About FastTrack™
The Strategic Planning System Born from Real-World Experience
We know strategic planning. We have facilitated the creation of hundreds of strategic plans over 35+ years. We have seen the power of planning and have done the research that proves that organizations that plan are more successful.
But here's the ugly truth:
Only about half of organizations have a plan
Up to 70% of strategic plans fail—not necessarily because they're bad plans, but because they are not implemented or are implemented poorly
We created FastTrack™ to solve this problem.
The FastTrack™ Story
For over three decades, Lee Crumbaugh and the team at Forrest Consulting have guided organizations through strategic planning. We've worked with businesses, nonprofits, associations, and government agencies of all sizes. We've seen what works, what doesn't, and most importantly—why great plans fail.
The problem wasn't the planning process itself. It was what happened after the consultant left.
We knew there had to be a better way.
Traditional strategic planning follows a predictable pattern: hire consultants, spend months in meetings, create a beautiful document, and then... watch it gather dust on a shelf. The consultants move on to the next client. The organization returns to daily operations. The plan becomes a memory.
The Solution: Planning + Implementation + Coaching
1
Expert Methodologies and Frameworks
FastTrack™ combines the best of professional consulting—proven methodologies, best practices, expert frameworks—with the accountability and tracking tools needed for successful implementation, plus optional coaching to ensure you stay the course.
The CLIME™ Implementation Model
Our proprietary system ensures plans don't just look good—they get done:
Clear milestones with deadlines
Leadership alignment and buy-in
Implementation dashboards
Monthly accountability checkpoints
Execution obstacle removal
2
Behavioral Science Integration
Drawing from research in founder Lee Crumbaugh’s seminal 2023 book, BIG DECISIONS: 40 disastrous decisions and thousands of research studies tell us how to make a great decision when it really matters, FastTrack™ addresses the mental traps and biases that block or impede planning and derail implementation.
3
Living Plan Technology
Unlike static documents, FastTrack™ plans are executed based on your implementation plan and evolve with your organization through:
Monthly check-ins
Quarterly assessments
Annual assessment and replanning.
Annual replanning fosters multi-year plan updating and continuing execution.
4
Flexible Access to Expertise
Choose the level of support you need:
Self-directed planning with detailed guidance and AI assistance
Guidance from a qualified strategy consultant so you create an excellent and actionable plan
Monthly coaching to help assure your plan is actually implemented
Proven Foundations
FastTrack™ is built on the best practices in strategy creation and strategy management, years of strategic planning experience, and tools and processes refined through use in all types of organizations.
5
IASP BOK 3.0
Based on the International Association for Strategy Professionals (IASP) Body of Knowledge 3.0, ensuring globally recognized best practices.
6
Real-World Experience
35+ years of consulting experience, hundreds of successful plans, work across all sectors, continuous improvement based on outcomes.
7
Proven Results
Every tool and process refined through actual client engagements, not theory. Built by practitioners for practitioners.
The Strategic Planner Behind FastTrack™
Lee Crumbaugh, SMP, the creator of FastTrack™, was first intrigued by the power of strategy in his capstone MBA class at the University of Chicago. That sparked a career in which he:
Has been a senior executive in banking and trade associations and a non-profit leader, founded multiple businesses, and now leads a strategy consulting and business coaching firm.
Has facilitated of hundreds of strategic planning sessions.
Created the FastTrack™ Strategic Planning System to make great planning more affordable and less burdensome for middle market and smaller companies and non-profits.
Was one of the first strategists to earn the Strategy Management Professional certification.
Led the Association for Strategic Planning (now the International Association for Strategy Professionals) and fostered the updated of its Body of Knowledge 2.0 for Strategy Planning and Management.
Authored AHEAD: Strategy is the way to a better future (2nd edition) to help leaders plan and BIG DECISIONS: 40 disastrous decisions and thousands of research studies tell us how to make a great decision when it really matters on decision-making and mental traps.
Has written the Strategic Thinking & Strategic Action blog since 2007.
Rod Bourn
Rod is founder and Lead Ninja of Down Set Lead. He helps leaders, professionals, and organizations get unstuck and grow into what they want to be. That happens though coaching, executive trips and retreats, training, and facilitating mentoring programs.
Rod manages continuing education curriculum and specializes in workforce development and contract training. He coordinates large conferences and events, including fundraisers and galas. Rod also serves as Project Director (through CCBC) of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Baltimore program.
Rod is the author of Down Set Lead!, a guide to the chronology of team leadership, written especially for young professionals, all with a football motif and a few movie quotes thrown in for good measure. Rod shares this methodology for creating a well-oiled, high-performing team.
As a Strategic Business Leader coach, Rod is able to leverage his diverse experience and deep knowledge to help owners, professionals, leaders, and entrepreneurs be more successful.
Rod earned his MS in Organizational Development from The Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School and his BS in Business Administration from Towson University.
Nancy Kobel
Nancy is an accredited coach with the International Coach Federation, bringing over a decade of coaching expertise and more than two decades of facilitation experience to her role. Specializing in coaching leaders across diverse sectors, including Fortune 100 companies, private enterprises, consulting firms, government agencies, small businesses, and startups, Nancy has made a significant impact in cultivating effective leadership.
As a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, Nancy draws on the transformative principles of Dr. Brené Brown's empirically based courage-building program, Dare to Lead™. Her commitment to fostering courage and authenticity in leadership positions her as a sought-after professional in the coaching realm.
