About

“I’ve run Hudson Tree Service for 50 years and my son will eventually be taking it over. I haven’t always been good about introducing him to the business side of things, so he suggested working with Wendy Symer and WLS Consulting. It’s hard sometimes to stand back and examine what you might be doing wrong. You can be sabotaging yourself without knowing why. But working with someone outside the business opens your eyes and your mind. Wendy’s program allowed us to see ourselves more clearly and the results have been good. I value a cohesive team and Wendy helped us improve the atmosphere. Our communication has improved, which makes everything run smoother.”

Gene Joshu, Hudson Tree Service

“I hadn’t had any formal training in leadership, only what I learned through experience. I went through Wendy’s Individual Development Success Program on the recommendation of a mutual friend. Wendy and her program really helped me build confidence in my own leadership capabilities. Her instruction involves a form of introspection—looking at oneself and the fears and lack of knowledge that one might have, then addressing and working through each of those things. Her various development techniques, expertise, and sharing her own experiences helped me learn how to lead others to become better at what they do. Most beneficial was learning how to lead a conversation and resolve conflict by asking the right questions in the right way. Wendy’s personable approach made it very easy to receive the information she was trying to get across. She is good at teaching not only the technical aspects of leadership, but she also emphasizes the need to get buy-in from others, which I’ve learned is a huge part of leadership. I would definitely recommend Wendy’s program to anyone who wants to lead others upward through a relational approach but struggles with a lack of confidence in their own abilities.”

Pastor Chris Aaron Rice, New Life Evangelistic Center

“Before COVID, the yoga studio I own with my husband was operating at an all-time high. Being shut down had all of us feeling disconnected as a group and feeling in need of a reset. Wendy was recommended to me by a friend and we hit it off right away. I immediately felt that she could help us as a business as well as personally. Wendy puts her own spin on things that has a way of engaging people so that they want to participate and share ideas. Personally, she helped me with my mindset, not just for the business, but with life in general. She is super down-to-earth and made it easy to be open and vulnerable. It’s obvious that she wants to help people and see them succeed. We did a hybrid program that started with just me and my husband regarding the partnership, and then added the rest of the organizational culture with full team meetings. It was just what we needed to re-energize, bring in new ideas, and bring back our sense of community. It fulfilled my goal of showing everyone that they are valued and so is their input.”

Sarah Timmerman

“The concept of goal setting wasn’t new to me, but Wendy’s approach was different. She walked me through the process of identifying my goals in different areas of my life—personal, professional, and family/relationships—then listing the actions necessary and timeline to accomplish them. One of the most valuable things for me was having Wendy as an accountability partner. Our weekly meetings were a place marker, reminding me to think about where I was with my goals and what I wanted to accomplish that week. The benefits I got from working with Wendy went way beyond the one-hour meetings. She provides great resources tailored to your focus area. For me, the mindset and abundance work were the most valuable. I’ve gained clarity, focus, confidence, and organization.”

Leah Joyce, Financial Planner, Thrivent

“Our Board of Directors allocated some funds for coaching, so I chose to go through a program with Wendy Symer. I looked into some other coaches but I felt she was the best fit because of her reputation and the fact she came highly recommended by several of our members. I’ve also known Wendy for years from various events and organizations, so I felt comfortable with her. Wendy’s coaching is very goal driven. She helped me understand what I needed to focus on and how to make sure those things happened. As time has passed, I’ve been able to achieve all of the goals we discussed. I really appreciated the ease of scheduling, the comfort of our conversations, and the focus.”

Tracy Butler, Executive Officer, Home Builders & Remodelers Metro East Association

“I own my own business with 2 part-time employees and I needed someone to bounce ideas off of. Wendy has given me guidance with business decisions about my employees and moving my office out of my home. She tells it like it is whether you want to hear it or not. As a result, I’ve completely changed my attitude for the better and everyone in my life sees it. It’s also reflected in my business. My revenue usually increases by about $2-5,000 each year. This year it’s up $17,000 so far! Since working with Wendy, I truly believe in the law of attraction. You receive what you think and what you believe.”

