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Each recruiter at O'Connell Group possesses highly relevant professional experience in the marketing and market research fields. Our firsthand industry knowledge combined with our decades of executive recruiting experience give us the expertise to achieve a high level of success on your behalf. We are deeply committed to establishing and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and service, and focused on building long-term relationships with both clients and candidates.
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Ken Dammeyer, Principal, CPC*, joined O'Connell Group in 1998, bringing with him experience in both consultative sales and brand marketing. Ken graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S. degree in marketing and finance before beginning his career with AT&T's General Business Systems Division (now Lucent Technologies), where he progressed rapidly as a leading salesperson. He then attended Duke's Fuqua School of Business. After obtaining his M.B.A., he worked in brand management in consumer packaged goods marketing with James River Corporation (now Georgia Pacific), managing numerous brands including Vanity Fair, Northern Napkins, and Dixie, with a focus on strategic brand positioning and general management. Ken led O'Connell Group's recruiting operations from 2007 until 2009, when he became one of the firm's principals.
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Kathy Epifano, Principal, joined O'Connell Group at its inception in 1993, bringing with her almost twenty years of experience. Her career began with companies such as Acme United Corporation, a supplier of cutting, measuring and safety products; Trans-Lux Corporation, a world leader in LED displays, where as Product Manager for its ticker tape equipment, she earned one of its Top Product Manager awards; and Concurrent Computer Corporation, Perkin-Elmer's mainframe computer subsidiary, where she was Office Manager. Prior to joining O'Connell Group, Kathy was Sales Administration Manager in the Cough/Cold Division of Richardson-Vicks (now P&G). Today, Kathy is responsible for overseeing all aspects of operations for O'Connell Group.
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Kris Holmes, Principal, CPC*, joined O'Connell Group in 1995 and brought with her more then 10 years in marketing in consumer packaged goods, retail and durables, specifically in the food and office furniture industries. Kris graduated from Tufts University and began her career at Marshall Fields in a training program to become a buyer. She then returned to graduate school and earned her M.B.A. at Northwestern's Kellogg School. Kris interned at Johnson & Johnson and began her full time consumer packaged goods marketing career with Kraft USA. After serving at the brand manager level at Kraft, Kris continued her marketing career with positions of increasing responsibility in the home furnishings industry with Herman Miller and at Ralston-Purina's Continental Baking Company. Kris has worked on base businesses, innovation, strategy and planning and in human resources.
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Hap Hoover, Principal, CPC*, joined O'Connell Group in 1997 after more than two decades of relevant business experience in consumer marketing and general management. Hap joined Canada Dry beverages after receiving his B.A. from the University of Virginia and spent four years in general management rotational positions. When Canada Dry was sold he joined Avon Products in their Marketing Group. Hap was then recruited to the Personal Care Division of Richardson-Vicks where he progressed through brand positions on Oil of Olay and Pantene Hair Care until the company was sold to P&G in 1985. Hap then made a successful transition into client management within the advertising industry working on the Ocean Spray business. Before joining O'Connell Group Hap pursued some entrepreneurial interests, holding senior-level positions with two proprietary packaging companies (venture capital funded and family owned).
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Dixon Smith, Principal, CPC*, joined O'Connell Group in 1998 with more than 10 years of consumer marketing and management consulting experience. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, Dixon joined Gardner Management Services in Saratoga Springs, New York where he managed mineral property contracts throughout North America while completing his M.B.A. at the University at Albany (SUNY). Upon graduation, he joined Bayer in New York City (then owned by Eastman Kodak) where he worked in brand management on flagship analgesic brands such as Bayer and Midol. Dixon was then recruited to Ralston Purina's Continental Baking Co. in St. Louis, Missouri where he worked in brand management, new product development, and customer marketing on brands such as Wonder Bread and Hostess Cake. When the division was sold and relocated, he joined Ernst & Young's management consulting division as a leader in the Customer Connections group, focusing on marketing, sales, and customer service across multiple industries.
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Joanne Abernathy, CPC*, joined O'Connell Group in 1999 with twenty years of experience in marketing, sales promotion, and advertising. Upon graduation from the University of Kansas, she worked in advertising in Lawrence, Kansas for two years, before moving to St. Louis. She then joined D'Arcy, Masius, Benton and Bowles, managing the Anheuser-Busch Wholesale Operations Account. She began her marketing career at Ralston Purina in brand management on Wonder Bread and Hostess Cakes, on both established and new products. After several successful years in marketing, she moved back into client services as a Director of Promotion and Advertising within Ralston Purina's in-house advertising agency.