Nancy began her career as an engineer for NASA. After completing her Masters, Nancy transitioned to developing engineering managers. She expanded her career into Leadership Development, Organizational Development, and Executive Coaching.
Having worked with clients such as NASA, NOAA, NIH, Department of the Interior, Kimley-Horn, Chief, BetterUp, SkillSoft, ASRC Federal, Northrup Grumman, and more, Nancy brings a wealth of experience and insight to her coaching practice.
Nancy holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland and an MA in Instructional Systems Development from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is an avid paddleboarder and actively contributes to the community by serving on the board of the Live Water Foundation in Annapolis, MD. The foundation facilitates watersports programs to support veterans, underprivileged and disabled youth, and advocates for clean water education.
Meet the Team
Martin Fisher
Martin brings to his clients skills acquired as a CPA, a Fortune 500 Executive and CFO as well as leadership abilities honed as a successful entrepreneur. From effective start-up to substantial growth to fruitful sale, Martin’s mission is to assist his clients in achieving their most lofty goals. His objective as a Business Coach is to help you create your vision of success, assist you in developing a plan to achieve your aspirations, and support you as you overcome obstacles and attain the achievements you desire.
Martin brings extensive leadership experience, having held C-level roles in the telecommunications, financial services, and security sectors, as well as leading three start-up ventures. Prior to entering consulting, he founded and scaled 21st Century Security into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, culminating in a successful exit in late 2023.
With a strong foundation in financial management, Martin served as Chief Financial Officer for Dunbar Armored and Controller at Fairchild Communications. Over a 20-year span, he played a pivotal role in numerous acquisitions that fueled significant growth at both companies. As CEO of 21st Century Security, he oversaw Sales, Finance, and Operations, executing the company’s strategic vision and driving sustained growth
Martin holds degrees in Accounting and Finance from the University of Maryland and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. He is a Certified Public Accountant and began his career at Arthur Andersen, a large international accounting firm.
He currently resides in the Baltimore-Washington area with his wife and three children.
Margaret Kaii-Ziegler, PhD
Margaret recently retired from a 35-year career in land use planning and design. And, after six years of effort, she successfully defended her dissertation and received a PhD in Public Policy at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She is now teaching governmental budgeting at UMBC and statistics at Goucher College.
In her work for Forrest Consulting, Margaret manages projects and leads research initiatives for clients..
Margaret earned a BS in Landscape Architecture at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and an MS in Regional and Community Planning at Kansas State University.
Over the course of her career, Margaret led the development of master and special area plans in both rural and urban environments, worked with government officials, communities and special interest groups, and advised the private sector in land development issues. She is skilled in the development and management of geographic information system (GIS) databases and is experienced in writing Request for Proposals and managing contracts.
Margaret has strong organizational, project management and team building skills.
Brandon Dall'Acqua
Brandon came into coaching after building an extensive and diverse background at the executive level across multiple industries. With more than 20 years’ experience in strategic planning, financial optimization, and operational excellence, he has successfully guided numerous companies in shaping their futures.
A graduate of Northeastern University, Brandon holds a dual major in Finance and International Business, complemented by a minor in Spanish. His career began internationally, where he served as CFO for various companies in the residential and commercial real estate sectors, as well as a founding partner and CFO of an adventure tourism destination. His experience also includes project management in construction, leading turnaround initiatives for a casino, and owning and operating a fitness facility.
Since returning to the US, Brandon has been instrumental in startup leadership, facility launches with Amazon, system implementations for financial institutions, and consulting with international companies to advise on their US expansion.
Brandon is a certified Project Manager with the PMI and Six Sigma Black Belt from SSGI, among various certifications. Now based in the Annapolis area, he is leveraging his global insights and extensive experience to help small and medium-sized businesses and leaders elevate their organizations to new heights.
Leigh Hamilton
Leigh is Forrest Consulting’s virtual assistant. Her Ohio-based firm is Victoria Leigh & Co., LLC, which provides general administrative and creative services to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Leigh earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in social work from The Ohio State University.
Leigh began her VA business to help other businesses achieve their goals as well as to help create the life that she and her husband want. They recently became new parents.
Our Mission
We help our clients live their vision of great success.
Our Vision
Every organization and business leader has a strategic plan and they are executing their plan for greater success.
Our Values
Strategic
We take the strategic view when we counsel and coach.
Tailored
We provide tailored, high-value, cost-effective answers – not cookie-cutter approaches.
Deliver More
Our objective is to deliver more than the client expects.
No Surprises
We are assiduous about keeping the client up to date - no surprises!
Professional
We are professional, honest, fair and reliable. We deliver what we say we will deliver.
Change Agent
We strive to show the client new ways and offer different views: Our highest value is being a change agent.
Who We Serve
Business Owners, CEOs, and Executives
Non-Profit Leaders and Boards
Association Leaders and Boards
Goverment Leaders and Boards
Whether you're a startup defining your path or an established organization aiming to reach new heights, FastTrack™ provides the structure, tools, and support you need.
Soar to New Heights through Best Practices Strategic Planning and Execution
Achieve your vision with FastTrack™!
Contact Us
Have questions about FastTrack™? Want to learn more about how it can help your organization?
Email: leec@strategicbusinessleader.com
Learn More: Forrest Consulting
© 2025 Forrest Consulting. All rights reserved.