Justin Breland | Stephen Pickering | Tara Mekalet | Terri Knapp | Bob Iezzi | John Malik
 Brian Wright Brian Wright, CPC Managing Partner Brian is married to Kay and they have two children; Haley and Coleman. Brian serves as the Vice President and Membership Chair on the Board of Directors for the Pinnacle Society, a consortium of the 75 highest volume executive recruiters in the United States. Brian also formerly served as the Vice Chairperson for the National Association of Executive Recruiters. Brian earned a BA in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky and a MA from Webster University while working fulltime in the convenience store and petroleum industry. Brian’s career started by working in his parent’s franchised convenience stores and at age 18 he was offer a position as a store supervisor for the franchise parent company. This began a 21 year career in the convenience store and later the petroleum industry. Brian served in marketing, operations, gasoline purchasing and human resources during his stint with three different organizations. His final role was a VP Operations/COO for Country Cupboard Food Marts and Chestatee Oil Corp. In 1997 Brian started Absolute Activewear a uniform manufacturing company providing services to the convenience store, petroleum and quick serve restaurant industries. After selling this venture in 1999 Brian began his career as an executive recruiter and in 2003 he started Executive Leadership Solutions (ELS). Other professional associations include membership in the “National Association of Personnel Services”, “American Staffing Association”, and Brian presently sits on the “Manpower Committee” in support of the “Supplier Board” for the “National Association of Convenience Stores” and the “Education Committee” as well as “New Member Committee” for the “Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America”. Brian’s personal motto as well as the motto for ELS is “we serve our client’s need by serving our candidate’s needs. |
 Pete Compise, CPC Pete Compise, CPC Senior Executive Recruiter Pete is an experienced, professional recruiter who will assist you in accomplishing your goals. He has been involved in recruiting for over twenty years. He also has experience in the retail arena as a Region Manager for a retail chain prior to joining Team-ELS. His varied background includes positions as a Human Resource Manager, Corporate Recruiter, Director of Trade Relations, Regional Trainer and owner of two full service restaurants. Pete grew up in Western New York and was recruited to play football at the University of Louisville. Upon graduation he entered a career as a College Football Coach, with coaching stints at University of Louisville and at Indiana University in the Big Ten. After thirteen years coaching, Pete had the opportunity to open two full service restaurants in Louisville, KY. As owner and managing partner he developed both into award winning restaurants. During his time spent coaching and developing restaurants Pete realized that winning was a combination of a sound business plan and good people that made a team, and a company successful. The keys to success are to recruit good people, train and develop them into leadership positions, have a great business plan and the winning will take care of itself. He has taken his “Win with People” philosophy and applied it to every aspect of retail operations and recruiting during his career. After spending the last few years with a successful retail store chain, Pete decided to combine his outstanding knowledge of the industry with his skills as a recruiter and coach and join Team-ELS. His intelligence, work ethic and character driven leadership will help our client companies locate and hire the best candidates for their management team. Pete is married to Rhonda, has two grown daughters and a new grand son. Favorite past times are Fly Fishing for Trout, camping and cooking. In the fall, Pete spends his Saturday afternoons as the Radio Color Analyst for the Indiana University Football Hoosiers on the Indiana Radio Network. |
 Mason Carpenter, CPC Mason Carpenter, CPC Senior Executive Recruiter A native of Southwest Florida, Mason attended Edison College and University of South Florida where he studied Business Administration. Mason’s career has prepared him for excellence and outstanding service in Executive Recruiting. In his first career of 20 years as an Executive in the International Airline Industry, Mason excelled in creating a management team that ensured delivery of world class customer service, streamlined and highly efficient operations, quality personnel recruitment and management, and award winning sales programs. This experience was invaluable as Mason ventured into the entrepreneurial world as a key member of the country’s largest travel agency franchise organization. As Divisional Director of Business Development, he assisted in the sales of new travel agency franchises throughout Florida. In this role, he functioned as an expert industry advisor and mentor to each and every agency business owner. Totally immersed in franchise image and conversion re-imaging, Mason also used his business skills in planning and assisting owners in their business and sales plans, revenue projections, profit and loss management, and recruiting and hiring expert travel industry personnel. To satisfy his yearning to have his own successful travel agency franchise, Mason purchased a struggling agency and in a short time, turned it into a local powerhouse agency taking the leading market share in the community. The secret to that success Mason says was the recruiting of the best professional travel agents in the area, taking the sales efforts directly into the community by way of hundreds of personal sales calls, civic and community involvement, and delivering outstanding travel agency services 24/7. After selling his successful travel agency, Mason continued to employ his expertise in selling enterprise software solutions to Fortune 50, Fortune 100, Fortune 1000 Clients and Governments all around the world. Using sound business and marketing practices combined with the highest integrity is Mason’s business mantra. His personal belief is to give back to the community through involvement in local charities and volunteer work. Mason’s goal is to deliver world class service to his Clients and his personal dedication is to “remember that persuasive promises must be backed up by consistent and measurable results.” |
