Dr. Dee A. Soder

With decades of experience in business and psychology, Dr. Dee Soder remains one of the nation's leading advisors to top executives, companies and boards. The pioneer of executive coaching, a multibillion dollar industry, Soder is consistently cited by the Wall Street Journal, Fortune magazine, CNN, CBS Marketwatch, and NPR as "the country's top executive advisor," "the CEO's coach," and "the CEO's consigliere."

The founder and managing partner of the CEO Perspective Group, Soder advises top management and Boards on a wide range of issues. For over 20 years, Boards of Directors have asked Soder to conduct highly sensitive assessments to determine the status of chief executives. Clients include corporations, private equity firms, government, investment banks and non-profits, as well as highly successful executives and consultants — the leaders in every field.

Soder's career is full of "firsts." She was a Vice President at Prudential early in her career; led one of the President's Reorganization Projects for the White House; was Staffing Director for the District of Columbia; a chief of the D.C. Police Department; and a partner at Rohrer, Hibler, and Replogle (psychological consulting firm). While Senior Research Psychologist for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, she co-founded the highly regarded Personnel Testing Council in Washington 28 years ago. Soder's ability to translate her extensive technical background into practical results has frequently resulted in awards such as commendations from President Carter, Chase Manhattan Bank, the District of Columbia, the New York City Police Department, and plaudits from the Brookings Institution, the American Medical Association, the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, NACD, Directors & Boards magazine, the American Association of University Women and 2008 honoree, ABC Competition for support of the arts and business. Over the years, she has been a professor at several universities. In 2004 Soder founded Fast Forward University™, the first accelerated training program for potential corporate stars. Read more…

Richard M. Clarke

With an international career that spans four decades, Clarke's far-reaching expertise and experience has greatly benefited CEO Perspective Group clients. A founding member of CEO Perspective Group, Clarke advises top executives on governance issues, plus select specialties from his years of success in multiple industries. He also has helped clients start conservation-related ventures.

Formerly Chair of Hoechst Celanese, Akzo America, CEO of Nash-Elmo Industries and non-executive Chairman of Yankelovich Holding Company, Clarke is Chairman of the Thermotech Company and Simona America Inc.

An expert on the changing role of Boards, Clarke was recently a Director of the Menasha Corporation, Nash-Elmo Industries and former Chairman of the National Executive Service Corps. A Board member of the Henry L. Stimson Center and head of CE Partners LLC, Clarke is Trustee Emeritus of the National Urban League, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the Americas Society. Past Board memberships have also included the World Resource Institute, the Celgene Corporation, AMP Corporate Technologies, and Lasertechnics/Sandia Imaging Systems. Read more…

Joel Ospa

Joel Ospa is routinely praised by business and human resource leaders for his understanding of complex business issues and their implications for people. Joel regularly created sustainable, practical programs to solve systemic, long-standing global problems. These novel programs became models for others (e.g. new hire assimilation programs). His understanding of global compensation practices, systems and psychology is exceptional. His approachable, low key style and wise insights enable him to work in the most demanding situations.

An innovative and solution-oriented human resources professional for three of the world's leading financial service organizations - Goldman Sachs, Fidelity Investments and CitiGroup — Joel's career spans three decades. Whether an investment banker, board director, struggling middle manager, new employee or human resource colleague — -Joel always had time to help, even during volatile periods.

Joel retired several years ago from Goldman Sachs & Co (GS). As a Managing Director in the Human Capital Management organization, he was responsible for the design and implementation of a global HR management system. This was the first time any company implemented a fully integrated, global system for HR operating 24X7 and accommodating cultural/legal differences across three continents (U.S., Europe and Asia). Recruited to Goldman, Joel initially led a new HR function for the Investment Management Division and then went on to manage GS's core HR function including Global Compensation, Benefits, Employee Relations, and HRMIS /HR Operations before leading the development effort of the global HCM management system. Joel spent considerable time coaching senior executives and helping new employees successfully transition into the demanding Goldman culture. Read more…