Story

True North Team Consulting was born by way of a vision had in a storm while flying across the country for my grandfather’s funeral in September of 2015 after he lost his bout with Alzheimer’s. “True north” is a term perfectly suited for Charles Furlong, who grew up in the coal mines of Pennsylvania, walked on and became the star quarterback, defensive back and Beta Theta Pi at the University of Maine. Furlong was a devoted family man (pictured above next to my grandmother and his playing day photo), outdoorsman and community leader who paved transatlantic paths for AT&T and lived by an impenetrable ethos of character and integrity. When I stepped off the plane when my mother mentioned her funeral speech was going to be “true north”themed, but that I had to give it because she would be too choked up, it non-coincidentally clicked. Although he forgot most things by the end, he never lost his sense of “true north.” Destiny.

I, Charles Reynolds, then realized that life’s too short to spend it with bad people driven by greed and toxic motives. I spurned the opportunity to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps at the University of Maine as a footballer and engineer at his beloved alma mater. Instead, I gave up my playing dreams and pursued a career in the business side of sports on a big stage with great academic prowess as a Beta Theta Pi at the University of Michigan. Pushed beyond my limits for the sake of experience, skill development, competitive achievement and relationship management, I’ve kept a keen, studious eye on techniques and best practices of coaching, leadership, operations, loyalty, and personal relationship and “team” development. The arenas of sports, academics and business are proving grounds to push the limits of physical and mental exertion, both individually and collaboratively and I’ve rubbed elbows with respective heroes and legends in each.

Team True North Consulting was built to provide guidance and direction after years of trials and tribulations in these arenas (read “THIS is what it’s all about. Transformation.” post for more). At your service with an adventurous pirate-like spirit backed by trailblazing results, “True North” character, integrity and sustainability for a promising future.

Charles (Chip) has worked or consulted for the NFL Players Association, Washington Redskins, Utah Grizzlies & Maverik Center, Real Salt Lake, Salt Lake City Marathon, New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans), Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards, Events DC (AT&T Nation’s Football Classic), Sport Sales Combine, Pittsburgh Pirates, Michigan Football, ESPN/ABC Sports, Sports Illustrated On Campus, Sponsorship Insights Group and Sponsorship Buddy Inc.

Along the way, he’s executed national broadcasts, football practices for the winningest DI program all-time, various marketing and business plans, sales training programs, executed player appearances at a Super Bowl, worked All-Star Weekends, and driven growth and digital outreach for a software start-up. Along the way, he has cultivated over $6mm in packaged solutions for clients like Pepsi, KeyBank, Ford, Arby’s, WGU, Domino’s and Anheuser-Busch among many others small and large. He’s Game Face Executive Academy certified, a top producer on an NBA record breaking sales campaign, and Captain of a national SMA Case Cup Championship campaign (“Operation BobSTATS” detailing the Charlotte Bobcats analysis missteps in-relaunching a franchise in Charlotte).

Chip studied abroad in Australia and the Dominican Republic, holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan in Communications and Economics, an M.S. from the University of Memphis in Sport Commerce, and a Global MBA from the George Washington School of Business in Marketing and Strategy. He’ll drop Kevin Bacon’s “7 Degrees of Separation” to 1 with you, volunteers at Head Start, loves to travel (16 countries, 44 states), enjoys live music and anything outdoors – especially making goofy ski videos with the GoPro near his home of Salt Lake City.