ArchPoint’s strength is in its people. Our clients turn to us because each ArchPoint partner has a strong history of delivering results and leading organizations before entering consulting. Our seasoned partners each have more than 20 years experience in leadership positions at Fortune 100 companies learning and excelling in their disciplines. That means we know the difference between ideas that can be executed and those that can’t. We rely on this experience to serve clients’ pressing needs, where they occur, around the world.
“We’ve walked in your shoes and struggled with the very challenges of leadership that you face every day – that is what makes us different.” Jesse Edelman, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Richard Spoon, Chief Executive Officer
Richard is a founding member of ArchPoint Consulting and brings over 21 years of business leadership and consulting experience. As a previous Vice President and as a consultant, Richard has been leading large organization change efforts all his professional life. Prior to founding ArchPoint, he spent over 17 years at Campbell Soup and Procter & Gamble leading the organizations in Sales, Marketing and Service. Throughout his consulting career he has worked with clients in the food and beverage, general merchandise, apparel, and industrial/B2B categories. Most recently, Richard was the Managing Partner for the Organization Design and Change practice at The Partnering Group, a CPG boutique consulting firm. Richard received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BBA from Texas State University. richard.spoon@archpointgroup.com
Jesse Edelman, Chief Operating Officer
Jesse is a founding member of ArchPoint who began his career with Procter & Gamble in IT, Sales Analytics and Category Management. Following P&G, Jesse had a variety of experiences ranging from Luke Soules/Acosta (Food Broker) to Webvan (e-tailer) to Heinz (Safeway Team Leader), to Senior Vice President of Sales for Jarden Home Brands, and finally as a Partner with The Partnering Group in the Sales and Marketing practice. He is a strong customer advocate to his clients helping them rethink their approach to service, markets, and business segments. Jesse received his Bachelor of Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. jesse.edelman@archpointgroup.com
Blair King, Managing Partner
Blair has nearly 20 years experience working with customers across the United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East and the U.S. He has worked extensively within the media, broadcasting, telecom, and technology industries, undertaking roles within programme management, consultancy, and business development. Blair has been successful in defining and delivering pioneering programmes for such organisations as the BBC and the Millennium Dome, where he oversaw the delivery of all internal technical services as well as customer facing technology to millions of visitors. As Chief Technology Officer for a U.K. based media consultancy, Blair developed best practices for secure on-line, music and video distribution. He also led the satellite broadcast division of a Dutch-based broadcast organisation through substantial growth and development and prepared the company for sale to a US-based multi-national media organisation. He holds a masters degree in Scientific Computing from London University. blair.king@archpointconsulting.com
Stephen Peele, Managing Partner
Stephen is a founding member of ArchPoint and has over 26 years of experience in high technology, information technology, and manufacturing products and services with GE, SmartSignal Corporation (a technology start-up), and independent consulting. His prior leadership positions include General Manager - Aviation at SmartSignal, E-Business Leader for GE Capital, Sales Director, Director of Marketing, and Director of New Business Development for GE Engine Services. Stephen began his consulting career as the VP of Business Development for Preceptus LLC, a boutique consulting company. After assuming the lead role as President of Preceptus, Stephen became a Partner with the Organization Design and Change practice at The Partnering Group. Most recently, he has worked with clients in the categories of industrial/B2B, retail, food and beverage, and general merchandise. Stephen earned an MBA from University of Cincinnati, a B.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is certified in Six Sigma Quality and Continuous Improvement. He also currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Change Leadership at the Northern Kentucky University. stephen.peele@archpointconsulting.com
Russell Ray, Managing Partner
Russell is a founding member of ArchPoint and is a leader in the area of Customer Management, Category Management, and Trade Marketing. He brings over 20 years of industry best practice experience from Procter & Gamble, Campbell Soup, Pepperidge Farm, and most recently as a partner in The Partnering Group's Sales and Marketing practice. Russell has led teams across multiple channels including convenience, club, drug, mass, and grocery. He has developed innovative approaches to Trade Funding, New Item Development, Category and Consumer Insights, and Tactical Execution. Russell received his MBA from Abilene Christian University and a BBA in Finance and Business Administration from Eastern New Mexico University.
