Critical Power Products & Services — From Acquisition to Industry Leadership Through Strategic Transformation

When entrepreneur Will Alt acquired the assets of a struggling industrial backup power company, he envisioned transforming it into a profitable and industry-leading enterprise. To realize this vision, he partnered with OneAccord’s Glenn Hansen, who provided fractional COO services to drive operational excellence, cultivate a high-performance culture, and implement strategic planning.

The Challenge

In February 2017, Will Alt purchased the assets of a company that had been losing $1 million annually under its previous private equity ownership.

The challenges were significant:

Rebuilding a company culture that could support growth and profitability
Retaining and developing top talent while parting ways with underperforming employees
Establishing clear vision, mission, and values to guide the organization
Implementing effective training, performance management, and strategic planning processes

Recognizing the need for experienced leadership to navigate these challenges, Will engaged Glenn Hansen from OneAccord as a fractional Chief Operations Officer.

Our Approach

Glenn collaborated closely with Will and the team to execute a comprehensive transformation strategy:

Cultural Rebuilding: Selected and retained employees who aligned with the envisioned culture, and facilitated discussions that led the team to define their own vision, mission, and values.
Leadership Development: Conducted weekly trainings, one-on-one coaching sessions, and performance management meetings to set clear expectations and provide the necessary support for success.
Strategic Planning: Developed a one-page strategic plan for the company’s first year, focusing on key performance objectives and laying the groundwork for sustainable growth.

This hands-on approach ensured that the team was not only aligned with the company’s goals but also equipped with the skills and mindset to achieve them.

The Outcome

The transformation yielded remarkable results:

First-Year Profitability: Achieved a positive bottom line in the first year of operations.
Revenue and Profit Growth: In the second year, revenues increased by $5 million, profits tripled, and the balance sheet improved by over $1.5 million.
Team Development: Upgraded the entire team through effective training, skill development, and performance management, leading to increased earnings for project managers, with several surpassing $100,000 for the first time.
Strategic Evolution: The initial strategic plan’s success led to its evolution in subsequent years, adapting to the company’s growing needs and opportunities.

By the third year, Critical Power was well on its way to becoming a dominant force in the industrial backup power industry.

From the Client

“Glenn’s leadership and strategic insight were instrumental in transforming our company. His ability to cultivate a high-performance culture and implement effective processes has set us on a path to sustained success.”

— Will Alt, Founder, Critical Power Products & Services

Why This Case Matters

Critical Power’s journey exemplifies the impact of strategic leadership and cultural alignment in turning around a struggling business. By focusing on people, processes, and planning, companies can achieve remarkable transformations and position themselves for industry leadership.