Our Clients

Our $500 million co-op serves companies in twelve states. We hired The Leaders’ Haven as a partner to create a new strategic plan and work with our board on high performance governance. The retreat was fantastic. We thoroughly enjoyed working with Cynthia Mills. She was outstanding in leading this effort.

As a Past President and current board member of the national Association of Water Technologies, I had the opportunity to participate in a board retreat facilitated by Cynthia Mills of The Leaders’ Haven. It was my experience that she is truly exceptional at what she does.

Cynthia Mills has become our go-to person for our client associations when they are in need of strategic planning and board development, as well as governance best practices. She always does her homework and is prepared to facilitate the conversation in a meaningful way that resonates with each association’s culture.

When my 2 brothers & I bought our parents’ ownership interests in our company, I knew two things: 1) We needed to set aside time for a strategic planning retreat with our leadership team and 2) Cynthia needed to facilitate it. What we were able to accomplish in a day with her expert guidance astonished all 9 members of our leadership team. We walked away with a very clear, very aligned vision for our future, and I know we couldn’t have gotten there without Cynthia. In the 4 months since the retreat, we’ve been able to share the plan with all 200 of our employees with Cynthia’s expert guidance. And we’re very excited to work together to realize our goals in the future!

When it came time for my Board of Directors to establish a strategic direction for the Association, I couldn’t think of anyone better in the industry to facilitate our strategic planning and Board orientation retreat. Cynthia had an authentic and pleasant way of helping my multi-directional Board build a common focus and vision for the Association. I personally witnessed a transformation happen in the room as Cynthia led us through comprehensive, real discussions about our Association and changing our trajectory. It was a tricky terrain to navigate with my Board and Cynthia executed and performed amazingly. She such a pro! My Board requested (on the spot) that she be invited back to work with us again the following year. After seeing her in action, I now refer to Cynthia as the Board Whisperer; kindly guiding Boards and organizations into shape one at a time.

Cynthia Mills hit a home run for our family business. Her task was to help our management team create a strategic plan from the Stine Family business philosophy. Cynthia kept us focused and energized to complete our task on time and within budget. We now have a road map that defines our outcomes and strategies to make us more profitable, innovative and sustainable.

It is such a pleasure to work with Cynthia. Her enthusiasm and expertise are priceless. Finding Cynthia and “The Leaders Haven” was exactly what I needed as an association executive and at the perfect time. I have been COO for the past 4 years and we have grown exponentially at lightning speed. We needed to focus our Board and develop our next Strategic Plan and realized we needed help. I was referred to her by ASAE as a respected industry expert, coach and author. Cynthia has been a wealth of information and guidance for me.Cynthia was able to work with me and our Association President seamlessly and guided us through our first Board Orientation and training meeting.

Cynthia came to Orlando for our Annual Members Meeting to run our session. She commanded the audience with flawless delivery. She was accepted one for one by all 120 of our Board Members from around the world. Everyone came away from the training with statements like, “We should have done that long ago.” “Wow, that was the most informative and interesting session of the whole conference.” “That information is so important. I didn’t realize what I didn’t know.” and best of all…. “When can we have more training and learn more?”

We plan to continue to work with Cynthia for more Board training, Bylaws review, Board Policy Manual update, and the next steps in our Strategic Plan that will help us better serve our members and rocket our Association into the next level of success.

Thank you for speaking to our group and facilitating discussion about our strategic plan.You provided valuable tools and critical information, and the conversation stimulated on Friday spread across our meeting on Saturday and Sunday! Which is, of course, exactly what we were trying to do. So again, thank you so much. It was a delight to get to know you.

Working with Cynthia was a delight. From our pre work planning to execution of the session to follow up, every interaction was professional, effective, and pleasurable. Cynthia led my Board through a strategy planning session, gaining input from each member and kept us on track. Cynthia has a keen ear for listening and providing practical advice and solutions.

We hired Cynthia Mills to facilitate a strategic dialogue for our Board of Directors of CEOs, and she is amazing! She heard a lot of words and thoughts and corralled them both on paper into a strategic plan. Cynthia kept us on the straight and narrow and moved us efficiently and effectively through what could have been a chaotic agenda-free day and a half. And just at the right moment, she pulled videos and learning opportunities out of her magic laptop to shepherd us forward. We truly admire her skills as a facilitator and thought leader and cannot express enough how impressed we all were with the process she led and how much we look forward to continuing our work with her.

Cynthia, thanks again for the outstanding strategic facilitation you did for ACA International. You were well prepared, insightful, and helped us to get more done than I thought we were going to be able to. That is a direct result of your leadership skills.

We hired Cynthia Mills to facilitate our international strategic planning process. Within a week, we’ve already seen this plan – or its process – impact our work, with some really focused discussions on budgets and activities framed by our discussions. The next day, one of our Board members said: “Yesterday’s discussion in some ways transformed us.” High praise for her efforts!

I was amazed she pulled it together so quickly. Her guidance on the strategic plan has been fantastic, as well as her specific guidance on how we tell the story in an interesting, different, and hopefully dynamic and exciting way.

