ACG NY Operating Partner Roundtable Series

Incorporating 29 years of experience in the Employee Benefits sector, David Neikrug has a comprehensive understanding of the challenges HR faces both in a normal benefit cycle as well as during specific initiatives such as M&A transitions and benefit harmonizations. In 2007, this insight empowered David to establish Optimatum Solutions, a vendor management firm with a focus on employer sponsored healthcare, retirement plans, HR systems and M&A/Transitional services. Since its inception Optimatum has advised executives and key stakeholders (employers, payors, vendors, investors) in a wide variety of industries. Today, David advises clients in the middle market, helping them identify and deliver value to the HR supply chain.

The Optimatum Solution creates value by increasing vendor accountability and transparency, through forensic analysis, vendor realignment and ongoing management. For example, within Optimatum’s employer sponsored healthcare practice, clients reap 10-12% OpEx savings within the first year and 5-7% ongoing savings without a reduction in benefits. Within the M&A/Transitional services arm, Optimatum works with the investment community (PE/VC/Family Offices) to supports organizations throughout the entire M&A lifecycle ensuring sound due diligence, seamless integration, day-one readiness and post day-one synergy capture along the HR workstream.

In addition to his expertise in employee benefits, David’s understanding of market dynamics, the legal and regulatory environment, investor issues and deal flow enables him to ensure his client’s success.

Jennifer J. Fondrevay is the Founder of Day1 Ready™, a consultancy that advises forward-thinking business leaders, owners, and C-Suite executives on how to prepare for the human capital challenges of M&A. As a Fortune 500 C-Suite “survivor” of three multibillion-dollar acquisitions, Jennifer has been on all sides of the deal equation. She saw countless growth strategies fail due to a workforce that couldn’t pivot and adapt as quickly as leadership anticipated.

When her Harvard Business Review (HBR) article “After a Merger, Don’t Let “Us vs. Them” Thinking Ruin the Company” went viral, Jennifer recognized the power and interest in a human-centric approach to business transformation, where employees are at the heart of the change. She shares her expertise as a contributor to: Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Thrive Global, American Marketing Association, Middle Market Growth; and as a frequent podcast guest and keynote speaker for HR conferences, associations, and Fortune 500 companies.

Paul J. Martins has been in the transportation and logistics industry for more than 30 years and leads the Global Critical Logistics team and its subsidiary brands.

Headquartered in Los Angeles CA, Global Critical Logistics (GCL) is the holding company for Rock-it Global  (a consolidated company of the former Rock-it Cargo, Sound Moves and Waiver) a provider of high-touch, mission-critical air, ocean and surface freight forwarding and logistics to the live entertainment and music touring, fine arts, sports and broadcasting, film & TV,  corporate events, industrial power projects, and humanitarian relief end markets through its family of affiliated leading brands (including but not limited to, Rock-it Global, Dietl, Cosdel, Dynamic International and CargoLive). Through their offices in the North America, Europe, the Middle East, China, Japan, Australia, Central and South America, augmented by a network of long-term partner agents specializing in critical logistics, the companies of CGL serves thousands of customers per year with bespoke, specialized logistical solutions for the most demanding transportation requirements on all seven continents.  The company is backed by the Private Equity firm, ATL Partners.

Paul’s career includes 16 years with UPS holding several senior level positions including Director of UPS Air Cargo, and Director, UPS Airlines. He also served as COO& President of Mercury Air Cargo as well Towne Air Freight.   Most recently he served as President & CEO for MNX Global Logistics where he oversaw the transformation of the company into the premier global provider of specialized, expedited transportation and logistics services serving the medical device, biopharmaceutical, cellular therapies, life science and aerospace/aviation markets.  After serving as President & CEO of MNX, Paul assumed the role as Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the company.  He also serves as a director on the board of Smartways an Australian based leading provider of healthcare logistics. 

Paul has also served as a Senior Advisor to the Washington, DC based Logistics Capital and Strategy consulting firm and for the past five years has been strongly involved with the American Investment Council meeting with many members of the Senate and the House on legislative and regulatory priorities that affect Private Equity.  In meetings on the hill in Washington, Paul as spoken on behalf of Private Equity backed companies and how private equity grows businesses, supports local jobs and improves communities across all 50 states whilst simultaneously delivering the highest long-term returns to investors as well as supporting a secure retirement for teachers, firefighters and other public servants.

Paul is a graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston and the Executive Leadership Programs at Bellarmine University in Louisville and Emory in Atlanta. A featured speaker at many transportation and logistics conferences, he is a former instructor at Leadership Los Angeles and his charitable activities include board membership with Special Olympics, the United Way and Coaches versus Cancer.

A versatile finance and operations executive, Melanie leads our global Finance strategy and operations, driving global consistency and efficiency across the company.

Melanie joined Syniti with an impressive background from Dell and Accenture. During her tenure, she successfully led global enterprise-scale process and systems integrations. She leads by example in fostering a customer-centric culture among Finance professionals inside and outside of the company.

An expert in transformation, Melanie is in charge of accelerating Syniti into its next phase of growth. She brings industry best practices, simplicity, scale and customer focus across the company’s regional and global operations.

Fascinated with global cultures and cuisine, Melanie is a world traveler. When such travel includes warm climates and exotic waters, she also indulges in her other passion: scuba diving. She is an advocate for creating inclusive environments particularly along the learning spectrum at work and in her community.