Built in the fire. Focused on the fix.
Forge Advising was founded by Marc Severson in January 2024 after years spent running complex, capital-heavy businesses where failure had real consequences. He built and operated a 5,000-acre farm, ran a regional trucking company, and made decisions in environments where the data was messy, the pressure was constant, and waiting wasn’t an option.
Forge wasn’t born from theory. It came from years of making calls in the fog—where the wrong move had real costs.
Since its launch, Forge has worked across agriculture, logistics, and business operations—helping owners, trustees, and investors stabilize or scale under pressure. We don’t offer canned advice or abstract strategy. We work with people who want clear priorities, honest decisions, and real follow-through.
Marc Severson - founder
Marc’s background spans three fields where failure has real consequences: military leadership, agriculture, and logistics. A U.S. Army veteran, Marc served as a company commander in Afghanistan and later as the operations officer for a 500-soldier light infantry battalion — the senior staff leader responsible for planning and executing all missions, training, and daily operations across the unit. He’s also built and led a medium-sized freight fleet and operated a 5,000-acre row crop farm. These weren’t advisory roles — Marc lived the volatility, made the hard calls, and owned the results.
Today, Marc leads Forge Advising, a consultancy focused on turnarounds, special project execution, and business recovery in operationally intensive industries. Marc works with owners, lenders, and investor groups to stabilize teams, restructure workflows, restore trust, and bring clarity back to leadership. When the way forward is unknown, that’s where Marc does his best work.
Marc’s Approach
Advice doesn’t matter if it doesn’t lead to action. Marc’s focus is execution: clear priorities, direct communication, and results you can measure. No fluff. No theory detached from reality. No binder of ideas that collect dust.
You’ll cut through noise, focus on what actually moves the needle, and move fast. The goal isn’t to admire the problem — it’s to solve it. Efficiently, decisively, and with accountability.
Matthew wagenecht - agronomist
Matt doesn’t just offer agronomy advice—he brings practical, field-tested solutions to the table. With over five years of hands-on experience and a client base of 50+ growers, he understands the pressures of modern farming and how to make every input count. Whether it’s dialing in variable rate strip-till programs or troubleshooting a micronutrient imbalance, Matt approaches each challenge with a combination of data, diligence, and genuine partnership.
Holding a CCA-IL license, Matt is equipped to deliver results across a wide range of operations. His deep familiarity with commercial corn, seed corn, soybean, and specialty crops coupled with a deep focus on soil fertility and balance allows growers to not only stay competitive in the industry- but stay ahead.
Matt’s approach
Matt believes that good agronomy starts with understanding the grower’s goals—and ends with measurable results in the field. He blends real-world experience with a precision mindset, focusing on what actually works, not what sounds good on paper.
His work is hands-on, proactive, and pressure-tested. Matt is committed to helping growers manage risk, maximize yield potential, and stay ahead in a fast-changing industry—all while making sure every recommendation is both agronomically sound and financially smart.
Clarity. Discipline. Results.
Clients trust Forge because we tell the truth — especially when it's uncomfortable. We don’t sugarcoat the data, and we don’t hide from hard decisions. What we do is roll up our sleeves, get inside the operation, and figure out where the drag is — then build a plan that cuts waste, restores momentum, and drives results. We’re direct, skeptical, and relentless about getting to the root of a problem. When something isn’t working, we say so. When a plan needs to change, we adjust without ego. And when it’s time to execute, we don’t vanish behind a PowerPoint — we get it done.
Whether it's improving cost control, building leadership capacity, or preparing for sale, turnaround, or succession — Forge Advising brings the discipline of combat leadership, the judgment of a seasoned operator, and the strategic mindset of someone who’s already made the hard calls with his own money on the line.
Forge Advising exists for one reason: to bring clarity, accountability, and execution to businesses navigating complexity. Most consultants offer ideas. We offer outcomes. If you’re tired of vague advice and need a partner who will cut through the noise — we should talk.