Associates

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Jenifer founded Simson Market Research, LLC (before establishing with Linda, Quantum Insights, LLC). There she ran qualitative market research projects. She designed and moderated focus groups of business decision makers, entrepreneurs, consumers, teachers, etc.

Jenifer has been knee deep in research and exploring motivations of individuals and markets since early in her career. She analyzed companies, management teams, and industries for The Travelers in the mid-1980's. She then managed over $5 billion in portfolio assets, her portfolios equaling or exceeding targeted bogeys before diving into commodity research and trading. At CIGNA she managed a team of consultants, lead research efforts, and project managed large studies and consulting jobs for CIGNA's Global Portfolio Services.

At Quantum Insights, Jenifer is responsible for managing and developing the qualitative research services as well as sharing her analytical expertise with the quantitative side of the house. She is also seasoned and respected focus group moderator Jenifer earned her Masters in Business from Cornell University and along the way picked up a CPA and CFA. She has an economic degree from the University of Washington.

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Brooke Aker is the CEO of Acuity and is a long standing member, speaker and writer for SCIP. Prior to forming Acuity Mr. Aker formed Cipher Systems and was a member of the Intelligence consulting practice at The Futures Group under Jan Herring. Mr. Aker has worked with over 120 of the Global 2000 in the formation and operation of successful Competitive Intelligence units such as Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson and Petrobras. He has conducted numerous workshops and given speeches at SCIP, Knowledge Management and Strategy conferences. From 2000 through 2002 Mr. Aker wrote the CI Magazine column entitled "100 Ways to Beat Your Competition".

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Toni Wilson is founding partner and a principal consultant at MarketSmart Research Services. Prior to establishing the company in 2000, she was an intelligence practitioner at LexisNexis, a leading information services company, for 15 years and is an expert in identifying, comparing and accessing publicly available information and intelligence sources and tools. In addition to being a long-time SCIP member and volunteer leader, Toni is also a member of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) and American Marketing Association, and recent past member of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) and American Association of Law Libraries (AALL).

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Pam Butterfield, president of Business Success Tools, LLC, has devoted her career to understanding how businesses grow and fail — and to lighting the path for her clients' journeys to success. Prior to starting her company in 2001, Pam was senior principal with an international consulting firm, where she analyzed emerging trends in the financial and technology sectors and developed profitable training and consulting services to leverage opportunities in those sectors. She also assembled high — functioning teams to design and deliver new products and services and deliver them to market. Helping clients respond to turbulent change has been an underlying theme of her career, as has her desire to help individuals and organizations discover strengths and leverage opportunities.

Active in the Connecticut business community, Pam was a founder of the Glastonbury Chamber of Commerce's Business Institute, for which the Chamber received the Silver Quality Award from the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership. She was also named 2004 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by the Connecticut chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).

A B.S. graduate in education from the University of Connecticut, Pam did graduate studies in change management and organization development at Georgetown University. She is a graduate of Coach University and a member of the International Coaching Federation.

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John Riccio has been in sales for the last 20 years, working in high-tech companies such as NEC, CulliNet Software, and Pioneer Standard. He has developed specialized sales tools and presentations, and applied them successfully in a variety of industries — consumer products, software, electronics, communications and financial services. John has been involved with many "Train the Trainer" programs, evaluating and supporting trainers to improve their sales programs.

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Prior to owning his own companies, Mike Keiser served in the US Army for seven years, attended college and is a decorated combat veteran of the Gulf War. During his time in the military, he not only gained valuable experience in the medical field, but found himself responsible for communications, coordination and management of personnel. This experience has been the catalyst that has led to more than 10 years of entrepreneurial, sales, business development, and management proficiency. He has been the owner, director of marketing, sales, and operations of two medical imaging companies and currently owns The Small Business Network, LLC, and The Starboard Institute Ltd.

In 2004 the Mike and Maria Keiser purchased The Small Business Network (TSBN). As a team the Keiser's rebuilt the organization by providing one-on-one support and guidance to each existing member. Since they have acquired the organization it has grown from 38 members to 85 members.

Recently, Michael along with his wife Maria and Connecticut Businessman Bill Correll have brought together their talents to form The Starboard Institute Ltd. The concept allows owners of successful medium sized companies to realize the potential of their business, and follow the process to turn it into a reality. The process that the Starboard Institute provides is proven to take business owners to the next level of success with their company. By providing them with consulting and a group of peer advisors they are able to see the possibilities that lie within themselves and their business. The custom program focuses on the client and their specific business allowing for the parameters of success in their industry.

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Tod Gerardo is an experienced and capable professional consultant and coach who offers over 25 years of successful development and delivery of executive coaching, career development, team building, career transition and performance management programs. He has coached and counseled extensively with individuals and small groups who share his commitment and focus on effectively integrating business goals and human performance.

