Kevin Moyer is a skilled operations and client service executive with expertise in annuity, life and mutual fund call center and back-office operations.

Bob Wilson has worked as a consumer products marketing and sales executive as well as a general manager in managed services. He recently accepted a position as the VP of Marketing for the North American division of a Swedish consumer products company.

How did you learn about Kelleher Associates?

I learned of Kelleher entirely by word of mouth at various networking events.

What Kelleher services and concepts proved to be especially valuable in your search?

Within the first 30 days I had an integrated communication platform that included a cover letter, elevator speech, networking profile and resume, all aligned with who I was and what I was looking to secure.  I subsequently built this in to my LinkedIn profile and the response was tremendous.

For each opportunity in which I had an interest, my counselor, Mitch Wienick, provided 2 to 4 contacts directly or indirectly related to the position.  This dramatically increased my probability of success by expanding my knowledge, over other candidates, of the business situation facing the prospective employer.

Mitch and I would talk through the employer’s business situation – what questions to anticipate and how to relate my skills and experience to the interview vetting process.  This was especially valuable in boosting my comfort level and effectiveness during the interviews.

How did you find your way to Kelleher Associates?

I had heard from others that if you were in a career transition situation, and interested in staying in the Delaware Valley, Kelleher was THE firm to go to!

I was told their consultants and staff really understand the market and know how to help you position yourself effectively.  Kelleher Associates has a reputation for providing strong content, customized for the individual.  When I was referred to Kelleher by a good friend within the industry, I knew I would be assigned to a consultant who had real-life experience and business expertise.

You briefly worked with a national career transition firm before signing on with Kelleher Associates – what were the key differences between the firms, from your perspective?

I can only describe the differences as “night and day.”  The national outplacement firm was like a factory, offering no holistic approach or customization, and advising only: “here are the steps; go do the steps.”  I wasn’t even offered an opportunity to practice my interviewing skills when I was interviewing for a job.  Simply put, they offered nothing to propel me forward, and they were not equipped to provide me with the resources I needed.  To illustrate the difference, when this firm reviewed my resume, it came back to me with only a few comments, yet the same resume came back from Kelleher completely proofread and redlined, with powerful suggestions and improvement.

When I resolved to leave the national firm, I knew that I needed to work with Kelleher.  My chief concern was that I would have to cover the cost myself.  Also, Kelleher Associates worked with top executives, while I was still at the director level.  But with Kelleher, I knew I would gain respect and my visibility in the market would be elevated, so I made the call.  Mitch Wienick agreed to meet with me right away.

Tim is an innovative pharmaceutical executive with global experience in creating and executing information management strategies. Accomplished in all phases of the drug development process, he sought a leadership role at the intersection of science and information technology.  Tim recently landed a position as head of library services at Merck.

How did you come to Kelleher Associates for your recent transition?
My former employer provided me with outplacement services at another firm which proved disappointing.  At an ExecuNet meeting I met Mitch Wienick and, after talking with him in depth about how Kelleher worked with its clients, subsequently decided to make the switch to Kelleher.

We understand your background involves a specialized niche.  How did this impact your strategy?
Despite the limited number of opportunities I felt I would be more successful in this current employment environment by searching for a similar position to the one I had at Wyeth.

You ultimately had more than one offer.  What process did you utilize to determine the most appropriate position?
This was difficult in that I was initially tempted to accept a position for which I was overqualified.  I quickly realized it was not the right fit and determined to stay focused on positions that suited my professional experience and salary expectations. So, by being a bit more patient, which the Kelleher team helped me with, I was ultimately able to secure a much better position.

In the beginning, Mitch wanted to take the time for a very thorough personal evaluation. I had gone through the outplacement process before and knew about 360° assessments, Myers-Briggs, and polishing resumes. I knew who I was and what I wanted to do, and it was hard to be patient. As their client, you want to go fast. The process feels like it is slowing you down, but it is not. The details are very necessary in refashioning and updating your personal value proposition.

Linda is an accomplished Development and Public Relations Executive with long experience in fundraising/communications in the human services field.  Armed with newly honed networking skills, Linda landed as a Director of Campaign Operations for non-profit Bancroft in Haddonfield, NJ.

How did you come to Kelleher Associates for your recent transition?
I came to Kelleher for outplacement services as part of a severance package from my former employer.

What did you learn about the importance of networking through your work with Kelleher Associates?
My counselor, Dick Hartzell was the first to encourage me to develop and use networking skills.  Before we even met he urged me to get started by making a list of friends and colleagues to contact.  We later formulated an effective elevator speech I could deliver with poise.

