FACEBOOK - Key Persons
Bill Vickers serves the East 57th Street Partners team as VP and Director of Client Development. Bill is a servant leader with extensive experience in improving processes, reducing expenses, and driving bottom-line revenues. His passion is helping companies set up and implement strategic initiatives to solve complex business challenges that will enhance performance and drive effective results.
"Do the right thing" is a personal philosophy of Bill's, and this demeanor resides deep within him personally and professionally. Outside of his career, he is an avid surfer, mountain biker, outdoorsman, son, father, and husband. He also has had a career in racing that included NASCAR and multiple off-road series, including Baja 1000. He has a very competitive spirit! Moreover, Bill also speaks Japanese!
Bill considers himself blessed to have a prodigious upbringing by his parents, a loving, beautiful wife, and his remarkable children. He and his lovely wife, Tricia, are raising four children. Two of his children are college graduates; one just started college, and one is in high school. So, he and Tricia have a lot going on. Born and raised in Newport Beach, California, Bill has an exceptional, top-performing track-record. He has excelled at everything he has pursued.
Job Titles:
- Director of Resource Management
Darin Spassoff is the Director of Resource Management. Once a record-setting pitcher for the University of Miami baseball team, Darin Spassoff encountered a setback when an injury ended his playing career. Armed with his degree, willingness to adapt, and a desire to help people, he entered the corporate world while still following his passion for sports by coaching and instructing kids' teams in his spare time.
Today, Darin is a results-oriented, process-driven professional with more than two decades of experience in executive hiring, recruiting, and management. His unique blend of hiring experience and business insights - combined with the competitive edge of a high-level athlete - has served him well in high-level positions on all sides of the hiring process.
Hagen Barlow serves the East 57th Street Partners' team as Client Services Manager. In this role, Hagen assists clients in providing project consulting, executive search, and staff augmentation solutions. Additionally, Hagen assists Accounting, Finance, HR, and IT professionals seeking consulting and direct hire opportunities.
Hagen is known as a highly motivated, disciplined, lifelong learner. He acquired his work ethic from growing up on his family's ranch in East Texas where they raised cattle, poultry, and swine. He brought this work ethic with him as he began his career in Financial Services. Hagen has demonstrated a life-long passion for helping others. Having achieved success in the financial industry, he made the transition into commercial building services and worked his way up to President. He has always had a drive to help others and uses his experience at every level of business to help clients and friends find practical cost-effective solutions, exceptional opportunities, and achieve business and life-changing results.
Having earned his BS in Economics from Texas A&M University, completing the program in two years, Hagen enjoys all things related to finance and business operations. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife Melanie and his newborn son Brock. His interests include golf, motor racing, soccer, cooking, and studying ancient history.
Favorite Quote: "If all the economists were laid end to end, they'd never reach a conclusion." George Bernard Shaw
Joan Chalif was one of our first hires at the start of our firm. Our company today is modeled after many of the personal touches Joan brought to our culture. Originally hired as a receptionist, Joan went on to run our entire back office, operations and ultimately became the heart and soul of our company. She was our den mother, our guiding light, and the glue that held the company together through all the good times and the occasional bad times. In 1989, she began a long career as a business partner and operations director for Lavinski Allan & Associates. When that business sold, she co-founded Propensity, Ltd. in 2004, where she served as a partner and executive until her death. Joan's family and many friends will always remember her enthusiasm, encouragement, and positive outlook on life. She was the best friend anyone could ever have.
As a company leader, Joan did far more than put up with us. She drove us all to become more successful, more considerate of others, and just better people. Joan died of cancer on August 4, 2007, at the young age of 61. She was irreplaceable and will never be forgotten. We hope to honor her memory and thumbprint on our culture for all the years and future generations to come at East 57 th Street. May her spirit continue to inspire us all!
Job Titles:
- Managing Consultant of Banking Services
No one is more focused, committed, and dedicated than John. John's experience includes managing and completing difficult assignments, surpassing client expectations, motivating teams to execute the vision, and exceed goals. He tackles problems head-on, works smart, develops winning solutions, and maximizes
economic performance. Moreover, John is an expert at effectively coordinating executive strategic decisions to ensure follow-through to tactical execution.
John began his career in securities services in a Wall Street Banking environment and managed successful turn-around scenarios within deeply troubled operations areas. In 2000, he transitioned to the credit and lending arena to assist mortgage banks to develop and maintain pristine loan operations and create sustainable growth.
John founded Commercial & Consumer Finance Network (CCFN), a strategic risk advisory business and management consulting firm to financial institutions. As a senior manager, he has performed asset management and financial compliance reviews for FDIC assisted programs of failed institutions. He has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry as a senior manager and an innovative change agent.
Since the onset of the financial crisis, John emerged as a senior leader engaged to manage compliance monitoring and credit oversight for FDIC Shared-Loss and Structured Transaction portfolios. He has a proven track record in building strong service organizations, executing strategic business project initiatives, leading process changes, achieving business process alignment, and creating effective business metrics.