After meeting Cynthia at several industry functions and attending a workshop led by her, I knew she would be the perfect fit for our group. She has a subtle charming way of leading diverse groups in a direction that they choose, while keeping them on track with a set agenda. Her ability to influence and lead makes the strategic planning process seem so simple.After our strategic planning, we had two wonderful things happen. 1) the entire group agreed that while they did not look forward to strategic planning, the day was much more enjoyable than they had ever imagined or experienced and 2) the group agreed to present the plan to a younger generation of members seeking their feedback and asking them to help guide the long-term process.

Towards the end of a very contentious dues discussion centered on equity and fairness we brought Cynthia Mills in to conclude a very sensitive debate surrounding it. Working with our task force, executive committee, and local association leadership, Cynthia guided us to an overwhelmingly positive vote. We could not have done it without her vast experience in planning discussions, focus, and empathy as a facilitator, or understanding of group dynamics. I highly recommend The Leaders Haven for any association working on strategic planning or constructively managing very tough internal dialogues.

Cynthia’s work with educating boards and staffs as to their duties, strategic planning, and other services are top-notch. I cannot say enough about the quality of work she provides or the heart she puts into every client she partners with. Cynthia is the consummate professional for your not-for-profit or association.

Cynthia is an extraordinary individual that defines world class leadership. As a leader she clearly has the exceptional command of the distinction between transformation and change management.

Cynthia was a huge hit at our board retreat. She was well prepared even though she was asked to fill in for another facilitator at the last minute. Her knowledge of association dynamics and boards made her effective at keeping us on track. She had a process for moving us forward but it was not rigid. Cynthia absolutely delivered on the stated objective of the retreat and we did it with fun and laughter. I can recommend Cynthia to you without hesitation.

Thank you for everything that you’ve provided to BOMA Georgia over the last couple of years but most importantly, thank you for your dedication, enthusiasm and care of those people most important to me within the association. They are so fortunate to partner with you.

Cynthia worked with us at BOMA Georgia to create a new strategic plan. She was extremely thorough in developing an understanding of our organization’s culture and our industry’s needs. She was artful in creating a process that was inclusive, dynamic, and strategic. As a result, we have a solid plan for the future that far surpassed our expectations. We are looking forward to working with Cynthia for years to come.

It was such a pleasure to have Cynthia facilitate a discussion with our Board on volunteer engagement and Board succession planning. From the start, Cynthia was easy to work with and took time to understand both our culture and our objectives for this session. Cynthia came to the meeting well prepared and made sure we stayed on track throughout day – all while keeping everyone engaged. She did an amazing job of listening to what people were saying (and not saying) and interpreting their meaning. More importantly, she helped us frame out our issues and provided a context to view them through. During the session, she was respectful, enthusiastic and made the day fun. She even won over the harshest critic on our Board. In the end, Cynthia provided us with a great road map to help us move forward. I would highly recommend Cynthia and look forward to working with her in the future.

I had the privilege of working with Cynthia on the NAA’s strategic planning task force and experienced first-hand her dynamic leadership abilities. In my role as a board member, officer and president of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), I was fortunate to be the beneficiary of Cynthia’s sound guidance and counsel. Cynthia combines a keen intellect with great enthusiasm, integrity, and determination. I am a great admirer of her professional leadership skills, grateful for her impact on the tree care industry, and consider myself blessed for her friendship.

Cynthia is a consummate professional with high energy, unquestioned integrity and effective communication skills. She is the rare combination of a strategist who can assemble the necessary details and tactics to implement the picture. Cynthia is a leader with great personal warmth, empathy, even with those with whom she may disagree.

She is a forward thinker, yet a practical staff leader; a strategic thinker, yet a tactical planner; a hard working executive, yet easy to work with; and she is just damn good at what she does.

Cynthia Mills is a true professional who understands that superior organizational leadership involves decisiveness, vision, and the empowerment of others so they can become the best they can be. She is a dynamic individual with much to offer any business or organization.

Cynthia has a way about her that causes everyone around her to feel compelled to do better. Her infectious charisma inspires one to face issues and to embrace change to overcome mediocrity.

Cynthia is a results-driven and proactive Executive and a thought leader, who transforms organizations. She has a unique range of skills in that she can move with ease and certainty between strategies and big picture to tactics and details. She possesses high business acumen and knowledge, including financial. Cynthia has the highest level of integrity and professionalism.

FarmHouse International Fraternity selected Cynthia to facilitate our executive director transition, because she took the time to really get to know our organization’s culture, values, and strategic initiatives. She has developed a comprehensive approach to assisting us, which not only includes helping us identify and hire the best candidate, but also includes coaching and assistance to our organization during the critical on-boarding process. Cynthia is uniquely qualified to lead our search because of her extensive connections in the nonprofit sector, experience as both a CEO and consultant, and her reputation as one of the most impactful executive coaches in the field.

