Where I’ve been
Businesses reflect an owner’s passion. It just so happens that my passion, is helping those businesses be the best they can be. In other words, helping to exceed the expectations of their customers, providing rewarding careers to employees and generating a healthy return on investment.
Working in my family’s grocery and hardware stores, I started developing my business skills, work habits and ethics at an early age. While my grandmother rang up groceries or stocked shelves, you could find me butchering meat at the meat counter or helping bag up the local goods. My experience at the grocery store taught me that “all hands on deck” really wasn’t optional. It’s also where I picked up the skill of adding numbers in my head, even though it started as a simple way to help pass the time.
I eventually left the family business to study at Appalachian State University, where I obtained my BSBA in Hotel Restaurant and Resort Management. Interestingly, instead of heading straight for the hospitality industry, my affinity for numbers and love of people guided me into a different direction.
Over the next three decades, I honed my skills in the financial services industry as a planner, sales manager and overall business leader.
As a financial planner, I worked with business owners on corporate and personal financial planning, strategic business plans, sales incentives and succession/retirement planning.
As a sales manager, I helped both advisors and planners with business development, sales strategies, goal setting, as well as personal planning.
As a business leader myself, I’ve recruited new talent, created and executed new opportunities, and developed and implemented sales plans, expense management systems and new processes.
In every role, I’ve ensured the ultimate success of the business by monitoring and influencing its direction using one key principle: always staying on course. Whether it is running a large or small business, continuous improvement must be a focal point.
This requires three critical elements:
Knowing the score – tracking and reporting on performance vs. objectives, at all times
Executing the plan – taking action and making customer-focused changes as needed, while implementing counter-measures to offset any setbacks
Delivering on commitments – doing what you say you’re going to do, consistently
These help align an organization’s mindset and actions from top to bottom.
And while I’ve seen a lot of success, it didn’t come without a fair share of failure. My goal is that by drawing on both the wins and losses of his previous experiences, I can help businesses of all shapes and sizes learn from what his career and life has taught me.
Meet the Capptain.
FOUNDER & CEO
Al Capps
When he’s not working with businesses at Capptain Consulting, you can actually find him being a captain of his own. Growing up in Eastern North Carolina, he’s always been drawn to the water, and loves spending time with his wife and daughters there.
Boating has taught him many things, but especially the importance of navigation. Over a long journey, sailing at just one degree off course can keep you from reaching your final destination or expected target. The same can be said about running a business. Taking your eye off the “compass” can result in a loss of productivity and profitability, or even cost you the business altogether.
Al has always been drawn to real estate. Over the years, he’s enjoyed scouting for commercial buildings and residential homes as well as managing and maintaining rental properties. His biggest takeaway from those experiences has been learning how to analyze a situation and decide whether to pass or move forward. Even though we’re all human with passion and emotion, he recognizes and understands that the most sound business and financial decisions are ones made with just the facts and figures.
And even though he didn’t end up going the food route after bartending and waiting tables in the North Carolina mountains, he still jokes about owning a restaurant one day. Who knows, maybe he’ll help you open your’s.