Pilot Advisors Case Studies

At Pilot Advisors we know from experience that organizations are dynamic and require a variety of tools and processes to improve. We’ve categorized the following case studies to make them easier to navigate and to highlight specific areas of expertise. However, because our approach is always comprehensive, most of these case studies could have been categorized in many different ways.

Corporate Performance Breakthroughs

GOAL
Align operations, strategies, and culture across multiple U.S. and Canadian facilities, then guide a smooth leadership and operational transition through the Evraz acquisition while improving performance.
SOLUTION
Served as Director of Manufacturing and interim COO leading operations, major capital projects, asset acquisitions, post-acquisition integrations, portfolio adjustments, and cultural alignment across sites. Continued the work as fractional COO through Pilot Advisors, supporting the new Chicago-based executive team with strategic planning, change management, leadership coaching, and sustained integration efforts.
RESULTS
Achieved record profitability levels for the company, supported significant stock-value growth during the period, positioned the organization for a successful premium sale, and maintained operational and cultural continuity through the ownership change.

GOAL
Facilitate a breakthrough in customer satisfaction and user friendly metrics for the technical “box” product lines.
SOLUTION
Facilitated a 6 month breakthrough process with 45 of the “select” personnel from the division, identified the foundational issues preventing success, developed metrics and plans for improvement.
RESULTS
Broke-through the previously sacred-cows preventing any progress, reorganized the documentation and product development departments, streamlined the processes by months.

GOAL
A breakthrough $33MM increase in revenue concurrent with a predetermined 30% reduction through attrition in the work force, using the concept of Process Centered Organization.
SOLUTION
Extensive assessment and design utilizing client teams, union collaboration and validation of Process Centered Organization design, identified and addressed foundational cultural issues.
RESULTS
Exceeded both goals while establishing methods to increase workforce productivity levels significantly, eventual sale of the company to a Warren Buffet Energy company.

GOAL
An urgent, last chance, performance turnaround after near misses in safety performance prior to contract cancellation.
SOLUTION
Extensive top level independent root cause analysis and management assessment, strategic recovery planning, executive coaching, vision development and implementation, multiple program-specific performance assessments, follow-up.
RESULTS
The site promptly rectified its performance and for the first time achieved award-fee payments of more than $2MM per quarter which has continued at nearly 100% of maximum since.

Personal and Team Achievements

GOAL
Substantial improvement of customer service concurrent with rapid growth in the same industry.
SOLUTION
Extensive assessment, development and implementation of new executive expectations, a new vision, persistent executive coaching and process re-engineering.
RESULTS
Recognized by the Federal Government for their contributions internationally and awarded more than $1MM in new contracts while retaining and expanding their existent contracts.

GOAL
Elevating the sales department capabilities, including dozens of dissimilar sales channels, to a highly disciplined, high performance organization comparable to the other corporate departments concurrent with 5% revenue growth and 7.5% profit growth.
SOLUTION
Extensive strategic planning, a facilitated program design process, and high impact executive coaching.
RESULTS
Profound change in roles and responsibilities, breakthrough changes in the beliefs and attitudes of the sales and support staff, ownership of the new methods and practices by sales management.

GOAL
Develop disciplined, innovative performance within the leadership team.
SOLUTION
Facilitated international offsite sessions, corporate vision development, team performance workshops, quantitative assessments, and company wide executive coaching.
RESULTS
Sustained qualitative performance improvements, renewed energy and innovation, corporate advancement for each of the coached personnel within 12 months.

Strategic Planning & Execution

GOAL
Comprehensive turnaround under the scrutiny of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that had ordered the facility shut-down until it proved it was capable of meeting standards.
SOLUTION
Extensive personnel assessment and reassignment process, the facilitation and deployment of a root cause analysis program, the development of an integrated and comprehensive plan to address more than 100 violations/findings, extensive executive coaching, and extensive human performance workshops.
RESULTS
The quickest return to service in the history of the Nuclear Power production from a “Show Cause” state to full power operations.