John is a leader and collaborative team player in:
• Interim CFO / COO
• Process Management and Re-engineering
• Financial, Operations, and Credit Risk Review
• Financial Metrics and Operations Performance Frameworks
• Best Practice Assessments
Recently, John wrote a document entitled, "Inside Look" July 2020 outlining the COVID-19 pandemic issues which have resulted in considerable human suffering and global economic/business disruption. How we respond to the needs of our families, friends, colleagues, customers, and communities is essential for survival and growth. We have many, many questions with too few answers. For John, the most significant takeaway is leadership, specifically, how our leaders are defined by their practices, their actions, and their understanding of the "human capital-business capital" equation. John's leadership is and always has been exemplary!
John holds an MBA from Regis University where he graduated with distinguished Summa Cum Laude Honors. He also holds a BA in Philosophy and Mathematics from Fordham University.
John is a member of the National Honor Society of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, (Regis) Denver Chapter, and has distinguished himself in scholarship and loyalty to the ideals of Jesuit education and service to others.
Job Titles:
- Director of CFO Advisory Services
Joseph is a dynamic business professional whose role as the Sr. Director of CFO Advisory Services includes leading the E57 National Client and Practice Development Team. In this capacity, Joe is responsible for guiding a skilled team through a range of financial tasks, including financial restatements, complex modeling, budget preparations, accounting advisory, and interim finance functional support, serving a diverse clientele, from emerging growth private equity-backed companies to S&P 500 companies.
Joseph's professional journey began at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Washington, DC, where he started to cultivate his financial expertise, which he later expanded at Baker Tilly, leading teams through M&A transactions and offering CFO Advisory Services.
In addition to his corporate pursuits, Joseph also established a distinguished coaching career after his playing days as a quarterback at Kings College. His coaching journey began at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia, where he served as the Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach. He spent four enriching years with Texas State University's football team in various roles before transitioning to the Dallas Renegades in the XFL as a Quality Control Coach in 2020. Later, he used his coaching expertise at Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas, Texas, where he served as the Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach until 2022.
Joseph's unique blend of financial acumen, strategic planning, and leadership, sharpened on both the business and athletic fields, sets him apart in any venture. His innovative approach to business, grounded in his diverse background in finance and athletics, drives his effectiveness in promoting business growth and enhancing team performance. As a graduate of King's College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting & Finance and as a licensed CPA, Joseph exemplifies the balance between competitive spirit and strategic insight.
Job Titles:
- Client Relationships Manager at East 57th Street Partners
Lara Pattison is the Client Relationships Manager at East 57th Street Partners. She also assists with project development and process design and implementation.
She began her career as a respiratory therapist after attending Navarro College and ATI Institute. She transitioned to the business world with the birth of her first child over 10 years ago. Lara has worked in banking and manufacturing, with an emphasis in multi-company administration, cash and treasury management, project management, accounts receivable, collections, reconciliations, and process development and improvement. She has strong leadership acumen and creates effective teams. Lara likes efficiency and organization in her personal life and this influences everything she does in business, as well. She is passionate about personal growth, continuous improvement, and providing value to those she serves. Lara places great emphasis on personal and professional ethics and strives to do the right thing even when a decision may not prove to be the most personally beneficial. Lara is not afraid to take a bold stand to defend personal and business values.
Her greatest pride and fulfillment in life comes from her faith and family. She is married to her husband, Johnny, who is an officer in the fire department. Together, they have two daughters, Riley Kate, and Landry that keep life busy and fun. When she is not working Lara enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Director of Project Services
Mike serves as Director of Project Services and also serves as Vice President of our Mortgage and Banking practice. He brings over 20 years of highly successful Project Management experience as well as both national and global Mortgage Servicing and Originations operations experience. Mike has served in senior leadership roles for the past 15+years managing up to 400 employees and developed and implemented best in class processes achieving industry leading results while successfully leading business transformation initiatives. He has deep experience managing government and agency regulatory requirements including FHA, VA, USDA, FreddieMac, FannieMae and HUD Reverse. He is well versed in process assessment and leverages his vast mortgage operations knowledge to identify and implement improvements and efficiencies that benefit production and compliance requirements.
Outside of work Mike and his wife Melony have been married for 10 years and have two amazing children. He and his family spend as much time as possible outdoors where Mike coaches his children in baseball and softball and is an avid hunter. Mike attended the University of North Texas and has lived in Texas all of his life.
With nearly 20 years in the consumer finance industry and business development, Nikki's expertise includes consumer credit protection laws and regulations, mortgage lending, automotive finance, and project solutions within finance, accounting, banking, mortgage and risk advisory. Nikki has overseen, organized, and managed large projects within all these sectors leading multiple teams to successful outcomes for her company and her clients. She has a proven facilitation methodology that brings exemplary solutions and account management in an exact and timely manner to all of her clients. Building a solid foundation and trusting relationship with her clients is Nikki's number one priority.
Some of Nikki's professional accomplishments include working with one of the largest aeronautical companies and their subsidiaries in becoming NIST and DOD compliant to obtain government contracts, assisting executive leadership in helping create process improvement and re-engineering for one of the largest regional banks in the country, helping to create leading consumer credit restoration standards and law practices to cover federal and state guidelines to hold consumer finance institutions accountable to CFPB standards, and being the youngest and only female Finance Director for one of the nations largest most prestigious luxury automotive groups in the organization's history.
