Strategic Growth Advisors

Mark Seaton

Founder & Principal Partner

Mark Seaton is the founder of Grace Carlton Consulting and the architect of the firm's Strategic Triad model — the framework that connects manufacturers, distributors and GPOs, and end-users into three-way partnerships built for growth. His career has been defined by a singular focus: helping organizations build the relationships, supply chain strategies, and quality-validated sourcing programs they need to win in North American markets — for both branded and private-label product lines.

Mark spent 19 years at W.W. Grainger, a Fortune 300 global distributor, where he built deep expertise in healthcare, commercial, and industrial supply chains across 17 states. During his tenure, he was selected to join a specialized team of approximately 20 Grainger Healthcare professionals supporting district teams nationwide, serving for a combined five years as both a Safety Subject Matter Expert and a Digital Commerce SME — leading e-commerce strategy in the healthcare vertical and developing technology-driven solutions that connected manufacturers with end-users at scale. His work at Grainger gave him firsthand, comprehensive understanding of every link in the supply chain — from manufacturer capability and quality validation through distribution, procurement, and end-user deployment — and where the gaps and opportunities exist for both branded and private-label products.

Mark's healthcare expertise runs deep. He has trained and collaborated with organizations such as Joint Commission Resources, bringing clinical and regulatory insight to supply chain strategy. His direct experience working with several of the nation's largest healthcare group purchasing organizations informs GCC's ability to serve large healthcare systems that have the volume to source both branded and private-label products directly through qualified manufacturers. This sector remains one of Mark's greatest professional passions and a cornerstone of GCC's growth strategy.

After Grainger, Mark expanded his advisory career across a wide range of sectors — manufacturing, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automotive, government, and industrial markets — advising private equity firms on portfolio performance strategies, partnering with start-ups to accelerate market entry, and leading on-shoring initiatives to strengthen domestic supply chains. Across every engagement, Mark developed deep expertise across the full supply chain ecosystem: from supplier identification and manufacturer qualification through distribution development, branded and private-label program creation, and national-scale deployment. These experiences across multiple industries gave him the cross-sector perspective that is central to GCC’s value proposition: the ability to apply supply chain and program development insights from one industry to unlock opportunities in another.

At GCC, Mark has assembled and leads a multi-cultural advisory team with advisors based in the United States, Canada, and the Philippines. The team is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and French — enabling seamless collaboration with manufacturers and partners across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. GCC's global sourcing network spans China, Vietnam, India, Japan, Ireland, Turkey, Mexico, and Canada, reflecting Mark's commitment to connecting clients with the best manufacturers regardless of geography.

Mark is a firm believer in the power of AI and technology as tools for business transformation. Under his leadership, GCC actively utilizes advanced analytics, AI-driven market intelligence, and digital collaboration platforms to deliver faster insights across every phase of the advisory lifecycle — from opportunity identification and supplier assessment through program development and performance optimization — providing clients with a level of strategic intelligence that sets the firm apart.

Today, Mark is actively cultivating and expanding GCC's manufacturer network, driven by macro-economic trends including on-shoring, supply chain diversification, the growth of private-label sourcing, and increasing demand from healthcare systems and national homebuilders for direct-manufacturer relationships. His vision is for GCC to be the indispensable bridge in every Strategic Triad partnership — the independent, fractional, non-biased advisor that delivers results no internal team can replicate alone.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership (Magna Cum Laude) from Indiana Tech University, complemented by executive development programs in strategic sales leadership and enterprise account management.

He is also an active participant in public-private incubator partnerships that foster entrepreneurship, scalable growth, and community impact.

Beyond his professional work, Mark is deeply committed to community service. He has served in volunteer leadership roles with the YMCA, United Way, and Hospice, as well as organizations dedicated to supporting veterans and their families. He is an active supporter of youth sports and community-based initiatives — reflecting his belief that strong businesses and strong communities are built the same way: through trust, partnership, and sustained commitment.

