KOBLENTZ - Key Persons
Alok Gupta has earned a reputation for successfully advising at the "top of the house" on their most sensitive, important matters. He has over 20 years of experience across mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and restructuring across consumer products, industrial products, retail, technology, manufacturing / supply chain, and telecommunications industries.
Alok has managed, structured, and executed over 25 transactions within large-corporate and middle-market organizations in more than 15 countries and total deal value greater than $100 Billion. Alok started his career in 1997 consulting companies to improve their operational efficiency and organizational layout. He continued building on these key organizational and operational skills throughout his entire career including Shaw Industries (Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary) and Accenture. In 2009, Alok began working with Deloitte and focused in their M&A Services practice where he progressed quickly through the ranks and led transactions for many key clients, advising them on issues that ‘kept them up at night' including organizational matters. Based on his experiences, he has co-authored multiple white papers and articles.
He currently serves on the Emory University Alumni Board and as the Board of Directors' Vice President for Enduring Hearts, which is a non-profit focused on curing pediatric heart disease. He has previously started his own philanthropic organization which was later merged with the United Way of Greater Atlanta (UWGA) to become their Young Professional Leaders organization (in 2009) and joined the board of UWGA in 2018.
Alok has completed an executive program in Private Equity from the London Business School as well as holds a Masters of Business Administration from Emory University's Goizueta Business School where he also received the Meritorious Service Award for his class; a Bachelor's of Science in Industrial Engineering and multiple business minors from the Georgia Institute of Technology; and awarded the Atlanta Journal and Constitution's All Rounder Award in 1998.
Job Titles:
- Founder of the Robert Collins Group
As the Founder of the Robert Collins Group, Bob works closely with CEOs to select the right team, build collaborative relationships between the Board of Directors and executive leadership, design effective recognition and incentive plans, and create the culture that contributes to organizational performance through superior results
Previously, Bob was the Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Zep Inc. While at Zep, he was a trusted advisor and confidant to the CEO and Board of Directors especially in the areas of leadership development, strategy deployment, organizational design, and culture. Bob was a member of the executive leadership team that transformed Zep by integrating seven acquisitions while accessing new markets, products, and customers that substantially grew revenues and EBITDA. Prior to joining Zep, Bob was Corporate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Serologicals Corporation where he participated in a five-year transformation that produced 600% revenue growth, eightfold increase in market capitalization, 3 times market share expansion and an EPS CAGR of 32%. Before Serologicals Corporation, Bob held several executive roles including Partner at Ray & Berndtson, President and COO at Vision Twenty-One Inc., and he spent 13 years with Magellan Health Services holding various executive positions.
Bob Collins is an Executive in Residence for the Center for Innovation Excellence at the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University and is a member of the Human Resource Leadership Forum serving on its Finance Committee. He is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, was previously the Chairman of its Atlanta Chapter, and continues as a member of the local chapter's Board of Directors. Bob also serves on the Board of Trustees of Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church.
Bob received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Economics from Rollins College.
Brian Fitzgerald joined The Koblentz Group as Managing Consultant in 2009. He has been in executive search his entire career, and has led and executed numerous searches and consulting projects over the years, from start-up companies to Fortune 100 clients. His industry expertise includes professional services firms, private equity, healthcare, life sciences, industrial, and consumer goods.
Previously Brian was with Edward W Kelley & Partners, formerly A.T Kearney Executive Search, where he worked with clients on projects to recruit senior partners, general managers, C-level executives, and functional experts across a variety of industries. Earlier in his career, Brian worked as a recruiter with a boutique firm in Atlanta, Spherion and Newell Rubbermaid.
Brian is involved as a volunteer coach with the Special Olympics of Georgia, and in his spare time helps out with the Varsity Boys Soccer team at Marist School.
Brian received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Georgia.
Jeff McConnell has earned a reputation as a successful CEO and now as a leadership advisor. He acts as "partner" to our Technology and FinTech clients where he assesses and recruits the talent required to enhance valuation. McConnell understands the issues and challenges of leading disruption and the talent that is required to path to value. Simply, he has "lived" it.
With twenty five years of experience in these sectors, Mr. McConnell advises a wide variety of emerging enterprises at different points in their development as well as serving significantly larger publicly traded and private equity controlled companies that are at strategic inflection points requiring a step up in leadership.
Our clients benefit from McConnell's judgment, perspective and insights in defining game changing talent requirements and the recruitments thereof, as he has led the founding, funding, operations and successful monetizations of several companies building upon his earlier senior management experience gained in highly reputed public companies with notable brands.
Jeff McConnell's most recent emerging company experience includes
Job Titles:
- Trustee of the Chick - Fil - a Bowl Foundation
Mr. Koblentz is a CPA and holds an MBA from the University of Southern California. He has lectured at various educational institutions and societies and has authored numerous articles on corporate governance and various aspects of corporate leadership. He is often sought for his views by the national media.
Job Titles:
- International Consultant and Executive Coach
- Its Co - Founder
Lawrence S. Levin is an international consultant and executive coach and specializing in increasing the leadership capabilities of experienced leaders and their teams. He coaches executives in Global 500 firms to increase their leadership capabilities, navigate within the multicultural environment, move effectively into new roles and build diverse teams to work better across functions, geographies and evolving business climates.