Nikki believes in order to be successful in life and business, it's all about teamwork, a positive attitude, working hard, doing the right thing, having a sense of humor, giving back, and surrounding yourself with the right people. Nikki has been blessed to be put in positions by leadership and her peers to assist multiple organizations as a Cultural Manager where she was able to help create a positive culture, change previous cultures, and lead in the direction of overall equality with the help of those who surrounded her. Nikki has served as chairperson of many charitable organizations and has also served on the Board of Directors for RMCN Cares (a 501c3 charity).
When Nikki is not working, she spends time with her husband Erick of 8 years who is a Civil Engineer, and her two young boys who are 7 and 4. Nikki grew up all over the world as an oil brat and in her spare time studies meteorology, draws and paints, loves to travel, play sports and work out.
Patti is a highly organized, self-managed, and self-motivated professional with a passion for serving others. She has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, as well as formal credentials in Biblical Studies. Patti's primary goal is to help, serve, and be of assistance to those with professional, personal, and business resource needs.
Her role at East 57th Street Partners is one of the most important roles in the company. Patti's primary responsibility is RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. Patti is responsible for assisting the firm in building mutually beneficial lifelong relationships with clients, candidates, and present and past employees of E57.
Before joining East 57th Street Partners, Patti spent 13 years as a successful entrepreneur in one of the most challenging industries of our time, the restaurant business. Long hours of hard work, demanding management concerns, excellent communication, and genuine empathy for her employees, customers, and business stakeholders have contributed to her perfect fit for her role at E57.
Patti, a mom with two grown children, has a sincere desire to encourage, inspire, motivate, and nurture people. She believes every person has value and everybody has a unique role to play in life - both professionally and personally. Patti's passion for biblical studies, ministry initiatives, and helping others is a driving force in all her endeavors. Born and reared in East Texas, she enjoys time with her large extended family, gathering with friends, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Co - Founder and Managing Partner of East 57th Street Partners
Richard A. Lavinski, CPA is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of East 57th Street Partners. Throughout his career, he has served in consulting and professional staffing. He has founded and led several large and highly regarded professional firms in the DFW marketplace, and he has been recognized as a pioneer in the professional project staffing industry.
Rich has built and led several successful companies. These include Lavinski Allan & Associates (sold to Accretive now part of Resource Global Partners) and Propensity (sold to Hudson Highland Group, a $1.2 billion global publicly traded consulting & staffing firm). He knows, first-hand, the emotional roller-coaster of starting, building, and eventually selling a beloved business enterprise.
Rich Lavinski, Managing Partner of East 57th Street Partners stated, "The addition of Bill Vickers to our team has enhanced our ability to bring the highest level of service to our clients. Bill is a truly caring relationship builder who exudes goodwill and professionalism. Bill's professional skills and integrity drive him to consistently deliver unprecedented service, focus, and outcomes to our clients, our professional consulting partners, and staff associates alike. We could not be more excited to have Bill on our team."
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Co - Founder of East 57th Street Partners
Tony is a Co-Founder of East 57th Street Partners. Tony Beshara is the owner and president of Babich & Associates. Established in 1952, Babich is the oldest placement and recruitment service in Texas.
Babich is consistently one of the top contingency placement firms in the DFW area, as recognized by the Dallas Ft. Worth Business Journal. Tony has been a professional recruiter since 1973 and has personally found more than 9200 individuals jobs. He sits behind a desk every day, working the phone literally seven hours of the twelve hours a day, making close to 200 calls sourcing and placing candidates each day. He is on the front line and working in the trenches every day. Tony has personally interviewed more than 26,000 people on all professional levels and has worked with more than 23,000 hiring authorities. Babich and Associates have helped more than 100,000 people find jobs using Tony's process. Tony is one of the most successful placement and recruitment professionals in the United States and has been recognized as the top leader in the industry by such media agencies as CNN, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Fordyce, and Forbes. He is often quoted as "THE" expert in the Job Search and Professional Placement industry.
The second edition of his best-selling book, "The Job Search Solution" The Ultimate System for Finding a Great job NOW! was released in January of 2012. He also created a 60-hour online program about how to find a job, www.The Job Search Solution.com. Tony's second best seller, ACING The Interview, answers almost any question regarding interviewing in today's erratic job market. "Unbeatable Resumes," discusses resumes for the present, unique employment market. His latest book, "Powerful Phrases for Successful Interviews," published in February of 2014 offers 400 ideal phases for every interviewing situation. He is a frequent guest on Dr. Phil Show, offering Dr. Phil's guests advice on the job search process. Tony also hosts a daily radio show, The Job Search Solution on The Word, 100.7 FM, in Dallas, every Monday thru Friday from 8:30 pm to 9 pm.
Tony received his Ph.D. in Higher Education from St. Louis University in 1973.
Tony and his beautiful wife of 45 years have four grown sons.