|
|
|
|
Senior Associate Biographies
|
|
|
 Email:
Barbara Ardell |
With over 30 years of professional sourcing experience, Barbara Ardell
leverages a diverse background in strategic sourcing, change management,
quality and training to craft effective sourcing initiatives, increasing
the capability of current staff through training, coaching or independently
implementing specific sourcing strategies. She was recently touted by Jason
Busch, editor of the distinguished industry blog SpendMatters, as being
“perhaps the most experienced, no-nonsense e-sourcing
practitioner-turned-consultant in the market”.
During multiple assignments in her 20+-year career at Procter & Gamble,
Ms. Ardell managed the Beauty Care sourcing organization responsible for
packaging and ingredients for P&G’s shampoo, deodorant and Vidal Sassoon
products. Prior to that, she was directly responsible for strategic
sourcing spends worth over $250 million annually.
Ms. Ardell held several positions at Procuri, Inc. (acquired by Ariba),
an On-Demand Supply Management solution provider. As VP of Sourcing
Solutions, she assisted clients with solutions to improve the efficiency
and effectiveness of their sourcing organizations. She benchmarked sourcing
organizations against industry standard best practices. She also counseled
sourcing leadership in establishing appropriate goals and measures, and
guided clients through implementation to enable an efficient ramp-up and a
rapid return on investment. She directly assisted customers with learning
and utilizing Procuri’s eSourcing software solution, which saved hundreds
of millions of dollars on a wide variety of spends.
Ms. Ardell founded and operated a corporate training and consulting
business during which she developed and delivered training to clients on
topics such as total quality, teamwork, diversity, people and communication
skills, and leadership. She was selected by General Electric to be a
certified Six Sigma Quality trainer.
Ms. Ardell is a Vice President of Paladin Associates Inc. responsible
for Sourcing technology programs including Spend Analytics and e-Sourcing.
She also manages client Sourcing initiatives and provides commodity
leadership in packaging related cost reduction projects. She attended Miami
University of Ohio, the University of Cincinnati, and The Union Institute.
|
|
Email:
Mike Clair |
Mike Clair is an experienced executive in Operations and Supply Chain
management.
After service as an officer in the US Army, Mike joined GE’s Product
Service Management Training Program. He spent 17 years in increasingly
responsible financial and accounting assignments and 14 more years in a
variety of operations leadership assignments in four different divisions of
GE, including Mgr of Ops for a National Repair Center & Technical Support
Operation, VP of Ops for a National Test & Measurement Instrument business
and Global Supply Chain Manager for an Industrial Systems Engineering
Services and Drive Systems manufacturing business.
Mike then joined EarthLink, Inc. as VP and Chief Procurement Officer,
establishing a best-in-class company-wide procurement and sourcing
organization that played a key role in the company’s success as one of the
top ranked national Internet Service Providers.
Mike holds a B. S. in Business Administration from The Citadel, Charleston,
South Carolina. He is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Certified
Purchasing Manager.
He is a Senior Associate in Paladin Associates, Inc.,
focusing on Strategic Sourcing.
|
|
|
Email:
Paul Evans |
Paul D. Evans has 20 years of executive experience in Supply Chain,
Information Technology, Operations, Logistics, and Customer Service
Management in a diverse range of industries. He has managed turnaround situations, directed change for company
mergers, and led startup opportunities.
Most recently he was the founder of a company that
facilitated speed to market for promotional / new items and activities within
the food/consumer products industry. The company provided cost efficient and
proactive methods to connect buyers and sellers with the industries three
principal supply chain contributors: manufacturers, distributors and retail
stores.
Paul is a Senior Associate in Paladin Associates Inc. concentrating on Food
and Consumer Products Industry engagements.
He received a BS in Computer Science from the Utah State University and an MBA
from Central Missouri State University.
|
|
|
Email:
Howard Fuller |
Howard Fuller has over 33
years of financial experience with GE, including multi-functional involvement
in Operations, General Management, Sourcing, Sales & Marketing,
Engineering, Project Management, Business Development, Mergers &
Acquisition, Facilities and Distribution.
At GE Aircraft Engine, he held positions in accounting and financial
planning & analysis. At GE Plastics, he held management positions
including Mgr-Accounting Operations and Mgr-Finance for the Americas Mfg
Division, contributing to improved plant capacity, inventory turns and
safety and environmental performance, while generating $117M in productivity.
He was Mgr-Finance for a grassroots facility representing the largest plant
investment ($715M) in GE’s history, involving procurement of 6,300 acres of
land as well as tax incentives of $8M annually with the State of Alabama.
