From Factory Floor to Fortune 500: C. Elliott Haverlack Releases Fourth Leadership Book, "Combustion"

PINEY FLATS, Tenn., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the official release of Combustion: Simplification That Ignites Success for Leaders in Business by executive strategist, speaker, and author C. Elliott Haverlack. Serving as the practical successor to Haverlack's servant leadership book Firestarter, Combustion provides managers, executives, and business owners with a tactical roadmap to strip away organizational friction, eliminate bureaucratic drag, and sustain long-term performance.

Drawing on more than 40 years of operational experience spanning the factory floor, corporate turnarounds, and Fortune 500 boardrooms, Haverlack tackles the reality that complexity smothers business growth. As organizations mature, they naturally accumulate layers of redundant processes, meetings, and policies that dilute value and stall execution. Combustion presents an actionable framework centered on "unbundling"—the deliberate discipline of stripping away unnecessary complications so critical initiatives move faster and hit harder. Designed as a tactical operating manual rather than theoretical commentary, Combustion bridges the gap between vision and execution, tackling the operational friction points that quietly erode momentum. Each chapter pairs real-world corporate case studies with a signature "Combustion Check," providing leaders with clear diagnostic questions to audit their teams, strategy, communication, and crisis readiness.

"Where Firestarter created the initial spark, Combustion delivers the fuel, structure, and discipline required to sustain it," said Haverlack. "Ignition alone is fleeting. The most effective leaders do not win by adding more; they win by clearing the path and building engines that keep their organizations burning cleanly and efficiently over time."

Early praise highlights the book's actionable framework for modern executives. Peter Pantuso, Former President & CEO of the American Bus Association, notes: "Combustion is a must-read for anyone in management. Elliott's blending of outstanding business practices and lessons learned during his extraordinarily successful career provides a compelling book on how businesses should operate to thrive. Combustion's focus on 'unbundling' is a bold model for every organization to follow."

To celebrate the release of Combustion, Golden Acorn Press will host an exclusive Virtual Book Launch event today at 7PM EST. Designed as an intimate, interview-style celebration, the virtual gathering brings together readers, colleagues, and supporters for a guided discussion exploring the book's operational insights, key frameworks, and behind-the-scenes stories from Haverlack's corporate executive career. Space is limited and registration is required. To reserve your spot and attend the live event, register via the official Virtual Book Launch RSVP Form.

Combustion: Simplification That Ignites Success for Leaders in Business is available now on Amazon in both Kindle and Hardback formats.

About the Book: Combustion

Combustion: Simplification That Ignites Success for Leaders in Business (Golden Acorn Press) is an executive playbook designed to transform leadership inspiration into repeatable operational excellence. Anchored in the principles of simplicity, accurate data measurement, and focused execution, the book equips leaders across all levels to dismantle organizational clutter, lead through crises, and build self-propagating cultures of high performance. For more information, visit www.combustionbook.com.

About C. Elliott Haverlack

C. Elliott Haverlack is an author, keynote speaker, and executive business strategist with over four decades of operational leadership across five corporate executive roles. Having advanced from frontline manufacturing to Fortune 500 executive suites, Haverlack specializes in organizational simplification, servant leadership, and enterprise execution. He is the namesake benefactor of the Haverlack College of Business at Slippery Rock University and the author of Unbundle It, Firestarter, and From Fear to Fulfillment. Learn more about Elliott at www.cehaverlack.com.

For more information contact Teresa Glasgow | Public Relations & Media Team, speak soft. Act Loud!

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Website: www.cehaverlack.com | www.combustionbook.com

SOURCE C. Elliott Haverlack