Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Breier.
Hi Barbara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been a university faculty and administrator for over 30 years and retired three years ago. I wanted to stay engaged with high performing business leaders and to make an impact on their lives, businesses and my community. By becoming a Vistage chair, I have three groups of business leaders and CEOs that meet monthly to provide support and guidance on how they can become more productive and better leaders. The peer advisory board is a powerful tool to help individuals learn from each other and to gain insight and courage in their personal and professional lives. I am involved in my community through various organizations such at the Better Business Bureau and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and through these associations I stay current on the business activity in Central Texas and in Texas.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There is never a smooth road if you are in the arena and are willing to engage in the continuing process of improvement. My husband was a career military officer, and we traveled throughout the world for over 27 years. Those years taught me to be flexible, to bloom where you are planted, and to appreciate the broad diversity of people worldwide. We raised two sons while in the military who also benefited from the exposure to different cultures, beliefs and perspectives.
The biggest struggle and one that is still ongoing is to encourage business and community leaders to recognize that different opinions and skills are a strength to an organization and it is to everyone’s benefit that they value those differences. There were many occasions where I was denied opportunities because I was a woman but I was determined to do the very best I could do with the opportunities I was given.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Breier and Associates?
Breier and Associates is a strategic consulting practice with over fifteen years of experience in large-scale infrastructure and community development projects, including water desalination facilities, pipelines, water conservation, and capital fundraising. Our work requires a deep understanding of how communities address complex challenges — from water shortages and energy distribution to supply chain continuity.
As a Vistage chair, I also lead three peer groups of CEOs and business leaders who meet monthly to accelerate growth. Many of these leaders run companies with regional and national impact.
What sets us apart is our team’s expertise in business development and our extensive network of community leaders across the Southwest. We are known for connecting clients to the right resources and experts — quickly and efficiently. Every engagement is handled with the strategic focus and personal attention our clients have come to expect.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I am a risk-taker because I understand that the largest and most complex problems require bold and courageous solutions. I experienced risk at 15 when my father died, and I was left with the job of running the family motel/hotel business. I had grown up in the business so knew all of the daily operating requirements, but I had never made payroll, paid taxes, negotiated with the bank for a line of credit and steered the business through a devastating hurricane. I learned then to ask questions, seek out advice, and to understand the issues before taking action. It was never an option to not succeed because my family’s livelihood was solely dependent on my success.
I believe that risk is just part of life, and it is important to embrace the risk and learn as much as you can from it in order to be prepared for the next opportunity and the next risk-taking adventure.
Pricing:
- Pricing is dependent on the size and scope of the project.
- Large projects over multiple years are on retainer fees.
- Contracts are generally based on a percentage of sales.
Contact Info:
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/barbarabreierphd
