role. Luke spent the initial chapter of this career as a clinical pharmacist, quickly transitioned into various roles within senior executive leadership and later creating the opportunity to be a business owner. His own leadership journey armed him with tools, experiences, and perspective he infuses into his coaching practice today.

    Luke is passionate about supporting and empowering business owners. Guided by an internal compass and his values of integrity and purpose, he sees coaching as a way to live a passion of his: helping others achieve their goals and realize their full potential.

    Luke’s connection to Aileron is deeply personal. When he was a business owner, he benefited from Aileron’s resources, participated in professional management services, and immersed himself in the community to strategically grow his business. Now, as a Coach, he brings that experience full circle, helping others on their own journeys.

    When he’s not working with business leaders, Luke finds joy in the outdoors. He spends his time working in the yard, golfing, riding his motorcycle, and whenever possible, skiing with his family in the mountains of Montana or Colorado.

    What’s something you’re constantly striving to get better at?

    "I am continuously evolving; I'm focused on making a positive impact on others since transitioning from pharmacy to coaching. My goal is to equip others with the tools to navigate their business journeys successfully."

    What are the values that drive you?

    "Honesty, integrity, determination, kindness, and humility are core to who I am. ‘Do the right thing’ is my motto that supports my internal compass. These values guide my interactions with family, friends, colleagues, and now the Aileron community."

    Why Aileron?

    "Aileron is a special place with exceptional people. My personal and professional growth through Aileron's programs inspired me to help others achieve similar success. I'm eager to share my experiences and contribute to the Aileron community."

  • Tony Schroeder
    Business Coach, Facilitator and Leadership Coach
    Tony Schroeder
    Business Coach, Facilitator and Leadership Coach

    As a Business Coach, Facilitator, and Leadership Coach, Tony executes Aileron’s mission of improving the quality of life in America by teaching business leaders the advantages of incorporating clarity and simplicity into their businesses and lives. An entrepreneur himself, Tony gets is fulfilled by empowering people to practice professional management as a personal and business growth tool.

    Tony loves simplicity and believes the most effective things happen when people have clarity and understanding. He’s an avid and enthusiastic planner; Tony believes having a plan prepares people for focused execution and allows people to make adjustments along the way. (He also maintains that planning a vacation is almost as enjoyable as going on one.) And he’s a storyteller and humor advocate; Tony believes people learn best when they’re having a good time, sharing personal experiences, and creating connections over shared stories.

    When he’s not helping business leaders reach their goals, you can find Tony woodworking, spending time with his kids and grandkids, or biking around the world; he and his wife have biked for 30 days from Zürich, Switzerland to Budapest, Hungary.

    What’s something you’re constantly striving to get better at?

    “Spirituality – understanding why I exist, what my purpose is, and how I can live it. Answering the question: what am I here for?”

    What are the values that drive you?

    “Spirituality, personal growth, and relationships. Spirituality is about living my purpose in life. Personal growth is about continually growing and learning, and taking advantage of opportunities. Relationships is about nurturing relationships with my wife, my family, and other people.”

    Why Aileron?

    “It provides me an opportunity to live my values and purpose. I get personal growth here, I get to develop a lot of relationships, and I get to give back. That’s what I like about Aileron.”

  • Anne Thompson
    Business Coach, Facilitator and Leadership Coach
    Anne Thompson
    Business Coach, Facilitator and Leadership Coach

    As a Business Coach and Facilitator at Aileron, Anne Thompson uses her expertise in organizational, leadership, and culture development to help businesses achieve their vision and purpose. Anne’s diverse experience in working with small privately held businesses, large public corporations, educational institutions, and nonprofits – and growing a business herself – enables her to quickly understand the context and culture of organizations, ask important questions to uncover key levers for change, and assist business leaders in identifying and implementing strategies, structures, and behaviors to create positive, sustainable change in all kinds of organizations.

    Anne is endlessly curious; she uses the power of question to help people make sense of situations and uncover insights. She’s passionate about partnership, and driven to empower her clients to turn their hopes and dreams into realities. She has deep expertise in emotional and social intelligence, and sees the integration of the head and the heart as critical to developing the self, and in turn developing others. 

    In her free time, you can find Anne, her husband, and their son jet setting around the world to experience different cultures and cuisines, or enjoying a beer and OSU football game while stateside.

    What’s something you’re constantly striving to get better at?

    “I’m always striving to operate from a mindset of being ‘good enough.’ It’s counter-culture to feel that what I do doesn’t equate to the value I have as a person. To get there, I’m continually connecting to the intention of my heart and my desire to serve. That helps to minimize the ‘I’m not good enough’ narrative.” 

    What are the values that drive you?

    “I’m driven by mastery and serving clients through evidence-based, practiced strategies. I thrive on collaboration and work to build reciprocal, respectful relationships. And I practice empathy. I embrace people where they’re at while also challenging them to stretch just a bit further outside of their comfort zone to help them see greater possibilities.”

    Why Aileron?

    “At Aileron, we consistently put into practice with each other what we offer to our clients. Aileron is its own learning lab for all the concepts we’re asking our business leaders to embrace. I love that about this organization.”

