Cogent Discovery
Turn success into what's next

Get clarity, confidence, and a real strategy through our Discovery process to take your business to the next level. No binders. No jargon.

Every transformation begins with truth

Discovery is a data-driven evaluation of your business that uncovers hidden opportunities, strengthens leadership alignment, and provides a clear roadmap to profit, equity value, and quality of life.

It’s not a sales pitch or cookie-cutter report. It’s a strategic deep dive that gives you the insights and confidence to make the right decisions for your business’s future.

Discovery: A proven process, tailored to you.

The Discovery process typically takes two to three days, depending on your company’s size and complexity. We work directly with you and your leadership team to evaluate operations, finances, and culture with precision and candor.

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  • Phase 1

    Opening conference

    We align around your goals and desired outcomes—setting the stage for clarity and ensuring everyone agrees on what success looks like.

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    1.5–2 hours

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    All equity owners

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    Phase 2

    Operations & financial review

    Your business is a living system. This phase examines how it performs across every level:

    Operations meeting: 1.5–2 hours evaluating workflow, costing, and scheduling

    Individual interviews: 15–30 minutes uncovering roadblocks and opportunities

    Employee surveys: Anonymous input on culture, communication, and engagement

    Financial analysis: Detailed review revealing profit leaks and improvement opportunities

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    Phase 3

    Findings meeting

    Discovery concludes with a clear, data-backed presentation of your business. Your analyst delivers an actionable plan to strengthen profitability, performance, and leadership alignment—giving you clarity and control over next steps.

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    2–3 hours

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    All equity owners

What we evaluate in Discovery

Our analysts dig deep into the areas that define long-term success. Every insight connects back to your vision for the business—and for your life.

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Business development

Sales and marketing strategies, plus pipeline health.

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Organizational & culture review

Leadership strength, accountability, and engagement

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Financial performance

System, process, and workflow efficacy

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Operational efficiency

Sales and marketing strategies, plus pipeline health.

What you get from Discovery

By the end of Discovery, you’ll have a complete picture of where your business stands—and a clear, prioritized roadmap forward.

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Comprehensive business review

An honest look at where things stand

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Opportunity assessment

Immediate wins with measurable financial impact.

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Profitability impact assessment

Unbiased guidance for key strategic decisions.

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Operational efficiency

A clear view of where profit is gained or lost — and how to fix it.

The people behind the Discovery process

Our analysts are seasoned business professionals with real-world experience leading and scaling companies. Not consultants—strategic advisors who work alongside you to uncover the truth and chart a path forward.

Their purpose: help you succeed in business and in life.

Meet the business analysts who uncover the truth

Analytst Kris Hart at Cogent Analytics

Kris Hart

Senior Business Analyst

Kris Hart brings a broad range of skills and over 20 years of experience to help small and midsize businesses thrive. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Business, Clinical Psychology, and Occupational Safety and Health, as well as an MBA.

Before joining Cogent, Kris oversaw Pole-to-Pole and Global flights in Private, Military, Medical and Charter operations, proving his ability to successfully coordinate complex, high-stakes initiatives. He is also a seasoned public speaker, sharing his insights on business growth and leadership with audiences nationwide.

Having sold multiple businesses during COVID, Kristopher finds it particularly rewarding to empower fellow entrepreneurs—especially those leading small American enterprises. He approaches every client engagement with unwavering dedication and optimism, leveraging his unique expertise to guide companies toward sustainable growth and lasting success.

Analytst Kevin Cummins at Cogent Analytics

Kevin Cummins

Senior Business Analyst

Kevin Cummins is a technology and operations leader with extensive experience spanning Fortune 500 companies, startups, and small to midsize businesses. He spent over 15 years in large-scale organizations with P&L responsibility exceeding $750 million before transitioning to the SMB space.

Kevin has built and scaled sales, consulting, services, and customer experience teams across North America. As COO of a startup, he helped grow the business to over $17 million in recurring revenue, and later served as CEO of Batterii, leading it from concept to an enterprise platform used by more than 35 Fortune 1000 companies.

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science from Miami University and master’s degrees from UC Berkeley and Columbia University. He enjoys partnering with business owners to drive sustainable growth and long-term success.

Analytst Dave Drylie at Cogent Analytics

Dave Drylie

Senior Business Analyst

Dave Drylie brings a uniquely diverse business background shaped by ownership and leadership across consulting, manufacturing, contracting, franchising, and franchisor organizations. He has over 16 years of consulting experience and has delivered training for dozens of trade associations, primarily in manufacturing and construction.

Dave has also taught business and franchising courses at the university level. His work with thousands of business owners has given him deep insight into the common challenges organizations face—and the practical strategies needed to overcome them.