Tami Roderick, Owner, Vision Accounting

"I first worked with Wendy about five years ago on some personal development. Recently, I called her again to come in and coach the rest of my staff. With Wendy’s background in the staffing industry, it was easy for her to relate to challenges we face daily. She customized her approach to help us in the areas that we needed—accountability, culture, and pace. Our group is communicating better and working more effectively together. I look at Wendy as another member of our team."

Amy Barber, Owner, Express Employment Professionals

“I’ve become more organized since working with Wendy. She helped me realize I was spinning my wheels and spending a whole lot of time on certain tasks that could be automated. Together we created processes that streamline my business. I continue to work with her and even brought her in to work with my team. The accountability piece of it is important. She helps me to keep doing what I set out to accomplish.”

Stacy Billhartz, CEO/Travel Consultant, Total Access Travel, LLC

“I went through Wendy’s individual program when I was starting my small business. Since then, I’ve been able to accomplish a lot of goals I outlined in the beginning of the year without even realizing it! She helped me hone in on what I need so I could make better decisions for myself. I’m able to reframe a lot of situations in a more positive way and focus on where I want to go without getting bogged down by distractions.”

Jennifer Crow, Equestrian

“I saw tremendous results with my business partner when he went through Wendy’s Individual Development Program. So, when we experienced productivity issues with two of our staff members we brought her in to work with them. They had lost their passion for their work and it showed in their negative attitudes. I’m not good at handling those difficult conversations, so it was perfect to have a neutral third party involved. Wendy’s coaching was quite an eye-opener for everyone. There was a 180-degree change for both of them—a complete transformation. I can’t say enough about the work that she did with them to bring out their most valuable traits. Our business and team atmosphere have dramatically improved as a result!”

Ryan Eckhardt, CFP®

“At the corporation where I worked in my previous career, we had a very structured mentor process. But since owning my own business, I haven’t had anyone guiding my personal development. Small business owners are on their own and I’m a firm believer that they should seek a professional to help them focus on the opportunities ahead. Wendy put me at ease and I had full confidence that I could share anything and get honest feedback. I’m seeing the results I wanted – in both myself and my team.”

Dave Brandmeyer, Insurance Broker, Brandmeyer Insurance and Financial Services

I’ve done the Partnership Enhancement Program with my Dad, and the Individual Success Development Program. I expected the meetings to focus on an analysis of our business, but Wendy’s approach is different. Instead, it was more about our mindset. It was geared toward getting ourselves in the right place to accept the challenges you’re going to face in business. Personally, I’ve become more solution-minded than problem-oriented. And there is a huge difference in the way my dad and I act as partners. There are typical challenges you face when working with family, but now we’re both more equipped to deal with them.”

Scott Green, Co-Owner of AdvantaClean of Madison County

“I went through Wendy’s Individual Success Development Program. I was looking for structure and organization. I needed help prioritizing things in my life so I could give them the attention and focus they deserved. Meeting with Wendy regularly helped with my accountability. I was able to set a daily routine and stick to a schedule in both my professional and personal life. For anyone considering this program, it’s a great jump start in setting goals and learning to hold yourself accountable to accomplish them. Wendy’s job is to help people achieve results, and that’s what she did for me.”

Shaun Lieser, Managing Partner of Lieser Law Firm, LLC

“I was working myself to death on the day-to-day stuff and not really looking at the future. I needed some direction for my business and my life. I knew Wendy from a networking group. I liked her energy and what I had heard about her programs. It was my first time working with a coach, and to be honest, it can sometimes be uncomfortable because it pushes your limits – but that’s exactly what I needed. With her help, I’ve been able to set goals and accomplish them much sooner than I thought possible. She keeps me focused and keeps me from becoming stagnant.”

Larry Roberson, Owner of Padgett Business Services, Collinsville

“Wendy is a good listener and she asks good questions. When I started this process, I never dreamed that my life would feel as ordered as it does now. Wendy helped me prioritize and reorder my life in areas I didn’t even know I needed help in. Working with Wendy at this point in my life is the best thing I could have done for myself.”

