--- title: About Thomas Rechtien | Founder of Rechtien Consult description: Thomas Rechtien started in his grandfather's carpentry shop and spent 20+ years in industrial operations, including as CEO. Now he coaches owner-led businesses. --- [Go Back Up](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/about#top) [Skip to Content](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/about#body) [![Rechtien Consult Nav Logo](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/hs-fs/hubfs/nav_logo.png?width=300&height=200&name=nav_logo.png "Rechtien Consult Nav Logo")](https://www.rechtienconsult.com?hsLang=en) Toggle Menu - [How We Help](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/how-we-help) Toggle children for How We Help Main Menu (Press to Return) \> How We Help - [Operations & Scaling](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/operations-consulting) - [Executive Leadership & Accountability](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/leadership-alignment) - [Execution Partnership](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/execution-partnership) - [About](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/about) - [FAQ](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/faq) - [Insights](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/rechtien-consult-blog) - [Get Started](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/contact) # Thomas Rechtien **Founder, Rechtien Consult. Former industrial CEO. Coach to owner-led businesses.** ![Thomas Rechtien, founder of Rechtien Consult](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/hs-fs/hubfs/thomas-rechtien-founder-rechtien-consult.jpg?width=420&name=thomas-rechtien-founder-rechtien-consult.jpg) ## It started in a carpentry shop Thomas grew up in his grandfather's carpentry shop in Germany. He built his first piece there at age four, a seat for his go-kart, side by side with his grandfather, and he still has a well-equipped woodshop at home in Houston. The shop was small: four or five people, behind the house. It started in a double garage and grew across the property. They made windows, stairs and cabinets, all from scratch. When his grandfather retired, the business passed to the next generation. Eventually it was closed. His work was excellent. What was missing was someone who knew how to run the business: someone who could step back from the bench, bring in the work, and think about where the shop should go next. Instead it ran on one man working sixty to eighty hours a week, until it nearly broke him. **That is the reason for everything Rechtien Consult does.** Being great at the work is not the same as knowing how to run the business, and nobody teaches owners the second part. ## 20+ years in industrial business From there his career ran through banking, European steel trading and US industrial operations. He led turnarounds, scaled international operations, and served as CEO of a $150M+ industrial enterprise, with P&L responsibility and a payroll that had to clear. He owns businesses of his own and has exited one. One lesson from those years shapes everything he does now: there was a time when the right answer was to make the company smaller, and it earned more. Growth isn't the goal on its own. A business that runs well is. ## Why he coaches owners now Over those years, Thomas saw the same thing again and again in owner-led companies: a good business, great at the work, falling short on execution because everything still ran through the owner. Nobody had ever taught the owner how to run the business, as opposed to doing the work. So that is what he does now. He has guided owners and leadership teams across dozens of companies, and today he works with owner-led manufacturing, construction and industrial businesses in the US and in Germany, so the business runs without everything going through the owner. ## What he believes ### You can't hold yourself accountable. Nobody inside the company sits above the owner. Accountability has to come from outside. ### Judgment, not checklists. A binder of rules doesn't run a business. People making good decisions do. ### It should end. The job is to build what the team can run without him. When it holds without him in the room, the work is done. ## Experience and credentials - 20+ years in industrial leadership, including as CEO - Hundreds of hours of executive coaching - Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) - Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coaching Federation - Certified by Objective Management Group (OMG) ## What clients say What makes Thomas exceptional is that he does not just coach for performance — he coaches for clarity, confidence, leadership, and transformation. … Today, as a successful entrepreneur leading and scaling my own company, I can confidently say that his guidance has had a profound impact on my journey. — Sadia Hamid Trustworthy, professional, and he executes. … If you're curious about business coaching, book that first call. You won't be disappointed! — Tom C., Google review Thomas is an exceptional business coach. Any team would be lucky to work with him. He brings clarity, insight, and a genuine commitment to helping leaders grow. — Kathy L. ## Start with a conversation One conversation. You will leave it with a clear read on where the business actually is, where you want it to go, and what it would take to get there. [Start With a Conversation](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/contact?hsLang=en) [![Rechtien Consult Nav Logo](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/hs-fs/hubfs/nav_logo.png?width=300&height=200&name=nav_logo.png "Rechtien Consult Nav Logo")](https://www.rechtienconsult.com?hsLang=en) Copyright © 2026 Rechtien Consult. All rights reserved. | [Privacy Policy](https://www.rechtienconsult.com/privacy-policy?hsLang=en) +1 [(281) 845-4242](tel:+12818454242) · [assistant@rechtienconsult.com](mailto:assistant@rechtienconsult.com) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "areaServed" : [ { "@type" : "Country", "name" : "United States" }, { "@type" : "Country", "name" : "Germany" } ], "contactPoint" : { "@type" : "ContactPoint", "contactType" : "Business Inquiries", "url" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com/contact" }, "description" : "Rechtien Consult provides coaching and an execution partnership for owner-led businesses in manufacturing, construction, and industrial services.", "founder" : { "@id" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com/#thomas-rechtien" }, "image" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com/hs-fs/hubfs/nav_logo.png", "knowsAbout" : [ "Leadership Coaching", "Leadership Accountability", "Sales Coaching", "Organizational Alignment", "Executive Coaching", "Scaling Businesses", "Post-Acquisition Integration" ], "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com/hs-fs/hubfs/nav_logo.png" }, "name" : "Rechtien Consult", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/rechtien-consult" ], "telephone" : "+12818454242", "url" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com/#localbusiness", "@type" : "LocalBusiness", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Houston", "addressRegion" : "TX" }, "areaServed" : [ { "@type" : "City", "name" : "Houston" }, { "@type" : "State", "name" : "Texas" } ], "description" : "Rechtien Consult provides coaching and an execution partnership for owner-led businesses in manufacturing, construction, and industrial services.", "founder" : { "@id" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com/#thomas-rechtien" }, "image" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com/hs-fs/hubfs/nav_logo.png", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com/hs-fs/hubfs/nav_logo.png" }, "name" : "Rechtien Consult", "parentOrganization" : { "@id" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com/#organization" }, "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/rechtien-consult" ], "telephone" : "+12818454242", "url" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.rechtienconsult.com/#thomas-rechtien", "@type" : "Person", "description" : "Thomas Rechtien, founder of Rechtien Consult, works with owners of manufacturing, construction and industrial businesses who have a good business but are falling short on execution. 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