I'm thrilled to share my executive biography, highlighting my journey in driving strategic growth and operational excellence in higher education. I'm passionate about empowering people, optimizing systems, and contributing to innovative, purpose-driven organizations. If you're seeking board leadership or advisory expertise with a strong operational and cultural foundation.

Donna E. Collins is a transformative finance and operations executive with over 30 years of experience leading mission-driven organizations through strategic growth, financial reform, and operational excellence. Known for her integrity, cross-functional leadership, and deep expertise in nonprofit finance, Donna has successfully implemented enterprise systems, managed global compliance, and built high-performing teams across the U.S. and internationally. Her ability to align strategy with execution makes her a trusted advisor to executive teams and boards alike.

Marianne Savage is a seasoned technology executive and life sciences strategist with a distinguished career leading enterprise innovation across regulated industries. With over 40 years of experience spanning global product management, pharmacovigilance, and go-to-market strategy, she has played a pivotal role in transforming legacy systems into modern, cloud-based platforms that meet stringent compliance standards. Marianne’s ability to blend deep regulatory knowledge with technical fluency and operational leadership has earned her a reputation as a trusted advisor, team builder, and driver of strategic growth.

After more than three decades in leadership roles across manufacturing, operations, sales, and logistics in the industrial gases sector, I’m excited to share my executive biography. I’ve had the privilege of guiding teams through transformation, building sustainable growth strategies, and leading through periods of disruption and change. Now retired from corporate leadership, I’m open to new consulting and advisory opportunities where I can apply my experience to help organizations thrive.

Matt Acalin is a dynamic and multidisciplinary product and financial leader with over 12 years of experience driving innovation at the convergence of Fintech, SaaS, AI, and E-commerce. As Head of Product and a founding team member at Brightflow AI, he has scaled revenue, launched machine learning-based credit tools, and led high-impact teams through every stage of the product lifecycle. A CFA Charterholder with an MBA from UC Berkeley, Matt brings a rare combination of technical fluency, strategic insight, and financial rigor. His ability to bridge vision with execution and his passion for user-centric, data-driven solutions make him a uniquely valuable asset to any board or executive team.

With over 33 years of experience in sales, business development, and strategic leadership, Jeff Whalen has built a distinguished career in the automotive, electronics, and semiconductor industries. Known for his integrity, global perspective, and ability to drive revenue growth, Jeff has led cross-functional teams, expanded international markets, and developed strong partnerships with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. His deep industry knowledge and results-driven approach make him a valuable asset to organizations seeking forward-thinking leadership and board-level insight.

With over four decades of international leadership in horticulture and global supply chain management, Menahem Ganon is a results-oriented executive known for his strategic foresight, operational excellence, and people-first leadership style. Fluent in English and Hebrew, and experienced across markets in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, he brings a rare blend of cultural fluency and industry expertise. Menahem’s career reflects a deep commitment to integrity, collaboration, and driving meaningful growth across complex business environments.

Ronnie E. Blount Jr., CSM(R), is a mission-focused executive and retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major with over three decades of experience leading high-performing teams, advancing organizational strategy, and developing talent across complex operations. Known for his integrity, strategic foresight, and commitment to empowering others, Ronnie bridges military discipline with executive leadership to drive meaningful impact in education, human resources, and workforce development.

Ariel Dalton is a visionary commercial executive with over 17 years of experience driving transformative growth in the consumer packaged goods industry. Known for her authentic leadership style and strategic acumen, she has led large-scale commercial organizations, built award-winning teams, and delivered record-breaking business results. As Senior Vice President of Commercial at Danone North America, Ariel has redefined go-to-market strategies and operational excellence while fostering a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and high performance.

Nicholas Paraskevopoulos is a seasoned technology executive and former Chief Technology Officer of Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems, bringing over 30 years of leadership in engineering innovation, product development, and strategic operations. With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and executive training from Harvard Business School, he has successfully led large-scale technology integrations and global teams across the defense and consumer electronics sectors. Nicholas is now focused on board service, offering his depth of experience, global perspective, and pragmatic leadership style to organizations seeking transformative growth and technological advancement.

Bruce Bantz is a visionary financial executive whose five-decade career has left an indelible mark on the world of structured finance and corporate leadership. From pioneering asset-backed securities at Citibank to launching billion-dollar securitization platforms in Europe, his strategic foresight and technical mastery have consistently driven innovation across global markets. Known for his integrity, adaptability, and decisive leadership, Bruce blends institutional rigor with entrepreneurial agility—making him a trusted advisor and transformational force for companies navigating growth, complexity, or change.

Benjamin Lacey is a seasoned operations and global supply chain leader with a proven track record of transforming complex manufacturing environments into agile, high-performing systems. With over 27 years of experience driving operational excellence at Allison Transmission and a leadership style rooted in integrity, data-driven decision-making, and hands-on mentorship, Ben brings unmatched expertise in lean manufacturing, strategic planning, and enterprise-wide process improvement. His unique blend of executive insight, civic responsibility, and commitment to continuous improvement positions him as a high-impact contributor to both corporate and boardroom success.

Bud Patterson is a seasoned executive and decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran with over five decades of leadership in construction, federal contracting, and entrepreneurial development. Known for transforming high-stakes concepts into profitable ventures, Bud has led multimillion-dollar infrastructure projects across combat zones, federal agencies, and private industry. With a rare blend of operational discipline, strategic vision, and real-world grit, he brings unmatched expertise in building organizations, executing mission-critical programs, and mentoring the next generation of leaders.

Paulo Marchesan is a seasoned executive and transformational leader with over 25 years of global experience driving operational excellence, strategic growth, and financial turnaround across the food, hospitality, and franchising industries. From scaling a single Häagen-Dazs store into a 14-unit franchise to leading a $10B system-sales business at Burger King, Paulo has built a reputation for delivering results through hands-on leadership, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to developing people and organizations. His recent roles in private equity—building value creation teams and orchestrating multi-industry integrations—underscore his unique ability to navigate complexity and drive performance in high-growth environments.

Chris Bass is a dynamic and forward-thinking technology leader with over 20 years of experience driving performance excellence and strategic innovation across the software, finance, and healthcare sectors. As the Senior Performance Engineer at CyberArk, Chris plays a critical role in optimizing enterprise applications for scalability, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Known for his deep technical knowledge, strategic insight, and collaborative communication style, Chris is now focused on contributing his expertise at the board level—guiding organizations through digital transformation and long-term growth.

Sonya Boone, DBA, is a seasoned executive with over 15 years of leadership experience driving operational excellence, quality systems, and strategic growth initiatives across manufacturing, supply chain, and service industries. Known for her principled leadership and commitment to continuous improvement, Sonya has successfully led high-impact transformation initiatives for companies such as Abbott Diagnostics Molecular, Glossier, and Walgreens Boots Alliance. She is recognized for her ability to create resilient operational infrastructures, enhance regulatory compliance, and foster high-performing, accountable teams. Sonya’s expertise in supplier quality management, risk mitigation, and strategic planning positions her as a dynamic leader dedicated to helping organizations achieve sustainable success through operational rigor and ethical governance.