Don Padgett, President of Padgett Building

“I was transitioning to retirement and needed to tie up some loose ends and details. Wendy’s attention to detail helped us stay focused. It felt like we were the only company she was working with. I’d recommend Wendy to anyone wanting to make a change. You have to be willing to do the work and she will keep you accountable. We’ve worked with other business coaches in the past, but Wendy had the most impact on my personal and business goals.”

Ron Padgett, CEO and Owner of Padgett Building

“We were going through an ownership change in our business and needed someone to help us work through the transition. We’ve worked with a lot of different business coaches over the years. The difference with Wendy is that she takes a more personal, whole life approach instead of solely focusing on your business. She helps you set personal goals first and then focus on the business. Setting personal goals first allowed us to work on ourselves and then the business, which was the most important thing.”

David Padgett, Owner and General Manager of Padgett Building

“Wendy has so much knowledge about balancing business and family life. She shared her tools and experience and taught me how to utilize those tools. She took my concerns and helped me focus on the most important things. Working with her helped me to make sense of my day and get control of things to fit it all in. I really appreciate her consistency, diligence, and the fact that she is an emotionally safe place to talk things through.”

Holly Reed, Rodan and Fields

“It was helpful to work with someone who understood my passion for what I do. Wendy is very professional and honest. She helped me learn to celebrate my wins as a female business owner. When my business plateaued, Wendy gave me a big picture perspective and had great ideas for overcoming smalls struggles, which equaled a better work flow and helped us address clientele better. Working with Wendy has made me more confident in addressing employees and I’ve become a better individual on a personal level.”

Anna Venhaus, Owner and Photographer, Photography by Anna

“Wendy made me feel comfortable from the very beginning. She’s a no nonsense person who is easy to work with. She helped me realize why I do what I do and helped me grow both personally and professionally. From working with Wendy, I’m more confident in my business and aware of what I need to do to turn my business around during the down times. I learned so much from working with her.”

Bridget Hurst, Rodan and Fields

“I chose to work with Wendy because my business was growing and gaining momentum which presented a new set of challenges. I wanted to be proactive in managing the growth so it happened in an organized fashion. We were also in the middle of ownership succession so Wendy was able to help both generations during the transition. Wendy facilitated the tough conversations so they were more productive and as a whole, the organization has become more committed to the end result of creating happy customers. Wendy creates a custom approach for each client and goes the extra mile to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

Mark Mueller, Owner and General Manager, Mueller Furniture

“I found Wendy’s program to be well-structured, interactive and thought-provoking. The topics covered were of practical relevance to help improve my management practices and bring about new creative insights. I would recommend Wendy as an Executive Coach to anyone looking to realize what is really important, some to listen carefully and non-judgmentally then explore suggestions for actions that were apparent but only became very clear after discussions with you, and stay focused on personal and professional goals and achieve sustainable results. I have walked away from our engagement with a treasure trove of actions and ideas that will drive my approach for a long time to come.”

Laurie Louvier

“I love Wendy! Wendy is a reliable and giving professional. She is a very good sounding board and helps you discover the issues behind your business performance. Her calm intellectual and spiritual mentorship help you see possibilities that you didn’t see before. One of the biggest takeaways from my work with Wendy has been learning to say no. Wendy showed me how to own my no and that a difficult client is not worth the stress.”

Konya Bloomquist, Owner, Austins Mohair Socks

“As a job and career transitions coach myself, spending time going through the process of goal setting with Wendy was extremely helpful to me. It’s not always easy or natural to focus on yourself, but Wendy has a wonderful way of meeting you where you are and pulling you up to the next level. She works with you to collectively set goals. I’m much more effective both personally and professionally from the time I’ve spent with Wendy.”

Joe Bloomquist, Program Specialist, Veterans Affairs

“Wendy is a phenomenal business coach. Her insights about life in general, combined with her quick, smart, and fun personality help her turn clients into friends. She gets to know you on a professional and personal level and always gives you 100% of her time and attention. She looks at where you are and helps you move to where you want to be.”

