Dan Westra Implements Whole-Scale Change

It is considered received wisdom in the boardrooms and conference chambers of companies scattered throughout the world, that for a modern business leader nothing is more important than being able to shape and progress the interests of a business. It is no easy task to be able to make your mark on an already large company. For entrepreneur and sales management expert Dan Westra, being able to implement whole-scale change - and contribute to the growth of business success - is the most satisfying reward for any kind of work. He has built a highly-regarded career of having introduced success into struggling businesses. There is no greater sign of this success than in the concrete achievements a business leader manages to accrue.

Early on in his career, Dan Westra became the founder of Lake Union Capital Partners. LUCP was a “private equity” firm established to acquire transitional middle market companies, where he was responsible for Business Development (acquisition search), due diligence, acquisition negotiation and internal post acquisition sales development. Here they acquired the clients Celerity Energy. Upon acquisition he re-positioned stalled sales process with San Diego Gas and Electric resulting in a $26 million, 10-year Networked Distributed Resource contract. Aero-Union was another big catch. With them, he stubbornly pursued negotiations with his partners and company CEO, which resulted in their largest acquisition valued at over $30 million.

As the managing business director of Endeavor Technical consulting he also achieved similar success. Endeavor was established to acquire the assets of a nearly bankrupt technical staffing firm. Dan Westra was recruited as a partner to lead and manage Business Development and Recruiting. His initial sales efforts created the cash-flow necessary to recruit and build the core of both the Business Development and Recruiting teams. Sales rose from less than $1 million in 2001 to over $2.5 million in 2002 - exceeding goals by over 25%, and ultimately generating revenues in excess of $14 million. During this time, Endeavor grew from 10 to over 120 employees.

His role at Hall Kinion also saw success. Hall Kinion was the largest publicly traded staffing firm during the time when Dan Westra was responsible for business development and recruiting to fill senior positions in high-tech firms. He managed to exceed sales goal by over 50% for three straight years, becoming one of the top 5% of more than 350 recruiters worldwide (1999, 2000). He was also the first of two people ever to exceed $100 thousand revenue in one month of three Seattle offices, where he was the ''Royal" Award winner for revenue exceeding $600,thousand. What Dan Westra's career has shown is that business excellence can be measured by figures highlighting business growth and increased reputation. The future looks bright for ambitious and driven individuals and entrepreneurs like Dan Westra.

Dan Westra – Prioritizing Physical and Mental Health

There’s no denying that over the decades, our society has become increasingly sedentary. Many of us work office jobs where we sit at a desk all day, while simultaneously balancing extremely busy schedules that offer little to no room for physical fitness activities or sports. This is why I, Dan Westra, have made physical fitness a priority in my life, no matter what my busy schedule demands. Physical health is more important than your salary, and studies show that maintaining an adequate level of activeness will keep your body functioning the way it should.
   
But physical fitness is not a ‘one size fits all’ program. While getting in shape can be extremely rewarding, it can also be difficult to stay motivated. This is why I suggest finding an activity that you genuinely enjoy, so that you are more likely to continue pursuing it long-term. There are several sports and activities that I enjoy doing in my spare time, but one of my favorites is sailing. As a Seattle, Washington native, sailing has always been a big part of my life. The great thing about sailing is that it is very multifaceted. On one hand, it’s a fantastic way to spend time with friends and family, and on the other, it is a good way to get fit and toned. 

Physically, sailing is an extremely demanding sport. It requires pulling and hosting sails to maneuver the boat or yacht, which can be an excellent workout for your shoulder and back muscles. The strenuous activity involved in sailing can also improve your cardiovascular health, and balancing the various tasks associated with this activity can improve your flexibility, agility, and hand and eye coordination skills. In addition to my personal experiences sailing, I have also helped others get involved in this fulfilling sport as a salesman for several sailing companies, including North Sails, VenWest Yachts, and Open Sound Yachts, all of which are based here in Seattle.
 

Obviously, sailing is good for your physical health. But what many people tend to forget is the positive impact this tranquil hobby can have on your mental health. There’s nothing like being out in open water to calm your mind and improve your mood, while the rocking motion and swooshing sound of splashing water relaxes you. In my opinion, sailing is one of the best ways to get in shape and relax by getting in touch with nature.