Join other CEOs and business leaders in Oregon and Southwest Washington who are building great businesses for a greater purpose.
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It can be lonely at the top, but it doesn’t have to be.
We know leaders limit their potential when they lead from isolation. But, when surrounded by trusted advisors with a common goal and a biblical worldview, they can maximize performance and energize cultures. With faith as the foundation, this powerful group of peers meet in an exclusive, confidential forums to have their questions answered and their answers questioned.
Chairs
Business Forum Leaders in the Oregon-SW Washington Area
MIKE BURKESMITH
Building Great Businesses for a Greater Purpose seems like the best thing to do after 40 years of delivering record-breaking…
MIKE BURKESMITH
Building Great Businesses for a Greater Purpose seems like the best thing to do after 40 years of delivering record-breaking results in every organization served…as scientist, technology marketing professional, launching companies, running technology-oriented companies up to $20 million in revenue (within billion-dollar firms) and then going to Seminary and leading in international ministries, and finally become a consultant, executive coach and facilitator for groups of business owners, CEOs and GMs who seek to build great businesses for a greater purpose, that is, for Christ. I’ve had the privilege of serving more than 100 top executives and owners in the past 20 years. Not all of them were Christians, at least not at work, and it’s pretty easy to tell when you start watching how someone conducts themselves and makes decisions in the marketplace. Now, I only serve top Christian Executives with the largest Christian Executive development organization in the world, the C12 Group.
GARY WARFORD
I was born in Council Bluffs, IA. My father was a long-haul truck driver mom was a stay-at-home mother, I…
GARY WARFORD
I was born in Council Bluffs, IA. My father was a long-haul truck driver mom was a stay-at-home mother, I have 1 half-brother (deceased), 1 sister and 2 brothers. In the middle of my sophomore year of high school my father was transferred to Billings Montana. While living in Billings was the real first time, I started attending church. In the summer of 1971, I attend my first church camp and accepted Christ into my life. The summer of 1972 my father transferred to Lincoln Nebraska. We moved to Bellevue, Nebraska, where I would finish high school. It was during my senior year of high school I met Patty Jameson, we got married August 1977.
I became a machinist in September 1973, working for Control Data in Omaha, NE. I moved to Ft. Collins, Co. in the fall of 1974 and worked as a machinist for Woodward Governor. (WG) I enrolled in and attended Bible College at Trinity Bible Institute (Now Trinity Bible College) in Ellendale, ND. Patty and I got married in Lincoln Nebraska August 27, 1977. We lived in the Omaha area for about 1 year, then moved to Ft. Collins/Loveland are where we live until 1985. During this time, we had 2 children – Candice and Nathanael. It was during this time that I volunteered as youth and music pastors, while be a machinist at WG.
We were offered the opportunity to work in a family business in Watertown, South Dakota with Patty’s father. April 1, 1985, we move to South Dakota. Patty’s dad had a bad accident in the spring of 1986 that left him unable to run the business. We bought American Dish Service from him at that time. During this time, I was a none paid Youth Pastor, I worked on and received my Ordination in the spring of 1988.
1991, Patty wanted to pursue her Doctorial Degree in Psychology, we sold our business and moved to Newberg, Oregon. Patty was enrolled at George Fox College (now George Fox University). I went on stay at a Free Methodist church as the fulltime youth Pastor Aug. 1991-July 1998. I worked for DCI, In Newberg, managing their tradeshows. Sept. 2001 – July 2009, I joined the staff of Newberg, Christian Church as Adult Ministries Pastor.
Since that time, I have become an accredited Coach with International Coaches Federation, earn in a PCC standing. As a new business owner, I joined a networking group. A few months into being in the chapter I was offered the opportunity to buy and become the Regional Partner for Oregon & SW Washington Master Networks. I have continued in both fields to date.
Patty and I will be married 45 years this Aug. 27, 2022. We currently reside in Tigard, Or. We and our daughter’s family are looking to build or buy a multi-generational home in the Sherwood, Or. Area. Candice is married to Matt they have 2 girls – Tanna and Kylee. Both Candice and Matt are talent acquisition professionals. Nathanael is a single dad, one daughter – Preslee. He is on the Mt. Dora, Police Dept. and serves as the SRO in the high school there.
My hobbies – are doing anything with our granddaughters, camping, golfing (poorly), travel spending time at the Oregon Coast and cheering on the Oregon Ducks.
“C12 is everything I was looking for and more of what I didn’t know I needed. My peers challenge me in my blind spots, love me in hard times, and encourage me to glorify God in the way I lead my team. It’s a home for business leaders.”
