Perry Sofferman
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Palm Beach Strategy GroupIn addition to leading Palm Beach Strategy Group, Perry is the Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel at Tower Optical Corporation, a precision optics manufacturing company that provides optical components, finished products and other services for the military, medical, commercial and university sectors. His responsibilities at Tower include strategic planning, business development, operations, and all legal matters. Perry is also a member of the Gerson Lehrman Media Council, which advises hedge fund managers and other investors on industry trends.
Before forming Palm Beach Strategy Group, Perry was counsel for Scholastic Inc., the global media and publishing company. His responsibilities at Scholastic included all legal matters related to book publishing, magazine publishing, educational publishing, consumer and/or educational software, and information technology. Perry began his career with Bantam Doubleday Dell, now a part of Random House, Inc. In a publishing career spanning 16 years, he negotiated the agreements for several of the most successful and high profile properties in publishing history.
Perry holds both a B.A. and M.A. in English literature from New York University, where he was a University Honors Scholar and recipient of NYU's Founders' Day Award for "consistent evidence of outstanding scholarship and graduating in the highest bracket of scholastic preferment recognized by the University." He received his J.D. from New York Law School where, based on his performance in the National Appellate Advocacy Competition as sponsored by the America Bar Association, he was named the Best Advocate in the Northeast Region of the United States by the ABA in a ceremony held at Harvard Law School. In addition to other awards and distinctions, Perry received the New York Law School Morris Orland Moot Court Award for "overall excellence." Perry received his M.B.A. from the Zicklin School of Business of Baruch College of the City University of New York where he was valedictorian of his graduating class.
He has taught courses in both business and law at the graduate level, and has been a guest lecturer at New York University. He is currently an adjunct professor of business at Florida Atlantic University.
Perry is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association and is an Authorized House Counsel in the State of Florida.
He and his family reside in South Florida.
James Carpenter
Senior Consultant, Palm Beach Strategy GroupJim is the President of J.C. Carpenter & Company, Inc. He has been a strategy consultant for 20 years, working with clients to identify fact-based growth opportunities by developing new value propositions for existing customers, or identifying new markets that build upon existing competencies. His philosophy with all project work is that client expenditures for consulting services are investments that should yield positive, tangible returns. Therefore, he leverages his analytical strengths to ensure strategic opportunities are prioritized and that the implementation plan is fully aligned with the strategy to create actionable, measurable business solutions.
Jim’s client base includes many Fortune 500 companies in a wide array of industries including beverages, cosmetics, restaurants, telecom, retail, publishing, financial services, durable goods, and transportation.
Among his recent project deliverables were the creation of statistically-based multivariate customer segmentation for a multi-national toy company, development of a proprietary field-based customer development tool for a meat packager, recommendations on a U.S. market entry strategy for a Korean durable goods provider, and the construction of an economic model to test financial viability of a company for which an international bank was considering $4 billion in debt financing.
Prior to forming his own firm, Jim was the Vice President of Strategic and Tactical Solutions for Winston Weber & Associates, a company that concentrates on category management efforts for the retail industry. Prior to that, he worked for Ernst & Young Strategic Advisory Services in New York and The Michael Allen Company, a boutique business growth advisor, based in Westport, Connecticut.
Jim received his MBA from the Grainger School of Management at the University of Wisconsin. He was named a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honors Society.
He resides in South Florida with his two children.
Julie Silard Kantor
Senior Consultant, Palm Beach Strategy GroupJulie is the Executive Director of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship's Greater Washington, D.C. Region.
In 2006, Washington SmartCEO Magazine named Julie one of the 20 "Leaders We Admire," alongside Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams, Hugh Panero, president and CEO of XM Satellite Radio; Richard Fairbank, CEO of Capital One Financial; and Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins.
Julie has taught entrepreneurship to urban youth since 1992, helping teens from low-income communities discover viable alternatives to low-paying jobs. Through the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NTFE), she has established and personally taught classes at numerous public schools and youth programs, including Babson College, the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and American, Tulane, Georgetown, Howard, and Morgan State Universities.
NFTE's "mini M.B.A." program boasts graduates that number more than 12,000 youth from the D.C., Maryland, Virginia region and 140,000 nationally.
Julie received the NFTE Leadership Award in 2005 for top operating unit in the country, she was NFTE Executive of the Year in 1999, and received the prestigious Bank of Boston "Yellow Star Service Award" in 1995. Julie has raised more than $10,000,000 in revenue for NFTE.