 Mike Lowe, CPC Mike Lowe, CPC Senior Executive Recruiter Mike and his wife Beth, make their home in Jacksonville, Florida. They have two grown children, Danny and Sarah. Mike grew up in the mid-west, and saw the world while serving in the US Navy for several years. Mike and Beth spent most of their adult life in North Carolina. Mike is famous in a close circle of family and friends for being an excellent backyard grill cook. Mike and his family also enjoy boating on the St. Johns River in North Florida. From 1979 to 1998, Mike worked with Stallings Oil Company of Rocky Mount North Carolina. Mike held numerous positions in the company including Travel Center General Manager, Travel Center division President, and Operations Vice-President for the company. In 1998, Mike transitioned to working with The Pantry Inc. when The Pantry purchased the chain of stores from Stallings Oil Company. While Mike was with the Pantry in North Carolina, he was quickly recognized for his leadership and people skills and promoted to a position in Florida to assist with recent acquisitions the company had made. Mike served in several Vice President positions for The Pantry from 1998 until 2007 when he joined Executive Leadership Solutions. While at The Pantry, Mike experienced the demands and requirements of creating shareholder value in a Fortune 500 publicly traded company. Mike has been in retail management positions most of his life where he learned he was really “in the people business” and happened to sell various goods and services. During his almost 30 years in management positions, Mike learned from the “hiring side of the desk”, the importance of quality people. Mike’s continues to recognize this strategy today in his recruiting practice. Mike looks forward to serving client and candidate needs in “the people business”. |
 Barbara Voss, CPC Barbara Voss, CPC Senior Executive Recruiter This Iowa native, and Iowa State University graduate, grew up in a community surrounded by a culture which valued honesty, character, and hard work and formulated the traits by which she conducts herself. As seasoned retail marketing aficionado, Barbara’s first hand experiences from both sides of the “table” bring an insight to collaboration with Client Companies and Candidates. Business ownership and Fortune 500 company representative roles comprise the experiences that are blended together. Bottom line – a result oriented, driven professional! A heritage derived from a family owned oil distributorship; Barbara ‘grew up’ in the downstream retail petroleum marketing business. Understanding supply, logistics, bulk plant, fleet card, card locks, underground storage tank regulations, lubricants, branded, unbranded, dealer, and company operations. Moving forward time at both Shell Oil and Amerada Hess additional dimensions were added to an already strong breadth of knowledge. Prior to Executive Leadership Solutions Barbara headed a training and leadership development business. With additional front line years recruiting, interviewing, sourcing, and human resource generalist roles substantiate her expertise as an Executive Recruiter. A passion to align the needs of Client Companies to that of talented individuals makes for a winning recipe for all. |
 Mike Rasnak, CPC Mike Rasnak, CPC Senior Executive Recruiter Mike and his lovely wife of nearly 30 years are empty nesters who enjoy country living. While their 2 grown children have gone, the 2 horses, 3 cats and 2 dogs remaining. He splits his time between his South Carolina and Florida homes. Mike is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy. He was Class president for 3 years and a member of the executive search committee for a new chancellor. He has attended Penn State’s Executive Strategic Management Program, been through the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, and a graduate of Ashland Chemicals “Simply the Best” program. Mike’s career has been heavily tilted to retail for 30 years. His career started by purchasing his first of three pharmacies in the Chicago market during his senior year of college. He then helped developed the Kmart pharmacies through out the Midwest, opening over 200 units in 7 states. In the mid-seventies, Mike was recruited by Super America to develop pharmacies within convenience stores. This led to a whole new direction in careers as he was promoted to Regional VP of operations. With the joint venture of SpeedwaySuperAmerica, Mike was named Divisional VP of Ops with over 600 hundred stores under his leadership. Mike has been active in numerous pharmacy and oil convenience organizations. Most recently Mike assisted Family Express in the development of in-house commissary, bakery, and self distribution as the VP of marketing. Mike is an avid aviator holding a commercial pilots license with instrument and multiengine ratings. He currently flies a Korean War vintage army plane, and is active in numerous aviation organizations. |