russell.ray@archpointconsulting.com
Leslie Komet Ausburn, Partner
Leslie spent more than 15 years as an award-winning television news reporter and anchor in several markets in Southeast Georgia and North and South Texas. She began working in public relations in 1996. With her unique perspective, knowledge and expertise, Leslie brings a strong public relations/marketing focus which includes strategizing, planning and executing all aspects of public, media and corporate relations. Leslie has consulted across numerous industries including retail, healthcare, pharmaceutical, consumer products, business learning, medical, fitness, construction, and manufacturing. She earned a Bachelor in Broadcast Journalism degree from The University of Texas at Austin, and a Master of Science in Journalism from the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. LESLIE.AUSBURN@archpointconsulting.com
Tim Bramble, Partner
Tim has over 33 years of experience in the CPG industry with companies like Scott Paper, Ocean Spray, Atari, Luke Soules, and Acosta. Most recently, Tim was the Senior VP/HEB team lead for Acosta before becoming a founding member of ING (Independent Network Group), a fast growing food broker company in San Antonio. Tim is a graduate of Wayne State College. tim.bramble@archpointsales.com
Steve Byrne, Partner
Steve has over 22 years of experience in Materials Manufacturing, Industrial Distribution and Financial Services with General Electric (16 years) and Avery Dennison’s Fasson Roll Division. His leadership positions include Business Development and E-Business leader for GE Supply, Vice President of Marketing for GE Capital-OTFS, and Director of Strategy and Marketing for Avery Dennison’s Fasson Roll Division. Steve has also been a small business owner, starting and running a $400,000 service company. Mostly recently as a consultant, Steve has worked with clients in chemical/materials manufacturing, industrial manufactured goods, technology distribution and banking in the areas of service strategy, corporate strategic planning and deployment, and Lean Sigma. He earned his MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a BA from the University of Virginia and is a certified Black Belt in Six Sigma Quality. steve.byrne@archpointconsulting.com
Renee L. Camplese, Partner
Renee brings more than 23 years of experience in the CPG industry, having started her career with Procter & Gamble. She was a founder, co-owner and Executive Vice President of National MegaForce, a multi-million dollar retail service company with nearly 4,000 employees representing Fortune 500 companies in all major U.S. retailers. Renee is an expert at sales organization design, management, training, retail operations and process management. Throughout her career, Renee has worked with clients in the Food Service, Health and Beauty, General Merchandise and Grocery categories to enhance their trade promotion management processes, marketing and sales initiatives and retail executions. Renee received a BA in both Marketing and Management from the University of Cincinnati. RENEE.CAMPLESE@archpointconsulting.com
Leland Dake, Partner
Leland brings over 30 years of merchandising, marketing, procurement and vendor negotiation experience to ArchPoint. Most recently, he was the founder and principal of Strategic Sourcing Partners LLC, a consulting practice focused on cost of goods and sustainable savings in procurement. Leland also spent over 20 years at SuperValu, where he served as group vice president. He is an expert in supply chain and all facets of strategic sourcing including direct and indirect goods, hundreds of categories and vendors, wholesale and retail operations, military, branded and private label, and has a strong knowledge of U.S. and Asian markets. Through his strategic sourcing methodologies, Leland has consistently lowered the cost of operations for businesses by up to 5%, and worked alongside companies including Boston Consulting Group, AT Keamy and BoozAllen Hamilton. Leland graduated from Lewis and Clark College in Portland with a BA in Business Administration. leland.dake@archpointconsulting.com
Ron Fairchild, Partner
Ron began his CPG career with Procter & Gamble where he held several sales and management positions including head of the company’s corporate New Salesman and Unit Management training schools. Ron then shifted to the retail brokerage business working for Paul Inman Associates. After 19 years managing key lines such as Clorox, Ocean Spray, General Foods, Georgia Pacific and Dixie, Ron was appointed President and CEO of the company. He says some of his most memorable moments were pioneering new ventures and making them winners in the Michigan/Ohio markets. When PIA was sold to Marketing Specialists of Dallas in 1999, Ron was the Central Division President for the newcompany. He later spent two years in management at Luke Soules Brokerage in San Antonio. After Luke Soules, Ron went into the consulting business. His key client was Fishery Products where he was able to help pioneer a new line of encrusted seafood and shrimp into distribution in over 70 percent of America's retail outlets. Ron is a graduate of the University of Idaho and served as commissioned officer in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. RON.FAIRCHILD@archpointconsulting.com
