A trusted advisor to CEO’s, their leadership teams and Boards in mentoring executive leadership and team development, formulating and implementing corporate strategy, capital restructuring and divestiture to capture shareholder value. Coach / mentor to CEOs through University of New Hampshire CEO Peer Forum.

Having served since 1999 as a member of the Board of Trustees, I served for a year as Interim President of WPI (www.wpi.edu) during the university's search for a new president. Founded in 1865, WPI is one of the nation's first engineering and technological universities. It's 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degrees in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences and the humanities and arts leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference around the world through the university's innovative Global Perspective Program. WPI has more than 30 project centers throughout North America, Central America, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Recruited as CEO of this privately-owned Singer family company with operations in corporate fleet leasing and fleet management, daily vehicle rental, auto dealership, vehicle remarketing, service and parts distribution and extensive real estate holdings. www.merchantsleasing.com. Focused efforts were directed to capital restructuring, growing the lease portfolio organically and through three strategic acquisitions, divesting the daily vehicle rental business, improving processes to better integrate the operating divisions, increasing marketing and sales effectiveness, technology investments, expanding funding sources, team and talent development and enhanced customer and employee satisfaction. The impressive operating results include significant growth in revenue and net income, greatly strengthened capital structure and covenant coverage, significantly enhanced shareholder value and a company with the aspiration, capacity and determination for continued substantial growth. I retired as CEO in December 2011 following a smooth and effective leadership transition.

Founded RYAN Associates to assist the management of entrepreneurial companies increase, sustain and capture the value of their organization. Core capabilities include Board member and advisor to CEO’s, their Boards and their management teams, guide strategy formation and implementation, operations improvement, change management, provide interim executive management and facilitate divestitures, mergers, affiliations and capital restructuring. Served clients in diverse industries: building materials, sporting goods, public utility, mechanical systems construction, information management, trade-show exhibitry, static dissipation and transportation technology.

Recruited as President and CEO of Elliot Health System. Led a successful merger with our major competi¬tor and created Optima Health in 1994, a healthcare system with more than $250 million in revenue and 4,000 employees. As President of Optima Health, developed a plan for consolidation of clinical and support services that received unani¬mous state regulatory approval and which was implemented on time and exceeded efficiency targets. Secured Moody A1 Bond rating, accreditation in top 15% of US hospitals, patient satisfaction in top 10% of peers and recognized as NH 1994 Healthcare Business of the Year. De¬veloped an affiliation model structure that added two more hospitals to our system and posi¬tioned Optima Health as the leading healthcare system in southern NH. Two years after I left to start RYAN Associates, the Board of Trustees voted to disband Optima Health and the hospitals returned to their pre-merger independent status.

Co-founded The Bigelow Company, a privately owned boutique advisory firm with a laser focus on helping entrepreneur owner-managed companies develop and implement corporate strategy, create significant shareholder value and then capture that value in a capital gain transaction with the optimal buyer / investor. Served as a trusted advisor to owners, Boards, CEO’s and their management teams. For two decades, led successful client engagements in numerous industries, turned around troubled companies, coached CEO’s and their leadership teams, captured shareholder value through divestiture to optimal strategic buyers, and contributed to developing The Bigelow Company’s earned reputation as a clear market leader.