Cynthia conducted our leadership staff retreat. Her leadership and guidance helped us overcome our internal hurdles and focus on how much more we can achieve as a strong team. She showed us the keys to our successes and commitments and how to let go of things that are holding us back. Our staff now trusts each other more and are willing to push each other harder to meet and exceed our expectations and those of the ABC membership. We now fully understand working as a team is a process that is always evolving and changing. Our recognition of this process has helped us to take risks, learn from our failures, and achieve success and growth through excellence. Our team understands our commitments to each other and how this helps us execute ABC of Georgia’s strategic plan.

The BOMA Leadership Masters Program was much more than another leadership class, but a truly unique experience. The entire program was carefully designed to allow participants to step outside their comfort zones, take off their masks and engage deeply with themselves and their classmates. Not only was the content and facilitator amazing, but the interactions and shared experiences with others were a once in a lifetime experience that cannot be taught through reading a book or listening to a lecture. Cynthia Mills, the facilitator, kept the course content interesting with a combination of video, group work, self- reflection and music. She has an amazing gift of leading individuals down a path of transformation and self-renewal in the most delicate and unassuming way. This experience was one of my top personal and professional accomplishments and largely due to the design and facilitation of the course.

My story is long, and perhaps boring to most, so I’ll keep it to the point. Cynthia has been coaching me for the past several months, as I contemplated making a career change and then after accepting the opportunity. We met through BOMA Georgia’s Masters Leadership program, where she was the developer and instructional leader for this 6-month program. Cynthia has been instrumental in helping me discover my potential as a leader and encourages me to reach beyond any barrier that restricts my personal and professional growth. Her professional, yet compassionate and extensive expertise, has given me the motivation and confidence I’ve needed. I’m a “work in progress” and cannot wait to share how much I’ve grown a year from now. I have the utmost trust in Cynthia and would recommend her to anyone seeking a professional coach or leadership instructor.

I felt compelled to participate. I brought it to the attention of my then employer to have it turned down. I made the decision to participate on my own as I also began a career transition. Ultimately one of the best investments in myself ever.Right from the start of the first day, you got all of us from all realms of life to take our masks off ( not just lower them) in the first 3 or 4 hours …. As the journey continued there developed a camaraderie, connection and confidentiality in that room more than I have ever experienced anywhere. I now have 15 best friends that I know business wise I can call in a heartbeat and bounce off of with no worry about where it is going or if there is an agenda. This is a huge compliment to you and also to the people that participated in this inaugural class. It was a phenomenal opportunity and adventure to be part of; I entered with a clouded definition and direction pertaining to leadership, role models ,and mentors due to the unique path that I had taken in CRE. I came away with a clear picture of leadership, most of which was who I am but had not recognized or given myself credit for. With a this new confidence, direction and endeavor, I have begun utilizing significant portions of the class material to evaluate, develop and implement, my new teams and processes. This was one of the top 10 experiences that I won’t forget.

The highest compliment I can give to you, Cynthia is that you were able to bring this incredible journey together for us to encounter and experience, knowing that it did change peoples’ lives!!. Thank You

BOMA GA contracted with Cynthia Mills of The Leaders’ Haven to develop a Leadership Masters Program. I spent a few minutes re-reading the students’ survey responses, and I reflected on the entire experience, from RFP through the final class day. Words really don’t do justice to the experience, but here goes: Cynthia has been more than on point; she’s been a partner, an inspiration, and a highly valued team member, guiding our association as we took an idea and turned it into one of the best course experiences we’ve ever developed. Students’ surveys consistently rated the experience 4.9 on a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 represents “far exceeded expectations.” In their words, “truly an amazing experience;” and “it is hard to remember what my expectations were, but I don’t think they came near the benefits of this class.” In my words: working with Cynthia Mills has been one of the most valuable experiences of my professional career.

Leadership Masters’ Program- Developed by Cynthia Mills in conjunction with BOMA GA.

The CRE Leadership Masters Program was an amazing experience for me on many levels. The tools and information shared, and the learning that transpired was inspirational. The personal growth and development that each of us absorbed, not only made us better leaders, it made us better human beings. We learned so much from each other and of course having the program facilitated by Cynthia Mills was simply amazing.The thing that we all admire the most about working with Cynthia is that she JUST simply get’s it. She understands that you can’t force the psyche to conform to a certain idea or influence it in a predestine direction. She understands and demonstrates that level of awareness in every interaction, every exchange, and every moment she’s in your presence.

The way the course was designed, it allows the energy of a group or individual to flow in the direction that it naturally wants to flow. The way Cynthia guides and facilitates an energy produces amazing results because her natural style allows for so much creativity and freedom of expression. It’s a pleasure to work with someone holding that much compassion and awareness that so effortlessly produces profound results!

Cynthia Mills led an intensive leadership program through an organization I have been involved with for many years. The training spanned the course of five months, and throughout that time, I grew as a leader within both my company and my family. Cynthia was able to help connect the values and principles taught in her course to every aspect of my life. I grew as a person, as a mother, and as a friend; growing as a leader within my company came naturally with my personal growth. Cynthia was tasked with helping 14 employees become stronger leaders, but instead she helped 14 people become stronger beings. I have learned so much and gained the ability to confront every obstacle and barrier to success in a way that will allow me to become a leader within my industry.