Mark P. Friedman, Partner
Mark has been driving business growth for more than 25 years as a marketer, general manager, consultant and executive coach. He mastered his craft during nearly a decade in brand management with Procter & Gamble in the United States and Japan. Subsequent success has focused on creating game-changing strategies, driving breakthrough innovation programs, building high performance organizations and developing best-in-class marketing programs. He consistently challenges clients to rethink their assumptions and focus on creating sustainable competitive advantage. He leverages a broad range of industry experience, including consumer electronics, natural foods, sporting goods, entertainment, medical equipment, health supplements and OTC, home care, franchising and sustainable agriculture. Mark also founded FastGrowth Advisors, which provides coaching services for small businesses and entrepreneurs. He earned his MBA in Marketing from University of Chicago and has won industry awards for innovation on three continents. mark.friedman@archpointconsulting.com
Andrea Groomes, Partner
Andrea (Andi) brings more than 20 years of leadership and business experience with an expertise in executive coaching. Her career at CIGNA HealthCare provided her with a depth of leadership experience in operations and sales management. As a Sales Vice President, her focus on the design and development of collaborative teams allowed her to build a successful track record as the leader of sales and service professionals. Subsequent to her career in health care, Andi launched her own business as an independent executive and business coach, contracting with companies like CEG Worldwide LLC and Calhoun Consulting to coach multi-million dollar advisors, sales leaders, clinical staff, entrepreneurs and executives. Her engagements had her coaching clients in companies such as Wells Fargo, Wellington West, MasterCard International, CIGNA HealthCare, Wellpoint Blue Cross and Securities America. Her work as a communication coach, gives Andi a strong foundation from which to engage her clients around all aspects of effective communication. She collaborates with clients to create strategies to maximize performance and defy boundaries. Andi earned her BS in Finance from Montclair State University in New Jersey. In addition she is a Certified Co-Active Coach (CPCC) having attended the prestigious Coach Training Institute and is also a Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming. ANDI.GROOMES@archpointconsulting.com
Christine Holland, Partner
Christine has 20 years experience in Brand Marketing and Business Management across Household, Personal Care, and Beverage/Food Service categories. Her innovative product launches and strategic partnerships have included such brands as Liquid Dial and Fanta. Christine oversaw the global launch of Coca-Cola Zero, the first Coke brand launch to achieve the billion dollar level since Diet Coke. She also led Coke’s West Coast marketing function, which included management of the entire portfolio of beverage products, development of customer and consumer marketing programs, new product launches, advance scouting for new products and trends, and dozens of successful partnership negotiations with sports and entertainment properties such as the USC Trojans, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Disneyland, the Denver Broncos, Warner Brothers, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Phoenix Suns. Most recently, Christine has worked as a consultant across a variety of categories including nutriceuticals, spirits, frozen/shelf stable food, entertainment, retail, and fashion, and with start-ups in personal care and beverages. Christine earned her BA in Psychology and her MBA from University of Arizona’s McGuire Entrepreneurship Program. CHRISTINE.HOLLAND@archpointconsulting.com
Dan Kara, Partner
Dan has over 25 years experience at The Kroger and H-E-B Grocery Companies working and leading multiple aspects of marketing, category management, and retail grocery operations. While at H-E-B Dan was instrumental in rolling out new company initiatives, training programs for department managers and store leaders, and marketing for store remodels and grand openings. He has been recognized as a leader in category and private label product innovation, introductions, and growth and has been integral in helping our clients improve retail execution. Dan earned his degree in Economics from the University of Illinois. dan.kara@archpointsales.com
Amy Lazarus, Partner