GOAL
Transition of the company from a multi-site small business to an integrated high performance production company.
SOLUTION
Development of performance metrics, executive coaching, leadership workshops, strategic planning support, implementation of statistical process control and disciplined project management.
RESULTS
Quadrupled revenues, doubled profits and enhanced share price by 100%.nges in the beliefs and attitudes of the sales and support staff, ownership of the new methods and practices by sales management.

REVIEW ★★★★★ “ I’ve known Andrew Bielat for over 30 years, going back to when we were young rising stars for Oregon Steel Mills.

He was in operations, me in finance. From the start, I witnessed his exceptional talent for simplifying complex operations into profitable strategies. Like I analyze financials, he spots bottlenecks early, unites teams on bold goals, and refines plans for reliable outcomes. Working together, I saw his precise, inclusive execution of operational strategies, fostering ownership across the board.

Later, as President of Columbia Sportswear during a critical phase of competing demands and channel harmony focused on consumers, I recruited Andrew to advise our senior team. I trusted his navigation skills completely. He partnered as a C-suite ally, aligning executives in marketing, finance, and operations. With sharp clarity, he dismantled outdated norms to prioritize essentials—delivering exactly the breakthrough we needed.

Over decades, Andrew has honed his Fractional COO and executive coaching model. I strongly advocate for him: he brings unmatched clarity, team alignment, and results-driven execution to any leadership group poised for growth. His impact is proven; I recommend him without reservation for driving organizational success.”

Bryan Timm, President
Columbia Sportswear

REVIEW ★★★★★ “I strongly advocate for Andrew Bielat in fractional CEO/COO positions, drawing from 20+ years of witnessing his advisory work across three firms.

Andrew excels at solving strategic hurdles through leadership growth, change, and ops transformation. Promotes accountability and alignment for sustainable wins.

First, at Dannon (Danone sub), supporting Supply Chain Chief, Andrew improved leader collaboration with coaching and assessments. He aligned visions, reduced GMP inefficiencies, kept best practices—driving yields, global interest, and promotions. Exemplifies his COO advocacy strengths.

At Dean Foods, HR Director for branded products, he redesigned sales for SVP: split teams, clarified roles, set talent and metrics systems—boosting growth and accounts. Highlights CEO turnaround skills.

Lately, at Food Services of America post-founder's loss, as HR SVP, I selected Andrew. He assessed, resolved issues, built mission/strategy/governance/development—stabilizing proactive leadership. Ideal for executive crises.

Andrew swiftly understands cultures, builds trust, instills accountability. I endorse him fully for strategic oversight.”

Steve Manuszak, SVP
CHRO Food Services of America (et al.)

REVIEW ★★★★★ “On Multiple occasions, I had the benefit of Andrew Bielat’s assistance to determine organizational issues with different organizations that I was assigned as the Director.

While working for Battelle Memorial Institute, I was assigned to the Tooele Chemical Demilitarization Facility to fix the organization and repair customer relations with the URS corp and the US Army. Pilot advisors did a superior job of analyzing the problems and providing a roadmap to put corrective actions in place.

Pilot Advisors provided Battelle Memorial Institute with an analysis and recommendations that were so accurate and thorough that they allowed me, a turnaround manager, to almost immediately reverse our fortunes.

We instituted the plan and within a year, our organization of 205 laboratory and Air Monitoring staff went from worst to best of the six-operating site in the country. This resulted in an increase in award fee on contract that year of more than $500.000.

The Pilot Team provided ongoing support of the changes, such as 360 assessments and coaching; essential to our success in the culture change process. We intend to continue using Pilot Advisors because of the fantastic return on our investment which is why I recommend Andrew. His energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge were instrumental in our recovery of operational excellence.