The Harley Langdale, Jr. Foundation engaged The Leaders’ Haven for our inaugural Grantee Workshop to provide training for the leaders in organizations to which we provide funding. We had high expectations for Cynthia’s time with our community’s non-profit leaders. She did not disappoint! She connected quickly and led attendees expertly through relevant concepts and principles and sent them away with a tool box of practical ideas.

Introduced by caring colleagues I was encouraged to talk to Cynthia as the ‘go to person’ – a critical stopover – before leaping over a career cliff. Working in a small organization and juggling lot’s of balls and ready to lambaste my Board, I paused to seek a coach’s advice. Cynthia’s proactive approach and counsel to stop, look and mostly listen enabled me to sort the right from wrong and discover an exact mix of remedies. I was able to trust both her experience and judgment to guide my plan to a satisfactory result. I’ve found a wonderful resource and a would-be friend.

Cynthia’s leadership expertise, in combination with her coaching style, has assisted me to enhance my executive leadership skills. She has a great perspective on leadership challenges and is able to provide great insight and strategies on tough issues. She has helped me to identify opportunities for growth, as well as build on my areas of strength.

It is rare to find someone who is so perfectly suited for her role as Cynthia is. She has a seemingly ideal set of experiences and skills to identify her clients’ priority issues, provide relevant feedback, and recommend actionable tactics. During my first coaching session, Cynthia impressed me with her ability to ask a few, strategic questions to draw out insights about my personal and professional goals that I hadn’t even previously fully developed to myself. She used those insights to help me understand the path to reaching these goals and provided clear, easily digestible next steps. I came away from the session with less anxiety and more enthusiasm for the short- and long-term future.

“You are always a student, never a master. You have to keep moving forward.” Conrad Hall. Some of you know that I am always working at a few projects at once. To tie it all together and make something out of it requires help. After hearing Cynthia Mills speak at the NJ Tree Conference, I knew I had to ask her to coach me! Ever since then, I have been and still am continually grateful for her guidance, love, and support as the journey continues. She has a wealth of knowledge but what I love best is her genuine desire to see others succeed. Thank you, Cynthia!

I had an awesome time with you! You were an amazing facilitator and a huge part of the reason I passed (the CAE exam.) I’m so glad to have earned this credential and am very grateful for your help!

Working with Cynthia allowed me to think through where I stood in my career, and, even more importantly, where I may be capable of going. She raised the right questions and provided me with very useful insights into my potential. If you are thinking about assessing your career direction, I very highly recommend Cynthia as the executive coach for you.

Cynthia’s ability to define the real issues and coach others to create breakthroughs is truly remarkable. Through leadership, coaching and mentoring she calls forth the best in executives and associates to realize a future that they truly want!

It’s rare to find a professional who combines individual coaching skills, organizational leadership experience, vision, and integrity. Cynthia brings that rare combination. I recommend her without reservation; she will bring her passion and practicality to lead your coaching or other initiative to successful outcomes beyond your expectations.

No sports team succeeds without a coach. It took me awhile to transfer and embrace this truth for my business. I have known Cynthia for over 20 years and have been a coaching client of hers for the past two. Cynthia is exactly what I was looking for in a career/life/business Sherpa: founded in her faith, having excelled in business, been recognized for excellence by her peers, an insightful listener, quick to see and address what is not being said as well as what is, challenges assumptions, is able to ferret out and provide clarity of direction and purpose, and somehow tie all that up with a bow in just a few 60 minute sessions with practical suggestions for homework in between. I recommend her highly to any business owner who wants to move themselves and their businesses to the next level.

She has proven to be an extremely valuable mentor with her broad business perspective and knack for coaching. Her energy and enthusiasm for her work is contagious; I always leave our conversations feeling re-inspired and ready to take on new challenges at work. I’m very thankful to have met Cynthia and to have the opportunity to learn from her successful career.

Cynthia is a seasoned association executive whose wise counsel and thoughtful insights have proven vital to my own professional development. As a coach, peer and mentor she has had a profound impact on my growth as a leader. She creates a comfortable, safe, nurturing environment for candid dialogue, problem solving and thought-provoking discussion. She is a trustworthy confidante, sounding board and solutions provider who really knows her stuff!

Cynthia is an amazing executive coach. She is extremely intuitive; tells you what you need to hear vs. want to hear; helps you discover your blind zones; focuses on actionable goals and steps to overcome short and long-term challenges and capitalize on opportunities; and supports you in both your professional and personal life.I have worked with life coaches for 20 years and didn’t know that an executive coach would be what I needed to deal with during a period of my life where my challenges were both professional and personal in nature. But Cynthia deals with the whole person and all the variables professionals deal with, recognizing that professionals are people with families and lives outside of their career.