Donald Trexler, an experienced professional in the insurance industry, recently experienced a rapid transition in his career.  In July, Donald took on his new role as Claims Manager for Dearborn National, and relocated to the Dallas area.

Why did you choose Kelleher Associates for your recent transition?

When my position at Penn Mutual was eliminated, part of my separation package was outplacement services.  I’ve had previous experiences with outplacement firms, but working with Kelleher was completely different.  The entire process took two months to the day I started working with Kelleher, a very quick turnaround. 

Can you share some of the process you went through with Kelleher?

An opportunity opened up quickly for me, so my coach, Sandra Ford, took a non-traditional process.  First, Sandra helped me prepare for my telephone and face-to-face interviews and updated my resume, then we worked on ways to tell my story.  Things moved quickly for me right from the start, and Sandra helped me focus on the tasks at hand, remaining positive.  Because I had some strict personal timetables, I became anxious at times.  Sandra helped me keep things in perspective, ensuring that I did not get off task.  She always took the time either with a timely phone call or an e-mail or a face-to-face meeting.

John King is a sales and marketing executive with proven successes across a wide range of industries.  In early July, John took on his new role as group leader for the loyalty and motivation business unit of Maritz, which specializes in incentive programs for Fortune 500 companies.

How did you first meet Ed Kelleher and Kelleher Associates?

I found out about Ed Kelleher from a childhood friend who is the CEO of a pharmaceutical company.  We were having lunch, and I was discussing the situation at my then-employer, and my friend recommended I get in touch with Ed.  I did a little research, found out about the coaching aspects of Kelleher Associates, and met Ed for the first time while I was still employed.  He and I hit it off, and he told me to “do what you need to do, I’ll see you soon.”  When I was still with my earlier employer, I had seen some inconsistencies at the firm that concerned me.  Soon enough, I was working with Ed, started in early 2009 and really got into it last summer. 

What was the driving force behind your decision to work with Kelleher?

First of all, they are good people and look at you as a friend.  They are all knowledgeable about the marketplace and experienced with many industries.  I didn’t have any outplacement from my previous employer; I invested my own money, and found it was very well spent.  What’s really special about them is that they are “sharpshooters,” in that they could help me look at my past but also identify what I want to do in my future.   Over the last year, so much has changed.  I hired Ed to help me develop a lifelong network, meet new people, reconnect with old friends, really building it up from scratch.  He helped me assess my skills, talents and desires.  I had thought about sports marketing or working with a non-profit, but I had never had the chance to look before.  The driving force is preparation for the rest of my professional life. I worked with Ed one-on-one at least once a week working on tightening up my resume and cover letters, finding right jobs to go after, networking, working with other members of the Kelleher team.  I went into the office several days each week to remain consistent with my past routine, and it helped me realize that I was now the product of my efforts.

Being a successful HR executive in both Fortune 1000 and non-profits, Nancy sought a position with an organization whose mission aligns with hers.  In her new role of Director of Human Resources at JFCS, she has achieved that goal.

Can you describe your prior career background?

For 12 years I worked as a Human Resources Leader for Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. As the Vice President of Human Resources, I led a team of HR generalists responsible for organizational and leadership development, performance management, talent acquisition, employee relations, and compensation, as well as partnered with leaders to move the culture of Penn Mutual to a new level. Prior to that, I worked for the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, where I re-designed the Human Resources department from a specialist model to an HR business partner model to better support clinical and business areas.

Why and how did you begin to work with Kelleher Associates?

I was familiar with Kelleher Associates because, as an HR professional, I was the person who retained outplacement service companies on behalf of my employer.  When the HR department I worked in was severely downsized – and my entire team eliminated – Ed Kelleher and his team at Kelleher Associates were there for me.

Mike Romano has worked as a general manager as well as a vice president of finance and administration for a global medical publishing company. He recently joined a local tax and accounting firm as an equity partner with the right to purchase the firm over the next few years.

How did you learn about Kelleher Associates?

I was introduced to Mitch Wienick, President and CEO of Kelleher Associates, by my father.  They had originally connected at a networking event.

Why did you choose Kelleher Associates for your Career Transition services?

I first met Mitch about two years before leaving my prior position.  We began to build a networking relationship, and Mitch counseled me through some scenario planning.  When I was laid off from that position, I decided to work with Mitch and his team.

What Kelleher services proved to be especially valuable during your search?

I found the most significant value in my one-on-one coaching and professional development sessions with Mitch.  He helped me through every aspect of the search process – from updating my resume and teaching me the importance of networking – to coaching me through interview preparation and follow-up. From start to finish, Mitch served as an indispensable guide.