Curt Sassak

Curt Sassak's Coaching

So, you’ve got a life and career that looks great on paper, but no longer feels like a win.

If you’ve hit a point where the pressure’s high and the payoff is low, you’re not alone.
 You’ve outgrown the life you built.

That’s exactly who I work with.

If you're thinking you can just grind your way through it—good luck.
 I tried that.
 So did most of my clients.
 We all ended up at the same place: stuck, frustrated, spinning our wheels. 

Enter: The Recipe
 A high-performance framework built for high-achievers who want clarity, and momentum, fast.

It’s inspired by my 27-year chef career—because chefs don’t wing it.
 We follow structure.
 We refine.
 We execute with precision.

That’s what this is.

This isn’t a journal prompt and a pep talk.

 It’s a system—tested by fire—designed to help you:

 → Get clear on what’s next
 → Identify and eliminate the internal drag holding you back
 → Build momentum through customized strategy

This isn’t personal development.
 It’s personal execution.

We extract your core drivers, map them to your next chapter, and build a plan that makes sense for your ambition, standards, and lifestyle.

And I don’t take on everyone.

This is for people who have a track record of making sh*t happen,
 And are ready to channel that same energy into building the next version of themselves.

It requires honesty. Focus. Execution.

 You bring that—I’ll bring the clarity, speed, and accountability.

DM me “RECIPE” when you’re ready to move.

 And just know—I don’t work with spectators. Only builders.

Life and Career Strategist

Winetasters Choice: An Adult Beverage Promotional Agency

Key accomplishments:

👉Spearheaded the strategic growth of a B2B beverage promotion agency, elevating annual revenue from $300,000 to $1.4 million. 

👉Drove the company's revenue-generation engine as the principal revenue officer, by additional $221,000 in revenue within a five-month span in 2023 

👉Expanded operational footprint from 12 employees across four cities in Texas to a team of 250 employees spanning three states

👉Authored and enforced comprehensive standards, processes, and protocols, laying the foundation for scalable growth and operational excellence. 

👉Pioneered a remote work model, adeptly managing a dispersed team, fostering a culture of accountability and high performance. 

👉Spearheaded the development and execution of comprehensive social media campaigns, from conceptualization to content creation and audience engagement. 

👉Achieved a 4.6/5 star rating on Glassdoor, reflecting exceptional leadership and a positive organizational culture. Garnered a 90% approval rating from employees, underscoring effective management and employee satisfaction. 

👉Demonstrated deep understanding of market trends, and consumer behavior, enabling the development of targeted promotional campaigns. 

👉Regulatory Compliance: Ensured all promotional activities complied with industry regulations and standards, maintaining the agency's reputation and operational integrity. 

👉Achieved significant growth with a small team by  implementing new systems, automation and enhancing software utilization.

👉Problem-Solver: Excel at navigating ambiguous situations and making informed decisions with limited information. 

👉Founded and grew a successful YouTube channel, overseeing all aspects of content creation, video production, and editing. Utilized the platform to effectively drive new business opportunities

Company closed by the owner on 3/2/2024.

Testimonials:
https://winetasterschoice.com/testimonials-2/

President and Chief Revenue Officer

Executive Chef

Focused experience working in internationally renowned 5-star establishments.

USA, India, Dubai, Egypt, Australia and the Maldives

Previously employed at: Four Seasons Domestic, Four Seasons International, Hyatt Domestic, Hyatt International, One & Only, Marriott, independent restaurants


Key accomplishments:

👉 Distinguished by two guest chef appearances at the world-renowned James Beard House, a testament to culinary artistry and innovation.

👉 Engaged audiences with charismatic presence through 10 live TV appearances, enhancing brand visibility and personal brand as a culinary expert.

👉 Garnered 24 Best Restaurant/Hotel awards, affirming excellence in culinary delivery and guest satisfaction.

👉 Secured the prestigious Best New Restaurant Award from the iconic Washingtonian Magazine 

👉 Celebrated for exceptional culinary creations and service, reflected in numerous positive critiques and write-ups across esteemed culinary publications.

👉 Spearheaded the pre-opening phases of hotels and restaurants, demonstrating strategic foresight and operational excellence in establishing culinary ventures.

👉 Commanded teams of up to 200, fostering a culture of excellence, creativity, and teamwork in high-pressure environments.

