FRANK BONURA
I started as an information technology recruiter in 1979 with a focus on the contract‐for‐hire methodology. Pursuing my passion for executive recruiting I launched Alternative Search in 1984 focusing on information technology and C-level search engagements.
In 1987 I gained a reputation for connecting people regardless of their personal or professional stations in life. By the end of the decade, I came to be known as “The Connector”. Business owners/leaders who recognize that “relationships” are a major contributor to their company’s success hired me to introduce them to other like‐minded business owners/leaders.
NOTE: Relationship creation and nurturing are not to be confused with networking, which is nothing more than “card swapping”.
In 2008, I founded Franklin Executive Solutions, LLC, and created the Executive Agent (EA) methodology. I used this to manage the careers of executive operators in much the same fashion that professional agents represent the interests of actors and athletes. With the support of a research team, I did everything from identifying and pursuing EA client opportunities to negotiating the terms and conditions of each engagement. Also, as an alternative to outplacement services, I began providing “unorthodox” career management counseling and transition support services to displaced employees of companies at every professional level.
At the start of 2015, I became acquainted with many military veterans and their unique post-service employment transition. Through introductions, I uncovered an urgent need for a paradigm shift in how veterans and employers viewed each other. In analyzing this need, I defined a methodology by which veterans can create and secure the opportunities they deserve.
In 2017 my business partner, Elizabeth Allen Founder of Economy of One, and I created a ten-module workshop. The workshop Creating Opportunities Instead of Chasing Jobs has been successfully delivered to the private sector, military, colleges, and universities.
As a Kansas City native, my wife Danita and I have two daughters and five grandchildren. My interests are my faith, family, golf, and creating measurable value for all I encounter.
Roddy Fisher
Originally from the UK, I began my career in the late 1970s, in advertising sales at newspapers and radio stations, before moving on to the exciting World of international advertising based in London. During this time, I was the first person in the UK to sell a full process color, double-page spread advertisement, in a broadsheet newspaper, and won a Newspaper Society Award for Innovation.
In London I worked with many of the largest global advertising agencies, media owners, and clients, on various projects that included helping them unravel the complexities of Pan-European advertising, creating IMM – International Media Management, the industry’s first training course, and selling sponsorship for USA1994, the FIFA World Cup.
From 1995 onwards I formed my business development consultancy, Customer Introductions International, to provide B2B clients with research and lead generation activities, to identify ideal prospects. Coupled with this, I delivered prospect engagement activities and facilitation of prospect introductions.
I was introduced to Frank Bonura about ten years ago by a fellow researcher, and soon after my career transitioned to begin working with Frank to provide research and engagement services for his executive clients. Throughout my career, my secret weapon has always been the telephone and being able to get through to hard-to-reach decision-makers.
Although I’ve been spending significant time in KC since 2006, I officially moved here in 2016 and married Darlene. My interests include travel, Americana music, and soccer, my team is Reading FC, cricket, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Kansas City BBQ.