Our Story

For more than 20 years, Chad Carden has immersed himself in the dynamics of human interactions, especially in working environments.

A mentee of Zig Ziglar since his teens, Chad’s curiosity and enthusiasm for studying people, building strong relationships, and continuous improvement has led him to work with Fortune 500 companies across the globe.

Though the work was with various industries and in organizations of all sizes, he found the challenges within to be nearly identical: broken cultures, ineffective communication, and often a mood of discontent.

Most leaders within these organizations realize something is not right, but they don’t know HOW to fix it. The Carden Group was founded to help leaders understand HOW to create better working environments.

Point blank, we help executives and their teams work better together. When you communicate, appreciate, and give and receive feedback without fear, real change happens. 

Our Team

Chad Carden

TCG Founder & President

Chad Carden has been studying and working with companies to improve their number one asset — their people — for over 20 years. His life’s mission is to improve the way employers and employees interact to create greater engagement and better results. By challenging them to reach outside their comfort zone, Chad’s clients achieve heights never before seen.

Named a Top Coach Making a Difference by USA Today and featured as a Top Entrepreneur Changing the World by Entrepreneur Magazine, Chad has traveled the globe to help organizations discover where they want to be, to help create a plan to get there, and to issue a challenge to achieve real results.

The Right Team for the Job

The Carden Group bench is deep. In addition to our core group of advisors and support professionals, we have a worldwide network of talented advisors to meet our clients’ needs. We can work with any size organization anywhere in the world. Contact us to learn more.

Charlie Blackmon

TCG Advisor

Charlie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Mississippi College in 1968 and received his Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1975. He spent 20 years in public speaking, training volunteers, counseling, and ministry. From 1995-2009, Charlie focused on fundraising by leading capital campaigns for more than 125 churches, raising over $250 million.

Rick Leffke

TCG Advisor

Rick has more than 40 years of experience in the design, implementation, and measurement of behavioral change strategies within both large and small organizations. His expertise in imparting necessary skill sets have allowed him to effectively change leadership levels, increase employee retention, and expand organizational strategies for bottom-line results.

Vince Mahtani

TCG Advisor

Vince brings a wealth of knowledge and success along with over 15 years of entrepreneur experience. Vince believes that the world needs people-first leaders who will challenge the status quo, create better cultures, and live with purpose and drive. Vince’s clients find meaning, passion, and purpose in their work, which drives growth and sustainable success.

Josh Buffingtion

TCG Advisor

Josh is an experienced athlete, coach and sales professional. His ability to inspire a growth mindset helps push others beyond their comfort zones for improvement. Josh has diverse experience advising in various sectors, including finance, insurance, construction and technology. He believes in connecting work with purpose for enhanced productivity. Rooted in family and faith, Josh resides in Jefferson City, Mo., with his wife Jami and three children.

Shea Carpenter

TCG Advisor

Shea has worked in sales and sales leadership for over 15 years and has had the opportunity to help develop thousands of salespeople over her career. She has traveled the globe working with organizations to drive sales and ensure proven sales processes and methods that drive predictable outcomes and even better results.

Brooke Doerhoff

Marketing Director

With more than 10 years of marketing and communications expertise, Brooke leads The Carden Group’s marketing and social media efforts. Her unique perspective on outreach and meeting our audience where they are has allowed TCG to cultivate a broad following. Brooke graduated with a Bachelor of Science in public relations from Missouri State University.

Lindsay Huhman

Director of Operations

Lindsay has more than 15 years of experience in strategic communications and marketing. She has led complex, multifaceted projects, including crisis communications, marketing campaigns, and strategic plan development. She has also led teams through leadership development projects and culture change initiatives.

Toni Miller

Project Administrator

Toni Miller serves as Project Administrator for projects and day-to-day operations. Toni’s proactive nature and organizational skills help ensure TCG clients and team members have the tools and resources they need to succeed.

Andrea Wilson

Project Manager

Andrea Wilson is a Brand and Marketing Strategist who partners with organizations to grow and solidify their internal brand, human-to-human. Real results come from how well you connect your initiatives, messaging, and actions with the heart-beating people in your organization.

Featured In:

USA Today logo
Fox business logo
fortune magazine logo
entrepreneur magazine logo
CNN money logo
beckers hospital review logo