How We Are Different
While other consulting firms are more project based and offer specific services related to one or two particular areas (marketing/sales, operations, HR, finance), our model is designed to be more general and address all of the issues of an organization. We take the role of coming alongside the CEO or business owner and help them navigate through their business challenges with vision clarity. We are kind of like an Executive Coach but with extensive business experience. We don't use a cookie cutter approach like some franchises, nor do we charge exorbitant fees like many large firms. When engaged by a client as their business advisor, we charge for an agreed upon number of hours per month over a 12 month period. Most often we show up each week to support the CEO or business owner with the particular challenges they face that week. Because of our local and international network of associates, we can bring a world of expertise right to your front door with cost effective help, expert analysis, and professional support.
Latitude Advisors, LLC started in 2005 and has helped more than 50 companies both in Chattanooga and nationally on issues ranging from securing financing, strategic planning, organizational development and team alignment, sales and marketing direction, operational improvement, and exit strategies.
Mission
The Mission of Latitude Advisors is to come alongside business leaders and help them navigate through today's business challenges with vision clarity for their business and themselves.
Testimonial
I’m a first-time entrepreneur, and Mike has been my calm in the storm of navigating the growing pains and mistakes I’ve made along the way. He’s an excellent communicator and my staff absolutely love him.
-Kate Izell, Izell Marketing Group
CEO, Principal Business Advisor
Mike Harrell
Mike currently is CEO of Latitude Advisors, LLC, a business advisory firm whose mission is to come alongside business leaders and help them navigate through today’s business challenges with vision clarity for their business and themselves.
Latitude Advisors has been in business for 17 years and has worked with over 50 businesses and non-profits both in Chattanooga and nationally on issues ranging from securing financing, strategic planning, organizational development, team alignment, sales and marketing direction, operational improvement, and exit strategies.
Prior to starting Latitude Advisors, Mike was Chief Operating Officer for Global Outsourcing, Inc, a holding company of 7 diverse businesses located in the St. Petersburg Florida area. Global provided innovative outsourcing options for manufacturing and service companies requiring labor-intensive operations for both domestic and international markets.
Mike has also held several positions with a division of Amoco Chemical including Plant Manager, and Manager of Strategic Information Systems. He also spent fours years with Coopers & Lybrand, where he provided management consulting services to small privately held firms and Fortune 50 companies.
Prior to joining Coopers and Lybrand, Mike was an Industrial Engineer for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.
He graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelors degree in Economic Engineering Systems.
He is Past Chair of the Independent Business Advisors of North America, a non-profit business and educational association.
In Chattanooga, he is Chair of the South Broad Redevelopment Group, a board member for Bible in the Schools, and the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, and the Chair Elect for the Tennessee Business Roundtable. He has served previously as a board member for the Downtown Rotary Club, and past board member of On Point.
He and his wife Beth, of 45 years, have three married children and six grandchildren. Beth is a real estate agent with Crye-Leike Brokerage in Chattanooga. Mike and Beth currently live in North Chattanooga.
Education
GEORGIA TECH
B.S., Economic Engineering Systems
Activities & Affiliations
Chair Elect - Tennessee Business Roundtable
Chair of the South Broad Redevelopment Group
Board Member of Bible in the Schools
Board Member of Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce
Past Chair TechTown Foundation