Tom Herzog Consulting

Thomas Herzog Thomas has a account Chief Executive Officer at Tom Herzog Consulting, Inc Albany, New York Area 500+ connections Contact info Tom Herzog Consulting, Inc State University of New York College at Plattsburgh About A 32 year veteran of Corrections and Parole work, Mr. Herzog is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tom Herzog Consulting, an organization that provides technology and policy advice to Corrections, Community Supervision and Law Enforcement organizations.... see more Articles 770 followers Vendors are people I buy hot dogs from in NY City Thomas’ profile photo Thomas Herzog Published on LinkedIn Vendors are people I buy hot dogs from in NY City Why Strategic Partnerships are Important to your Business When I was a public-sector CIO, technology providers often remarked that they found me to be very much like a private-sector guy. I think that was meant as a compliment, though to this day I prefer to think of it as a reflection of my business philosophy, which included the recognition that we needed partnerships to accomplish our strategic objectives, and that I was more interested in attracting partners to work with us, than I was in buying goods or services from a vendor. I never really cared much for the term “vendor” either. I found it to be a very impersonal way to describe my relationship with the private sector and I worked to eliminate it from my day-to-day business language. Hence the title of this article: Vendors are People I buy hot dogs from in New York City; a quote that I use frequently when describing the importance of business partner relationships. If Business is a Relationship, and I believe that it is, then one cannot establish a healthy relationship if one views your partner to be something less than you are. Words like “vendor” or “customer” for that matter, allow you to distance yourself from that relationship. And yes, this logic cuts both ways – i.e. those providing the goods and services must also value strategic partnerships. My experience was that good IT companies shared that perspective. Correctional agencies clearly understand the value of strategic partnerships. We depend on them to help inmates and parolees prepare for reentry; and we rely upon our partnerships with the public safety community to help execute tactical field operations. Business relationships, like personal relationships, require time, effort and attention to detail. Here are a few ideas on how to get your strategic business relationships off to a healthy start. 1. Be clear up-front with what you are looking for in a business partner. Be open and share your views of your industry, your values, your management/leadership style, and your expectations with respect to service delivery. Establishing these expectations up-front will help you avoid problems down the road. 2. Be willing to walk away after that first meeting – no matter how attractive the deal may initially appear. In other words, only engage with organizations and people that share your views and philosophy on the importance of strategic partnerships. 3. Never speak badly about your own organization or your business partner relationships. Once you go down that road, you give others the opportunity to speak badly about both as well. Don’t engage in vendor-bashing or customer-bashing sessions and don’t allow them within your organization, it is unhealthy behavior. 4. Remain open-minded about working with organizations and people with whom you do not always agree, but with whom you share the same core values. Remember: disagreement does not mean disloyalty. I am confident that if you adopt these four principles, you will get your strategic partnerships off to a healthy start and you will enhance your ability to succeed – no matter what your line of business. Good luck and have fun! 35 1 Comment Like Comment See all Experience Tom Herzog Consulting, Inc Chief Executive Officer Company NameTom Herzog Consulting, Inc Specializing in consulting services and policy advice for corporations, private organizations, agencies and other business groups on issues regarding public safety, technology and policy. New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Deputy Commissioner Company NameNew York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Dates EmployedFeb 2014 – Jul 2015 Employment Duration1 yr 6 mos NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Associate Commissioner Company NameNYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Dates EmployedSep 2006 – Jul 2015 Employment Duration8 yrs 11 mos New York State Division of Parole Deputy Executive Director Company NameNew York State Division of Parole Dates EmployedOct 1987 – Sep 2006 Employment Duration19 yrs Education State University of New York College at Plattsburgh State University of New York College at Plattsburgh Skills & Endorsements Government See 63 endorsements for Government63 person Endorsed by Doug Smith and 2 others who are highly skilled at this Strategic Planning See 50 endorsements for Strategic Planning50 Art Schloth and 49 connections have given endorsements for this skill Program Management See 49 endorsements for Program Management49 Angel RIBO - The CEO Confidant and 48 connections have given endorsements for this skill Show more Show all of Thomas’ skills