Amy has over 20 years experience in Customer Service, Operations, Integrations and Quality, primarily in the healthcare industry. At GE Healthcare, she was the General Manager of the $142M Americas Interventional Service business leading the team to world class customer NPS (Net Promoter Score) ratings and a first place service category with IMV, an independent ratings agency. In her operations roles, she led the Business Operations for the $300M Southeast Zone, achieving the highest operating margins in the country and also spent three years at GE’s European headquarters in France, as the Manager of Logistics for all imports. In her last role at GE, she was appointed by the CEO as the global service integration leader, successfully restructuring the $4B global service organization. Amy then joined ArchPoint Consulting in 2009 as a partner, focusing on strategy development, change leadership and customer service. She received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2000 and her Bachelors in Industrial Engineering from The Georgia Institute of Technology in 1990. amy.lazarus@archpointconsulting.com
Suzanne Levy, Partner
Suzanne brings more than 20 years of coaching, leadership and business experience and is committed to breakthrough success for her clients. She partners with Fortune 500 senior executives, business owners and multi-million dollar producers as a catalyst for change and clarity. Suzanne’s previous clients include Diageo, KPMG, Merrill Lynch, Monster, MTV Networks, ONIT Digital, CRT/Tanaka PR, RBC Dain Rauscher, Smith Barney, Scholastic and Travelers. Her clients span various industries including entertainment, media, financial services, management consulting, legal, healthcare, technology, sales and consumer goods. Suzanne also spent time as the Head Coach at the Center for Excellence that specializes in the financial services industry and at The Walt Disney Company, where she launched and managed a division that oversaw all business development, marketing, consumer goods, publishing, online and promotion for the department’s properties. Prior to Disney, she was at HBO in production management and earlier in advertising at Ammirati and Puris in New York City. Suzanne has lived and studied in Paris and earned her BA from Washington University in St. Louis. SUZANNE.LEVY@ARCHPOINTconsulting.COM
Mark Parker, Partner
Bringing 30 years of experience to his clients, Mark combines strategic and tactical expertise in customer relationship building, sales force execution, broker management, brand strategy and systems technology to drive top line growth and fully leverage trade spending. Most recently, Mark was with Pinnacle Foods Group LLC as Senior Vice President Customer Strategy & Operations. Here he led a diverse team to develop executable customer and category strategies, proactively manage and maximize the effectiveness of a trade budget exceeding $650 million, and successfully integrate three major acquisitions. In his previous role at Pinnacle, Mark was the Senior Vice President Business and Brand Development, where he managed sales strategy and operations for all businesses and had overall P&L responsibility for select regional brands. Mark also spent six years with the Campbell Soup Company as Vice President, Customer Marketing & Planning—U.S. Soup & New Growth Division and Vice President, Team Kroger, Category Management & Customer Marketing. Mark received his BS in Business Administration from Wingate College in North Carolina, and more recently earned his Food Executive Program Certificate from Cornell University. Mark.Parker@archpointconsulting.com
DeAnn Petersson, Partner
A leader in Strategic Customer Management and Category/Channel Development for National and private brands, DeAnn brings 20 years of industry best practice experience from leading CPG companies including Pillsbury, PepsiCo, ConAgra Foods and Groupe Danone. Most recently, she served as vice president of sales with Chamilia LLC, a privately held fashion accessories company. DeAnn has extensive experience developing and leading food & beverage sales and cross-functional teams in retail and foodservice channels including grocery, club, mass, convenience, specialty retail, QSR, travel and hospitality. Additionally, she brings expertise in successfully developing business through complex three-tier distribution channels. DeAnn received her B.A. in Communication Studies from California State University at Sacramento. deann.petersson@archpointconsulting.com
Thomas Posey, Partner