He established Accord Career Services LLC in 1980. Today the consulting practice offers organizations services directed to the strategic management of their human resources. These programs promise targeted shifts in human performance, organizational effectiveness and productivity that measurably impacts organizational goals and profitability.

Mr. Gerardo earned an MS degree in Human Resource Management from Rensselaer at Hartford where he was able to flexibly integrate coursework from both areas. He completed a two year program focused on personal and professional coaching at the NLP Center of New York where he acquired practitioner and master level certifications in NLP. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston University.

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Mr. Roberts began his career some 27 years ago from UCONN ‘78, a degreed Civil/Structural Engineer. Two positions; one as Staff Engineer (Buck & Buck Engineers—Hartford) and one in City Engineering (City of Meriden—Conn.) launched him into a very specialized career path.

Professional Development then took the form of a thriving Consulting Practice. From 1984 to 1996, Keith formed three separate companies providing a diverse range of Consulting and Construction services. Assignments included: Land Subdivisions, Site Design, Building Design, Specialty Structures, Dams, Water Supply and Treatment, Bridges, Sanitary Systems, Environmental Review and Design/Build Construction. The context for his work being… the overall knowledge and control of the Approval/Design/Construction Process.

In 1996 and up until 2003, Keith held the position of Sr. Project Manager with John Moriarty & Associates—Farmington. This position afforded Mr. Roberts the opportunity to advance his skills in General Construction & Construction Management. During this time over $ 100 Million Dollars of construction in commercial, industrial and institutional projects was completed under JMA’s team project management structure. His contributions made significant beneficial impacts on such project types as; Retail—Shopping Centers, Manufacturing Complexes, Institutional Buildings and Commercial & Residential Development.

More recently Keith served as CEO of an area Environmental Company and created his current venture as K. Roberts Consulting, LLC… Providers of results orientated Real Estate Development Strategies for any type of Land Projects….. Residential, Commercial, Industrial & Institutional… *** Acquisition… Design… Approvals… Construction.

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Ron is founder and President of Alltis Corporation, a commercial development, technical marketing, sales and interim management partner. Ron's expertise spans 30 years, with extensive application knowledge in the specialty food packaging, converting and distribution, medical device, electronics assembly, automotive and industrial markets. His product knowledge covers a broad range of specialty materials, films, printed electronics, adhesives, tapes, sealants and coatings. While at Loctite, Ron guided significant commercial development projects such as: medical device adhesives, UV curing silicones and acrylics, as well as conductive, insulative and attachment adhesives for electronics. He past assignments range from new market assessments to turn-arounds of existing businesses. Mr. Lilly has a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Tri-State University and master's degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Hartford.

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The Dennis PR Group, LLC. is led by its President Ron Dresner. As a former radio industry professional, Ron created innovative promotions and marketing programs for clients and the broadcast group itself that resulted in number of successful and notable case studies. His use of technology and strategic marketing techniques were recognized by several communications, marketing journals and national associations.

Previously, Ron served as PR director of a national advertising and public relations firm based in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore area. As a public relations practioner, Ron gained national attention for his clients that were involved in the B2B, entertainment and the retail industries. With his creative strategic planning process, Ron's highly-effective PR programs earned industry recognition and awards for his clients.

Before his in-depth public relations firm experience, Ron served as a press secretary and legislative official in the Connecticut State Legislature, U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He also worked as a campaign consultant in a number of state and national political campaigns. He earned degree in Journalism and Political Science at The American University, Washington, D.C.

Ron participates as a member on the board of directors for several corporations and nonprofit organizations and also serves as a media, marketing and PR industry analyst for a variety of research and advisory firms.

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Michael Sales is a skilled coach, program designer, teacher, and facilitator who combines a detailed knowledge of personal, group and organizational change technologies with a broad background in business, entrepreneurship and education.

Michael has extensive knowledge of the challenges of participatory management, the introduction of technologies into organizations, and the dynamics of life in family-owned businesses. He has helped many individuals, teams and organizations achieve their objectives.

Michael's doctoral work at Harvard's Graduate School of Education (supervised by Chris Argyris) focused on the interpersonal skills required by participative management. He has a Bachelor's degree from the Universtiy of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and a Masters in Broadcast Communication Arts (California State, San Francisco), which explored institutional resistance to new technologies. Michael also has a training certificate from the National Training Laboratory and from Global Foresight Associates, where he was trained in scenario construction. He has served for twenty years as a senior associate of Barry Oshry's Power and System Training, the developers of the Organization Workshop, and the Power and Leadership Conference. Michael was a founding principal of New Context Consulting, providing customized experiential education for organizational learning and change.

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