Her recent speaking engagements include the National Urban League, Women's Business Network International Conference, the National Black M.B.A. Conference, Diversity Best Practice, Mid-Atlantic Venture Association, Tavis Smiley's SuccessSoul, and the George Washington University Hoffstein Lecture Series. Julie has served on many boards including the Washington District's School to Career Governing Board.
Julie's new book, I SAID YES: Real Life Stories of Students, Teachers, and Leaders Saying Yes! To Youth Entrepreneurship in America's Schools, can be found at Amazon.com.
In commenting on I Said Yes!, James V. Kimsey, chairman emeritus of America Online, Inc., said, "Our country's educators would benefit from reading the compelling vignettes and applying the lessons learned to their classrooms and schools." Visit the I Said Yes! Web site at www.isaidyes.net.
Julie attended Sidwell Friends School where she directed the Women's and Men's Teen Awareness group. She earned her B.A. from Simmons College, where she served editor-in-chief of Sidelines, the college literary magazine. Julie and her family reside in Washington, D.C.
Robert D. Severini
Senior Consultant, Palm Beach Strategy GroupBob Severini has twenty-one years of management experience in large organizations both in civilian and military sectors. Bob is currently National Director, Logistics, for Quest Diagnostics and is formerly the Director of Operations Integration & Project Management for DHL Express which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Post AG, the largest logistics company in the world, based in Bonn, Germany. Bob’s most recent accomplishments include the successful integration of U.S. Operations for the DHL & Airborne Express merger in 2003 and two major $100M automated hub network infrastructure build-outs in California and Pennsylvania.
Prior to joining DHL, Bob served as the Corporate Director of Industrial Engineering and Support for Airborne Express Inc. His responsibilities included all aspects of driving operational efficiencies through operation reviews, time measurement, job standardization programs and the creation of dashboard performance metrics that were utilized for baseline and corporate goal-setting programs. In addition to these responsibilities, Bob was responsible for overseeing Contractor Administration, Quality Assurance & Field Technology Departments for Airborne Express Inc.
Bob’s served five-years in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer-Airborne Ranger in the elite 101st Airborne Division. He served honorably and with distinction in multiple troop-leading assignments and participated in numerous worldwide deployments. During his tour-of-duty, Bob received both the Army Achievement and Army Commendation Medals.
Bob holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Pace University in New York City where he received a full 3-year U.S. Army Scholarship. Bob also graduated at the top of his Army ROTC class, as well as in the top one percent of ROTC graduates in the nation. Bob received his MBA from the Zicklin School of Business of Baruch College of the City University of New York.
Bob lives in New York with his wife and two children.
Daniel Townsend
Senior Consultant, Palm Beach Strategy GroupDaniel is the founder and chief executive officer of Apofasi, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in the modeling and simulation of business decisions, business forecasting, and the improvement of business operations.
His areas of expertise include Operations Research and Systems Analysis, Modeling and Simulation of business and engineering decisions, statistical analysis for business forecasting, development of quality control plans for business and manufacturing, and reliability analysis for product warrantee evaluations. He also has extensive experience modeling energy and maintenance requirements for commercial, industrial, educational, and governmental facilities.
Daniel's work history includes experience within the maritime industry as a licensed engineer and mate, the nuclear industry as a qualified reactor test engineer on submarines, and as an engineering manager for a variety of energy and utility related positions within both the private and public sectors. As an officer in the US Naval Reserve he served in both US Joint Forces Intelligence Commands and NATO intelligence organizations. Recent work includes senior engineering and management positions within the Department of Defense, United Technologies, BAE Systems, and Siemens Corporation.
In addition to his maritime licenses Daniel has qualified as a Professional Engineer within the mechanical engineering discipline, a Certified Quality Engineer with the American Society for Quality, and Certified Energy Manager with the Association of Energy Engineers.
His educational background includes specialized engineering and business degrees from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and a masters degree with honors in engineering management from Old Dominion University. He has completed all coursework for a PhD in engineering management and is currently working on his dissertation.
Daniel resides with his family in South Florida.
Benny Francis
Senior Consultant, Palm Beach Strategy GroupBenny is the founder and chief executive officer of Aggies International, Inc., a 14-year-old New York Corporation that provides value-added services to major companies worldwide.
Aggies owns and operates iron ore and bauxite mines and exports ores to China, Korea, and Japan, and manufactures and supplies other industrial raw materials, including activated carbon, coal, and industrial fabric. Aggies is involved in the procurement and supply of used industrial equipments, power generation plants, oil production and related machineries to medium and large companies in North America, Europe, and Asia. Aggies also provides assistance in the procurement of finished goods, such as fabrics, apparels, and leather goods. Aggies offers project implementation in India, the Middle East, and Africa.
