sorry you find me discouraging. sorry I tend to think like your therapist (I guess there are worse things to be accused of)(

look, at 61 yrs old I have worked in both the private and government sectors. supervisory and not. I see things and call them as I see them. I only know what you post here, not the back story. I also don't cover things in rainbows & lollipops...you want to help a company succeed well you better be able to lay your crap on the table because saviors Are held up to a higher standard.

as far access to ceo, I don't know if your company has a staff of 600 or 6.

agaiun people have offered you many types of advice. do with it as you will.