John Chappelear

John Chappelear is a business consultant, and executive coach, retreat leader and professional speaker with 25 years of experience as a business executive and entrepreneur, founding his first company in the Washington, DC area at the age of 30. The experience of creating new businesses from the ground up, and eventually making them top nationwide producers uniquely qualifies John to provide leadership and guidance to those who want to achieve growth and success for their organizations. However, the unexpected and swift transition from a multimillion-dollar business owner to a business liquidator is the experience that has given him the unique gift of not just coaching others in leadership skills but, more important, teaching them how to succeed in the business of leading fulfilling and productive lives.

John's company is Changing the Focus. He relies on his experiences of the past 30 years to create exciting and inspirational messages about how to change the focus within the lives of leaders. John's six-step plan for living comes alive through his speaking engagements and retreats for individuals and organizations looking to jump start positive life changes. His audiences have included the National Restaurant Association, the National Club Managers Association, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and , Leadership Washington, and the Alexandria Dental Association and dozens of services organizations.

Before John Began his most recent career as a speaker and executive coach, he was the president of RBI Communications, a printing and communications brokerage firm he founded in 1991, which became well known for its high quality customer service and products. During his tenure as the president of RBI Communications, John also worked as a marketing and development consultant for Vistranet and Pingtone, two high tech telecommunications firms, and for Champion Printing, an office products and print services company.

In 1979, John founded his first business, The Stationers Inc., an office product and furniture distribution company, which grew from a two-person shop to a staff of 250. During this time, he also founded Corporate Interiors, Inc., a full-service business office interior design company, and eventually brought in combined revenues of 50 million dollars with these two firms. It was upon selling these businesses that John began his journey to his current career.

John has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including The Alexandria Rotary Club, Leadership Washington, the Washington and Alexandria Chambers of Commerce, the American Cancer Society and the Alexandria Symphony, and National Office Products Associations. John's commitment to the community was recognized in a Presidential Letter of Commendation. John was born in Washington, DC and raised in Alexandria, and attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC.

John is gratefully married to Susan, and the father of three great kids, Lisa, Erin and Dayton. John and his family live in Fairfax, Virginia.