About Us

The Cornerstone Group LLC (TCSG) is a business strategy firm assisting innovative lower middle market and middle market firms accelerate growth and scale their businesses. Our services are based upon three pillars for growth acceleration – C.P.R. (Capital/Partnerships/Revenue). We engage with companies experiencing stagnation, slight decline or desiring accelerated growth. TCSG is agnostic to the industries we serve. Also, we provide business development and capture management services to the federal government and S.L.E.D. markets.

TCSG’s four levels of services include strategic planning (with follow-through), Coaching, Advisory and Outsource services.

History

Founded in 2017 by John Hale, III out of a desire to help companies grow their businesses and increase shareholder wealth, The Cornerstone Group, LLC (TCSG) provides a platform and methodology for entrepreneurs, and CEOs, to scale their firms. We deliver a unique combination of actionable strategies to enhance your internal infrastructure, (“client delivery capacity”) and value proposition (“tell your story”) to prospective clients and stakeholders.

Working with us you become our partner and not our client or customer. We look forward to serving you!

John Hale III

Chief Executive Officer

John Hale III

Mr. Hale as a two-time Presidential appointee, entrepreneur, corporate director, and civic leader, who maintains a servant leader philosophy, whereby leadership, team members, and colleagues are mutually accountable to themselves and most importantly the company’s mission(s).

Mr. Hale’s professional North Star is his passion for the sustainability and growth of privately owned companies. Privately held companies are the life blood of the American economy and the ability to either start or acquire and grow a business and own its wealth is quintessential American. Private companies contribute to our communities in terms of employment, services, and philanthropy.

John is also the host of C2 Biz Growth Iron Sharpens Iron  podcast. He engages with CEOs and  entrepreneurs who authentically share how they are scaling and growing their companies. The  conversations inspire, empower and entertain their fellow entrepreneurs and CEOs the audience.

Tonya Saunders

Legislative Director

Tonya Saunders

“Ms. Saunders is a leader, a planner, a speaker, and a Government Relations Specialist. She’s worked her way up from the state to national government pioneering in the sectors of healthcare and senior issues and moving to the sectors of telecommunications, financial services, transportation, women’s rights, and small, emerging, and medium-sized business.

Tonya is the founder and chairman of Mid-tier Advocacy (MTA), a national coalition of small, emerging, and medium-sized businesses and the Principal of Washington Premier Group (WPG), a government relations firm that provides highly successful advocacy, winning strategies, political intelligence, and legislative analysis for companies and organizations in a variety of fields. She has played an integral role in passing legislation that has created jobs, facilitated economic growth, and advanced civil liberties.”

James McCauley

Senior Advisor

James McCauley

Mr. McCauley is a business leader who helps his clients develop innovative strategies, manage risk, and implement change. He has over thirty-five years of industry and consulting experience ranging across banking, corporate and consumer payments, treasury management, technology, and business operations.

Jim’s specialties include business and operations strategy, merger planning/integration, project/program management, business process re-engineering, information systems development, and implementation.