Cynthia coached me during one of the most challenging periods of my professional and personal life and created a safe place for me to deal with both. I am very rarely in awe, but Cynthia continues to inspire and stretch me. I will continue to use her as my coach. Even after 17+ years as an association executive, I know that there is so much more to learn from her. I personally would recommend Cynthia to any executive who is looking to grow, dealing with challenges, in need of a tune-up, planning their next steps or is looking to really stretch and leap professionally. She has proven to be one of the best investments I have made in my entire career.

Cynthia’s questions and insights have helped me to more fully discern my values and intentions for my personal and professional lives. I feel like a truer, more confident version of myself than I was before I began working with her.I feel like I’ve found my voice – the ability to clarify my thoughts and emotions and to confidently assert my position on important issues for our company. I’m using more questions more often with my team, modeling some of Cynthia’s approach and trying to be a better coach for our organization. I’m thrilled with the results, especially as I transition to the executive level within our company and in our state trade association.What sets Cynthia apart is her apparently sincere interest in self-development and in the person behind the position. She takes a whole-life approach that I think is important because we either live whole-heartedly or not at all. She is warm, intelligent, and very encouraging. She also is comfortable asking challenging questions and providing the space for me to develop my answers. And she supports “I don’t know right now” as sometimes being the best answer to a given question.

Watch Annie’s Video

Over the years I have come to rely on Cynthia’s counsel and judgment as I have wrestled with various decisions and situations. She is wise and discerning and always asks penetrating questions that get to the heart of an issue. I would recommend her without hesitation or equivocation.

Cynthia’s brainstorming, mentoring and counsel have proven invaluable in seeing me through an anxious transition period and helping me prepare myself for my next opportunity. She’s great at asking simple questions to help frame and focus on issues, as well as at providing great feedback and encouragement. I’ll continue to enjoy – and benefit from – our coaching relationship moving forward.

Cynthia approaches coaching with a thirst for knowledge. She wants to truly learn while she is coaching you. There are not many days that go by that I don’t hear her voice sharing some sage advice or a helpful tip to get me through a tough decision or discussion with Board, staff or volunteers. I didn’t know I was being coached at the time and honestly feel like Cynthia’s approach is so warm and inviting that you never will. She’s that good.

As a CEO, I strive to create an effective, outcomes oriented organization, and the opportunity to brainstorm potential issues with an impartial, knowledgeable expert is invaluable. For me, Cynthia is this strategic partner that I count on to help me talk through issues and identify the optional approaches.

Cynthia provides that personal sense of optimism that I can succeed, that the current challenge is going to be met and the outcome will bring a result that builds positively on the past and creates more opportunity for the future – even when it is clear that there will be temporary setbacks or even major disappointments. To have Cynthia on your side is to have a force of nature favoring your chances of success; she leaves an inner voice that continually tells you to “push onward and forward” but with self awareness and knowledge.

I want to specifically thank you for including the Career Coaching session in the Leadership Program. I had an exceptional conversation with Cynthia today… it helped me, even after only a few days, re-kindle the flame as I’m back to the chaotic “real world.” She has a remarkable ability to provide some thought-provoking and extremely practical ideas to help me stay focused and realize my ambitions and aspirations.

My story is long, and perhaps boring to most, so I’ll keep it to the point. Cynthia has been coaching me for the past several months, as I contemplated making a career change and then after accepting the opportunity. We met through BOMA Georgia’s Masters Leadership program, where she was the developer and instructional leader for this 6-month program. Cynthia has been instrumental in helping me discover my potential as a leader and encourages me to reach beyond any barrier that restricts my personal and professional growth. Her professional, yet compassionate and extensive expertise, has given me the motivation and confidence I’ve needed. I’m a “work in progress” and cannot wait to share how much I’ve grown a year from now. I have the utmost trust in Cynthia and would recommend her to anyone seeking a professional coach or leadership instructor.

I had the pleasure of meeting Cynthia at the ASAE 2015 national meeting. She along with a couple of other industry notables was running a very interesting session related to CEOs and governance. I was impressed. I was also delighted to be so warmly received when I introduced myself after the session. As a senior executive working to join the non-profit world in a CEO role, I need help. After a short time with Cynthia I realized she was the right person to coach me. The intelligence and experience I noted in her session, as well as the sensitivity I experienced on meeting her, carry through to her work with me. Cynthia draws on her experience, intelligence, and emotional IQ to help with the strategic and tactical issues. She is professional, responsive, and able to deliver observations and advice…both the easy to take and the tough to hear, directly and diplomatically. I am happy to have her as a coach…

When I hear people struggling to find direction in their careers, clamoring to be better leaders, I am delighted to share my personal experiences and successes with Cynthia Mills. Cynthia listens then always seems have just the right question or summary or insight that gets to the heart of the issue. I look forward to our monthly phone calls. And even though our scheduled calls always seem to land in the thick of stress and deadlines, she is always able to put me on course, renew my ability focus, and help me see the big picture. The insight Cynthia has been able to bring to my life, both personally and professionally, has enabled me to grow in my marriage, grow in leadership, and pour into my employees and co-workers. She has the ability to help you see your “wins” and successes that are often hard to do in our non-stop world. Her simple approaches to life and home provide the tools to create successful environments. I find myself periodically reviewing my notes from our calls together to gain insight, review leadership processes, and sometimes just remembering the enjoyment of our conversations. My co-workers and family have never met Cynthia in person but they know her well because I speak of her and our times together so often.

