What Clients & Colleagues Are Saying…

Customized to suit our firm’s unique needs.

“I have known Carol professionally for over a decade. In that time have found myself continually impressed by her dedication and passion for developing various aspects of a business, but also for instilling effective leadership skills. Over the past three years, she has used her extensive insight and skillsets to assist our firm in refining our business model. Whether it be prioritizing both short and long-term goals, encouraging accountability, strengthening how we approach unexpected adversities, or exploring new avenues to enhance our culture and grow our market share, Carol has displayed a focused determination and sincerity in propelling us towards success.

Most recently, she has hosted several strategic planning retreats and meetings which have been customized to suit our firm’s unique needs.  The experience has been equally educational and enjoyable.  She has also motivated an introspective review of our firm’s future, specifically as it relates to succession planning. I look forward to our continued relationship with Carol, and I am confident in the results which will come from her astute guidance.  I highly recommend Carol for anyone seeking improvement in their leadership skills and business practices.”

 —Seth D. Michael, S.E. | Principal, McCluskey Engineering Corporation

Confidence to continue our plan for growth in an ever changing landscape.

“Carol Sente’s business and marketing expertise has made an immediate impact to our Business Development and Strategic Planning efforts. Through the course of our work, she has come to fully understand our firm and her solutions are tailored to the unique characteristics of Studio ARQ. Carol’s deep industry insight gives us the perspective and confidence to continue our plan for growth in an ever changing landscape.”

—Cesar Santoy | Principal, Studio ARQ

Crystalize complex concepts into a manageable process.

“I engaged the services of Carol Sente Consulting to assist in planning a full day workshop. Carol helped to condense a complicated series of goals into a workable format for a productive meeting. She asked intuitive questions, introduced impactful ideas and worked with me to crystalize complex concepts into a manageable process.

The final product, with Carol’s advice and preparatory planning, was a powerful, dynamic, results-driven meeting with desired outcomes accomplished. I highly recommend Carol Sente Consulting as an effective tool in strategic planning or customized business meetings.”

—Molly Hamer | Executive Director, Northbrook Park District

A leader in both the AEC industry and state government.

“Carol brings the perspectives of having been a leader in both the AEC industry and state government to every organization with whom she works.  Through these experiences, she has mastered building and maintaining professional networks, developing strategic plans for business or professional development, and coaching organizational leadership.  It has been a pleasure to collaborate with Carol as she has transitioned into her “third act” as a consultant, and we are excited for the training and mentorship she continues to provide for emerging leaders within our firm.  Her thoughtful, personalized coaching is enriched by her passion for helping others to grow and succeed.”

—Matt Bickel | Partner, Wold Architects and Engineers

We have greatly improved our performance.

“Working with Carol has been nothing but a positive experience for our company. Carol has helped us with our written responses to RFP’s and especially with preparation of our oral interviews. She comes  with many years of experience in doing both those tasks (and very successfully I might add) and now we have greatly improved our performance as well. Carol will also be helping with Business Development skills for our younger employees and we are looking to continue our relationship with her firm.”

—John P. Camosy | President & CEO, Camosy Construction

The end products on these deliverables were outstanding and very user friendly.

“I have known Carol personally and professionally for nearly 20 years. Her skills are many! She is smart, creative, passionate, a great leader, superb communicator and driven.

I have contracted her services for strategic planning, community surveying and board development exercises. All of the end products on these deliverables were outstanding and very user friendly. If you are looking for a professional consultant who can carry a wide array of talents in ‘sharpening’ your organization… Carol is your choice!”

—Jeff Fougerousse | Executive Director, Vernon Hills Park District

Fosters my positive outlook as I navigate this growth and development.

"Carol has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to our discussions. She has helped me to grow immensely in regards to networking and client relationships. We meet to discuss various strategies that are unique to the work I am pursuing, and cater to my specific personality and style for approach. She has gone above and beyond to be available for discussions outside of our scheduled meetings as a quick resource or sounding-board for a challenge at hand. Above all else, she approaches each topic with such excitement and passion, which in turn fosters my positive outlook as I navigate this growth and development.”

—Alison Andrews | Associate, Wold Architects and Engineers

Deep insights and actionable recommendations have made me a stronger leader.

“Being a good CEO requires being honest and aware of your strengths as a leader. Carol helped me gain some of that awareness by administering a PDP ProScan assessment and coaching me through the results. The deep insights and actionable recommendations she provided have made me, quickly and without question, a stronger leader.”

—Kate Colbert | President & CEO, Silver Tree Communications

The highest ethical and business standards.

