Diane has successfully completed senior level assignments in multiple industries including aerospace, rail logistics, distribution, tires, power supplies, consumer goods, professional organizations, healthcare, coatings, and equipment manufacturing.

Prior to joining the firm, Diane spent eight years with Bank of America (formerly Connecticut National Bank). After earning a BA in Economics from Trinity College, Hartford, CT, she entered banking where she served as a Credit Analyst after successfully completing the bank’s credit training program. Diane then served on a loan review team to ensure the quality of the bank’s commercial loan portfolio. Following this assignment she advanced to the Private Banking division where she completed her training to become a Certified Financial Planner. As a Private Banker she managed and grew a portfolio of 150 high net worth clients with over $50 million in total personal loans and advised and assisted clients with trust and investment services.

Diane is active in a number of community activities and is an ardent supporter of the Renbrook School and Avon Old Farms School. back to top

John C. Fischer

With over twenty-five years experience in executive search and management consulting, John has successfully completed domestic and offshore assignments in virtually all industries. While specializing in general management, information technology, finance and engineering searches, he has also executed assignments in sales, marketing, human resources and supply chain management.

Prior to entering the consulting industry, John had over twenty years experience in increasingly responsible positions with Fortune 500 corporations. Holding senior financial and information technology management positions with The U.S. Steel Corporation, Ingersoll-Rand Co., Johnson & Johnson, and Heublein, Inc., he received a BS degree in Accounting from Rutgers and an MBA in Managerial Accounting from the University of Hartford. He attended numerous technical programs, including Harvard University’s “Managing the Information Services Resource”. Recognized as one of the pioneers in the development of EDI, his extensive computer, telecommunications and financial management experience brings valuable perspective to clients seeking management talent for high technology companies.

John currently is a member of the Wire Association International, Inc. and previously served on the Board of Directors of Baron Group and Baron Hospitality, real estate developers and hospitality managers; Baron Financial, a limited broker dealer specializing in the syndication of hospitality properties; Horton International, Inc., a global retained executive search firm; and served as a Japanese Trade Representative for the State of Connecticut, Department of Economic Development. He was also co-founder of Knight Group Inc., a global consulting firm specializing in cross border market entry.

Married with three grown children, he resides in Simsbury, Connecticut. back to top

Jerome P. Kane

With over thirty-five years experience in power, petrochemical, water treatment, manufacturing and engineering/construction, Jerry brings a wealth of knowledge to clients seeking to expand their business or augment their senior management team.

Kane has served as President and CEO, MYRpower, Inc., Vice President and Director, Stone & Webster, Inc., President and CEO, ACandS, Inc., and President and CEO, UE&C Nuclear, Inc. Earlier in his career, Jerry was the General Manager, Engineering and Licensing at Georgia Power, Co. and General Manager Engineering at Energy Northwest. Upon receiving a BS degree in Materials Engineering from the University of South Florida, he began his career in manufacturing engineered equipment for power plants with Westinghouse Electric Company.

Jerry has served on the Board of Directors of the Nuclear Energy Institute and several Advisory Committees. He also served as Chairman of the Supplier Advisory Committee for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). He is a current member of the Project Management Institute, the American Society for Metals, and the American Nuclear Society.

Kane’s international experience spans new power plant design, project management, field services and sales of engineered equipment in the Pacific Rim, Canada, Mexico and Europe. back to top

Joseph F. Keiser

A Principal of Fischer Group International – Southeast Asia, Mr. Keiser is a former Deputy Chairman of a major international executive search group, and has been operating his current firm in Southeast Asia since 1985. Mr. Keiser holds degrees in IT and Social Psychology from U.S. universities and an MBA (International Business Operations and Marketing) from the Stern School (NYU). He worked for PepsiCo International for 6 years with U.S. and Middle East/Africa responsibilities prior to relocating to East Asia in early 1980’s with National Semiconductor. He has 20+ years of experience in Executive Search in East Asia, primarily Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand, with additional extensive experience in operations in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In his current role, he is responsible for all local and pan-regional operations and administration throughout Southeast Asia. He has an extensive range of experience in industrial, commercial, agro-business, and financial institutions in the field of Executive Search and has served as a board member of various institutions. With this experience, he has been on all sides of the effort in the recruitment of directors of major institutions: as a consultant, as a client and as a target.

In addition, Mr. Keiser has been active in the community in Southeast Asia in organizations such as Rotary, various Chambers of Commerce, various youth programs such as Scouting and other athletic programs, and has also been directly involved in organizing and directing international level sporting competitions under the Indonesian National Sports Council, along with being an event judge at the 1997 SEAsian Games. Recently, he organized a major relief effort in Thailand following the 2004 Southeast Asian Tsunami Disaster.

Joe and his family reside in Singapore. back to top

Philip Mayer

After earning an electrical engineering degree from Aston University, Philip joined the Electricity Supply Industry in the UK. He held progressive appointments with responsibility for systems engineering, project management, operations, administration and finance.

He later joined Grant Thornton, a firm of accountants, as a Senior Management Consultant and gained worldwide experience in a variety of industrial, commercial and public service organizations across Europe, North America and The Middle East. He was an active participant in the formulation and implementation of long and short-term corporate plans, acquisition, rationalization and divestment strategies.