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Jim McConnell, CPC*, joined O'Connell Group in 2004 with extensive experience in the packaged goods, information services and software industries. Jim began his marketing career in the Latin American Division of Avon Products, continued his career in consumer packaged goods as a product manager at Nestle and later as a group product manager at Nabisco Foods. Subsequently, Jim joined Dun & Bradstreet as Director of Planning and Business Development for the company's Donnelley Marketing Division, where he identified and developed new business ventures. Prior to joining O'Connell Group, Jim held executive management positions in the software industry, where he was responsible for leading strategic alliance initiatives for Hyperion Software, SS&C Technologies and NeuVis. Jim holds a B.A. from St. Joseph's Seminary in New York, an M.B.A. from Pace University, and served with the United States Marine Corps.
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Kate McDonnold joined O'Connell Group in 1997 with more than 15 years of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Kate served in the United States Navy as a Supply Corps officer. She spent one tour as Officer In Charge of a Navy Commissary store, her first introduction to grocery operations management. After completing her M.B.A. at the University of Texas, Kate continued in operations with a large regional supplier to the Independent Grocery Association in New England. In 1989 she began eight years at Information Resources; directing the delivery of scanning data analysis tools first to the retail grocery chains, and later to manufacturers of consumer packaged goods. As Vice President in IRI's Consumer Packaged Goods Software division, she and her team installed Oracle's Analyzer Client-Server software for the analysis of syndicated sales and promotion databases, and Kate consulted with consumer packaged goods manufacturers on the implementation of nationwide rollout of analytical software for field sales forces, space and category management analysts, market research, and brand management personnel. Currently Kate serves as Vice President, Operations and manages the infrastructure for the computer databases, facility and support staff at O'Connell Group.
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Ron Prestera CPC*, joined O'Connell Group in 1998 with extensive business experience in marketing and marketing services. Hofstra University is Ron's alma mater, where he earned his B.B.A. Among the consumer marketing companies that he has called home are General Foods, B. K. (Before Kraft); Pepsi-Cola; Richardson-Vicks prior to the acquisition by P&G; Carter-Wallace (Carter Products Division before Church & Dwight purchased it); and Western Union and MoneyGram money transfer. Ron also operated a marketing services agency.
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Adnan Rukieh joined O'Connell Group in 2003 bringing nearly 20 years of experience in consumer packaged goods and healthcare, in both brand management and consulting capacities. Adnan graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in aerospace engineering and began his professional career at Lockheed in direct support of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. He then returned to graduate school and earned his M.B.A. at Northwestern's Kellogg School. He interned at Ralston Purina and then upon graduation joined Kraft Foods in marketing. Adnan moved through increasing roles of responsibilities on Miracle Whip and Kraft Mayonnaise prior to joining Keebler to head their new products effort. He then moved to the healthcare sector with Ingalls Health System, where as Director of Marketing and Strategy he led their transition to a brand management system. Adnan then became a principal with The Mercator Group, a consultancy specializing in healthcare strategies with an emphasis on marketing and business development, where he worked with C-Level executives across all sectors of the healthcare industry.
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Virginia Roher, CPC*, joined O'Connell Group in 2006 with more than 19 years of sales and marketing experience. After graduating from St. John Fisher College with a specialized sports marketing degree she interned with the Buffalo Sabres/Rochester American NHL organization and then began her career in sports marketing with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. After six years with the Devils, rising through the ranks within marketing, promotions and advertising throughout the United States and Canada, Virginia expanded her skills into an international business role as Associate Publisher of Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Having successfully repositioned and revived a dying publication, she transitioned into the direct marketing arena at Memberworks (a.k.a Vertrue), Trilegiant (a.k.a. Affinion Group) and EquiSearch Services heading sales, marketing and new business development in retail, manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, financial and catalog channels.
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Autumn Saddler joined O'Connell Group in 2007, bringing with her experience in event marketing, retail and promotions. Autumn earned her B.B.A. degree at the University of Illinois. She began her career in promotions with the Miller Brewing Company and later worked with US Concepts on many of Diageo's brands, including Jose Cuervo and the launch of Smirnoff Twisted 5. Prior to joining O'Connell Group she also spent time in retail management and sales.
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Bob Tansill, CPC*, joined O'Connell Group in 2005 bringing with him more than ten years of experience in marketing and sales, working on new business development, strategic account management and event marketing. After graduating from Lynchburg College, Bob moved to Vail, Colorado where he combined his passion for skiing with his interest in working for a high-end luxury resort. Prior to joining O'Connell Group, Bob was with T-Mobile's National & Strategic Account Division where he was responsible for building a new business territory through identifying and developing key opportunities with Fortune 1000/Global 500 companies.
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* Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) designation assures that individual consultants have been measured against meaningful standards of knowledge and conduct applicable to our business. CPCs must pass an independently administered (by the College Testing Service) comprehensive examination; must agree to uphold the National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS) Code of Ethics, Standards of Ethical Practices and Certification Program Rules, and must participate in the NAPS CPC Continuing Education Program. |
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