His clients are senior leaders and their teams in Global 500 companies who must plan strategic direction and implement critical business initiatives within an environment of change and increasing complexity. His primary focus is on understanding and improving the dynamics and capabilities of executive teams, utilizing team-based interventions and coaching to drive business success and improve C-Level effectiveness. He also specializes in accelerating significant change within complicated systems, usually as a result of rapid growth, major technology insertions, mergers and acquisitions, and other complex culture-changing initiatives. A former partner in Mercer Delta consulting, Larry has worked extensively with leaders from vice president to C-level in complex global companies encompassing technology, pharmaceutical, health care, and A/E/C firms as well as manufacturing, bioscience, academic and governmental institutions.
His 25 years of consulting experience coupled with his background in psychology makes Dr. Levin a sought after executive coach and trusted advisor. His approach is pragmatic and results-driven, designed to make both experienced leaders and fast-track executives more effective in their current positions as well as prepared for future marketplace challenges. He is the author of Top Teaming: A Roadmap for Teams Navigating the Now, the New, and the Next and the Top Teaming Assessment and a contributing author of Coaching for Leadership 3rdEdition: Writings on Leadership from the World's Greatest Coaches.
Dr. Levin holds a BS from the University of Florida and a PhD in clinical psychology from Georgia State University. He has been on the Board of Advisors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, as well as a member of the City of Atlanta Ethics Board and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Additionally, within the context of assuring priorities and culture, The Levin Group has been recognized as thought leaders in Dr. Patricia Wheeler's FastForward™ research and process of accelerating executive transition into successful mission-critical roles.
The Levin Group's belief is that "experience matters" and, accordingly, only utilizes executive coaches and consultants who possess a deep understanding of the business context, organizational dynamics, and the complex relationships that exist in "smart" companies.
The Koblentz Group is very pleased to introduce and endorse The Levin Group to our clients.
Dr. Lawrence Levin, its Co-Founder, authored the process of TopTeaming™ designed to assist leadership teams and executives to successfully navigate the new normal environment of increasing complexity, volatility, and change.
Michael G. Johnson is a Strategic Partner of The Koblentz Group and the CEO of Johnson Talent Development, a thought partner & coaching firm focused on the development and succession of next generation leaders.
Mike is a highly recognized leader on human capital matters who advises our clients on succession and talent, leadership development challenges and on making the executive recruiting process more effective, robust and efficient. Mike is current and is keenly aware of the challenge of reinventing the way HR identifies and prepares leaders to align with strategic priorities and value creation in today's rapid change disruptive environment.
Previously, Mike was UPS' Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) where he regularly interfaced with the UPS Board and Management Committee in defining, influencing and operationalizing global talent & leadership strategies aligned to its business strategies.
Accordingly, Mike was involved in all aspects of HR, working deeply in recruiting & hiring, talent management, leadership development and succession planning.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner of the Levin Group LLC
Patricia Wheeler is Managing Partner of The Levin Group LLC, a global consulting and leadership advisory firm with extensive experience within complex organizations. An expert in leadership development and executive coaching, Patricia has more than twenty years of experience focused on helping smart, technically talented executives become more effective leaders, creating high performing teams and developing organizational talent and "bench strength." She works with leaders around the world helping them hone their skills and executive presence.
Patricia specializes in executive assessment and feedback, executive coaching, developing high performing senior teams, and talent engagement. She has assisted hundreds of senior leaders and their teams through her assessment and coaching services. She is known for her experience and research in executive transitions, helping leaders maximize success in bigger and broader roles, and for helping leaders succeed and drive business results in times of rapid change and complexity.
Patricia holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Georgia State University. Prior to her association with The Levin Group, she had ten years of management experience. She served as Associate Professor and Adjunct Professor at Emory University School of Medicine and currently lectures at Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business. Her work in the area of executive transitions has been published in Forbes, Harvard Business Online and Business Week. She publishes the executive resource Leading News (www.LeadingNews.org) in collaboration with renowned leadership expert Marshall Goldsmith, and is a contributor to the Best Practices in Leadership Development Handbook ,the AMA Handbook of Leadership and Coaching for Leadership, Third Edition.
Tracy Tavani joined The Koblentz Group in the summer of 2011. With a strong marketing background, Ms. Tavani assists the Firm in various executive searches including researching candidates, targeting viable companies and job centers, and assisting in the planning and execution of the Firm's marketing strategies.
Before joining The Koblentz Group, Ms. Tavani held various account manager positions at marketing and public relations firms throughout Atlanta. At these firms, Ms. Tavani worked with small businesses and professional services clients to develop and implement numerous marketing and communications strategies as well as managed the timelines, budgets, priorities and milestones for those projects in order to meet client requirements. Previously, Ms. Tavani worked as a Marketing Programs Manager at The CheckFree Corporation, now part of Fiserv, for over four years. At The CheckFree Corporation, Ms. Tavani managed the creation and execution of marketing and communications programs supporting the company, including direct mail, email, online demonstrations, advertising campaigns, web content and sales collateral, targeting both businesses and consumers.
Ms. Tavani received a Bachelor's of Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from The University of Miami, where she received the Award for Academic Excellence in the School of Business, the Dean's List Award, and the Who's Who in America's Colleges Award. She is a member of The American Marketing Association and The Direct Marketing Association.