In 1981 he joined GEC plc, with responsibility for establishing a successful new division engaged in the supply and installation of major items of electrical equipment into multi-million dollar projects in West Africa, The Middle East and The People’s Republic of China.

In 1984 he became the Western Director for a Sino-British joint venture, established in Hong Kong, to seek and transfer western technology to China for its energy program (electricity, oil and coal).

In 1988, at the time of the Tianamen Square uprising, he returned to the UK and joined a small Midlands based executive search firm, opened a London office and expanded the business across 27 countries to be recognized as one of the top 20 executive search firms in the world.

In 1996 he established his own firm of executive recruitment consultants concentrating on senior executives across Western Europe, North America and the emerging markets of Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. In addition, he represents European Trade Development (ETD) with responsibility for marketing Central/Eastern European investment opportunities to potential western clients and South and East Asia Consulting Company (SEACCO) responsible for marketing Indian investment opportunities. back to top

James J. Pappas

With more than 20 years experience in fields of engineering, technology, manufacturing, distribution, biotechnology and construction, Jim provides a depth of knowledge for his clients seeking to expand their business or enhance their senior management talent.

Jim has a diverse background in providing key management to several internal and external customers across the United States and internationally. Jim has conducted searches in Canada, China, Singapore, India, England, France, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, and Thailand. The key to his success in search has been constant communication between the client and candidate.

Prior to joining the firm, Jim has had a successful career in human resources and executive search with Barnes Group Inc, and Motorola.

Jim received his B.S. degree in Business from Illinois Wesleyan University and his M.S. degree in Human Resources & Industrial Relations from Loyola University.

Jim has been a guest speaker at several international human resources conferences. He is also active in local community events and holds a leadership position in the local YMCA. back to top

Paul M. Shimer

Paul holds the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefits and the Wharton School, and is a Fellow of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists (ISCEBS). He is a graduate of DePauw University.

Paul has been professionally involved with international benefit programs for over 30 years, including 18 years with a leading global human resources consulting firm.

Mr. Shimer has extensive expertise with expatriate and local national employee benefit plans and multinational pooling of group insurance contracts. He has contributed articles to Benefits & Compensation International, Journal of International Compensation & Benefits, Benefits Quarterly and Global Risk Management.

Paul and his wife reside in Vernon, Connecticut. back to top

C. Edward Snyder

C. Edward Snyder held the top human resources position at Becton Dickinson and the LTV Aerospace and Defense Supply Company. His thirty years of management experience also includes the American Can Company, where he was Vice President – Employee Relations for the Consumer and Services Industries sector. At the same time, he headed the corporation’s Compensation and Benefits department.

Innovation and creativity are hallmarks of his career. One of the country’s first flexible benefits programs was developed under Ed’s leadership. Further, Ed’s work in health care cost containment, executive development, unique downsizing approaches and senior level recruitment earned him the 1988 SHRM (Society of Human Resources Management) award of Professional Excellence for Human Resources.

Ed received a degree with honors in Psychology from Williams College and did post graduate work in Business Administration at Southern Methodist University.

His breadth of experience in executive retained search includes insurance, pharmaceutical, industrial products, and the consumer services industries in all line/staff positions. back to top

Dr. John H. Stevens, Jr.

Dr. Stevens has more than 20 years of experience as a psychologist, business executive, and management consultant. He received his doctoral degree in clinical and organizational psychology from Rutgers University and is currently an adjunct faculty member of the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. His professional experience includes working three years as interim-Vice President of Human Resources for a $300 million multi-national manufacturing company.

Earlier in his career he worked as the Director of Partial Hospital Services for a Comprehensive Mental Health center where he was responsible for planning, developing, and managing this acute-care service-delivery unit. Ad Director, he was also a member of the CMHC Management Team and contributed to the Center’s policy development, fiscal planning and review, organization management, and staff selection and appraisal.

Upon completing his doctoral studies, Dr. Stevens was awarded a Post-Doctoral Fellowship by a community-based medical hospital where he worked with hospital administrators to realign internal structure, streamline ancillary programs, and execute a merger with another hospital. He also designed and conducted several management training programs for nurse-managers and physician-administrators.

Dr. Stevens then worked four years with an international firm of management psychologists where he consulted with senior-level business executives around issues of organization and leadership effectiveness in both the U.S. and Europe. In 1989 Dr. Stevens co-founded the management psychology consulting firm of McSherry, Diedrich, & Stevens, Inc. He continues to provide management psychology consulting services to a wide array of client-companies of various sizes across several industries, including manufacturing, technical/engineering, medical/health, and professional services.

Dr. Stevens’ management psychology consulting activity typically includes assessing the personal strengths and “fit” of individuals for key roles and responsibilities, coaching and developing executive-managers to enhance their professional impact and effectiveness, providing organization leadership consultation, improving and strengthening the performance of teams, designing and facilitating organization change strategies, and consulting on issues pertaining to organization mission, performance, and management. back to top

Diane R. Beir