Seasoned Professionals Sharing Experience & Insights

Oakwood Business Advisory Panel

Free, confidential business advice from experienced leaders who've been where you are.

Overview

In today's fast-paced business world, small business owners and leaders face constant challenges—strategic, operational, financial, staffing, and personal. Too often, they carry the weight of decision-making alone, without access to experienced and trustworthy advisors.

We see an opportunity to serve this community through seasoned professionals who are willing to share their experience and collective insights about running a successful small business.

This new ministry initiative is led by experienced and retired business leaders whose years of practice have equipped them with lessons only time can teach.

The intent of this ministry is not to have business leaders offer you spiritual advice, but rather for experienced Christians to offer you practical business advice.

Our Process

Step 1

Initial Contact

If you are interested in receiving advice for your business, here's how it works: Submit a request to meet and a member of the advisory panel will call you to discuss your questions and areas of need.

Step 2

Background Information

We'll ask you to provide a brief written overview of your company and challenges to help prepare the panel for your session. This may include a request for financial information (if available) to better serve you.

Step 3

Panel Meeting

You'll meet with some (or all) of the panel members. You can ask your questions, and each panelist will share insights and recommendations. The benefit of a panel is the diversity of perspectives—you may hear differing opinions, and that's a strength. You decide what resonates most, and you are always free to accept, adapt, or set aside the advice given.

Panel Experience

Combined Business Experience

Responsible for more than $300 million in annualized revenue
Provide leadership for more than 1,500 employees across multiple organizations
Over $40 million in private equity raised
Built, opened or managed 25+ locations across multiple states

Community Involvement

NB City Council
NB Planning & Zoning
Mission New Braunfels
Family Promise
McKenna Foundation
NBISD Education Foundation
Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas

Oakwood Church Involvement

Deacon body
Chairman of Deacons
Small Group Leadership
Pastor Advisory Council
Heart of Hope Leadership
Youth Leadership
Multiple building committees
Years of volunteer service at Oakwood

Common Questions

Will my business information remain confidential?

Yes. Everything you share will remain strictly confidential within the panel.

Can I come back more than once?

Absolutely. You are welcome to return anytime you need a sounding board or the opinions of other professionals.

Do I have to be a member of Oakwood Church to participate?

No. This opportunity is open to anyone facing business challenges who would value advice from other business-minded people.

Is this an ongoing mentoring program?

No. This is not an ongoing mentoring relationship. It is an opportunity to receive advice. There is no follow-up requirement, and no one will hold you accountable for implementing any of the panel's suggestions.

Want to request advice?

It's simple.

What participants are saying:

Life and leadership can be lonely as a solopreneur. While I am confident in the direction and momentum of my business, I've been missing the ability to seek senior counsel on areas like financials where I am less confident in my personal skillset. Having the Business Advisory Panel review my books and give advice on decisions I will be making soon related to business growth was invaluable. Best time I've spent investing in the business in quite a while!

My business is experiencing great growth, which is a blessing but also overwhelming. I came to the Business Advisory Panel wanting to affirm that the finances could support hiring, and also seek their input on other considerations before hiring someone full-time. I feel like I am now approaching this impending decision with more clarity and wise counsel, as well as added confidence in the financial aspects of the decision.

I really loved hearing the diverse perspectives from the panel, given their wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences. Their insights were truly invaluable. And having an open discussion about issues relevant to my organization, the Family Life Center, really gave me the chance to get tailored, actionable input.

I appreciate the panel’s honesty and humility—it meant a great deal that they were upfront about not being experts in the nonprofit field. They made me feel included in the process, and together we were able to develop practical steps to help move my organization in a positive direction.

I sought guidance on how to best navigate the unique challenges facing our organization—and that is exactly what the panel provided. While it may sound simple, the opportunity to openly share my concerns and talk them through with such an experienced group was incredibly valuable.