Robin Seaton

Chief Creative Officer

Robin brings a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and leadership to her role at Grace Carlton Consulting. In addition to her extensive K-12 and higher education expertise, she has served as Director of Business Development, where she successfully built partnerships with institutions, military organizations, and universities across the United States. This national experience has given Robin a deep understanding of organizational needs at scale and how to design solutions that drive impact in diverse settings.

With a background in guiding teachers and professionals toward advanced degrees, Robin excels at translating classroom and administrative experience into strategies that deliver measurable outcomes and long-term success. Her ability to bridge the gap between education, enterprise, and leadership development allows her to craft approaches that are both practical and visionary.

Known for her hands-on, user-focused style, Robin ensures that every client engagement is transformative, sustainable, and rooted in trust. She holds a degree in Education from Illinois State University.

Mark McCullagh

Advisor

Mark is a seasoned business leader with deep expertise in B2B strategic sales, account development, national distribution and global sourcing. With a robust background in distribution, logistics, product development, and supply chain management, Mark is highly skilled at optimizing business processes, leveraging technology and cultivating strong client relationships to deliver innovative, results-oriented solutions. Mark holds degrees from Boston College and The London School of Economics. Mark enjoys open water swimming, volunteers at the YMCA to teach swimming and water-safety while he actively supports Swim Across America, raising money for grants for innovative cancer research, clinical trials, detection and patient programs.

Michael Jackson

Advisor, Asia and European Client Development & Support

With over four decades of hands-on manufacturing and global business experience, Michael Jackson brings unmatched technical insight and operational leadership to Grace Carlton Consulting Group.

Beginning his career as an hourly employee at a major automotive manufacturer, Mike advanced through production and management roles while earning degrees from Indiana University, Indiana Tech, and two graduate-level degrees (MSM and an MBA in Human Resource Management) from Oakland City University.​

Mike’s diverse industry background spans automotive and HVAC manufacturing, where he played a key role in supplier development and international quality assurance initiatives. As International Quality Manager for a global HVAC manufacturer, he led supplier certification and offshore sourcing programs in China and later consulted with four Chinese manufacturers operating in the United States, Mexico, and Canada—experience that now underpins his advisory work with foreign manufacturers navigating entry and expansion into the U.S. OEM and MRO markets.​

At GCC, Mike leverages his operational depth, cross-cultural management expertise, and academic grounding in project management, human resources, marketing, and quality to help Asian and European clients align with U.S. regulatory, quality, and supply chain expectations. His practical approach to process improvement, human-capital strategy, and sourcing reflects GCC’s commitment to helping clients build sustainable, localized market success.​

When not advising clients, Mike remains active in his community through the American Legion and continues to share his experience from teaching university-level courses in Project Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing, and Quality Assurance.​

Mandy Chow

Advisor, Business Development | Global Trade & Market Expansion

Mandy Chow helps manufacturers enter and scale in North America, drawing on 20+ years in international trade, global sourcing, and cross border business development. She has built export businesses from startup phase to more than USD 200 million in annual sales, giving her a practical understanding of what it takes to win with OEMs, distributors, and retailers in competitive markets.​

Mandy’s experience spans industrial products and consumer goods, including leading worldwide HVAC export growth and managing high volume retail programs supplying fixtures and displays into the U.S. grocery and mass retail channels. She understands Western manufacturing expectations, compliance requirements, and the commercial realities of pricing, packaging, logistics, and ontime fulfillment for demanding North American customers.​

Fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English and proficient in French, Mandy bridges cultural and commercial expectations between Asian, European, and North American partners with ease. Today, she focuses on building and expanding premium brands in the U.S., connecting manufacturers with the right goto market mix across retail, distribution, and omnichannel platforms while remaining extremely active in supporting her children’s academic and creative development.​ Known for her strategic mindset, operational discipline, and crosscultural fluency, she is a trusted partner for foreign manufacturers seeking sustainable, profitable growth in the North American market.​