👉 Managed multi-million dollar food and beverage operations, showcasing adept financial acumen and operational management to drive profitability and culinary excellence.

👉 Lowered food cost by $70,000 and increased the guest satisfaction rating for food quality by 1.4 points from 2 to 3.4 on a scale of 1-5 in my first year as Executive Chef

Teaching Mid-Career Leaders how to navigate life & career transitions using my Proven Recipe / Improve the quality of your life / Create your next chapter by design, not default / Former Chef

𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙃𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝘾𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙤𝙧.

You work your ass off, climb the ladder, got everything you want on paper, but feel empty. 

You ask yourself, "Is this it? What's next?"

You tell yourself it’s just a phase. That the feeling will pass.

It won’t.

At first, it’s a nagging thought. Then it’s an ache. 

You're wondering how you went from feeling like a confident badass knocking out your goals to just tolerating your life and career. 

Now, you dread waking up and you're just going through the motions daydreaming about the way things used to be. 

You know you want a change. You have something more to offer the world. 

But fear is holding you back. 

I know this feeling. It cost me 4 years of my life. I was depressed, and it cost me my confidence, my drive, and over $250,000.

Until I decided to take back control.

𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐈 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 & 𝐇𝐎𝐖

I work with career-driven, successful professionals 40 and up who feel stuck and want more out of life.

You’re not lost. You’re not broken. You’re just at a crossroads.

Your problem isn’t knowing you need a change. 

Your problem is knowing HOW to do it—without wasting years stuck in limbo like I did.

Your clarity is just like a five-star dish—if you’re missing key ingredients or following the wrong process, it won’t turn out right.

That’s where I come in.

I help high-performers get the exact recipe they need to figure out what’s next.

Here’s the recipe:

𝙄𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨:

🔥 Sharpen Your Mindset: REGAIN your CONFIDENCE and break free from self-doubt and second-guessing.
🔥 Regain Balance: Stop just surviving—start actually living.
🔥 Get Crystal Clear Clarity: Know exactly where you're headed and how to get there.
🔥 Remove Mental Roadblocks: Identify and eliminate what’s keeping you stuck.
🔥 Design Your Next Chapter: Not by accident. Not by default. But with intention.
 
𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙚:

Follow a proven and tested real-world process built on precise ingredients that puts you back in control.

𝘾𝙇𝙄𝙀𝙉𝙏 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙐𝙇𝙏𝙎

The real success stories? My clients.

"Curt didn’t just help my career—he helped me take back my life. His approach forced me to get real about what I wanted. The clarity I gained was priceless."
— Matt Lunny

𝙉𝙀𝙓𝙏 𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙋𝙎

If you're done settling and want to wake up excited about your life again, let’s talk.

Message me: "I want the Recipe" to learn more. 

That’s it. No fluff. No B.S. Just results.

— Curt

Founder

So, you’re career driven, have had success, and now you feel like there are no more mountains to climb.

You got to the top of the “mountain,” and achieving your goals only to find you don’t feel fulfilled or happy. It’s like, WTF?

Your life/career no longer serves you. All you know is that you feel stuck and see no way out. You need to make a change. But doing what?

Then fear creeps in. You have questions.  “What do I do now?”  “I don’t know what else to do” 

“If I change careers how will I make enough to pay my bills?” and so on

These are the same questions (and more) I asked myself when I did a career change after 27 years as a chef and started over at 41 from zero.

Did you know a New York Times study found that 75% of Americans don’t have a clear sense of purpose?

And, there are serious health risks associated with a lack of purpose

A lack of purpose affects your self-worth, self-confidence, and self-esteem.
Which, in turn, can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other health issues.
I experienced all of those.

The good news is this: You’re only 5 steps away from finding the purpose, fulfillment, and new career you so desperately want.

They are the same 5 steps I used to go from feeling lost/stuck and finding a purpose and fulfillment

All it requires from you is self-honesty and a commitment to change

I coach people through one-to-one sessions

You think asking for help is equivalent to failure? Yep, I used to think the same, but that’s your ego talking

Consider: If you’ve been stuck, and the steps you’ve taken have not yielded results, what makes you think anything will change by repeating what you’ve done?

What got you here will not get you THERE.

Just like a car needs realignment from time to time, our personal and professional vision needs realignment from time to time

So, you can remain stuck and lost, or you can send me a DM

Audit Leverage

If AI could make your audits faster and 
more effective, would you use it?

