BERKS - Key Persons
Bill Aliber is an advisor to the BERKS Group. He has more than 20 years of experience as a CFO. Prior to joining BERKS he was the CFO of Ascend Learning, a leading provider of educational content, software and analytics. While he was CFO Ascend Learning grew from a $150 million company to more than $450 million in revenue and completed numerous acquisitions. Prior to Ascend Learning, he was the CFO of Hallmark Card's various entertainment related businesses. Bill received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- OPERATING PARTNER
Bill Severn is an Executive Vice President at BERKS Group. He leads the BERKS Group's business development efforts in technology infrastructure. Bill has deep industry experience in fiber networks, cable, broadband, data storage and cloud services. He was on the board of OnLine Tech until the family sold it in early 2018. Bill was COO of NPG Cablevision until 2011 when the company sold to SuddenLink. He enjoys being very active in the community serving on the board of 7 non-profit organizations over the past 15 years and currently is chairman of the Board of the chamber of commerce. Bill is a proud K-State Wildcat. He is the father of three grown children. He enjoys golf, fishing and hunting as often as possible. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Brian Bradley has worked in several leadership roles the last 10 years with NPG ranging from managing call centers to general management to executive leadership. As its current President, he oversees all NPG's day-to-day operations. Brian is also leading BERK's Group, an investment division of NPG. In his current role, Brian's quest is to keep 65 years of growth going long enough to hand it down to the family's fifth generation. He will be hard at work for some time since the oldest is still in elementary school. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Job Titles:
- NPG 's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
David Bradley is NPG's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer leading the company-owned television group for 40 years. His career included reporting stints at newspapers in Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska and Hawaii. He served on The Associated Press Board of Directors 1987-1994, past presidents of University of Missouri Board of Curators, Missouri Press Association, St. Joseph(Mo) Chamber of Commerce, Albrecht-Kemper Art Museum. He enjoys working on economic development projects in his hometown St. Joseph. David's hobbies include golf, sailing, and pickleball. He and his wife Suzy have been married for 38 years and their three grown children are R-K-S of BERKS. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Doug Krebs is Operating Partner for BERKS Group, responsible for investments and operations in our Education Technology business. He recently spent 4 years at Ascend Learning responsible for their Health and Wellness businesses. His career included 14 years with Cerner Corporation including being President of Cerner Global based in Europe and a member of the executive cabinet. Earlier in his career he spent 15 years with IBM in a variety of executive positions. Doug is active in mentoring entrepreneurial organizations including sitting on several Board of Directors and was an executive at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation which is focused on global entrepreneurship. Doug's hobbies include road biking, boating and travel. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Job Titles:
- EVP of Business Development
Eric Bradley is the EVP of Business Development for the BERKS Group. In his role, he is focused on growing each leg of the BERKS stool either organically or through acquisition. His focus is to build a sustainable organization that will last generations. His operational experience ranges from running TV stations, doing local and national sales, working at Enterprise Rent-a-Car and even installing cable during his high school summers. Eric received a Masters in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco and his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University. With four growing boys, his personal time is spent either coaching his boys teams or driving to and from each event. When Eric has spare time he enjoys fishing, golfing, skiing and riding bikes. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Jay Longbottom is Operating Partner for BERKS Group, responsible for investments and operations in our manufacturing platform. Jay was most recently the CEO of Robert Family Holdings (RFH), a global, diversified manufacturer of highly engineered products. Prior to RFH, Jay was at Haldex for 10 years, eventually becoming CEO. Jay's global experience includes 14 years at SKF, the world's leading bearing company. Most of the time was spent in Europe, living in Italy and Germany. Jay's work at both SKF and Haldex include start-ups and joint ventures in India and China. Jay serves as on outside director of several manufacturing companies. Jay likes to stay active, has completed several triathlons; and sails and skis when the opportunity arises. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