“I’ve known Carol for almost 20 years, first as a respected competitor and later as a Partner. She demonstrates the highest ethical and business standards and is an excellent consulting resource. We have worked with Carol to provide our staff training on a wide variety of topics ranging from Negotiating and Crucial Conversations to Presentation Skills and Trade Show tips.”

—John F. Ochoa, AIA | Former President & CEO, FGM Architects

The highest regard for Carol personally and professionally.

“It was a pleasure to work with Carol on our Strategic Plan. We had several team meetings prior to the pandemic to get the process started. Carol and I decided to break some new ground and finish our plan with a set of Zoom calls during the pandemic shut down. This was challenging but rewarding in that we did not lose momentum to get the plan completed. Carol is open to reframing and allows for flexibility to work through challenges with a positive outlook at all times. Her enthusiasm in working with everyone on our team inclusively was so valuable. I have the highest regard for Carol personally and professionally, I highly recommend her to assist you with all of her services.”

—Marilyn Krieger | Executive Director, Zion Park District

Particularly influential in developing personal performance measures and metrics.

“Carol has been very instructive and able to help me in various skill areas, such as client handling techniques, difficult conversation coaching, employee mentoring, and business development strategy.  She has a very approachable and understandable coaching style. She was particularly influential in developing personal performance measures and metrics, which in turn translate to firm-wide improvement. Her techniques and mentoring have given me a solid knowledge base to draw upon to handle many situations and the confidence to do so.”

—Brian Wright, AIA, LEED AP | Principal, FGM Architects

Insight and training that I didn’t necessarily receive from my architectural training.

“I have had the privilege of working with Carol as a co-worker and as a student of her training seminars. Her vast knowledge of the A/E [architecture/engineering] industry and her insight on business and marketing strategies have been an asset to me personally and those who have worked and attended her training sessions. She offers insight and training that I didn’t necessarily receive from my architectural training. I would recommend that anyone who is looking for assistance with growing in their markets, business development strategies, or improvements in communications and client relations engage Carol.”

 —Bryan Mason, AIA | Former Principal, FGM Architects

The highest level of ethics and integrity in carrying out her work.

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Carol Sente for nearly nine years during her time as the Illinois State Representative of the 59th District and most recently, at the committee level through her service with the Small Business Advocacy Council.  Carol is a consummate professional and she demonstrates the highest level of ethics and integrity in carrying out her work.  She has broad, in-depth knowledge of business, marketing, and strategic planning, and she consistently delivers top-quality deliverables for her customers and constituents.  Carol is a dynamic and well-respected leader with a successful track record of supporting and advancing women.”

—Adriane Johnson | Board Member, Buffalo Grove Park District

Develop your strengths and help you to become an effective leader.

“Carol has a passion for mentoring and developing your leadership skills so you will know how to work on your business rather than in your business.  As a lifelong learner who has studied and implemented best practices of successful leaders, she will work with you to develop your strengths and help you to become an effective leader.”

 —Ray Lee, AIA, CSI, LEED AP | Principal, FGM Architects

A new employee performance review system that provides our team members with a deeper sense of ownership and accountability.

“My organization worked with Carol on the development of a new employee performance review system.  The leadership that Carol provided allowed us to successfully engage the entire organization in a thoughtful and productive manner.  As a result, we now have a new employee performance review system that provides our team members with a deeper sense of ownership and accountability in both individual and corporate goals.”

—Scott W. Hester, P.E. | President, Counsilman-Hunsaker

Would recommend Carol’s assistance for all things marketing.

“I not only see Carol as a mentor, but I also see her as a friend and a useful lifeline for my career. Her many years of exposure within the marketing realm makes her my biggest asset and would recommend Carol’s assistance for all things marketing.”

—Trisha Camosy | Marketing Coordinator, Camosy Construction

The results have been significant and immediate.

“Camosy Construction has worked with Carol to assist us with improving and refining our written responses to Request for Proposals and Requests for Qualifications opportunities. Carol has also worked with us to improve our team’s interview skills and confidence. On both counts, the results have been significant and immediate. Camosy will definitely be working with Carol again in the future. In fact, we wish we could have kept her as our own ‘secret weapon.’”

—John Bosman | Director of Business Development, Camosy Construction

Carol in an Amazing Asset.

“I have been working with Carol to help advance my leadership skills and plans to help lead Camosy Construction into the future. We go through projects I’m working on, and she gives me advice to help further my relationship with clients and architects. Being in a family-owned business, Carol is an amazing asset given her background.”

—Kevin A. Camosy | Project Manager, Camosy Construction