"We selected Connected Insight because of their knowledge. They'd really done their homework in understanding what our needs were and understanding what was happening in the industry.

Part of the deliverable was to develop a business plan to secure funding from two related ministries; however, halfway through our plan's development the ministries split up, so we ended up having to build two different plans. Connected Insight helped us navigate this unsuspected development, and we were able to secure over 1.8 million with their assistance.

They came in with a very defined process, and that made it much, much easier for us. Being able to understand that process and execute that process - they helped us tremendously in that regard. We gained a better understanding of not just how to do it but why we were doing it in this way so we could use it in the future and for our own career growth as we go on. They ensured our plan was a realistic one, one that we could use for many years.

That's one of the benefits of working with Connected Insight. They were able to provide knowledge transfer to us, so not only did we get a product that we can use to secure funding, but also professional development for our project team. And that turned out to be a lot of fun! Sometimes our views were totally different from what their views were, and those discussions always turned out to be enjoyable and enlightening.

We have used them again successfully for help with strategic planning. I would absolutely recommend them to others."

Jody Cameron
MySudbury.ca Project Manager
City of Greater Sudbury

"Before I started using Connected Insight I perceived management consultants as being very expensive, and that they'd come in and tell you what you already knew. My experience with them has certainly proved that perception wrong. They are professional managers, they're really good at management. When you have a management issue you can go to them and they can tell you exactly what you need to do.

We were in a situation where our program was experiencing significant issues with the delivery of projects. We recognized internally that we needed some sort of structure and that we needed to implement a program management office of some sort, but what we were looking for was some expertise to tell us how to do that, how to get it off the ground. We also needed an independent third-party who could assess the situation and confirm what our intuition was telling us.

We learned a lot from Connected Insight. They certainly confirmed our assumptions, and provided us with some really sound recommendations for how we should proceed. What was really helpful was that at the end of the day I had a report that I used to convince other managers that this was the right approach to take. It was the horsepower behind my argument. They're certified management consultants, and they have a ton of experience and background when it comes to this type of work. They have a solid reputation, and they're credible. You can trust their recommendations.

They made things really clear, and they were straight to the point with their advice.

And as we were moving forward, even though they had delivered the product we asked them to deliver and we'd paid them, they didn't just cut the cord. Any time I needed further advice or had a question they were always there to answer, and it was always free of charge. And they really took the pressure off - we were invoking major change and it was, at times, very stressful. It was good to have someone working with us that we could kid around with a little bit and have some fun, take the stress off a little. They're really good at that.

I see management consultants in a totally different light now. For the first time in my career I have a clear understanding of what a good management consultant really does, and what value an organization can receive from their services."

Derek Landry
Manager, GeoSmart
Ministry of Natural Resources
Government of Ontario

"This project was a whole new world for us. It involved a kind of technology that we hadn't dealt with before, and it brought all kinds of questions with it. And then there was the government funding side of the issue, which was also proving to be complex and demanding. We had a lot on our plate and we hadn't done this kind of thing before.

Connected Insight came to us on a recommendation, and we certainly got what was promised from them. They brought strong technical knowledge to our team, and were able to answer our questions and frame things in terms that we could understand. They are experts at boiling down complex issues into manageable packages. Communication skills, that's perhaps their greatest strength. They are truly interpreters.

Connected Insight really helped us get this project off the ground and moving forward. It was their help that gave us the credibility we needed with the funding agency. They enabled us to provide information that the agency needed, and to present it the right way - and that got us the funding!

I found the Connected Insight's representatives to be very highly principled - thoughtful of our needs, encouraging, and always pointing us in the right direction. They also have a good personal touch. They 're responsive, and there when you need them. I recommend them highly."

Don Cameron
Chief Administrative Officer (Ret.)
Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation

"We were facing a crisis. Six of our seven physicians were leaving the community, all within a very short period of time. A professional retention and recruitment team, comprised of people from many different sectors, was assembled to address the issue and come up with solutions. But there was a lot of contention within the team, a lot of frustration and confusion about what actions we should take. We were spinning our wheels. We needed some outside help, and we needed it fast.

Connected Insight was able to come in, break down the barriers and make the team function as a unit. They had some enormous challenges coming in; when a community is in crisis, especially in terms of its healthcare, tensions are high and there certainly were a lot of frustrated, nervous people at the table. Connected Insight was able to identify the strengths of the team and define how we could work effectively together. They inspired confidence and made a situation that seemed impossible at first into something that we felt confident and even excited about handling with success.

Connected Insight's research and delivery of information provided the team with good, solid action items: an entire action plan, spanning several years; a budget plan; detailed recommendations; a best practices report. They mapped everything out for us. We've all received reports from them that we can actually use. They were able to impart the information to the team in a manner in which we understood. And they encouraged input from us. Rather than just coming in and taking over, they made everybody involved an active part of the process. We've now been empowered to deliver upon the plan they set out for us.

Connected Insight really understood the problem. There was a genuine level of empathy. At the same time, they didn't hesitate to lead the charge and get us back on track. They built a solid level of trust with this project, and I will definitely be using them again in the near future!"

Dina Quenneville
Executive Director
Greenstone Economic Development Corporation

"The Municipality of Greenstone was created by an amalgamation of four previously organized municipalities, each with their own ways of keeping records. During the restructuring process, we were eligible for transitional funding and one of the components we were funded for was records management and retention. This was a huge challenge for us. All of the records were basically in filing cabinets and boxes, and we didn't have the time or the expertise to handle such a large project internally or get it finished before the provincial government deadline.

Connected Insight worked very diligently to make it happen. They got us the appropriate hardware, made arrangements with a digitizing company, and spent several days here training the staff as to how this new system would work, what the requirements were, and how we were going to organize all of it. They were extremely knowledgeable and amenable to our desires. They gave us options along the way and were able to tailor a system that fit with our way of working. We received a lot of personal attention from them.

Now, we have the security of knowing that our records are safe, and that's what we wanted. As a municipality we are required by law to maintain records - if we were to lose any of them, we would be in serious difficulty. Thanks to Connected Insight, we no longer have to worry about security of our records. Also, we can readily access all of our files on computer and work on them, whereas before we would have had to go through mounds of paper to find the files we needed, if we ever could. It's much easier and faster this way.

We had used Connected Insight before, and will continue to use them in the future because we've always had good results. They are extremely competent and accommodating. Anything they have ever worked on for us has been a success, and we know we can trust their recommendations. The results speak for themselves."

Roy Sinclair
Chief Administrative Officer
Municipality of Greenstone