Dr. Furse serves clients as Watermark’s Senior Consultant on strategy, a subject matter in which he has over forty years of experience. He created the StrategyMap© process for rapid strategy development and implementation. He is co-founder of Executive AURA, a leadership and strategy training company helping leaders “Think, Lead and Act like a CEO”.

Dr. Furse taught at Vanderbilt University from 1977-1983 in the Owen Graduate School of Management, after which he launched NCG Research, which he grew to serve over 600 hospitals in three countries. He sold the business to an investor group in 1998 and rejoined the Vanderbilt faculty. For 10 years he taught the Capstone Strategy Projects course to Executive MBA students. As part of the course, teams of Executive MBA students consult with client companies to create five-year strategic plans. Dr. Furse is also founding director of mentor training of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, an internationally recognized not-for- profit organization that screens, mentors, and incubates high-potential start-up businesses.

Earlier he was an infantry officer in the U.S. Army where he served in the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School and later as a Public Information Officer with the Ninth Infantry Division in South Viet Nam. For his service in Viet Nam, he received two Army Commendation Medals, two Bronze Stars, two Air Medals, and a Purple Heart.