Wow! The highlight of my trip was spending time with you during my coaching session. You gave me such great advice and several tactics that I believe will help me on my path to CIO. I left feeling like I can really do this! Thank you so much Cynthia for your guidance and encouragement…and for sharing your own experiences and insights. I truly appreciate having this opportunity, and I’m confident this will have a significant impact towards my career.

Cynthia has an incredible ability to read people. She can see blind spots and reveal them in a kind, non-threatening way. She’s helped me create a clear vision for my future that was only nebulous before I started working with her. I can’t imagine attempting this journey without her.

It’s rare to find a professional who combines individual coaching skills, organizational leadership experience, vision, and integrity. Cynthia brings that rare combination. I recommend her without reservation; she will bring her passion and practicality to lead your coaching or other initiative to successful outcomes beyond your expectations.

As a Past President and current board member of the national Association of Water Technologies, I had the opportunity to participate in a board retreat facilitated by Cynthia Mills of The Leaders’ Haven. It was my experience that she is truly exceptional at what she does.

Thank you for everything that you’ve provided to BOMA Georgia over the last couple of years but most importantly, thank you for your dedication, enthusiasm and care of those people most important to me within the association. They are so fortunate to partner with you.

I consider Cynthia to be one of the best executives I have ever had the privilege with whom to work. During our many years together, I’ve observed first hand her professional interactions with volunteer leaders, staff and peers—always focusing on their shared commitments. Her organizational vision and communication skills set her apart from the pack. Working with her has always been a pleasure. I highly recommend her.

Cynthia came as CEO of the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) at a time when the association needed a transformation. She provided excellent leadership to our board, staff of the association and membership in general. Her standards of excellence caused us all to take it up a notch and she demanded this of everyone around her. Cynthia helped chart a course for TCIA that created breakthroughs and a level of professionalism that made us all very proud. Her integrity and credibility builds a very high level of trust with others. She left TCIA better than when she arrived and helped our industry reach new levels.

Cynthia was a huge hit at our board retreat. She was well prepared even though she was asked to fill in for another facilitator at the last minute. Her knowledge of association dynamics and boards made her effective at keeping us on track. She had a process for moving us forward but it was not rigid. Cynthia absolutely delivered on the stated objective of the retreat and we did it with fun and laughter. I can recommend Cynthia to you without hesitation.

Her role as the CEO of our organization was well respected. This is a person that can take most any organization to the next level. With her special abilities to work with others that instills trust and high expectation from her staff, she can move thoughts and ideas into reality very quickly. Cynthia is a high level person that can work well with people from all types of backgrounds. Cynthia would be one of my highest recommendations to any organization.

She is a true role model, teacher, and guide and coaches many to excel. I have had the opportunity to watch Cynthia inspire others to do better while consistently striving for excellence.

Cynthia is the consummate professional. Her knowledge of organizational development and expertise in leading organizational growth is stellar. Her understanding of the complexities of directing an organization makes her a great resource for her peers and those that aspire to lead through stewardship and service. Cynthia’s strategic planning abilities and her use of the strategic initiatives of the plan has garnered her great success. She is a great teacher, life-long learner and admired colleague.

Cynthia’s ability to define the real issues and coach others to create breakthroughs is truly remarkable. Through leadership, coaching and mentoring she calls forth the best in executives and associates to realize a future that they truly want!

Cynthia listens then always seems have just the right question or summary or insight that gets to the heart of the issue. I look forward to our monthly phone calls. And even though our scheduled calls always seem to land in the thick of stress and deadlines, she is always able to put me on course, renew my ability focus, and help me see the big picture. The insight Cynthia has been able to bring to my life, both personally and professionally, has enabled me to grow in my marriage, grow in leadership, and pour into my employees and co-workers. She has the ability to help you see your “wins” and successes that are often hard to do in our non-stop world. Her simple approaches to life and home provide the tools to create successful environments. I find myself periodically reviewing my notes from our calls together to gain insight, review leadership processes, and sometimes just remembering the enjoyment of our conversations. My co-workers and family have never met Cynthia in person but they know her well because I speak of her and our times together so often.

Our meeting was so incredibly helpful to me…you provided timely and wise counsel at a time when I truly needed to receive it. I’ve tried to create what you suggested, which was to show myself “in motion and future oriented”. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet you. The experience was an extremely worthwhile investment. I keep your card handy where I can easily read it because your tagline was and is so helpful to remember – “Find your passion, know your values, pray for guidance and live your dream.” You helped me to remember my value.

I have worked with life coaches for 20 years and didn’t know that an executive coach would be what I needed to deal with during a period of my life where my challenges were both professional and personal in nature. But Cynthia deals with the whole person and all the variables professionals deal with, recognizing that professionals are people with families and lives outside of their career. Cynthia coached me during one of the most challenging periods of my professional and personal life and created a safe place for me to deal with both. I am very rarely in awe, but Cynthia continues to inspire and stretch me. I will continue to use her as my coach.

