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Meet our Board of Directors

John Howman

John Howman, founder of Allied Consulting Group, LLC, continually earns the trust of the mid-sized organizations he advises. John has held many leadership roles over the years, which he can attribute to his successful launch of Allied Computer Group, Inc. in 1983. He raised this company from a one-man start-up to a $55 million company in 15 years. John now uses this experience to guide other companies in growth planning, leadership development and team alignment at Allied Consulting Group, LLC.

Education: B.S. Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Lisa Reardon

Lisa Reardon is CEO and Chairman of OwnersEdge, Inc. She has over 30+ years of experience in senior level operations, consulting, finance, marketing, sales, and sales management. In 2015, she strategically created a holding company named OwnersEdge whose purpose is to provide economic diversity to the ESOP and employee owners.

Lisa’s current board experience includes public, private and ESOP structured organizations. She leads the OwnersEdge board as Chairman and in addition to general board member duties, she has extensive experience on the following committees: CEO Search, Audit, Financial and Compensation. She is also a member of YPO and Vistage.

Education: Lisa Reardon is a graduate of Marquette University, where she obtained her B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. She has attended numerous executive post-graduate continuing education programs at both Marquette and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

E.J. Kubick

E.J. Kubick is an Executive Vice President of MetalTek International with responsibility for five metalworking companies in Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin. He has over 15 years of experience in the manufacturing industry and previously held various senior level positions at Grede Foundries, which manufactures products for the automotive, agricultural and construction markets. Additionally, E.J. has served as a council member for several committees including Castings Technology International and the Waukesha Country Business Alliance Manufacturing Alliance.

Education: M.S. Metallurgical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Linda Mertz

Lisa Mertz, CPA, and CEO of Mertz, offers a rare combination of years of experience, sound advice and extensive industry connections to help clients identify and pursue their best path in times of transition. In addition to providing counsel to business owners, Linda brings her experienced insights to her service on several corporate and nonprofit boards including Skyline Technologies, Services Plus, Association for Corporate Growth and TEMPO Milwaukee. A longtime leader in the M&A community, Linda is a founding member of AICA - Alliance of International Corporate Advisors, as well as past president and chairperson of the International Network of M&A Partners, a global network of highly respected merger and acquisition specialists.

 Education: B.A. Accounting, University of Wisconsin-Madison; MBA, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Kyle Spader

Kyle Spader is the President of the U.S. Division for IEWC Global Solutions, an international distributor and solutions provider for wire, cable and wire management products. Since joining the company in 2000, Kyle has held several roles, including Controller, CFO and now President of the U.S. Division. In 2005, he joined IEWC's Board of Directors and became an ESOP Trustee. Prior to working with IEWC, Kyle was a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant working as a Tax Manager at Deloitte & Touche, LLP.

Education: B.B.A. Accounting, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; M.S. Taxation, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

Rhonda Kirkwood (BAYCOM & TOURGUIDE)

Rhonda Kirkwood, is a successful and experienced business leader and an expert at leading organizations and successful turnaround initiatives.  She launched Kirkwood Consulting, Inc. in 2009 and employs her extensive business background to assist small to mid-size companies with a variety of business performance issues to improve company results.  One of her widely noted skills is the coaching of CEO’s and senior leaders in various industries who are new to their roles.

 

Kathy Hust (CC&N)

Kathy Hust is an executive leader with extensive experience in business operations, strategic planning, technology, sales, marketing, finance, and engineering. Her corporate experience includes progressive leadership roles coupled with substantial accomplishments and responsibilities at wireless industry leader U.S. Cellular (retired 2016).  Kathy is a member of four leading not-for-profit Boards. She is a corporate Board member of Energybank Inc. and serves in an active advisory capacity for Seiva Technologies and Scanalytics Inc., which are startup technology entities. She is highly regarded and sought after for her expertise in technology and her understanding of community and political dynamics. 

Ed Javier (TOURGUIDE)

Ed JavierEd Javier has been working in the tech space for more than 15 years. He is an experienced executive that helped build and scale start-up companies such as Cars.com and HomeFinder.com; led technology SaaS product launches into new industries; and in 2015, as the General Manager pivoted and sold the leading real estate website in the Philippines to Rocket Internet. Since moving to the Milwaukee area, Ed has been consulting local companies in Marketing and Sales Strategies, mentored startups and co-organized Milwaukee’s first Startup Week. Ed received a master’s degree in International Marketing from Depaul University-Kellstadt in Chicago and his BA in Economics from University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.