Most recently, Howard was VP-Finance for GE Lighting Systems, Inc., where he separately
incorporated that business in the State of North Carolina, resulting in $2M annual tax
savings. As Sourcing leader he implemented strategies resulting in savings of
$5-$15M annually. He also
established joint ventures in Monterrey, Mexico and Ft. Worth, Texas.
Howard is currently a Senior Associate in Paladin Associates Inc. focusing on Financial and Sourcing activities.
Howard received a BBA in Accounting from the University of Cincinnati and MBA
in Finance from Xavier (Ohio) University. He is a graduate of GE’s Financial Management Program and executive
development courses at GE’s Management Development Institute.
|
|
|
Email:
Lora Griffith |
|
Lora Griffith has 18 years of outstanding performances in M&A, finance,
audit, sourcing, sales, marketing, project and business management.
In 8 years at Ernst & Young, she was an external auditor with several
high-profile SEC clients and a management consultant leading over 50
strategic planning, M&A, and operational assessment projects.
Over 4 years at GE Power Systems, she was project leader for two
CEO-level initiatives, managing a $23MM project budget and 80 people,
including 5 Master Black Belts and 10 Black Belts.
Later, as CEO of a struggling construction company, Lora structured a
well-managed corporation, doubling revenues in one year while increasing
profit margin 350% over 4 years.
In 2008, Lora founded a management consulting firm specializing in
mission critical project management, process improvement and cost reduction
projects. In her largest project, with a $2.9B chemical company, she managed
a CEO-level initiative to secure $50M of sourcing cost reduction in 6 weeks.
As a Vice President at Paladin Associates Inc., Lora provides broad
experience in Cost Reduction, Revenue Enhancement and Management Support
offerings and strong project management expertise.
She has a B.S.B.A. from the University of Arizona, attended numerous GE
management and leadership courses, and became a Certified Public Accountant
in 1994.
|
|
|
Email:
John Halligan |
John Halligan is a senior management executive with over 30 years of
expertise in venture capital and financial and operating management in
various global industries, financial services, and sales and distribution.
In 1999, he co-founded SI Ventures where he has been a Managing Partner of
the venture capital firm specializing in IT, security, infrastructure and
communications software companies enabling eCommerce. He provided strategic
direction, operating advice and business contacts for over 20 SI Ventures
portfolio companies, serving on the Board of Directors of eight of the
companies.
Previously, John was Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of
Gartner for nine years, where he led the company's IPO in 1994 and completed
more than 20 acquisitions and divestitures during the 1990s. In addition, Mr.
Halligan managed Gartner's financial and administrative functions during its
tremendous growth from $40 million to over $900 million in annual revenue
during the 1990s. During his tenure, he established an internal venture
capital organization, funding start-up companies that were either later
acquired by Gartner or sold to other acquirers.
Prior to Gartner, John spent 22 years with General Electric Company in senior
financial and operating positions, including CFO/Staff Vice President of GE
Communications and Services. His tenure included financial positions in the
major appliance industries, international operations, industrial motors and
power equipment. He was heavily involved in mergers, acquisitions, and
operations at GE.
As a Senior Associate at Paladin Associates Inc., he provides broad expertise in
assisting clients through Financial Management and Information Technology
Consulting, including Interim CFO assignments, IPO positioning and Merger
& Acquisition Assessments. He also provides assistance to start-up
companies from business plan development to acquiring funds.
John holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Providence College.
|
Thomas M. Laicha |
Email:
Tom Laicha |
Tom is an experienced senior executive in global sourcing, procurement, and
supply chain. Tom has spent 31 years supporting manufacturing, R&D, and
corporate environments, as well as in the consulting arena. During this time,
Tom has worked for companies such as GE, Eastman Kodak Company, American
Express, and Albany International Corp.
Tom has exposure across all commodity areas, in the consumer, digital,
medical, electronics and telecommunications, building and construction,
industrial, aerospace, and paper markets. Tom’s niche lies within plastics,
resins, molding, chemicals, additives, color concentrates, packaging and
construction/equipment. Tom has considerable experience in low cost country
sourcing, SAP, lean principles, procurement policy and compliance.
Over the years, Tom has proven success in assessing procurement teams and
practices, as well as identifying and delivering value (savings and cash) in
both the short and long term. Building highly successful procurement teams
from the ground floor, including hiring, training, and coaching team members,
and/or improving and accelerating the performance of existing teams are Tom’s
strengths.
Tom received his degree in Business and Economics from Slippery Rock
University of Pennsylvania, and is a member of the Institute for Supply
Management and NAPM of the Capital District (NY).
|
|
|
Email:
Tim Waite
|
Tim Waite is a senior
Information Technology executive with 37 years of experience in multiple
businesses. He has delivered
solutions across all functions of the manufacturing enterprise, developing
high performance teams, optimizing business processes, and improving
operational performance.
Tim was the CIO of GE
Sensing where he provided leadership vision and strategic IT solutions in
support of manufacturing, marketing, sales, services, finance, HR and
technology.
He participated in due diligence activities in the
acquisition of several high technology companies. Post close, he was instrumental in the business integrations
as well as development and execution of the IT strategy that subsequently
allowed the consolidated businesses to act as one.
For over 14 years in a CIO position, Tim constantly added value while driving
simplification and cost reduction.
When several acquired businesses led to fourteen distinct ERP
platforms, multiple engineering toolkits, and diverse networks and client
images, his team deployed a single infrastructure, a common Business
Intelligence platform, and road mapped a single Oracle-based ERP system. Tim
has a great record assembling a strong team of IT professionals.
He has broad knowledge of international operations.
Establishing a joint venture with Prolec in Monterrey, Mexico, and
leading the deployment of Oracle in Korea, China, Ireland, and the E.U.
Assigned to a plant in the UK he was instrumental in significantly
raising their promises kept measurements.
Tim joins Paladin Associates as a Senior Associate heading the
Information Services Practice.
He has a B.P.S. from the State University of New York, majoring in
Information Systems Management. He
is also a graduate of the GE Financial Management Program.
|
|
|
Email: Bob
Wilcox
|
Bob Wilcox is a senior manufacturing executive with over 35 years of experience
in domestic and overseas production operations, managing single and
multi-plant facilities from 500 to over 3,500 union and non-union employees,
including multi-shift operations, multiple product lines and processes, in
both the public and private sectors.
He led manufacturing operations for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
producing US currency, postage, food coupons and public debt instruments for
the US Treasury. With 17 unions and 3,500 employees, he integrated cost
control systems, security, HR, strategic planning, and R&D components
into a cohesive manufacturing system.
At Scientific Games Int. he was SVP for Worldwide Mfg Ops, responsible for over
1,500 employees in Germany, England, Chile and the US. During his tenure SGI
increased market share 15%, reduced costs 25%, waste by 40% and turnaround
from 35 days to 20 days, improving product quality, and adding advanced
technology.
Bob has managed numerous turn-arounds, including facilities for Quebecor World,
the world’s second largest printer. He modified culture, improved quality,
lowered costs, reduced waste, and strategically integrated sales and
manufacturing to meet customer needs. Other
turn-arounds include facilities in CA, NE, TN, and OH, including the start up
of 2 green-field locations and the closing of 5 facilities.
As a Senior Associate with Paladin Associates Inc. , Bob will lead projects in
manufacturing cost reduction, assessing the planning, processes, labor, and
material usage of manufacturing clients, and providing due diligence
expertise in client acquisition of manufacturing operations.
Bob has a BS from West Virginia and an MBA from George Washington University. He has
had extensive course work in sales, HR, finance, quality and strategic planning.
|
|
|
Email: Mike
Upton |
Mike Upton is an senior operating and financial leader,
with both domestic and international background in financial services,
information technology services, distribution services, major appliances and
engineered materials. Upton is experienced in business development, general
and financial management, including mergers and acquisitions, acquisition
integration, roll-ups, dispositions and outsourcing.
During his 30 with GE and GE Capital, Upton acquired
considerable line operational experience. He served as President of GE
Capital’s Technology Management Services, GM of GE Capital’s Computer and
Test Equipment Rental Operations, and CFO of GE Computer Services and GE
Mining Products.
Most recently, Mike served as SVP-Business Development for GE Capital
Technology Management Services and GE Capital Information Technology
Solutions. He led strategy development and over 30 acquisitions and
disposition transactions related to businesses with revenues from $50M to
over $2B.
Earlier, Upton spent 2 years on GE’s Financial Management Program, and 5
years as a Corporate Auditor during which he either participated in or was
completely responsible for 22 separate operational and financial audits of GE
businesses worldwide. He also spent several years at GE’s corporate
headquarters as the Manager-Financial Planning & Analysis for GE’s Technical
Systems Sector.
Mike is a Senior Associate in Paladin Associates Inc. concentrating on
Merger & Acquisition Support and Turnaround Management engagements.
Mr. Upton received a B.Sc. Degree in Business Administration from the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
|
|
