In 2024, TTI Success Insights hit a monumental milestone; we’re celebrating our 40 years in business.
We’ve learned a lot over the last four decades, and as the year winds down, we want to share lessons, memories, and plans for the future.
Dave Bonnstetter, Owner & Co-Founder, Vanessa Boettcher, Vice President of Global Distribution, and Dr. Ron Bonnstetter, Senior Vice President of Research & Product Development share special memories, what the future holds, and the legacy of connection built into TTI Success Insights.
When most people look at a farm in Corwith, Iowa, they see livestock, crops, and the grittiness that comes from hard work.
Bill J. Bonnstetter saw potential.
Born and raised in rural middle America, Bill’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to study business and marketing. More than anything, Bill was passionate about human behavior. No matter their path or profession, he knew every person just wanted to be understood. If someone could develop the right tools to facilitate that understanding, communication could blossom, and business could thrive.
In 1979, Bill was ready to develop that tool. Working with his son, Dave Bonnstetter, the two founded Target Training International, Ltd. in 1984.
“What makes TTI so special is a mixture of things," said Vanessa. "It's our global network, the legacy from Bill Bonnstetter, and Dave's expertise in the software that have allowed us to be leaders in the industry for so long."
TTI's assessments quickly became a cornerstone for thousands of independent consultants and business coaches. Building on the DISC model, TTI created and marketed personalized reports, followed by the launch of tailored software designed specifically for sales professionals and executives.
From the beginning, TTI was focused on making a difference in the lives of every person who used assessments. A crucial part of making that difference has been through the work of our partner network.
“We didn’t know how monumental the network would become when we first started,” said Dave. “We started with just a handful of partners, but as TTI grew, so did our network. We made an impact on them, and they’ve made such an impact on us. Even after Bill's passing, to get emails and letters thanking Bill and myself for what TTI provided and the impact they were able to make—that has been very special.”
From creating the first computerized assessment to expanding to a global network of partners to our extensive research and patents, TTI has been focused on innovation since Day One.
“I’ve been at TTI for the last 23 years,” Vanessa shared, “And in that time, I've witnessed our growth in all these different countries. We went from a handful of partners to now having direct presence in 55 countries and having a network of Master Distributors that help us cover all these markets directly.”
Through neuroscience research, TTI found that assessments are more accurate in someone’s native language. “We always say that, your native language is what you hear with your heart, not with your head,” Vanessa said. “DISC is now available in over 48 languages. It’s been incredible to be a part of that growth and journey.”
Early on, foundational patents like IDS (Internet Delivery Service)®, which incorporated password-protected links for assessment delivery via the internet, set TTI apart as a trailblazer in the industry. These achievements weren’t just technical milestones—they represented a mindset, a refusal to accept limitations.
“Maybe it's a Midwestern thing, but there's something that drives a particular group of people when they're told they can't do something,” said Dr. Ron. “I saw it in Bill, and I see it in myself and Dave. It sets in place a response that not everyone has—an unstoppable drive to succeed.”
That drive is in TTI’s Research. The spirit of resilience and curiosity has carried through to more groundbreaking advancements, like patents in response processing, which revolutionized how assessments achieve validity and reliability by analyzing how people think as they answer questions.
“I’ll never forget reading in the APA (American Psychological Association), ‘Well, response processing is virtually impossible because you can't see a person's brain while they're answering questions.’ There it was: a challenge,” said Dr. Ron. “Because I knew you could, using the right technology. And TTI has two patents that prove that we can.”
This relentless pursuit of progress, rooted in research, neuroscience, and a global vision, defines TTI’s legacy and continues to shape its future as a leader in the assessment industry.
And that’s just the beginning.
TTI’s enduring success stems from fostering meaningful connections among partners and creating an environment where collaboration thrives over competition. The ability to adapt to the unique needs of partners, alongside a relentless focus on research and validation, ensures that TTI stays focused on what matters. As new generations of partners join the network, the emphasis on building strong relationships and leveraging the collective wisdom of the TTI community will remain central to growth and impact.
Looking ahead, TTI is poised to continue its legacy of transformation by embracing feedback and staying attuned to the evolving needs of its global network. The future lies in listening—truly understanding challenges and opportunities—and then adapting to lead with purpose.
“There’s a lesson I'm still learning from my brother,” Dr. Ron told us. “Bill and I went two different routes. He went into business, and I went into academia. My need is to tell everything I know, but Bill knew in business that you needed to address the customers’ needs, to identify what is needed, and then to fulfill that need. And that was a lesson that he lived every day and that I'm still working on.”
With a steadfast focus on delivering value through innovation, research, and collaboration, TTI will continue sparking transformative experiences that help individuals and organizations thrive worldwide.
“We have a really solid team. We have a very strong vision for what's coming, and we are in such a special moment for TTI,” said Vanessa. “I am really excited for where we’re going to go, together.”