Aggies Infotech, which is a subsidiary of Aggies International, provides information technology-related services to medium-sized corporations.
As Aggies' CEO, Benny oversees and controls most of the major activities of the company. With more than 14 years of experience in international business, he handles a variety of products ranging from Industrial raw materials to food items.
Benny's contacts and clients are spread over a number countries, including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, as well as countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. He has traveled extensively and is familiar with different customs, cultures and languages and has extensive hands-on experience in all branches of International business and project implementation.
Before starting the Aggies group of companies, Benny served for five years as officer/deputy manager at the Federal Bank in India. He implemented and managed agricultural and rural development projects under Central Government and World Bank schemes. Before joining the Federal Bank, he worked as the agricultural officer with the State Government, where he supervised the Extension of Agricultural research programs. During these six years, Benny led and supervised the implementation of many prestigious projects.
Benny holds a B.S. in Agriculture and M.S. in Agronomy from Allahabad University in India. He received his M.B.A. from the Zicklin School of Business of Baruch College of the City University of New York in 2002.
He lives with his wife and two daughters in New York.
Marc Kantor
Senior Consultant, Palm Beach Strategy GroupMarc, Vice President for Corporate Advisory Services, Coldwell Banker Commercial Capitol Realty Services, represents market-leading companies in several industries, including technology, communications, IT consulting, engineering, defense, and government.
Representing the interests of major institutional landlords and tenants, he is recognized as an innovative leader who carries in-depth knowledge of various businesses and extensive consultative and transactional experience. Marc has been involved in more than 250 lease and purchase assignments, resulting in more than $300 million of aggregate value.
His achievements include CBRE/Insignia ESG Top Producer and Associate of the Year in 2002 and CBRE/Insignia's Top Canvasser in 2000. His clients include B'Nai Brith International, Gallagher and Associates, the University of Southern California, and the U.S. Postal Service.
Marc holds a B.A. from American University. He and his family reside in Washington, D.C.
Delores Thomas
Senior ConsultantDelores is the former Director of Productivity Improvement Engineers, a consulting firm that specializes in administrative project management, process improvement, business plan development, feasibility studies, project plans and post consulting implementation assistance.
With her combined background in industrial engineering and project management, Delores has acquired extensive experience working with companies in a broad array of industries including manufacturing, food service, construction, oil, agriculture and business and export development.
She has worked extensively throughout the Caribbean, including, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados. Recently, Delores participated in the European Union funded St. Vincent and the Grenadines Agricultural Diversification Project and was responsible for the completion of a key assessment of the physical infrastructure to support the marketing and distribution of agricultural produce including access roads, transportation mechanisms and production support facilities).
Delores has conducted operation assessments focusing on capacity building, performance optimization, work measurement and the development of standard operating procedures. Her background also includes the facilitation of a variety of engineering and non-technical projects while working closely with internal teams to conceptualize, plan and implement those projects.
Delores holds a BS in Industrial Engineering and a MS in Engineering and Production Management from the University of the West Indies and now resides in South Florida.
Joseph Goldsmith
Director of Client Relations, Palm Beach Strategy GroupJoseph Goldsmith brings considerable talent, as well as an eclectic background, to his role as Director of Client Relations for Palm Beach Strategy Group. As a Senior Sales Professional with Sanofi-Aventis, the global pharmaceutical company, Joseph has put together an extraordinary list of achievements including (i) being named a Horizon Excellence Program winner for innovative concept development, (ii) being named Expansion Phase 5 Thunderdome training Class winner, (iii) being named the 2004 Avapro Ignite Sales Contest winner, (iv) being awarded a 2004 Outstanding Sales Achievement Award for placing in the top 5% for Q1 and Q2, (v) being a recipient of the 2004 Outstanding Achievement Award for placing in the top 10% of the northeast team, and (vi) being a recipient of the 2005 Regional Sales Champion Award for placing in the top 10% of the regional sales force team. He is also a member of the Sanofi-Aventis Sales Professional Council.
Prior to joining Sanofi-Aventis, Joseph was a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter where he provided retirement planning, asset allocation and financial consulting to a diverse client base. Within one 12-month period, he was credited with increasing gross sales in excess of 100%.
Joseph started his career as a cost accountant with Fiat Products and Coinmach Industries.
He holds a BS from the University of Hartford and a MBA from Adelphi University.
Joseph resides with his family in New York.