I asked myself this question—
and then I built the answer.

Audit Leverage is my next big move: 
an AI-powered platform designed to help auditors 
plan smarter, analyze deeper, and communicate clearer.

For years, I’ve seen auditors struggle with 
root cause analysis, audit planning, 
and client communications.

Too much time spent fixing words, 
not enough time fixing risks.

That’s why I created Audit Leverage. 

It’s not about replacing auditors—
it’s about giving them an edge.

I’m excited to step into this role as 
Founder & CEO and help auditors 
do what they do best—drive impact.

What’s one part of your audit workflow 
you wish took less time? 

Let’s talk. 👇

#AuditLeverage #AIforAuditors #InternalAudit #AuditTech #RiskManagement #AuditInnovation

That Audit Guy

We help organizations identify and mitigate risks by improving the people performing the processes so that they can improve profits. We audit business processes, provide corporate training, and distribute thought leadership through publications and keynote speeches. 

TRAINING: On demand, in person or virtual training designed to fit your budget and competency requirements. We specialize in soft skills, business processes, supervisory skills and internal auditing.

SPEAKING: Entertaining and engaging speakers with the ability to simplify complicated topics and/or motivate your team.

WRITING: Having a hard time finding the right words for that business report? We write reports that are clear and actionable.

CONSULTING: We help you fix broken processes through internal audits, business processes reviews, quality reviews and SOX work.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Internal audit, risk management, corporate compliance, information technology general computer controls, Sarbanes Oxley, report writing, risk assessments, conflicts of interest, audit committee assessments, internal audit quality assurance reviews, corporate culture evaluations, active listening, asking questions, managing diverse teams.

www.thatauditguy.com

President

The Corporate Quitters Podcast

Creator, producer and host of the podcast dedicated to helping people quit believing limiting beliefs that are holding them back. Each week, I have get the opportunity to talk to some of the most wonderful people on the planet. They share a lot of themselves with us.

Listen in on your favorite podcasting platform.

www.thecorporatequitters.com

Podcast Host

University of South Alabama

The University of South Alabama is a comprehensive, global research and teaching university. We serve approximately 16,000 students. We also manage a health system with (1) a medical center that is the regions only Level 1 trauma center, (2) a children’s a women’s hospital that is one of only five freestanding hospitals in the United States devoted specifically to the health care needs of children and women, (3) a state of the art cancer institute and (4) a physicians group with the region’s largest multispecialty practice. External contracts and grants for fiscal year 2015 topped $58 million and the USA Technology and Research Park has created more than 600 local, private-sector jobs in computer science, information technology and biotechnology.

So what did I do among all this great activity?

• Implemented the first official student internal audit internship program
• Developing the first organization wide risk assessment
• Implemented a robust audit management system
• Started the internal audit data analysis initiative
• Officially appointed as a member of the President's Executive Council
• Lead team that identified approximately $90,000 in duplicate payments
• Lead project that reduced/eliminated a possible $5.8 million expenditure
• Performed work that resulted in a 10% increase in revenue at one healthcare unit

Executive Director of Internal Audit

ACUA - Association of College and University Auditors

Treasurer

The Association of College and University Auditors (ACUA) is a professional organization comprised of over 2,000 audit professionals representing 524 member institutions in 14 countries. The organization’s Core Values are Integrity, Open Sharing of Information, Camaraderie, Respect, Commitment to Excellence, and Innovation. ACUA services its members through 2 national annual live conferences, regional conferences, member webinars, message boards, list serves and the College and University Auditor professional publication. Volunteers, serving on the Board of Directors and various support Committees, are the backbone of operations. ACUA also contracts with a professional association management firm that provides support for administrative activities.

Faculty members are a vital source of knowledge and information.  Duties include the following:

• Creating and delivering engaging session materials relevant to the ACUA member community
• Facilitating sessions at the ACUA Annual and/or Midyear conference
• Maintaining satisfactory speaker ratings
• Advocating for the profession of internal auditing

Faculty Member

The Association of College and University Auditors (ACUA) is a professional organization comprised of over 2,000 audit professionals representing 524 member institutions in 14 countries.  The organization’s Core Values are Integrity, Open Sharing of Information, Camaraderie, Respect, Commitment to Excellence, and Innovation.  ACUA services its members through 2 national annual live conferences, regional conferences, member webinars, message boards, list serves and the College and University Auditor professional publication.  Volunteers, serving on the Board of Directors and various support Committees, are the backbone of operations.  ACUA also contracts with a professional association management firm that provides support for administrative activities.