He values real-world experience as much as formal education and leverages both to help business owners navigate growth, complexity, and change.

Analytst Chris Polvado at Cogent Analytics

Chris Polvado

Senior Business Analyst

Chris Polvado is a seasoned business executive with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations improve operations, drive revenue growth, and scale sustainably. A servant leader at heart, Chris focuses on clear communication, strategic vision, and team development.

His expertise includes operations management, strategic planning, succession and wealth-building strategies, marketing and lead generation, budgeting and forecasting, and relationship management. Chris is passionate about helping business owners align their operations with their purpose and long-term goals.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Tarleton State University and is dedicated to positively impacting organizations and the people behind them.

Analytst Arlon Albert at Cogent Analytics

Arlon Albert

Senior Business Analyst

Arlon Albert brings over 25 years of experience as both a business owner and financial leader, working across manufacturing, construction, and distribution industries. He also spent a decade in senior financial management roles with Fortune 500 companies including Hertz and Waste Management.

Arlon has helped more than 1,900 small businesses identify management gaps, improve cash flow and profitability, strengthen organizational structure, and reduce tax exposure. His background spans financial management, business startups, sales and marketing systems, and leadership development.

He holds an MBA from Suffolk University with a focus on small business marketing and finance, a BS in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and is a non-practicing CPA.

Analytst Donald DehHaven at Cogent Analytics

Don DeHaven

Senior Business Analyst

Don DeHaven has more than 20 years of experience in financial management and operational improvement. He specializes in financial strategy, cost reduction, compliance, risk management, and process optimization across a wide range of industries.

Don has led impactful initiatives including cash forecasting enhancements, system and payroll optimizations, and large-scale operational improvements that strengthen financial stability and efficiency. He brings deep expertise in full-cycle accounting, budgeting, financial modeling, and multi-site operations.

A CPA licensed in Georgia, Don holds a Master of Accountancy from Kennesaw State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Georgia State University. He is passionate about delivering practical, customized solutions that improve productivity, profitability, and long-term performance for Cogent’s clients.

Analytst Monte Jump at Cogent Analytics

Monte Jump

Senior Business Analyst

Monte Jump is a people-first leader with over 20 years of executive experience serving as President, COO, and CMO in both large and small organizations. He has a proven track record of driving revenue growth while improving operational efficiency—and understands firsthand the realities of business ownership as a former restaurant owner himself.

Most recently, Monte served as President of a Burger King franchise operating 43 locations, where he significantly increased profitability through operational and growth initiatives. His career includes senior leadership roles with brands such as Golden Corral, Crowne Plaza Hotels, Schlotzsky’s, Backyard Burgers, and TGI Fridays, where he led major turnarounds, marketing transformations, and performance improvements.

Monte holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from Southern Methodist University with concentrations in marketing and finance.

Analytst Wade Rogers at Cogent Analytics

Wade Rogers

Senior Business Analyst

Wade Rogers is a seasoned business mentor with more than 34 years of leadership experience, dedicated to helping business owners regain clarity and control of their organizations. After a successful corporate career, Wade founded his own consulting firm to focus on serving small and midsize businesses.

His expertise spans operations, sales, finance, and analytics, with experience across manufacturing, medical, food, industrial, and construction industries. Known for his relationship-driven approach, Wade works as an extension of his clients’ leadership teams to drive meaningful results.

Outside of work, Wade enjoys the outdoors, fitness, boating, and cheering on Notre Dame and the Dallas Cowboys. He values time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Analytst Nick Stewart at Cogent Analytics

Nick Stewart

Senior Business Analyst

Nick Stewart brings a rare blend of legal, operational, and human resources expertise to his work with business owners. He holds degrees in Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Law (JD), and an MBA, along with a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.

Nick has held leadership roles in inventory management, insurance, and construction, with experience at organizations including RGIS, State Farm, and EY. He has successfully led multiple operational turnarounds through efficiency improvements, hiring and training enhancements, and leadership development.

He leverages his full-cycle leadership experience to help clients strategically align the Four Pillars of the Profit Platform and plan effectively for long-term success.

The first step in the Cogent journey

Discovery is the foundation of everything we do — the diagnostic phase that reveals your business’s true potential.

It identifies what’s working and what needs attention before any long-term improvement begins. From there, our clients often continue through the Cogent Journey: Discover. Empower. Achieve.

Some choose to implement the plan themselves. Others partner with Cogent for hands-on execution. Either way, Discovery gives you what every business owner wants: clarity, control, and confidence in the path forward.

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From business owners who’ve been where you are

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Good businesses survive, great ones evolve

Tired of guessing at how to take your business to the next level? Start with a Discovery. Get clarity, drive profit, and reclaim personal freedom.