What sets Cynthia apart is her apparently sincere interest in self-development and in the person behind the position. She takes a whole-life approach that I think is important because we either live whole-heartedly or not at all. She is warm, intelligent, and very encouraging. She also is comfortable asking challenging questions and providing the space for me to develop my answers. And she supports “I don’t know right now” as sometimes being the best answer to a given question.

You knocked it out of the park!” Thank you so much for helping us to lend affirmation to our global Champion message. Everyone loved your talk. (Keynote on the occasion of the 2014 international company-wide meeting.)

We’re all still beaming from your presentation on “Customer Service Experience” at our national team’s annual property management meeting.

Thank you for the great job speaking Saturday. Your speech was full of details and well delivered…..Our team was pumped after the event and your participation was an important part. (Keynote on the occasion of the 35^th anniversary of employee ownership.)

It was a pleasure meeting you during the BOMA Southern Region Conference. I truly enjoyed your presentation and gained a lot of knowledge that has enhanced my style of management.

We had the pleasure of having Cynthia hold a coaching session at our 2014 Annual Conference. Aside from being extremely knowledgeable and professional, Cynthia is an engaging speaker who really gets the most out of her time with the attendees. After just a few minutes into the session you could really see the light bulbs go off and the attendees start to think about how they can benefit by engaging in a coaching relationship. By the end of the session it was clear that everyone had a takeaway. Cynthia is someone we would welcome back anytime to speak to our members.

I had the privilege of being able to have Cynthia lead a session for the Association Executives of North Carolina’s Annual Meeting. As a person that books speakers, I don’t normally get to sit in the sessions, but I couldn’t miss her session and I wasn’t disappointed. She delivered a great session that was inspiring and motivating and really made the attendee think. I would bring her back to AENC yearly!

Thank you again for your presentation on “Being a Facilitator of Organizational Dynamics” at the ISAE CEO/CAE Boot Camp. You had a wonderful and positive impact! We talked about several items at dinner, and I kept hearing how great and beneficial it was and also that it was amazing how much information you packed into an hour.

Attending the all day Executive Presence Session for aspiring CEO’s at ASAE’s Annual Meeting was one of the best things I have ever done. The way the content was designed, the structure of the day, the conversations between participants, and the way Cynthia Mills and Greg Fine interact together as presenters and facilitators was just excellent. It was a big turning point for me. I would highly recommend it.

I had the pleasure of attending your session, and very much appreciated the series of guiding questions that you led. I found your own story to be inspiring, and have come home taking a deeper look at my own career path. I just wanted to say thank you for the great session and hope our paths cross again.

Cynthia Mills, CAE spoke to our group, the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE) during consecutive Annual Meetings. In 2008, Cynthia presented on “Effective and Appropriate Governance” and in 2009, on “Answering the Call to Leadership Post-2008.” The evaluations of her presentations? In a nutshell – a clamor for more, more, more from someone our members know and trust and respect deeply. As you can see from Cynthia’s profile, she is both a Past President of GSAE and a recipient of our highest honor, the Clifford M. Clarke Award. Cynthia enjoys enormous credibility in our community, as a leader and a dedicated volunteer for many years. Our members appreciate not only her creative way of presenting (the economy is never an enjoyable topic these days) but also her emphasis on strategy and solutions to help them run their respective associations more effectively. As the chief staff person, I trust Cynthia to deliver high quality, thought-provoking presentations. I cannot recommend working with Cynthia highly enough. Please feel free to contact me directly for more information.

I had the pleasure of participating the past few days in the Georgia Society of Association Executives’ Annual Meeting in beautiful Asheville, NC. One of the most thought provoking parts of the conference was a session led by Cynthia Mills, CAE. Working from a series of scenarios drawn from her professional experiences, I joined other participants in discussing the ethical, legal, and leadership issues encompassed in the situations. It was an engaging learning opportunity. One takeaway was that it is not uncommon to find yourself or your organization scrambling to react to a sticky ethical issue for which there is a lack of previous preparation or training. Cynthia wrapped up the session by noting that association professionals can serve as the core of an ethical renaissance, influencing not only our own organizations, but also the industries and professions that we serve.

Thank you for your excellent keynote presentation at the Online Conference for Small Staff Associations. Participant ratings on the content has been overwhelmingly positive and particularly relevant to the work of small staff associations. We really appreciate all of your hard work and willingness to share your expertise with others. Thank you again.

Thanks again for speaking at our leadership workshop. I don’t know if you (know) yet, but you received rave reviews. Your presentation was very good – as usual!

I was just getting ready to email you to say how impressed I was with your session at the leadership conference…. We are wondering if you would be willing and available to come to Michigan to do a similar program with our Board of Directors and Committee Chairs.

You were the highlight of the GSAE meeting for me….. I do not think I have attended a more impressive presentation than your workshop on governance. I did not miss the PowerPoint. You used the audience to make your points. Masterful. Thanks for coming.