Board Members at Large perform duties and tasks assigned by the President.  Duties often times include functioning as a liaison for various committees and task forces.  The position also entails contributing to the strategic direction of the organization.

Board Member at Large

University of North Florida

The University of North Florida (UNF) is a 16,000 student university with ownership interest in a law enforcement training company and an art museum, a $70 million endowment, over $17 million in contracts and grants, $107 million in financial aid disbursements, 6 residence halls, a state of the art conference center, aquatic center and golf course complemented by retail stores and several food venues.

Reporting administratively to the President/CEO and functionally to the Audit Committee Chair (CFO of a fortune 500 company), I am currently responsible for the entire audit program including talent acquisition and development, risk assessment, audit plan development, audit plan execution and audit committee reporting.  Areas of responsibility are vast and include risks associated with areas mentioned above.  Accomplishments include the following:

• Designed and deployed the first institution wide risk assessment
• Implemented the first audit committee dashboard reporting
• Hired the first Information Technology auditor in the history of the department
• Performed the first Information Technology audits
• Introduced the concept of integrated auditing
• Developed the first student worker program

Director of Audit

The Institute of Internal Auditors, Northeast Florida Chapter

Secretary

Unversity of North Florida

Instructor - CIA Review Course

NetBank

Member of the Enterprise Risk Management team, reporting to the Chief Risk Officer, hired to develop and streamline the SOX process for the $4.5 billion financial institution with significant mortgage operations, commercial leasing operations, a retail mortgage footprint and the third largest domestic ATM provider in the United States.  Responsibilities included talent acquisition/development, SOX process documentation, SOX training, 302/404 compliance.  Duties, responsibilities and accomplishments include:

• Identified and implemented an enterprise wide work-flow enabled software solution for the Sarbanes Oxley compliance effort.  This resulted in a paperless SOX process.
• Managed a $5 million dollar budget and up to 24 personnel in various geographic locations
• Implemented process improvements that reduced SOX expenditures greater than $3.5 million
• Identified $3 million of under utilized assets and spearheaded efforts for better usage
• Procured, implemented and maintained the Enterprise Risk Management System
• Managed relationship with external auditors
• Presented risks, observations and recommendations to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
• Realized cost savings of over $100,000 through business process reengineering projects
• Developed training materials and provided ongoing SOX training for all personnel

Director of SOX & Internal Controls

EverBank

EverBank is a multi-billion dollar national financial institution with customers in over 45 states, substantial mortgage lending operations, a wealth management group and title insurance operations.  The primary duty and responsibility was to developed and implemented the structure, protocols and operating standards for the newly created Internal Audit department.

Assistant VP - Auditor

I help auditors become awesome | Audit Trainer & Keynote Speaker | 2023 Internal Audit Beacon award recipient

Ever tried turning an auditor into a superhero? 
That’s pretty much my day job.

Hi, I’m Rob. 

I’m on a mission to help internal auditors unleash their superpowers through engaging training sessions and seminars. With two audit-focused podcasts in my utility belt, I’m all about sharing the insider secrets that turn good auditors into legends.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈 𝐃𝐎
As an award-winning trainer, keynote speaker, and emcee, I’m the guy who makes compliance conversations not just bearable but actually enjoyable. 

(Yes, it’s possible!) 

Beyond the stage, I lead a team that offers co-sourced and outsourced internal auditing services, SOX testing, and SOX program management—helping our clients stay ahead of the curve without breaking a sweat.

𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑
In the world of auditing, staying sharp isn’t just a choice—it’s the difference between being a number-cruncher and a game-changer. 

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐌𝐄
I’m fueled by a passion to make auditing more impactful, less dull, and way more fun. Whether it’s through a training session that leaves you inspired, a podcast episode that makes you think, or a keynote that has you laughing (and learning), I’m all about turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑
➡️In person, virtual or on demand training
➡️Keynote speeches
➡️Conference emcee services
➡️Internal audit cosourcing and outsourcing
➡️And much more

So, if you’re ready to elevate your audit game—or just want to chat about how to make compliance cool—let’s connect. Whether we’re collaborating on a project or just swapping stories, I’m all in.

Let's connect or contact me.
Rob - I help make auditors awesome.

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Curt Sassak

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