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Gary Cohen    

Managing Partner at CO2 Partners

As President and Co-founder of ACI Telecentrics, Inc., Gary Cohen grew the company from two people to 2,200 employees and reached $32 million in sales at the company’s peak. ACI grew at an average compounded rate of over fifty percent for almost thirteen years. Currently, he is Partner and Co-founder of CO2 Partners, LCC, operating as an executive coach and consultant. His international client list runs a wide range of organizations—from small entrepreneurial companies to multi-billion-dollar enterprises. His book Just Ask Leadership is being published by McGraw Hill and will be released September of 2009.

Gary received his B.S. from the University of Minnesota, where he triple-majored in International Business, Intercultural Communications, and International Political Science. Prior to attending Harvard Business School (Owner President Manager Program), he attended Covey Leadership Center and Disney Creative Leadership workshops. He has served on numerous boards, including Outward Bound National Advisory Board, All Kinds of Minds, Shalom Home Alliance, Alzheimer Board of Governors, American Teleservices Association, I.C. Systems (one of the nation’s largest collection agencies), and Richfield Bank. He has been a member of TEC (The Executive Committee) and written or been recognized in articles for Wall Street Journal Europe, Wall Street Journal Asia, Financial Daily News, USA Today, Washington Post, Business Week, Wall Street Reporter, Venture Magazine, Paul Pioneer Press, and Profits Journal. He has been a columnist for JobDig, writing exclusively on the topic of leadership. Among his many accomplishments, he was an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Finalist (Inc. Magazine) and Henry Crown Fellow (Aspen Institute); in addition, ACI was recognized as one of Venture Magazine’s Top 10 Best Performing Businesses and Business Journal’s 25 Fastest Growing Small Public Companies.

Speech Topics


Fully Customizable

Leadership is all about perspective, both broad and narrow. That’s why Gary’s presentation is designed to accommodate the depth, content and timeframe your organization needs. Content can be customized from a one?hour keynote to a more in?depth working session of up to 3 hours. Or, arrange a comprehensive one or two day workshop on "Just Ask Leadership." Whatever the format, participants will enjoy Gary’s rich and vast treasure of stories from the trenches: his own and those of his clients.

The "Show"

This is no "sit and soak" experience; attendees take an active part in lively discussions. Gary’s high?energy presentation stirs participants to a level of engagement rarely seen with other presenters:

  • Interactive audience response technology (by Turning Point Technologies)
  • Thought?provoking questions
  • Real?time answers

Leadership doesn’t use a script; neither does Gary. That’s why no two presentations are exactly alike. He mixes it up and keeps it interesting for that specific audience. This format is perfect for Gary’s up?front, walk?around style. At the same time, he puts people at ease with his authenticity and sense of humor… so they’re truly ready to learn.

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