Denise Carter, Associate, Bonbera

“Wendy is very easy to talk to and has a unique way of helping you open up by establishing a relationship of trust. I’ve seen dramatic changes personally and professionally in myself from our work together. She helped me to change my thought process and provided a wealth of resources for my continued growth. Working with Wendy was key to getting a recent promotion. Wendy helped me learn to be less reactionary with my staff and to be a better listener. She’s open, honest, sincere and available whenever needed.”

Kristin Taddei, Area Vice President of Operations, Amedisys Home Health

“I was looking for a way to improve personally and professionally, but I wasn’t sure if I could afford to work with Wendy. It took me a month before I finally called her. The money that I put into working with her was absolutely worth it. I received so much more in return. Since working with Wendy, I’ve gone from being middle of the road in my sales to breaking records and blowing my business out of the water. And I’ve continued making progress on my own. Wendy completely changed my mindset and gave me the tools to pull myself out of any negative mind clutter. I understand my own thinking process now and am able to keep everything in a more positive perspective. Working with Wendy has been life changing.”

Jacquelyn Shadwick, Account Manager, Advanced Tissue

“I came to Wendy after hearing others talk about the great results they had after working with her. Even though I worked with her in a group setting, I never felt like just one of the crowd. Wendy takes a very personal approach and brings enthusiasm and joy to everything she does. She helped me see the positive in everything I was doing and see past the negatives to the bigger picture. Wendy gave me the ability to enjoy what I’m doing. She’s given me the confidence I was lacking which has benefitted me both personally and professionally.”

Lisa Reiss, Sales Manager, PuroClean Emergency Restoration Services

“Wendy is a fascinating person who helped me with my business and my personal life. She takes a holistic approach and helps you compartmentalize how each area of your life needs to be addressed. She helps you get in touch with who you are so you can move forward showing that unique person to others. Since working with Wendy, my confidence has increased and because of her mentorship and modeling, I am a better coach to my own team.”

Virginia Kerr, Independent Consultant, Rodan and Fields

“Since working with Wendy, I protect myself and my time better as a business owner and have less need for other’s approval. Wendy is very personable and professional. She’s definitely helped me reduce my stress and enjoy my work more.”

Bruce Burk, Owner, Total Fitness

“As a result of working with Wendy, our business increased by 40%. Wendy spent time with our personal assessment and goals and then prepared a realistic yet challenging path to reach our goals.”

Scott Worley, Owner, Scenic Route Landscape and Design

“Wendy is very understanding and easy to get along with. She talks to you on a personal level and sees how things outside of your work affect you and how those things fit into your business life. She is a very authentic person, and doesn’t give you scripted responses.”

Bob Madewell, Business Account Executive, Spectrum Business

“Since working with Wendy, I got a new job and my pay has increased. The cost of her service is well worth it. She helped me both professionally and personally. Wendy definitely goes above and beyond.”

Jeff Wade, Sales Executive, Paycor

“My sales have easily doubled since I started working with Wendy. She completely changed the way I run my business, handle clients, and my sales prospecting in a good way.”

Mike Shadwick, Managing Partner, Schweiss Insurance Agency, Inc.

“Since working with Wendy, my frustration level has gone down. Wendy backs her approach with data and facts and is an example of what she teaches. I definitely have a more thoughtful and purpose driven approach to our practice now. I ask why we are doing this and how are we going to get where we need to be.”

Kathy Droege, Practice Coordinator, Breese Dental Care

“I feel very fortunate to work with Wendy. Unlike other coaches who want to generalize advice, she takes the time to listen and identify a clear direction without taking over. Our business was struggling last year and after working with Wendy, we were able to pull it back on track and ended up with a gain. She is very knowledgeable in many facets and brings lots of energy to the program as well as her infectious positive attitude. “

Jim Beaty, Franchise Owner, Certa Pro Painters

“Wendy brings order out of chaos. Through Wendy I was able to uncover my own deeply rooted issues that were limiting my success in the company. In addition, she helped me put structure and a framework in place for all of our team to operate in. Wendy does a lot more than just set up policies and procedures. She helps get to the mind and heart of her clients.”

