Bedner’s Farm & Greenhouse Finds the Right Integrator—and New Momentum—with GCE’s Support
Client Snapshot
Bedner’s Farm & Greenhouse is a multi-generational, multi-line horticultural business in southwestern Pennsylvania. Owned by Melanie and Russ Bedner, the business encompasses:
A retail garden center
17 greenhouses
42 acres of farmland
A growing landscaping division
The Bedners are deeply passionate about horticulture and have built a team of like-minded employees who care about the work and the land. But as the business scaled, they began to feel the strain of running operations without a clear Integrator in place.
The Challenge
Bedner’s was expanding, but so were the growing pains. Melanie and Russ—both Visionaries—found themselves stepping into the Integrator role, which led to mounting operational stress. Accountability was inconsistent, and EOS® principles weren’t fully embedded in the business.
The issues weren’t philosophical. They were practical: the company lacked a strong operating leader to manage complexity and lead day-to-day execution. Their EOS® Implementer recognized the need for outside help and referred them to GCE Strategic Consulting.
The GCE Approach
GCE deployed a seasoned Fractional Integrator to step in quickly, assess the situation, and lead key initiatives.
The goals were clear:
Model what great Integrator leadership looks like
Evaluate in-house talent for a potential Integrator
Create role clarity and accountability across functions
Help source, hire, and train the long-term Integrator
No one in-house was quite the right fit for the role. But rather than rush the hiring process, GCE used its recruiting arm—led by recruiter Perry—to drive a high-integrity search.
The result was a highly intentional, values-aligned placement process. GCE helped Melanie and Russ define the full picture of what they needed: not just technical skill, but emotional and cultural fit. Through structured interviews, working sessions, and thoughtful role definition, GCE and Perry identified the ideal candidate: Mark, a local general manager of a similar operation who wasn’t even on the market.
The Turning Point
Once Mark accepted the role, GCE didn’t walk away. The Fractional Integrator onboarded him quickly, running him through a structured Integrator training program designed to ramp up EOS® understanding and practical leadership within weeks.
Mark embraced the learning process, studying EOS® while on vacation and showing up ready to lead.
Within a month, Mark was confidently managing operations—and Russ was finally able to step back from day-to-day landscape leadership.
The Results
Leadership Gap Filled: GCE’s model-and-hire approach brought operational clarity and continuity without disruption.
The Right Hire, Not Just Any Hire: Perry’s structured, emotionally intelligent recruiting process led to a best-fit hire the Bedners hadn’t been able to find themselves.
Smooth Transition: Mark’s onboarding was fast and effective, thanks to GCE’s EOS-based integrator training.
Greater Confidence in the Future: With Mark in place, Russ and Melanie can now focus more energy on strategic planning, growth, and continuing to build the company’s strong culture.
Why It Worked
This wasn’t just about plugging a leadership hole—it was about helping the founders let go of roles that no longer served them and building an operational system that could carry the business forward.
By pairing fractional leadership with high-touch recruiting and onboarding, GCE delivered both short-term momentum and long-term capability.
What They’d Tell Another CEO
If Melanie and Russ were speaking to another business owner unsure about hiring an Integrator, they might say:
“We tried to fill the role ourselves and couldn’t find the right fit. GCE showed us what great looks like, and then helped us hire someone who could deliver it. We’re finally back to doing what we love—and the business is better off for it.”
How GCE Engages
Every client story is unique, but the way GCE engages is consistent and intentional. Through a structured three-call intake process, we clarify goals, map leadership needs, and align the right operator to the right seat. This ensures clients don’t just get support—they get the right support.
As a strategic consulting firm, GCE has partnered with hundreds of growth-minded businesses across industries and geographies. Our team brings experience in EOS®, M&A, private equity, and turnaround situations, with proven results from pre-revenue startups to Fortune 50 enterprises.
Whether you need a Fractional Integrator, COO, CFO, CRO, CHRO, recruiter, or executive coach, GCE provides fractional leadership resources that embed directly into your company to deliver clarity, accountability, and execution.
Ready to experience the same transformation?
Contact GCE Strategic Consulting to learn how we help CEOs and leadership teams scale with confidence and clarity—no matter what stage of growth you’re in.
