About Us
Advance Consulting Group is a team of experienced landscape industry professionals that work together to help companies exceed their goals. Each of the partners has specialties, and together we cover a wide range of skills, tools, and disciplines. Our focus is the client and the client’s goals.
Meet the Team
Parke Kallenberg
Founder and CEO
Parke earned his degree in Industrial Psychology from Emory University and is the founder of Advance Consulting Group. He has a strong passion for helping others exceed their goals and has generated repeated successes over 30+ years in leadership roles. His experience includes the automotive aftermarket, residential services, and national landscape services. He has repeatedly led teams to exceed goals as VP of Sales, helping the company grow from $110M to $450M in 10 years. As VP of Training for ValleyCrest (a 10k+ employee company), the company earned five consecutive Training Top 125 Awards. Parke is known for his high energy engagement, participant buy-in, and measurable results.
Anne Mino
Consultant
Anne has 20+ years of experience in the landscape industry. Her Horticulture degree from Iowa State University and her master’s in leadership from Aurora University bring together her two passions, landscape and developing people. Throughout the years she has held several different roles including designer, account manager, branch manager, training and development. She has been at the ground level of merging the largest landscape company in the world. Through her experience and knowledge, she has been able to build repeatable processes and systems that companies use for their success. Anne is able to connect with companies and realize their potential through multiple coaching practices that create a sustainable culture within your organization.
Charlie Thompson
Consultant
Charlie brings over 30 years of diverse business experience to Advance Consulting Group, progressing from an entry-level field position to President and CEO of a $65 million enterprise, including 15 years in executive leadership through rapid change and growth.
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A passionate advocate for leadership development and systems thinking, Charlie has taught leadership courses for over 15 years, including guest lectures at various colleges.
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Recognizing that the foundation of any successful organization lies in its people and how well they can work together, Charlie returned to college to study psychology. This educational background has enriched his ability to align human capital with strategic planning and execution, helping foster vibrant cultures that drive engagement and exceptional results.
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When he’s not focused on authentic leadership and systems thinking, Charlie can be found on his horse working cattle and camping, fly fishing on a mountain stream, or enjoying a fine bourbon with friends.
David Wagner
Keynote Speaker
David Wagner became a quadriplegic at age 21 when he suffered a spinal cord injury attempting to jump over a wave in Redondo Beach, California. He took a year off from college to recover and began playing table tennis at Walla Walla University as a part of his rehabilitation upon returning to school. Two years later he pursued table tennis as less of a passion and more of a career, winning the national championship in table tennis three years in a row from 1997 to 1999. In 1999 he attended a wheelchair tennis training camp set up by the top-ranked quadriplegic tennis player in the world.
By 2002 he had won three Paralympic Gold Medals in tennis and taken over the title of being the top-ranked player in the world. Wagner has maintained his title of being the No. 1 ranked wheel chair tennis player for over a decade and remains the top player in the world to this day.
Martin Schaefer
Consultant
Martin is a well-respected authority in the irrigation and landscape sector, boasting over 40 years of professional experience. He holds a degrees in Landscape Contracting and Horticulture and is certified as a water manager, irrigation designer, pesticide advisor, and possesses a C-27 contractor's license.
He has effectively led teams in both large and small landscape businesses, serving a diverse range of commercial and residential customers. Martin has also owned and managed a successful irrigation services company. His expertise encompasses technical proficiency in irrigation systems, business development, operations optimization, and employee management, including best practices for hiring, training, and retention. Recently, Martin has concentrated on enhancing the efficiency and profitability of irrigation service lines across the Western United States.
He firmly believes that exceptional customer experience—rooted in outstanding products, skilled personnel, and effective communication—is the cornerstone of business success.
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