Dan Hatter, Owner, Hatter’s Church Organ Services

“I took a class Wendy was offering to members of our networking group. I felt like I had a lot of training in the past and didn’t think I would benefit much. I was pleasantly surprised with what Wendy had to offer. Her coaching was very applicable and she conducts her training with enthusiasm.”

Jody Talick, Branch Manager, American Portfolio Mortgage

“Wendy is very well prepared, thorough, and extremely experienced. She exudes professional confidence and knowledge. Wendy will reveal problems that you don’t see and she helps build trust between owners and employees. I can’t imagine anyone not fairing better after having worked with Wendy.”

Bob Reynolds, Owner, Solomon Network Solutions

“Before working with Wendy, I didn’t believe in the business coach concept. After meeting Wendy, I experienced the value of working with a coach. She didn’t give me her opinion; she walked me through the process so that I could think through the decision myself. She helped me work through my negative thought processes to decide what I really wanted to do as I transitioned to my new position.”

Rob Pickerell, VP of Consumer Business Banking, Regions Bank

“One thing that amazes me about Wendy is that nothing that comes out of our conversations seems to rattle her. She is always able to wrap her mind around the real issue, rather than getting sidetracked by other things. She is someone who truly walks beside you and cheers you on. She believes in the people she is coaching.”

Diana Voegele, Owner, Express Employment Professionals

“I chose to work with Wendy because of the work she’s done with our family business. She helped me facilitate an event that I was organizing. I loved Wendy’s energy. Her positivity kept the whole group focused and motivated about what we were doing. Wendy is completely invested in the people she works with and truly gets to know them and understands their personality.” - Individual Development

Dave Kunkel, President, Kunkel Commercial Group, Inc.

“Wendy is very honest, transparent, and authentic. She tells it how it is in a good way and gets to the root of issues to help you build a foundation from there. Working with her has changed me for the better. I’m more accountable and confident. Our work together led to a professional promotion and a change in lifestyle habits. She makes you feel like you are her #1 client.”

Renee Wittenauer, Property Manager, Strano

“Wendy understands the importance of having a healthy and productive team. She is good at identifying issues that need to be addressed and handles tough situations with tact, diplomacy, and patience. She gives you time to process necessary changes and takes you step by step to get you where you need to be.”

Marc Voegele, Owner, Express Employment Professionals

“Since working with Wendy, each year my business and bottom line have improved. Her goal setting program helped us focus in on strengths and weaknesses and we built a list of agreed upon expectations for our team to help with staff accountability. Wendy helped us create a more cohesive team of WE vs. ME.”

Luke Harris, Owner, Highland Recycling and Shredding

“Before working with Wendy, I assumed that it would be very expensive to work with a business coach. Wendy’s fees are reasonable and she can be utilized more or less to stay within your budget.”

Terry Lammers, President, Innovate Business Brokerage Group, Inc.

“We went through Wendy’s Organizational Culture Enhancement Program. Our company was not in a crisis and things were going well, but we wanted an outside observer to teach us how we might improve our company culture. Wendy saw us as friends and really cared about us. She is open and emphasizes creating a safe environment in the work place. She helped us envision our ideal environment and create a standard of excellence for our culture with structure, rules, and a smoother workflow process. Through our time with Wendy we became more aware of our existing company culture and realized how much that affects employee and company effectiveness. Wendy assisted us in visualizing our ideals and identifying practical ways to reach those ideals.” - Individual Development

Ray Notgrass, President, Notgrass Company

“My human resources professional recommended Wendy and she has met and exceeded my expectations. Wendy is an amazing coach who is an expert at asking the right questions and helping solve problems. Working with Wendy has made me a stronger, more confidant, and resilient professional. Her ability to retain information and keep things relevant is remarkable. She leads you to the right conclusion for yourself.” - Individual Development

Julie Gibbs, Director of Women’s Philanthropy at Jewish Federation of St. Louis

“I chose to work with Wendy because of the work she’s done with our family business. She helped me facilitate an event that I was organizing. I loved Wendy’s energy. Her positivity kept the whole group focused and motivated about what we were doing. Wendy is completely invested in the people she works with and truly gets to know them and understands their personality.” - Individual Development

Donna Green, Business Development Manager, Advanta Clean