 Hap Howeth, CPC Hap Howeth, CPC Senior Executive Recruiter Hap and his wife Tammy have two children living at home and two grown children with three grandchildren. Hap is a native of Texas, growing up in San Antonio. He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin where he was a member of the Longhorn Band. During high school and college Hap held various part time and full time jobs in grocery, big box, and convenience stores. After he received his degree, he immediately started his retail management career in Woolco Department Stores and then as Store Manager at Service Merchandise Company. He then moved to convenience stores joining 7-Eleven in Dallas as a Field Representative running Territories in North Dallas and Richardson. After leaving 7-Eleven, he joined E Z Serve becoming a Marketing Manager and then Area Manager over New Orleans. After E Z Serve Hap became Vice President of Operations for Griffin Express, Clark Oil Company as Director of Marketing, and CEFCO stores as Regional Store Director. Hap has applied his lifetime of experience in retail for the past three years recruiting management successfully for convenience store companies and suppliers. After 30+ years in retail management, Hap has learned the key to success in any retail management position is to surround yourself with knowledgeable and competent associates who know their jobs. He has used this philosophy in all his placements. Hap will do anything he possibly can to a great right candidate at the right time for your company. |
 Todd Frey, CPC Todd Frey, CPC Senior Executive Recruiter Todd is an experienced, professional recruiter who brings a fresh look to recruiting. He has been involved in the recruitment of commissioned and non-commissioned candidates for the Navy during his 14 plus years with the Navy. As a member of Team-ELS, Todd brings a well rounded background in the recruiting industry and specializes in the Energy Sector. Todd grew up in Colorado and joined the Navy in November of 1996. He re-enlisted twice and spent some time traveling the world. He went to school in the Navy with a concentration in Aviation Electronics. He did this for 8 years and then changed his career path to become a recruiter for the Navy. With this change brought Todd and his family to Southwest Florida in 2004. It was later in his military career that he would decide to separate from Active Duty and pursue an opportunity with a civilian company. He furthered his career as an Executive Recruiter. Todd is still enlisted in the Navy as a Reservist and has recently returned from serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Todd has been married to Rebecca for 11 years and has three children; Jacob 11, Ian 8, and Isabel 3. When he is not working hard finding candidates for our clients, he enjoys time with his family by the pool. Todd’s philosophy is to never let weakness convince you that you lack strength! Todd looks forward to tackling your toughest needs. |
 Kirk Riley, CPC Kirk Riley, CPC Senior Executive Recruiter Kirk is married to Robin and they have two children; Katie (18) and Heather (16). They make there home in Ft. Myers, FL. Kirk has four years experience in recruiting, working in the banking industry placing banking executives. During his previous recruiting experience, Kirk won numerous honors for number of placements and total billings, that put him in the top 10 % of Account Executives worldwide for a major recruiting firm in the United States. Kirk earned an Associate Degree in Small Business Management from Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI, and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Madonna University, Livonia, MI. Kirk brings to Executive Leadership Solutions over 20 years experience in the banking industry. During his banking career Kirk was successful in working his way through a number of Management positions, that included being a First Vice President/ Senior Lending Officer of a $145 Million Community Bank. Kirk looks forward to utilizing his previous experience in the recruiting and banking industry, that will allow him to create a successful environment for our clients and candidates. His favorite past times are family activities, sports, and following politics. |
 Justin Breland Justin Breland Senior Executive Recruiter Justin Breland earned a BA in Marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University after being honorably discharged from the US Army for four years of active duty service. Justin has over five years of recruiting experience in the Accounting & Finance field having worked as a Recruiting Manager for one of the largest specialized recruiting firms in the world, and as an Assistant Vice President in the second largest recruiting firm in New York City. Justin recently became a partner at Breland, Coleman, Haley, & Wright and besides personally operating a high volume recruiting practice also leads the staff of B C H & W as the Chief Placement Officer. With this background, Justin has attained an extensive knowledge of Accounting & Finance executive search and works across multiple industries with the top talent at all levels in the profession. |
 Stephen Pickering, CPC Stephen Pickering, CPC Senior Executive Recruiter Stephen is a seasoned executive recruiter with expertise in the Pharmaceutical, Energy, Alternative Energy, Banking and Insurance industries. He has partnered with established Fortune 500 companies such as Pfizer, Merck and Bristol, Myers, Squibb as well as with nascent, emerging technology companies funded by venture capital giants such as Kleiner-Perkins and Khosla Ventures. He has demonstrated success in taking ownership of both the business development and candidate identification processes alike, resulting in numerous placements of “C” level executives. He performs both retained and contingency search and specializes in delivering – not just a candidate who can perform the job – but the candidate who can do the job the very best. He complements “EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP SOLUTIONS” staff with his philosophy of cultivating long term strategic relationships which benefit both candidate and client. Among his notable achievements in the search industry are his placements in the Regulatory Affairs department of Pfizer R & D where his candidates were instrumental in the pharmaceutical giant’s gaining FDA approval of such blockbuster drugs as Viagra, Lipitor and Exubera. Stephen is a game-changing executive recruiter with keen eye for talent who has an extensive personal rolodex of high level industry contacts and the intellectual athleticism to communicate on a PhD level. A competitive person, Stephen was the number one player on both his high school and college squash teams and he has surfed and sailed in yacht races in many oceans of the world. A native Philadelphian, Stephen attended Chestnut Hill Academy and Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York. Presently, he lives in Naples, Florida in the winter and Ocean City, New Jersey in the summer. |
