UNLIKELY ORIGINS
Cougar Mountain Software didn’t start in the garage of
a Silicon Valley tycoon, nor was it the brainchild of the next technology savant. It all began with a steak knife salesman who saw an opportunity. Bob Gossett dabbled in a lot of businesses and was an entrepreneur for much of his life. One of his projects required a team of developers, and their collective brainpower spawned an idea that would forever change his life. Bob didn’t have much of a background in management, and he had even less in accounting. But that didn’t stop his idea from turning into what is now a flourishing business. In a field where hundreds of companies rise and fall in a single day, Cougar Mountain Software continues to provide solutions that directly fulfill their clients’ customized needs. But like most businesses that have stood the test of time, Cougar Mountain wasn’t always basking in success. Chuck Gossett, the current CEO and son of Bob Gossett, explains that there were times when his father had to use credit cards to make payroll. Chuck saw his father wear many hats in the early days of the company. “There are a lot of unexpected expenses as a startup. He’d go down to the office and build shelving or workstations for his people.” Bob’s humble beginnings and personal investment led to his incessant desire for one of his sons to take over the business. “Neither one of us had any interest,” confesses Chuck. While they may not have wanted to join, Chuck was faced with a harsh reality in 2014 that would thrust him into leadership.
a tenuous situation with my father’s COO that had gained interest in the business,” recalls Chuck. “The advice from the CPA was that if I did not get involved in the company, there wouldn’t be a company to worry about.” With his back against the wall, Chuck was still reluctant to accept the reins of his father’s business. Like his dad, Chuck had no background in the corporate world or accounting. “I told him I wouldn’t be the best candidate for that,” says Chuck. “Software, management, accounting … they were all unknowns.” But the CPA was insistent. “There’s nothing like a family member to drive an enterprise,” he told Chuck. A reluctant leader was born, and Chuck’s new life began with a baptism by fire. He dove head-first into a world full of unknowns when he took over as Cougar Mountain Software’s CEO. Bob Gossett had put Chuck on the board about 2 1/2 years before, so he had
some understanding of the status of the company. But with just under 40 employees, Chuck knew he needed to learn, and learn fast. “It required branching out and getting educated, both internally and externally,” he says.
EXPERIENCE WITH SANDLER
COO Dave Haworth has been with Cougar Mountain Software
for 14 years. He has worked in multiple roles within the company and knows the inner workings almost as well as anyone. “We started Sandler in August of 2015 with just our sales team,” says Dave. “As things evolved and we saw the benefits the sales team was getting, we started a couple of other departments in Sandler.” The expansion would lead to more than just basic training; it would end up weaving Sandler’s ideologies into the very fabric of their business. “We needed to create a healthier and more efficient culture within the business,” Chuck says. When he started
CHUCK’S NECESSARY RISE TO CEO
“I got a call from our CPA, who was also a board member, and there was
4 | WWW.CROSSROADS.SANDLER.COM
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker