John Nickolas is a senior financial and operations executive, who experienced considerable success growing technology-oriented companies. He recently made the decision to change his career, and found a position in the front office of a Major League Baseball club. We spoke with John shortly before he and his colleagues were moving their offices from the old Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia to the new Citizens Bank Park, the new home of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Terry Kelly recently experienced multiple of unique career transitions. He retired from a position as a Human Resources executive with a large corporation, took a temporary management position where he coordinated the closure of a manufacturing plant, and then assumed a leadership position at an international non-profit organization. We spoke with Terry Kelley as his temporary management position was ending, and he was getting ready to start his newest position as the Chief Operating Officer of Carelift International.

Since April 2003, Ed Clemons, SPHR, has been the Vice President of Human Resources at General Fiber Communications, Inc. (Conshohocken, PA). An experienced HR leader, Ed recently went through his own career transition with the assistance of the team at Kelleher Associates.

An experienced finance and accounting management executive like Brian Earnshaw tackles challenges with a clear focus on process. So when his career position evaporated, he naturally needed support that would measure up to his own detailed standards. He found it at Kelleher Associates, where a five month executive search resulted in a new position as Corporate Controller at Philadelphia-based Leaf Financial Corporation.

What was your initial game plan when you lost your almost 10-year position?

As an action-oriented person, I wanted to immediately start identifying positions and interviewing.  I think that was a result of not having done a job search since college. My previous position and all other positions resulted from promotions or offers coming to me unsolicited. My Kelleher coach, Elva Bankins, took the time to explain the importance of taking a stepped approach to getting not just a job, but an opportunity that would fit me.

Judi Ivens spent over 16 years working for a single employer, Wawa, Inc. In October 2002, Judi decided it was time to leave the only employer she had ever been with, and worked with the team at Kelleher Associates to gain some perspectives on her career transition. In December 2002, Judi began working with ARAMARK, Inc. as Retail Brand Manager for Campus Services in the New England, Midwest and Tennessee Regions. We caught up with Judi while she was on a business trip to learn more about her recent experiences.

Questions for Ray Malpocher - Kelleher Associates

KAI: Can you share with us some of your overall career highlights?

Ray: I had a series of engineering, marketing and sales positions that led to several GM positions. In the recent past, I was Group Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Qualitrol Division of Danaher Corporation. Teleflex, a two billion dollar public company, then recruited me to run their Marine Industrial Group. Most recently, Telex Communications, a private company owned by several large investment groups, recruited me as President and CEO. My successes revolve around the ability to grow both the top and bottom lines of complex manufacturing companies through the use of world-class practices and processes. That's where I excel.

Rob Wintz recently made the successful transition from working as a management consultant for Deltek Systems, Inc., to conducting business as the principal of his own consulting firm, RSW Consulting. We spoke recently with Rob about his experiences working with Kelleher Associates on his own personal career transition from employee to entrepreneur.

We interviewed Brad Hoopman the week he began his new position as Vice President, Equity Research Analyst at Glenmede Trust (Philadelphia, PA). Previously, Brad had been a senior analyst and portfolio manager with Gardner Lewis Asset Management in Chadds Ford, PA.

Nancy Hunter was just about to start her new job, as Vice President of Technology Program Management at Bank One (Wilmington, DE) when we spoke with her. Nancy came to Kelleher Associates in September 2002, after she was "downsized" from her position at Intracorp, the Managed Healthcare division of CIGNA. Nancy is a veteran project manager with expertise in IT. She was with CIGNA for four-and-a-half years; previously, Nancy spent 12 years with CoreStates Bank.

We interviewed Angie Blackburn the day before she left for a major trade show she was attending in her first days as Vice President of Customer Service for Fisher Scientific, Inc. Blackburn was most recently the Vice President of Global Operations and Customer Care for a key division of corporate travel giant Rosenbluth International, and had previously held executive positions with Apple Computer, Sanwa Bank California, Eddie Bauer, and Nordic Track.