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LakeZurich-Courier.com Member of the Sun-Times News Group

July 5, 2007

Mark Ernst's business is helping other businesses.

Ernst has opened Ernst Enterprises LLC, out of his Lake Zurich home. Ernst Enterprises works with other business owners to help improve results, minimize frustrations and regain the excitement they had when they first started their companies.

Ernst, who works the business with the help of his wife, Nijole, has been advising CEOs and business leaders for more than 20 years. His career includes senior-level positions at companies such as PepsiCo and Nabisco.

Ernst said he opened Ernst Enterprises for two reasons: He has wanted to own a business for a long time; and he is confident he has the skill and expertise to offer value to his clients.

"I talk to a lot of people throughout my travels," Ernst said. "I find a lot of owners of small- and medium-sized businesses who do not have access to a board of directors or somebody they can rely on as an advisor who they can bounce ideas off, share problems, get recommendations and keep them on course.

"Once an entrepreneur builds a successful business, the last thing they get to do is what they love, the reason they got into the business. They are spending so much time on marketing, account-receivable calls, things like that. They lose the passion for why they started the business."

Ernst is offering owners a free 90-minute meeting to discuss their business, plans or concerns. After the initial meeting, he charges by the day, the hour or the project. For competitive reasons, he did not want his fees published.

"I start with finding out the issues that are keeping the business owner up at night," Ernst said. "Then I focus on the entire business, what really is going on and what they want to accomplish long range.

"I have a client who is a third-generation business owner. She is talking to me because in five years she wants to retire and would like to sell the business to an employee.

"The first issue I raised with her was to ask if any of her top employees have the capacity for running a business. What is the business going to look like in five years, and do any of the employees have the potential to do the job. If the answer is 'yes,' I will look at the entire business and look at putting a development plan in place to get them there."

Ernst recently was accredited by the Institute for Independent Businesses, a global, not-for-profit research, training and accreditation organization that provides advice and support to entrepreneurs and business owners.

Ernst can be reached at (847) 438-8977, or by e-mail at markernst@iib.ws.