Tom has been helping CEOs, senior-level executives and policy makers transform themselves and their organizations for more than 20 years. Specializing in strategy and alignment, leadership transformation, executive and team coaching, and scenarios, Tom has worked with clients in the food and beverage, telecommunications, transportation/distribution, manufacturing and hospitality/travel categories. He is the founder and principal of Posey Associates LLC. His past experience includes CHRO as well as leadership positions in organizational capability, human resources, business process management and labor relations for Fortune 500 companies such as Anheuser-Busch, American Standard/Trane and BellSouth. He has served on the Advisory Board/Executive Education Committee of the University of Michigan and is a certified Six Sigma Quality Green Belt. Tom is a graduate of the National Academy of Human Resources’ CHRO Academy and The Scenarios Programme at The University of Oxford. thomas.posey@archpointconsulting.com
Jan Risher, Corporate Communications & Public Relations
Jan has more than 15 years experience in corporate communications. With extensive media/public relations and corporate events management experience in industries including media, health care, commercial real estate development and public health education, Jan has used her skill set to build strategies and organize events for a variety of companies, including USA Today, Calvin Klein, Dermody Properties, International Special Olympics and numerous other not-for-profit organizations. Throughout the years, she has written newspaper columns inspired by life events ranging from living and teaching English in post-Communist Eastern Europe, international adoption to balancing life as a working mother. In 2004, she made the unusual transition of leaving the field of public relations and entering full-time journalism. During four years as a Louisiana-based reporter and editor, she won numerous state and national awards and international journalism fellowships. She covered everything from the far-reaching effects of Katrina and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to opera-singing wait staff and robbers who forgot their pants. During her full-time journalism tenure, Jan gained a wealth of knowledge on the inner workings of media and consumers. She earned a bachelor degree in English Education from Mississippi State University in 1985. jan.risher@archpointconsulting.com
Amy Ritchie, Partner
Amy has over 18 years experience in the Finance and Accounting industries and has been recognized as a leader in strategic and operational planning, process improvement, organizational redesign and talent management. Most recently she worked at Avery Dennison as Chief Financial Officer of their $400 million global Industrial and Medical Products Division with manufacturing operations in the US, Europe, China and Brazil. Prior to Avery, she worked at Bank One in both Commercial Lending and Branch Management, and has led various organizations responsible for accounting, controls, financial planning and analysis. She can rapidly identify business issues, initiate change and implement new processes in diverse environments. Amy earned her MBA from Case Western Reserve University and her BA from Miami University of Ohio. AMY.RITCHIE@ARCHPOINTconsulting.COM
Lee Rodriguez, Partner
Lee brings a unique combination of technical mastery and commercial thinking to the practice, based on more than 28 years of leadership experience with Procter & Gamble. As a Customer Management and Logistics Leader for P&G, Lee led sales and customer-facing supply chain organizations in the United States, Latin America and Asia. He was also in charge of multiple diversity networks and recognized as a leader in the areas of Recruiting, Retention, Development and Diversity. Lee is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and his areas of expertise include customer management, strategy development, supply chain optimization, organization capability and supply chain innovation that delivers a competitive advantage. He earned his BA and MA in Political Science from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and served 8 years as a Regular Army officer. lee.rodriguez@archpointconsulting.com
Johanna Sawalha, Partner
Johanna has over 15 years of coaching experience with clients ranging from corporate executives to up-and-coming artists. In addition she has founded and headed several companies. Her business experience combined with her arts background provides the foundation for remarkable client relationships. Johanna was part of the core group that started and developed The Handel Group, a New York based coaching firm that teaches at MIT and Stanford Business School, and has AOL, Sony and Conde Nast among their clients. There, she held the roles of both Senior Vice President and Senior Coach during her seven-year tenure at the company. As a speaker and writer, Johanna has led courses at the Learning Annex in New York City and worked as a columnist for Modern Economy doing global analysis of world trends, among other forums. She has been featured at speaking engagements at The Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership, The Soho House, and Vig27 in Manhattan, among other venues. Johanna received her BFA from New School University. johanna.sawalha@ARCHPOINTconsulting.COM