John Kueneke is a Senior Advisor at BERKS Group focused on business development in the St Louis area for the BERKS Group. He became a Senior Advisor to the News-Press & Gazette Company after serving for 16 years as President of NPG Broadcasting. John helped grow the broadcasting division from just three TV markets to 40 stations in ten markets. He started on the ad sales side but always kept his love of local news, cultivated while earning a Master's degree at the University of Missouri J-School. He currently serves on the National Association of Broadcasters board as well as Executive Advisory Board of the Saint Louis University School of Business. He and Sharon are constantly traveling to Spain to spend time with their daughter Liz and husband Clay or to San Diego to visit their son Mike. However, despite many trips to Spain, John's Spanish is still not very good. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Kit Bradley Bowlin is an owner of BERKS Group and is focused on business development in the Atlanta area. Kit's work includes leading marketing efforts for News-Press Gazette and currently serves on the board. Prior to NPG, she spent time in the advertising agency world and various other media companies. Kit is on the board of the Children's Museum of Atlanta, the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, the Missouri Western State University Foundation Board, and the advisory board of Skyland Trail. She is also involved with the Jefferson Scholars Foundation at the University of Virginia. Kit holds an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and undergraduate degree in public policy studies from Duke University. Her most important and exhausting work is keeping up with her three small children! Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Laura Clark is an Executive Vice President at BERKS Group. She is also Chief People Officer for NPG where she works to extend the NPG commitment to be an Employer of Choice to each acquisition. She joined BERKS from Frank N Magid Associates, an international research and consulting firm, where she focused on media strategy, brand building and the impact of Millennials on all aspects of business growth. Laura is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Journalism School. She is an avid golfer and has completed two marathons (that's enough). Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Lee Sawyer is an Executive Vice President at BERKS Group. He most recently held the position of Chief Operating Officer for NPG's the newspaper division. Prior to working for NPG, Lee worked for the Lincoln Journal-Star in Lincoln, Nebraska. Lee is a member of the Inland Press Association Board. He graduated from the Advanced Executive Program at Northwestern University and he has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska. He is a past chairman of the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce and served for nine years on the Missouri Western University Foundation Board, as well as other non-profit organizations. Lee and his wife Toni have a son Eric in graduate school and Brian who is finishing his undergraduate education. In his spare time he enjoys hunting, golf, travel, and alpine skiing. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Mike Lierz is an Associate with BERKS Group. He is focused on due diligence for investment opportunities and supporting BERKS' transactions. He also works closely with our operating partners on the management and monitoring of portfolio companies. Prior to joining BERKS, he was an associate at CC Capital Advisors, a lower middle market investment banking firm based in Kansas City, MO. Mike graduated with honors from the University of Kansas with a degree in Economics. He also studied at the London School of Economics. When he's not working he enjoys golf and Kansas basketball. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Rall Bradley is an owner of BERKS Group. He currently operates the company's three television stations in St Joseph and serves on the board of News-Press Gazette Company. Prior to NPG, Rall spent time in various roles in the broadcast media world in Dallas, Washington D.C., and NYC. Rall has both an undergraduate degree in marketing and an MBA from the University of Missouri. In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, hunting, and travel. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Stephane Bradley Cooch is an owner of BERKS Group and is focused on business development in the Kansas City area. Her work includes leading legal affairs for the News-Press & Gazette Company and she currently serves on the board. Prior to NPG, Stephane spent time in various roles at a premium cable network in New York and worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Kansas City as well as an international banking institution in Delaware. She enjoys being actively involved with the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, MOCSA, the Kansas City Symphony, and other local community organizations. Stephane holds a B.A. degree in English from Duke University, a J.D. from Drexel University, and is licensed to practice law in Missouri. Her biggest job is wrangling her two little boys, Jimmy and Eddie, and her husband, Chris, as well as her two Shih Tzu dogs, Floyd and Chewie. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com
Job Titles:
- EVP / CFO for News - Press & Gazette Company
Tim Hannan is EVP/CFO for News-Press & Gazette Company and a member of the Berks Group business development team. His most recent experience is with a private equity firm and he spent a number of years in public accounting. Tim graduated from the University of Missouri . He enjoys BBQing on most weekends. Contact: opportunities@BERKSgroup.com