About
Since 2003, we’ve helped business leaders and change agents achieve their mission, from family-owned small businesses to many of the world’s most recognizable brands. Formed in the small Midwestern town of Columbus, Indiana, we value family, hard work, tenacious problem solving, and the love of architecture.
With the heart of teachers, we provide practical solutions and simple tools for the design and deployment of the pathway to excellence. You’ll find us working alongside teams in the most complex supply chains on the planet - automotive, medical devices, technology, higher education, government, entertainment, and beyond.
Born from a passion for engineering, lean leadership, data analytics, and emerging technologies, our roots run deep as change agents. Whether we’re improving operational efficiency for a global luxury brand or rapid growth for our private‑equity partners, our focus is always the same: simplifying chaos for meaningful, lasting improvements while having fun along the way.
Results include increased flow, decreased friction, and clarification of the role of each stakeholder for sustained improvement. Our 12 Tools Methodology focuses on the interconnectivity of strategy, implementation, money, and people. Effective communication, task prioritization, best practices exchange, and igniting teams are our superpowers.
View from Concentric’s first office space at 645 Washington Street in Columbus, Indiana (2004)
How “Concentric” was born
The concept of a “concentric management system” was created by founder James R. Thompson in 2003. The 12 Tools Methodology would also start to take shape in 2003.
After decades of working internationally as a professor, certification body auditor, certification course developer, and business management system implementer, we have harnessed this knowledge and packaged it for our followers and clients. At the core of our services and digital products is the idea that compliance and business optimization can be achieved through “having a common center” (the definition of the word concentric).
By creating simple tools such as standard procedures, checklists, visual models, and communication habits, organizations have a better chance of fulfilling their long-term objectives. Benchmarks and best practices, fine-tuned from working with some of the world’s most demanding organizations, are at the core of what makes our approach special. Teaching process owners how to master the processes they manage is what separates us from other providers. Simple. Compliant. Collaborative. Configurable. Aligned with strategy. Understanding the WHY. One system. Concentric.
Original company logo (2003)
Meet the Team
James R. Thompson | Founding Partner & Principal Consulting
In 2003, James R. Thompson founded Concentric Global in order to advise customers in organizational improvement, process optimization, and integrated (concentric) management techniques. James has decades of experience in business analytics, operations, lean, production systems, compliance, and other value creation projects.
A management system and organizational excellence expert specializing in advanced manufacturing, James has over 30 years of experience serving domestic and international organizations in their pursuit of excellence.
In 2008, James and his family relocated the business to Charleston, SC, due to strong growth projections in the region, specifically in the automotive, aerospace, and medical device manufacturing sectors. James is an Exemplar Global certified Master Management Consultant & Exemplar Global certified Master QMS Auditor. He also holds several certifications in Lean Six Sigma.
James received his bachelor’s degree in I.O. Psychology from Purdue University in 1996 and graduated Summa cum laude with a MBA from the Citadel Graduate College Baker School of Business in 2021. He has held various adjunct faculty positions at universities, technical and community colleges, and continues to support start-ups and small businesses in various entrepreneurial networks.
Ronii Bartles | Managing Partner & Principal Consultant
Ronii Bartles is a seasoned Business Strategist and Marketing Expert with over 20 years of experience in analytics, consumer behavior research, and business management. She specializes in helping businesses understand the voice of the customer and navigate the customer journey, leveraging data-driven insights to boost revenue generation and enhance customer retention.
As the creator of the "CEO of Simplicity" framework, Ronii empowers business owners to overcome overwhelm and achieve success by streamlining operations and prioritizing tasks that truly matter. Her proven approach involves inventorying, prioritizing, and simplifying processes to foster clarity and efficiency.
Ronii holds an MBA from The Citadel in Charleston, SC, and has a comprehensive understanding of business operations, having served in various roles at the conference table. Her expertise and leadership have been recognized with accolades such as "40 Under 40" and "Most Influential Woman in Business." Through her dedication to simplifying complexity, Ronii enables clients to find relief, success, and freedom in their entrepreneurial journeys.
Roster of Experts
Our extended team includes over 50 subject matter experts (SMEs) and preferred partners to assist with project needs when the time arises. Our pool of experts includes lawyers, corporate executives, engineers, founders, investors, information security, government contractors, certification body auditors, professors, research specialists, and more. Sticking with the spirit of lean and agility, each of our SMEs works as insured and certified (where applicable) independent contractors within the specifications of our service agreements and customer-specific requirements. This approach to project-based support and expense allows us to compete at scale with the Big 4 consulting firms on speed and price.