Led by people who've carried the weight.
XCL Group was founded by three operators, not theorists. Josh Chumley, Franklin Santagate and Marc Burmich have run P&Ls, rebuilt brands, raised the money, led teams of hundreds — and felt what it cost their families and their faith when they carried it alone. The Ascent, Peak and everything XCL builds comes from that seat.
Josh Chumley
Josh Chumley is Co-Founder and CEO of XCL Group, a faith-integrated executive coaching firm that helps Christian CEOs, founders and executive directors grow without breaking.
Josh is an operator, not a theorist. Over twenty years in the executive seat he has managed a $40M P&L and 400+ staff, led a $15M multi-site turnaround at DeVry to a 7-point margin gain in 18 months, run a $34M statewide operation at University of Phoenix, and built a start-up revenue unit at Alliance Defending Freedom that grew 30%, 50% and 65% in three consecutive years. In the nonprofit seat he has raised more than $30M in three years across Choices and Dream City Church — including an 85% increase in giving in 24 months, a $3M capital campaign and the multi-million-dollar Kingdom Builders program.
"Most leaders are not failing. They are producing results while quietly paying a cost they cannot sustain — because they are carrying it alone."
Josh's coaching works the three levers that change that: People, Process and Performance. He has coached more than 70 leaders over the past decade, and the ones who do the work report revenue growth, hours back and teams that run without them.
Josh leads a men's movement and a marriage ministry at his home church in Phoenix, where he serves alongside his wife, Johanna. He lives in Anthem, Arizona, and believes faith belongs in the boardroom as conviction, not decoration.
Both are Table Group / Patrick Lencioni frameworks. Josh facilitates them for leadership teams inside The Ascent and as standalone team workshops.
- $40M P&L and 400+ staff managed
- 18-month turnaround of a $15M multi-site business
- $30M+ raised for nonprofits in three years
- 70+ leaders coached over the past decade
Franklin Santagate
Franklin Santagate is Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of XCL Group, where he leads the Marketing & Branding practice and co-created the firm's three lines of work: executive coaching, the small-business accelerator and a full-service brand and marketing team.
Franklin has spent his career in two worlds at once — building brands in the marketplace and building ministries in the Church. He has led marketing for national consumer and technology brands, founded and sold two marketing firms, served as Executive Vice President of Marketing & Ministry Development at Pure Flix Entertainment, and spent six years as Chief Marketing Officer of Dream City Church, a multi-campus church across four states. His client roster over three decades has included Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Dell, Avnet, AT&T, Billy Graham Ministries and Mercedes-Benz, for whom he won an international creative competition against German, French and American firms.
"Ministries rarely struggle for conviction; they struggle for coherence — one story, told the same way, by everyone, from the first impression to the giving decision."
That is the problem Franklin most enjoys solving, and it is why XCL's marketing work starts with clarity before it ever touches a logo or an ad.
Franklin has been an ordained minister since 1995. He co-founded 100 Fold Ministries with his wife, Lisa, and has served the Church in 21 nations across six continents, including as Executive Director of the Christian Men's Network. He and Lisa have a blended family of six children and nine grandchildren.
- $13M to $42M in 3.5 years as VP of Marketing, Bollinger Industries
- 10x return on Microsoft campaign strategies through Avnet
- 96 to 210 nations as Executive Director, Christian Men's Network
- Built from zero Pure Flix's alliances and branding department
Marc Burmich
Marc Burmich is Chief Strategy Officer at XCL Group. A CEO, founder and strategist, he has spent 25 years helping leaders cut through complexity and translate calling into momentum — across nonprofits, ministries and startups.
Marc has led, built and advised more than 30 organizations through seasons of growth, transition and realignment. As a Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Creative Officer he shaped go-to-market strategies, investor pitches and brand architecture that opened new markets and accelerated growth. Today, as President & CEO of one of Arizona's largest nonprofit healthcare organizations, he has rebuilt the brand, expanded services, launched mobile medical clinics, doubled revenues and secured multimillion-dollar funding to deepen statewide impact.
"When a leader gains clarity, everything else begins to align. Healthy, aligned leaders change the world — one decision, one conversation, one act of courage at a time."
At XCL, Marc partners with pastors, nonprofit executives, founders and boards who feel the weight of leadership and long for renewed clarity — helping them realign their mission, strengthen their teams, refine their message and build organizations that lead with integrity. He also hosts The Ripple Effect with Marc Burmich, a podcast spotlighting leaders and changemakers shaping culture with purpose and courage.
- 25 years in executive, brand and venture strategy
- 30+ organizations led, built or advised
- Doubled revenue rebuilding one of Arizona's largest nonprofits
- Host, The Ripple Effect with Marc Burmich podcast
Not on the sidelines.
Between them, the three founders have sat in the pressure, made the hard calls and bridged the gap between vision and execution — in business, in ministry and in the nonprofit seat.
Faith isn't an add-on. It's stewarding the vision.
For Josh, Franklin and Marc, faith isn't a marketing angle — it shapes how a leader defines success, carries authority and stewards people. But this isn't church language dressed up as coaching. It's rigorous, executive-level work grounded in a Christian worldview. Conviction and competence. Prayer and process.
"Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."Proverbs 15:22
Start with a conversation — with a founder, not a sales rep.
The Basecamp Call is 30 minutes with Josh, Franklin or Marc. Bring your hardest problem. You'll leave with a plan — whether you hire us or not.
Every cohort capped at 10 leaders · Backed by the Climb Guarantee