Dr. Matthew Blais, Major US Army Special Ordinance (Ret.), Chief Scientist, Battelle Memorial Institute

REVIEW ★★★★★ “His leadership and critical involvement is sure to benefit your company greatly. Mr. Bielat has the unique ability to see through the ever present complexities of business and identify the key elements of practical, effective improvement plans. I believe he is able to do this as a result of his intelligence, the engineering discipline he gained as a mechanical engineer and his visionary, entrepreneurial, approach to business. I can assure you that Mr. Bielat has my full confidence and trust in his ability to develop strategic plans, analyze performance improvement programs, and communicate effectively with anyone. He is an exceptional coach at all levels of business, from the CEO and Board to the workforce, because he understands business and people so well.”

Robert A. Simon
JSW Steel USA (et al.)

REVIEW ★★★★★ ”When you work with Andrew, you are going to get high quality consulting and leadership packaged in a personable, patient, and empowering manner. Andrew approaches things with a systematic and knowledgeable set of skills and experience. He evaluates the strengths and areas of growth and helps the team set goals. Andrew's style is collaborative and warm as he builds teams and invites all to participate meaningfully. He brings appropriate tools and resources to use in the process. I learned a great deal working alongside him as he led our team towards problem-solving and profit-making. ”

Vicky Dillon
Director of Finance & Accounting
Romano Venture Capital

REVIEW ★★★★★ ”Andrew has an incredible ability to develop and foster relationships based on trust I worked with Andrew for over 20 years as a Partner in his consulting firm. As a consultant when I asked him to come in to companies where I ran Human Resources. Andrew has an incredible ability to develop and foster relationships based on trust and a unique ability to enter an organization, accurately assess areas for improvement and then develop practical strategies on both the technical and cultural aspects that drive improvement in performance whether it was in manufacturing, distribution, sales or consumer products organizations. Andrew’s coaching and leadership style is one which people easily gravity to from line level staff to the C-suite as he create clear alignment on key goals and the provides a structured process that drives accountability and execution. ”

Rick Smith
Executive Instructor & Team Consultant, Prosci, Colorado

REVIEW ★★★★★ “"I've engaged dozens of advisory and consulting firms over my 35-year career in the steel industry. None compare to Andrew's Pilot Advisors. Andrew Bielat delivered the most effective, comprehensive services we've ever experienced, truly worth every investment. A prime example: In 2004, we achieved a record 1,000,000 tons of prime steel for specialty rod and rail products. Pilot Advisors played a pivotal role through targeted training, expert problem-solving, and process control enhancements, driving a 25% production boost and 30% quality improvement over four years. I wholeheartedly recommend Pilot Advisors to any organization committed to elevating performance—their impact is transformative and undeniable." ”

David W. Ellis
Manager: Melting and Casting
Rocky Mountain Steel Mills

REVIEW ★★★★★ “Andrew is an energetic visionary with strong strategic planning and leadership. I highly recommend Andrew Bielat for any company looking for an energetic visionary with strong strategic planning and leadership. He is a talented advisor and experienced coach to individuals or companies at all levels of business. Andrew has a unique ability to determine the root cause of business challenges, along with the skills and determination to implement creative changes towards continued improvement. Andrew successfully coached, consulted, and advised me, transforming me into a true leader. He helped mold our operation team into a focused and dynamic group, outperforming expectations. I continue to use the skills and strategies taught by Andrew today. These tools have enabled me to be an effective leader with the confidence to turn around struggling companies and enable fast growth.”

Tim M. Gray
V.P. Finance & Operations
D.R. Horton, Inc., Portland, OR

REVIEW ★★★★★ “Andrew is intelligent, high energy and very committed to his endeavors. He's worked for us extensively over the years as a member of my management team, and as an outside advisor for other OSM executives and myself. Accompanied me on many board presentations, planning sessions, meetings and designs of various corporate management programs. Performed professionally and confidently, offering us valuable insight to our strategic challenges and opportunities. His understand complex issues at a strategic level which helped us execute to achieve desired goals. I've witnessed Andrew addressing sophisticated issues in the financial, cultural, technological and commercial arenas. He remains very objective, is willing to accept absolute accountability and is tenacious in his pursuit of the truth and success.. Andrew is intelligent, high energy and very committed to his endeavors. I recommend him to help you with yours. ”

Joe Corvin
President, CEO
Oregon Steel Mills, Portland, OR