  • Wendy Vloedman
    Business Coach and Facilitator
    Wendy Vloedman
    Business Coach and Facilitator
    Wendy Vloedman began working with Aileron in 2008 as a facilitator for the President’s Roundtable, which has evolved into the Course for President’s Peer Group. She continues to work with the Aileron team to build and develop the organization’s internal Human Resources systems and practices and to add great talent to the staff. She currently facilitates the Course for President’s Peer Group and the Course for Managers, and she serves on a number of boards for privately held companies in addition to providing Executive Coaching for individual clients.
     
    She began her 23-year career with The Iams Company as a Territory Sales Representative in 1984 when the company’s staff numbered just over 100, while sales were less than $50 million annually. During her tenure with Iams and later, with Procter & Gamble when The Iams Company was acquired, Wendy moved through roles of sales management, sales training, training & development leadership, and human resources. She served as the Director of Iams University, a prototype of sorts for what would eventually become Aileron, and in 2000 she became the Human Resources leader for P&G Pet Care, a $1.7 billion subsidiary of Procter and Gamble. In that role, Wendy played an active role on the leadership team and spearheaded the integration of the organization’s practices, policies, and culture after The Iams Company was acquired in 1999.
     
    Wendy brings to privately held business owners her passion and expertise for people development, organizational strategy and change, culture, and performance management. Her deep roots and hands-on, practical experience in the fundamentals of professional management give her a unique perspective in assisting presidents and owners who are committed to establishing stronger professional management processes in their own companies.
     
    Wendy achieved her BS degree from Western Illinois University and is a certified P&G Executive Coach. For fun, she likes to cook, ride her horse, read, and create fabric art.
  • Eric Wiechart
    Business Coach and Leadership Coach
    Eric Wiechart
    Business Coach and Leadership Coach

    Eric is a Business Coach who, as a former business owner, deeply understands the unique challenges that come with entrepreneurial leadership; that perspective guides him as he coaches his clients towards their full potential. Prior to Aileron, Eric owned his company, All Service Glass, for 20 years before transitioning ownership to his daughter.

    Aileron’s conscious leadership principles align organically with Eric’s: He counts the gift of self-awareness among his unique strengths. Combined with empathy and natural curiosity, he’s passionate about understanding how a member’s business works so that they can take it into the future.

    Outside of work, Eric loves to spend time with wife, children, and grandchildren at their family lake house. He finds joy in giving back and enjoys serving his church as well as his local community.

    What’s something you’re constantly striving to get better at? 

    “Active listening. Staying curious in the moment is always a struggle for me, but I know it’s important for my growth.”

    What are the values that drive you? 

    “I think high-functioning relationships that last beyond transactional value can be meaningful and impactful. Having a thought partner can challenge you, lead you, caution you away from something. I’m also driven by the power of community. Being a small business owner can be a lonely process or lonely existence—at times you delegate to yourself and there isn’t anyone else you feel like you can talk to. Aileron offers a place, a process, and people to get rid of that loneliness and be part of a larger community that impacts the world.”

    Why Aileron? 

    “This is a unique place where folks can come together from all different business backgrounds to share the joy of creation and business. It’s a place where you can grow, be challenged, and be supported all at the same time. I think it’s so critical, to our overall culture as a country and as a people, to provide incentives that benefit our society and its participants.” 

“Our business coaching sessions keep us moving along our growth journey … I am confident that without the coaching, we would get busy and quickly fall back into working ‘in’ the business versus working ‘on’ the business.”

Ken Edge, CEO of Infinity Labs

“Our business coaching sessions keep us moving along our growth journey … I am confident that without the coaching, we would get busy and quickly fall back into working ‘in’ the business versus working ‘on’ the business.”

Ken Edge, CEO of Infinity Labs

Frequently Asked Questions

Aileron’s Business Coaching is a 12-month engagement that is available in 6-session or 12 –session packages and includes just-in-time support through email or phone as needed.

Just-in-time support is a way to stay connected to your Business Coach and leverage their guidance between sessions when you need a moment of support. Just-in-time support can happen via phone or email; you can schedule it through your coach’s scheduling link, which they’ll provide.

Business Coaching is available virtually and in person on Aileron’s Campus or at your location. You can talk with your Business Coach directly to discuss the best location for your engagement.

After you register for Business Coaching, your Business Coach will email you a Calendly link to schedule your sessions. Simply follow the prompts to find a time that works for you and the system will send a calendar invitation.

We get it — life happens. Please notify your coach at least 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule. You can navigate the rescheduling process through your Business Coach’s Calendly link, which is included in your session’s calendar invitation.

You can learn more about our Business Coaches and read their bios on our Who We Are page. Coaches and clients are paired based on availability. If you are particularly interested in working with a specific Business Coach, please let our team know at customerservice@aileron.org and we’ll do our best to pair you together, pending their availability.

Yes! What you say in your coaching session is 100% confidential.

To continue the momentum you’ve created in your first engagement, we encourage you to purchase another Business Coaching package. During your second engagement, you can work with your existing coach to continue building that relationship, or work with another Business Coach to learn from another perspective.

We highly recommend engaging in a 12-month Business Coaching engagement if you want to create lasting change and deeply level-up your skills. If you would like to purchase one or a few coaching sessions, please notify your coach or email customerservice@aileron.org.

We get it — human relationships are complex, and sometimes there’s just not a fit. There’s no judgment if you want to explore a different coaching style, and your Business Coach won’t take it personally. Simply notify your Business Coach that you’d like to be paired with someone different and they’ll facilitate the switch. Alternately, you can email customerservice@aileron.org if needed.