Clear Directions is fueled by talented, experienced professionals who are eager to see other entrepreneurs and business owners realize their potential:
Denise Stillman is the founder and principal of Clear Directions, LLC. She is an 18-year veteran marketer and strategist who has developed expertise in strategic planning, sales and business development through her work for well-known consumer products companies, pharmaceutical giants and the healthcare industry. She earned her MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Business at Northwestern University in the Chicago area and learned many of her formative skills in sales as the middle of a family of three daughters who grew up in a lake community one hour southwest of Chicago.
As an affiliate member of the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches, Denise is supported by a tremendous team of experts around the globe with knowledge in many industry sectors. She has coached individual, startup entrepreneurs as well as CEOs of $100M companies seeking to grow to the next level. In her role as the vice president of planning and marketing at a community hospital outside Chicago, she oversaw all of her organization's marketing and communications efforts, including advertising, public relations and Internet communications, as well as strategic planning, facility planning, the consumer call center, and physician and community advocacy staff. Prior to her career in healthcare, she worked as a consultant to pharmaceutical and consumer products companies including AstraZeneca, Abbott Laboratories, Procter & Gamble, Philip Morris USA and Dowbrands, managing their corporate communications, product marketing and government relations.
A summa cum laude graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., Denise holds a bachelor of science degree in public relations with an emphasis in political science. Her MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management focused on strategy development, marketing and health services management. She also completed a fellowship program in leadership from the Advisory Board in Washington, D.C.
She has been recognized for her work by PRSA's Health Academy and the Publicity Club of Chicago. She lives in Oak Lawn, Ill., where she enjoys a very active and fulfilling life with her husband and two children.
Meet the Team
Forrest W. Anderson provides insight for client decision-making. He comes to this insight by combining qualitative, quantitative and secondary research with analysis, synthesis and a solid understanding of client business goals. He has particular expertise in communications, brand and messaging strategy. Forrest has served as the senior research officer and managed the research functions at GolinHarris International, Applied Communications and Text 100. He has worked with numerous consumer, business to business and not for profit organizations. His clients have included ARM, Boy Scouts of America, Disney Imagineering, Glaxo, IBM, McDonald's, Sara Lee, Stanford Athletics, United States Ski and Snowboard Association, Weyerhaeuser and many more. Forrest received a bachelor of science degree in biology and English with honors from the University of New Mexico and an MBA with emphasis on marketing and management policy from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Gary Hubbell consults around philanthropy, strategy, planning, and coaching, bringing more than 30 years’ experience to client engagements, drawn from work in development, public relations, opinion research and delivered with his own polished style and infectious sense of humor. Gary partners with organizations to illuminate the path to a desired future, identifying and removing barriers to growth while securing the human and financial resources necessary to get there. A voracious reader and student of history, he is constantly looking to understand the driving forces that shape organizational choices and produce create openings for change. He seeks to know why people and organizations behave the way they do so their passions and energy can be channeled to reach their full potential.
Julie King is an experienced marketing communications consultant and freelance writer, specializing in health and fitness. She operates as the director of communications for Octane Fitness, Torque Fitness and PLAE, and is a monthly contributing writer for Club Business International, a leading trade publication for the health club industry. Previously, she worked as senior manager of communications/education at Life Fitness, where she managed public relations, created internal communications and oversaw the Life Fitness Academy. Julie also was a manager in the healthcare practice at Burson-Marsteller, where she ran strategic external communications efforts for numerous clients, including AstraZeneca, The Gatorade Company and the American Dietetic Association. For 18 years, Julie has been a certified group exercise instructor and personal trainer, holding certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise, the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, the Aquatic Exercise Association and Schwinn/Mad Dogg Athletics. She has extensive continuing education and instruction experience in PiYo, YogaFit and Pilates. With honors, Julie earned a M.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.
Susan Sarhage has been in the administrative/consulting health field for more than 20 years. She has assisted several physician groups and private practices develop strategies for improved performances including operational and financial as well as marketing strategies to promote growth in these changing times. Founder of Medical Office Solutions, LLC, Sue offers services for practice management, front desk operational improvement, coding, payor follow-up, financial analysis along with EMR implementation, specializing in small group practices or single physician offices. Having worked on EMR for more than five years, Sue’s experience guides clients through the challenging process of implementation. Optimizing an office environment prior to implementing the EMR is Sue’s key to success.