I thought your speech was great – values, faith and servant leadership. All excellent, and words that caught my attention….

On behalf of the Dutch …. Chapter members, the entire board of directors of the Chapter, the organizing committee and all the attendants ……, I wish to express our sincere thanks for your contribution to a successful conference.

I wanted to thank you for an excellent workshop…..to point our board in the right direction regarding “Legal and Fiduciary Responsibilities.” (Are you a natural born speaker?) I know everyone’s eyes opened a little wider at several points in the meeting.

Cynthia’s passion and dedication was evident the moment we met. Her expertise in and out of the classroom provided students with an opportunity to explore real time leadership challenges. Cynthia balanced theory with actual scenarios to assist students in developing critical thinking and nurtured a zeal for learning beyond the classroom. Any organization would benefit greatly from her professionalism, expertise, and leadership. I would hire Cynthia again in a heartbeat.

Cynthia was our instructor at NEC. She was extremely professional, engaging and inspiring in the classes I attended. Her drive to excel in her profession was evident and permeated the class. It fostered the drive in me to further excel in my activities and to promote the same from those with whom I engaged. It was a privilege having Cynthia as an instructor. I am now the Training Director at my organization and I would love to bring Cynthia back to our area to provide workshops on Ethics, Board Governance and the like. Thank you, Cynthia, for sharing your light!

As the instructor of a graduate level strategic planning course Cynthia brought the class through the planning process from inception through implementation and evaluation of the results. Cynthia guided her students through in a way that left the direction up to them offering advice, encouragement and suggestions to smooth the process. Students completed the class ready to act as highly effective agents of change within their respective organizations.

I am just letting you know that I thought you gave a great talk. It was the first talk where the speaker actually asked the class what we would do. I would just like to say thank you.

I thought the use of volunteers in a mock board meeting was awesome and really helped a tough, boring topic come to life. I learned some things about how we run our board meetings….. that we should be improving. Well done!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, experience, approach and all around sparkling demeanor…..come back when you can.

Great to see you at the 100th…Your presentation was incredible, Cynthia….There were parts of your presentation that had me so bubbling with pride that I got misty….

I just want to say again that I know the time and energy you took with your talk to make our 100th Anniversary a huge success. Thanks so much for your attention to our people and the detail during your presentation. Our managers, representatives and guests are now out enthusiastically telling great stories about their fantastic experiences, your talk being a big part of our wonderful time together.

Thank you, thank you, Cynthia, your presentation was so interesting! We were dreaming about the whole PEO chapter going to York. I went home and told my husband that I wish I had heard your presentation before we went to Yorkshire.

Your presentation, “Efficient and Appropriate Governance” was extremely well-received by our meeting attendees. And I quote, “Cynthia Mills is a rock star.” I agree of course.

The Empty Front Porch is a wonderful book. With insouciance, humor, and first-rate story telling, Cynthia Mills provides a clarion call for a life that is truly worth living. While that would be more than enough, her book also provides a compelling workbook full of the experiential exercises that will turn your vocation into a way of life. If you are seeking a more meaningful life then read this book!

Whether you are uncertain about your faith or well along in your journey, the insights Cynthia shares will cause you to pause, sit a while and stop the swirl of the world around you. Learn how silence can speak boldly and refresh your soul. Choose to walk up the porch steps, take your seat, and accept a hand to co-create the life you are truly meant to live!

This is an eye-opening resource for Christians to evaluate their “porch.” In today’s busy world, it is easy to lose focus of what is truly important. Take the time to sit with your soul, and design your porch to Porch plan. Cynthia is a shining light for the Holy Spirit.

In a time when so many are searching for balance and a truly meaningful life, The Empty Front Porch provides a thoughtful and faith-based recipe for finding both. Based on first-hand experiences and backward reflection and validation of those experiences, Cynthia Mills challenges our need to control our lives versus the rewards of a trusting faith in God. “Be still and know” is waiting on the front porch of each of us.

Just finished reading your book. Wow, did you write that just for me? Please thank John for following his star, so that you could shine on me and others.

One look at the cover, and I took it to my back porch, got in my rocking chair, and did exactly what the author said not to do…I devoured half the book at my first sitting. Cynthia, I love the book… I know this will touch the lives of many people. Thanks for sharing your experience with others.

I am so enjoying the book! I’m taking it slowly, working through everything. Who knew there was work involved – I thought you could just tell me what to do and I could check things off a list! But seriously, it’s a great tool and I’m getting quite a lot out of the exercises.

Thank you so much for your wonderful book. You’ll never know how much it means to me (and speaks to me even at the age of 88.) I will refer to it often.

I really enjoyed your book, “The Empty Front Porch”. Thank you for offering your wisdom, and sharing so much of your personal journey, which to me, made your advice in the book even more helpful. I am wondering if reading your book helped me reach my recent decision.

I just read the introduction and looked at all the pictures in my awesome new book.

Really enjoying your book!

“Your book is beautiful in every way. I couldn’t read it without tears.”

I can tell this book is going to have significant impact on my life, as it will for so many others. Thank you for this gift.