 Tara Mekalet Tara Mekalet Technical Research Recruiter Tara’s diverse career has prepared her for excellence and outstanding service in the field of Executive Recruiting. A native of Florida, her outgoing personality enables her to successfully network and her perceptive communication provides her skills necessary to make the most successful match between qualified people and positions. Tara strives to make both client and candidate confident in their match through commonality. Negotiations are a welcome challenge thanks to her ability to understand what each party is seeking. In the words of William Jennings, “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” Tara lives by these words and strives to help each candidate and client make the choices that will help them achieve their destinies. Tara has three children who shine both academically and athletically. She spends her free time shuffling them to football, gymnastics, scouts, chorus, and church groups. As a professional recruiter, Tara brings a wealth of determination and knowledge to Executive Leadership Solutions. She looks forward to working with you. |
 Bob Iezzi, CPC Bob Iezzi, CPC Chief Operating Officer Specializing on the Supplier and Retail side of the industry Bob’s 30 years of business experience is a true asset to Executive Leadership Solution’s clients and candidates alike. Bob has spent most of his adult life in the convenience store industry. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family he was behind the counter at a very young age and joined Thornton Oil Corporation shortly after graduating from The University of Tampa with a BA degree in Business Administration. Bob and his lovely wife Donna have 3 beautiful daughters. The Iezzi’s family resides in Louisville KY During his 23 year tenure at Thornton’s, Bob came up through the ranks starting as a Manager in a gasoline only operation and progressed his way through each operational position to be the Vice President of Operations, then Vice President of Marketing and ultimately last served as the Executive Vice President for the Corporation and served on the Board of Directors. Bob is well known in the convenience store industry, putting together a very unique and talented operations and marketing team that grew Thornton’s to 130 of the highest volume combination gas/convenience stores in the industry. Under Bob’s direction this unique team was responsible for the development of the very first store as well as over the years developing many unique concepts and brands including the development of the prototype concept, the Quick Café and Market. A true innovator in the industry Thornton’s launched the first full menu Subway, McDonalds and Taco Bell as well as the largest Dunkin Donuts franchise in the U.S. within a traditional C-store operation. One fact that Bob is very proud of is that virtually every member of the executive team he hired while at Thornton’s has moved to positions of Ownership, Presidents, Executive Vice Presidents and other executive level staff positions among the some of the largest convenience store and big box retailers in America. In addition to the Convenience store industry Bob’s other business experience has included extensive experience in the Automobile related industry where he served as Vice President of Huber’s Inc. a multi unit automobile franchise and the ownership of a Budget Car and Truck Rental Agency. Bob still dabbles in the entrepreneurial world as co founder and partner in the Country Music Café. Bob has an eye for talent. His proven skill of putting the right people in the right positions and his unique approach to providing a consulting approach proves to be a real added value to both the client and the candidate. |
 John Malik, CPC John Malik, CPC Senior Executive Recruiter John is an experienced, professional recruiter who brings over 12 years of recruiting experience to Team-ELS. The son of a career Air Force officer and avid golfer, John was recruited by the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1987. There, John was 5th Man for their NCAA Div I Golf Team and studied Human Factors Engineering. Upon completion of his military career, John began a Management track in Retail Sporting Goods where he managed single and multi-unit, high volume big box locations for 2 National chains. In 1997, John officially entered the executive search profession where is focus in HealthCare, Finance, Engineering and the Petroleum/C-Store Industries has helped advance clients and candidates alike. John currently resides in Dayton, Ohio and is married to Stephanie. They have 3 children; Tess, Nick and Gigi. Between the family activities and sports, John like to keep his golf handicap in single digits, participate in triathlons/duathlons, cycling and other outdoor activities. John’s personal motto is ”inspect what you expect” and translates to success for his clients and candidates. John looks forward to working with you in the very near future. |
 Terri Knapp Terri Knapp Database Administrator Terri is married to Bob and they have three children; Christina, Casey and Tim and one grandchild Aiden. Terri’s experience prior to joining Executive Leadership Solutions was working for the Law Firm of Cole, Brown & Fesmier, where she served as their office manager and bookkeeper for nine years. A native of Michigan; Terri moved from Ohio to Florida in 2006. Terri’s duty at Executive Leadership Solutions primarily revolves around maintaining and updating the firm’s growing database of clients and candidates. |
