FOUNDING COHORTS NOW FORMING

The Leadership Circle

Incubator & Accelerator Programs

Build your leadership. Strengthen your business. Scale your impact.

Explore Programs

Why This Exists

The reality of leading a waste company

Hard to Find Peers Who Understand

Generic business groups don't know your industry. Finding leaders who truly understand waste operations is nearly impossible.

Leadership Pressure Increases with Growth

More revenue brings exponentially more complexity. What worked at $2M breaks at $10M.

Firefighting Replaces Strategy

Urgent crowds out important every single day. You're pulled into operations when you should be building the future.

Decisions Without Support

No trusted circle to validate your thinking or challenge your assumptions when stakes are high.

Tight Margins & Cash Pressure

Operational demands are relentless, margins are tight, and cash flow pressure never stops.

Building Something Valuable

You're making decisions that affect your team, customers, and family's financial future—often alone.

Great leaders don't grow alone. They surround themselves with people who challenge their thinking and support their growth.

Two Programs for Different Stages

Choose the right path for your company's revenue and growth stage

The Leadership Circle offers two distinct programs designed exclusively for waste management company leaders ready to scale with intention and excellence. This isn't for startups or operators content with the status quo—this is for leaders who see the potential in their business and are committed to realizing it through structured growth and strategic development.

INCUBATOR PROGRAM

Incubator

$0–$3M Annual Revenue

For waste hauling, recycling, or roll-off companies in early growth stages who want to build a real business—not just hustle harder.

This Program Is For You If:

  • Starting or growing your waste business
  • Wearing multiple hats—owner, operator, salesperson, dispatcher
  • Want to grow profitably and avoid expensive mistakes
  • Need systems to scale without breaking
  • Ready to build sustainable foundations
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

Accelerator

$3M–$30M+ Annual Revenue

For established waste companies committed to scaling with excellence, building leadership depth, and creating enterprise value.

This Program Is For You If:

  • Committed to scaling with excellence and integrity
  • Building a leadership team and company culture
  • Focused on profitability, cash flow, and disciplined growth
  • Planning future expansion or preparing for exit
  • Ready to lead at the next level

What You Want

You didn't build a waste company just to own a job

Confidence & Clarity

Make decisions from strategy, not stress. Know you're building the right thing the right way.

Stronger Leadership Team

Develop people who can lead without you. Build depth and capability across your organization.

Better Systems & Accountability

Replace tribal knowledge with documented processes. Create a culture where commitments are kept.

Margin & Cash Improvement

Stop leaving money on the table. Price for profit and manage cash like the strategic asset it is.

Higher Enterprise Value

Build a business that's attractive to buyers, whether you sell next year or in a decade.

A Business That Runs Without You

The ultimate measure of success: your company thrives even when you're not there.

What You Get

Continuous support through multiple formats

Monthly Touchpoints

2 Group Coaching Sessions per Month: Deep-dive workshops with the full cohort on leadership, systems, and financial management

1 Private Advisory Call per Month: One-on-one time to address your specific challenges and opportunities

Templates & Playbooks: Immediately actionable resources you can implement in your business

Quarterly Strategic Work

Strategic Planning Workshops: Facilitated sessions to set direction, review performance, and adjust your approach (2 in-person, 2 virtual)

Goal Setting & Accountability: Establish clear objectives and track progress as a cohort

Ongoing Community Access

Private Leadership Circle: Direct connection to your peer group between sessions for advice, perspective, and support

Shared Learning: Benefit from the collective experience of twelve waste industry leaders

Tools & Frameworks You'll Receive:

  • KPI dashboard & scorecard templates
  • Budgeting & forecasting tools
  • Cash flow improvement systems
  • Pricing & margin analysis tools
  • Leadership accountability frameworks
  • Strategic execution models
  • Exit readiness guidance
  • SOPs, checklists, and meeting rhythms

Why Brightline

Led by someone who's been in your shoes—not as a consultant, but as an operator

David Carlisle, CPA, CMA

The Leadership Circle is guided by David Carlisle, who brings more than two decades of hands-on experience in every critical role of the waste management industry.

"Practical, real-world guidance. No ivory tower theory—just proven frameworks adapted from real waste company challenges and wins."

20+ Years in Waste

Deep operational knowledge across residential, commercial, and industrial

Scaled to $200M+

Led growth from mid-market to regional powerhouse

CFO, President, Board

Served in executive leadership with P&L responsibility

M&A + Exit Experience

Multiple acquisitions and successful exit processes

Investment & Founding Member Benefits

Lock in founding member pricing—limited seats available

Incubator Program

$0–$3M Revenue
$1,500 Founding Member Rate / Month Regular Rate: $2,000/month
Save $500/Month

Program Includes:

  • 2 group coaching sessions/month
  • 1 private advisory call/month
  • Quarterly strategic planning workshops
  • Tools, templates, and playbooks
  • Private leadership community
  • 12-month commitment
  • 12 seats available

Accelerator Program

$3M–$30M+ Revenue
$1,800 Founding Member Rate / Month Regular Rate: $2,400/month
Save $600/Month

Program Includes:

  • 2 group coaching sessions/month
  • 1 private advisory call/month
  • Quarterly strategic planning workshops
  • Tools, templates, and playbooks
  • Private leadership community
  • 12-month commitment
  • 12 seats available

All Founding Members Receive:

12

Months Locked

Founding rate guaranteed

1st

First Access

Exclusive to founding cohort

Direct Access

To David during launch

Shape Program

Influence development

What Success Looks Like

Measurable outcomes across leadership, team, financial performance, and business value

Lead with Confidence

Make strategic decisions from clarity instead of stress, knowing you have frameworks and peer validation behind your thinking.

Strengthen Teams & Culture

Build a leadership team that can execute independently and a culture where accountability is the norm.

Improve Margins & Cash Flow

Price for profit, manage collections rigorously, and maintain the cash reserves that give you strategic options.

Build Scalable Systems

Replace founder dependency with documented processes and systems that allow you to scale without breaking.

Grow Enterprise Value

Systematically increase what your business is worth by building the characteristics that buyers and investors value most.

Gain Trusted Peers

Develop a circle of peers who understand your challenges, challenge your thinking, and support your growth.

Apply to the Leadership Circle

Private, invitation-only cohorts for committed waste industry leaders

Join the Founding Cohort

The Leadership Circle is private and invitation-only. We're looking for waste company leaders who are ready to invest in their growth and committed to showing up for themselves and their peers.

12 Seats Per Cohort
12 Month Commitment
2 Program Levels

You've built your business largely alone. You don't have to lead it that way.

Request an Application