Reluctant Leader

In December of 2011, during the worst national economic collapse since the 1930s, Las Vegas architect and business owner Craig Galati found his firm more than $800,000 in debt. To make matter worse, the company's founding partner had just resigned, the organization had used up all it's cash reserves, and there was next-to-no work in the pipeline. Although a partner in the firm, 51-year-old Galati had to this point enjoyed his role in business development, never needing to assume a leadership position. Racked by fear and self-doubt, Galati nevertheless stepped into the breach. Rather than hiding behind bankruptcy protection, he and his remaining partners vowed to pay off every creditor, rehire their furloughed workforce and turn the company around. With brutal honesty, a profound sense of obligation and a heartfelt desire to help others, Galati is not afraid to shine a light on his failures and successes as he worked around-the-clock to pull his firm back from the brink.