ConnectScale Consulting is an executive consultancy grounded in the belief that relationships can drive value just as much as sales. Led by co-founder and CEO David Cohen, ConnectScale Consulting works with companies and their leaders to achieve hypergrowth, position for major market milestones and build exceptional management teams that transform cultures.
OUR MISSION
To empower organizations and their executives to become the best versions of themselves on their unique paths to scale.
ABOUT
A Connected Approach
At ConnectScale Consulting, we believe that for every one minute spent on a balance sheet or P&L, two more should be dedicated to building relationships and strategies that create value and move markets. Whether that means successfully steering a company through several acquisitions as CEO, tapping into professional networks that give executives access to new growth opportunities or adapting to foreign cultures during our time abroad, we have built our careers—and our lives—on that philosophy.
TESTIMONIAL
What people are saying
“Our goal is to have a comprehensive understanding of the controlled environment agriculture industry in order to drive sustainable change at the federal level. Leveraging David’s unique perspective and deep network of key players ensures we are tapping into the industry’s leading technology and manufacturing minds.”
— Saphira Galoob, principal & CEO, The Liaison Group
WHAT WE DO
Areas of Focus
All Aspects of
Controlled Environment Agriculture
Lighting
General Manufacturing
WHAT WE DO
Consulting Services
Every company’s growth journey is full of unique challenges and opportunities. However, the tools that guide them along the way are often the same. Our services have been curated from more than 30 years of managing successful companies and teams.
Hypergrowth
Have you set ambitious growth goals but still feel like you’re missing something? We’ll work with you to ensure you have the right structure and strategy in place to meet them.
Go to market
David has successfully overseen dozens of go-to-market launches throughout his career as an executive. Tap into his business acumen, industry expertise and professional network to maximize go-to-market impact.
Fundraising and M&A
Have a major financial milestone on the horizon? We work with executive teams to conduct due diligence, find financing and make deals that position companies for scale and success.
Fractional C-suite
Need an interim or part-time executive with experience in commercial operations, revenue management or product strategy? Save time and resources on recruitment and bolster your leadership team with a proven strategic thinker who drives business value.
Executive mentorship
The top of the mountain can feel like a lonely place. It’s better to share it with someone who understands the nuances and challenges inherent to executive leadership.
Change management
Navigating change can be a daunting task, and requires executives to make difficult decisions about their teams, business models and long-term strategy. A third-party perspective can help you examine every option and scenario—and execute the right one that reduces risk and maximizes potential.
"David Cohen has been a cherished leader and mentor to me for almost two decades. He has a razor-sharp ability to see past organizational noise and assess a business scenario for what it really is and what the team really needs to be successful. Our partnerships, mostly within precision manufacturing sectors, have spanned multiple continents, companies, and business challenges. One thing that has remained consistent the whole time; Dave’s sincere and relentless pursuit of growth and success on behalf of his teams and customers. He is always the first person I call when I’m facing new and complex business challenges."
— Mike Cunningham, founder & CEO of RADAR Consulting and Technical Services
“David is not only an exceptional executive and growth strategist—he understands the value and power that come from building relationships with peers, partners and clients.”
— Michael Marie, president & CEO, Right Brain Creative
“David is a true strategic thinker whose understanding of controlled environment agriculture makes him uniquely suited to helping his clients build and grow their businesses. He has spent years surrounding himself with some of the brightest minds in the industry, which translates to a one-of-a-kind network of partners and experts that he can tap into to help executives solve complex business challenges and add real, tangible value.”
— Travis Higginbotham, founder & CEO, Due Diligence Horticulture
TESTIMONIALS
What people are saying
Connect with us!
Get in touch to learn more about our services and explore how we can help you scale.
Trust is a company’s most valuable currency
David Cohen is a proven leader with more than 30 years of experience scaling and driving profitable growth for global manufacturing and technology providers. Prior to co-founding ConnectScale Consulting, David served as CEO of Fluence, a global provider of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial crop production, where he evolved the company from a niche, North American LED lighting supplier into the international category leader delivering close to $500 million dollars in revenue. David’s vision for the company and expertise in globalization and supply chain extended Fluence’s manufacturing footprint across North America, Asia-Pacific and EMEA. During his nearly five-year tenure, Fluence doubled its number of employees, launched more than a dozen major lighting solutions, became one of the world’s premier sources for lighting research and was named to Fast Company’s first-ever “Next Big Things in Tech” list in 2021.
After Fluence’s successful acquisition by AMS OSRAM in 2018, David led the effort to integrate Fluence into the multibillion dollar global leader in optical solutions. Over the following several years, David oversaw Fluence’s triple-digit top-line growth, resulting in Signify—the world leader in lighting—acquiring Fluence from AMS OSRAM for close to five times its initial purchase price.
David’s strategic acumen as well as his business development and globalization expertise cover sectors including automotive, CEA and electronics. His prowess implementing high-growth models for major technology brands led to roles in China, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and across the U.S. At Fraen Corporation, David was instrumental in driving the company’s evolution into secondary optics for the LED lighting industry, catapulting the company to international scale serving some of the world’s largest auto manufacturers. As vice president and general manager at RENA Electronica, David stepped in to reorient and reenergize the business and implement a local recruitment strategy before moving to its parent company, Future Electronics, as general manager of its EMEA region. There, he took over its already robust lighting business to further catalyze growth in the region.
David graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology and a master’s degree in manufacturing engineering. He received his master’s in business administration from Bentley College. When he’s not scaling up the next cutting-edge technology brand, he enjoys spending time with Jessica and their two children, golfing, high-intensity training, playing guitar and following every major sport played in Boston.
David Cohen
ABOUT US
Jessica Willet-Cohen serves as ConnectScale Consulting’s co-founder and chief operating officer, where she is responsible for managing the consultancy’s finances, day-to-day operations and client logistics. Jessica’s specialties—curated early in her career as a consultant—include organizational design, project management and human resources
Before teaming up with David to create ConnectScale Consulting—where she is lovingly referred to as “chief everything else officer”—Jessica worked for multiple management consulting firms and as an independent consultant. In her various roles, Jessica leveraged her expertise in industrial organizational psychology and project management to support major Fortune 100 and 500 companies and educational institutions. Her consulting work and nearly 20-year partnership with David have brought Jessica around the world, where she experienced and studied countless cultural nuances that reinforce her approach to building authentic client relationships.
Jessica graduated from UMBC with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and holds a master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology from the University of Baltimore. She is a certified health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, proud mother and an avid reader. When she’s not working, you can find Jessica on the Pilates reformer or somewhere on the water with her family.
Jessica Willet-Cohen
