John WesleyPrincipal Consultant
After an MBA in finance and strategy, John completed an MS in Entrepreneurship from DePaul University. During his MBA days, John was the recipient of the prestigious Credit-Suisse DePaul University Research Fellowship, which helps identify companies that have achieved high economic returns from R&D Investments. John has rich consulting experience and has worked and lived in Mumbai, London and Chicago.
Dr. Mark FrigoSpecial Advisor & Thought Leader
Dr. Mark L. Frigo, PhD, CPA, CMA, CGMA is founding Director of the Center for Strategy, Execution and Valuation and the Strategic Risk Management Lab in the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University in Chicago where he directs ongoing research on value creating strategies at high performing companies. Dr. Frigo is active advising Boards of Directors and Executive Teams worldwide. He serves on the Board of Directors of companies and advises Boards of Directors and Executive Teams in the areas of strategy, strategic valuation, strategic risk management, economic research and in litigation support.
Manish KapoorVice President
Manish is a CPA with 21 years of experience in investment banking, investment research, business research & consulting, market & competitive intelligence, M&A advisory, business valuation, assurance and statutory compliances. He has previously worked with top consulting firms including Deloitte Haskins & Sells, Price Waterhouse Coopers and Standard & Poor’s.
Manish completed his bachelors from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University and went on to complete his CA in 2000. He has since then been actively consulting and advising clients on strategy, M&A, research, assurance, fund raising including IPOs, project feasibility, market intelligence, etc. Manish and his team have advised some pre-eminent multi-billion corporations in the digital space, large conglomerates, investment banks, hedge funds, private equity firms, portfolio management entities, fundamental investment groups and other buy-side firms in the US, Europe, GCC, Asia Pacific and India. They have successfully completed over 500+ projects over the last few years, touching almost all continents and serving clients of all scale.
James DoneganDirector of Business Development
James Donegan has been proprietor of an Executive Search Firm specializing in the Commercial Real Estate industry since 1991. Client companies include owners, managers, and advisors of most any asset class including Hotel, Resorts and Hospitality, Office, Retail, Multi-family, Student housing, and Industrial. They range in size as among the nation’s largest through midsize and start-ups. Recruiting, and placing candidates in financial, management, property development and advisory positions: Acquisitions/ Dispositions; Funding or ownership structuring; Asset Management, Financial Analysis and Advisory Consulting; Real property, Development and Construction Accounting.
Martin EssenburgSpecial Advisor
Martin is a seasoned international banker having spent 25+ years in various debt capital markets and structured finance management assignments. While a banker, he lived in both Chicago and London managing global functions. He has significant knowledge of the financial markets and has extensive experience working in both developed and developing markets all around the world. More recently, he started his second career as both a consultant and a university professor. As a consultant, he advises both for profit and non-profits on strategic matters, capital raising and funding, risk management, as well as business ethics and values to support long-term sustainability. On the educational front, he is an Adjunct at DePaul University teaching finance courses in its MBA and MSF programs. He has just returned back to Chicago following spending the last couple of years in Lithuania where he continued his consulting practice, albeit focused on private equity in eastern europe and teaching at two Lithuanian business schools. Martin holds an MBA from the University of Michigan.
David R. MidgleyDirector of Marketing
David Midgley was an International Marketing Manager at Powercurbers Inc. David has traveled extensively in over 67 countries and has lived and worked internationally. He has been very instrumental increasing salse in his last company from 15% balance of sales internationally to over 80% internationally. He has opened new territories for his company to expand and is the go to person for market research on new territories. He holds a BBA from California Western Univ and a Graduate degree in International marketing from Thunderbird: American Graduate school of International Management. David speaks Russian and Spanish and has served in the US Navy in Naval Intelligence.
Dr. Raymond LaukSpecial Advisor
Dr. Ray Lauk is a successful entrepreneur and was the Education Solutions Manager with GE Security (a General Electric business). Dr. Lauk holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, an MBA, and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education—all from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Lauk has been a speaker and presenter for GE, McGraw-Hill Publishers, AT&T, HSBC Bank, National School Boards Association, Illinois State University, Illinois Association of School Boards, American Association of School Administrators, Illinois Association of School Administrators, Association of American Schools in South America, and other business and educational groups. He has taught and spoken to groups in the United States, Brazil, and Spain. Ray speaks on leadership and organizational success. Fast Company Magazine named Ray to the 2005 Fast 50 Award for working with his community to re-invent education in his last school district.