Maple Bay Consulting is led by its president, Joe Walker. Throughout his business career, Joe has led international companies, a professional services firm, as well as for-profit and not-for-profit associations and foundations. Joe has served as a:

Joe received the Vistage Soaring Eagle Award, the Providence Foundation Daughters of Charity Order of Charity Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Life Directions Inc.
He has also served as a member of the Michigan State Board of Ethics and the State Bar of Michigan Professional Ethics Committee.

Joe is a frequent lecturer on the subjects of Strategic Planning, Leadership and Leadership Development, Team-Building, Quality, Ethics, and Law Firm Management.

He is co-author of two books: Leading a Motown Turnaround: How a 130-year-old Company Went from Team to Tactics to Become New Again (2005) and TQM in Action: One Firm’s Journey toward Quality and Excellence (1994), published by the American Bar Association.

Business transformation, transition or turnaround can be an evolution or a revolution. It doesn’t matter if it is a course correction or a 180 degree turnaround, the challenge is still the same. It’s about leading change. It could be an acquisition, a divestiture, a need for a new direction or the need for a new company culture. The only solution we have found that leads to success is speed, discipline, and focus and accountability around change. In a word, it is leadership. We lead change by taking organizations from transformation to triumph.

We provide Transition Leadership and other services at all levels of an organization: Board of Directors, CEO, Managing Director, COO, HR Leader, as well as other operational and functional roles.

This is accomplished by providing high energy on-site, day to day leadership, to help ensure the company's existing leaders embrace new processes and accountabilities and ensure a successful transformation or turnaround. We build high performing teams and provide recruiting, selection or mentoring services for the future (succession planning). We will undertake executive coaching (on a selected basis), as well as programs for cultural and organizational change. Our experience includes:

"...your obvious strong business background, your personal attributes of absolute integrity, confidence and thoughtfulness will be an asset to any company in need of outside leadership."
CEO

"I thought you were a tremendous leader, the best I've ever worked for in my career; and I personally learned a lot by observing the way you in which carried yourself, your approach to handling difficult situations (there were a few) and the respect you showed for people."
Managing Director, U.K. based business

"I learned a great deal from observing your leadership style over the years. Most notably, the patience to listen. I think you said, "The Good Lord gave you two ears and one mouth so that you can listen twice as much as you talk", some advice from your father if I remember correctly."
European CIO

"I have grown so much over the past months with you as a mentor and have admired your ability to motivate and lead. Thank you for always being so willing to share your knowledge with me ... you have always provided direction and comfort about the future."
Assistant General Counsel

"On our very first meeting in Essen in 2003, I had heard a lot before and met a charismatic leader. You did not speak too much at all - only listening. I was wondering what this was all about, expecting something very different. We built trust over time and got to know each other better with our different backgrounds. We derived a good, constructive, trustful and personal relationship through the years. And we achieved under your guidance and leadership a lot in Europe and Germany. Your statements like "I strongly recommend" or "you should seriously consider" became flying words for the German organization. In addition we had a lot of fun. That's good and I would like to say thank you very much for all decisions, contributions, help, hints, good comments and recommendations throughout the years. I learned a lot out of it and I think it got me and my personality further. All was very appreciated and helpful."
Managing Director, German based business

"...wanted to drop a note to say thanks and let you know how much of a pleasure it has been to work with you over the past 2 years. I certainly appreciate the opportunity you gave me, and I could not have asked for any better support than what you provided since I arrived. Thank you also for the many successes you were instrumental in helping us achieve and for the culture you have installed which helped attract me to this company in the first place."
Vice-President of Sales

"I just want you to sincerely know that you made a difference in my life (professional & personal) and I have the highest respect for you and what you have done over the years here."
Director of Quality

"I enjoyed working under your leadership. I thought about you recently, as we ended a long, painful contract negotiation and got what we wanted. I told several people on the team that we owe the win to Joe Walker, because every tactic I used, I learned from 'The Joe Walker School of Negotiating.'"
Vice-President of Sales