Brian Wright, CPC
Managing Partner

Brian is married to Kay and they have two children; Haley and Coleman. Brian is a member of the Board of Directors for the Pinnacle Society, a consortium of the 75 highest volume executive recruiters in the United States. Brian also serves as the Vice Chairperson for the National Association of Executive Recruiters.

Brian earned a BA in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky and a MA from Webster University while working fulltime in the convenience store and petroleum industry. Brian’s career started by working in his parent’s franchised convenience stores and at age 18 he was offer a position as a store supervisor for the franchise parent company. This began a 21 year career in the convenience store and later the petroleum industry. Brian served in marketing, operations, gasoline purchasing and human resources during his stint with three different organizations. His final role was a VP Operations/COO for Country Cupboard Food Marts and Chestatee Oil Corp.

In 1997 Brian started Absolute Activewear a uniform manufacturing company providing services to the convenience store, petroleum and quick serve restaurant industries. After selling this venture in 1999 Brian began his career as an executive recruiter and in 2003 he started Executive Leadership Solutions (ELS). Other professional associations include membership in the “National Association of Personnel Services”, “American Staffing Association”, and Brian presently sits on the “Manpower Committee” in support of the “Supplier Board” for the “National Association of Convenience Stores” and the “Education Committee” as well as “New Member Committee” for the “Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America”.

Brian’s personal motto as well as the motto for ELS is “we serve our client’s need by serving our candidate’s needs.”

Ali Waldron
Senior Executive Recruiter

A fifth generation Floridian, Ali graduated from Florida State University earning a Bachelor's degree in Textiles & Consumer Sciences with emphasis in Merchandising. Upon graduation Ali began her career with an upscale retailer working as the Visual Merchandising Manager. On top of her day-to-day management responsibilities she found that she most enjoyed helping her clients' look and feel their best. Demonstrating successful retail management and sales abilities allowed her to be recruited to take on a new sales role at a successful health club chain located throughout the Tampa Bay, FL area. As a Sales Manager of a large health club she challenged and encouraged her staff to meet and exceed monthly sales quotas by consistently prospecting for new members.

Prior to joining ELS, Ali worked for an executive recruiting firm where she successfully placed candidates and built a rapport with many executive officers in the hospitality, finance, and legal industries. Her outgoing personality enables her to meet many people and her astute people skills allow her to find the most qualified people and/or positions for your needs. Ali is interested in assisting people achieve their goals and makes both the client and candidate feel comfortable by finding common interests. She excels at smoothing difficulties that may arise during negotiations because of her strong relationship with both the client and candidate. Ali is a professional recruiter that brings much experience to Executive Leadership Solutions. She looks forward to working with you in the near future.

Steven Hostetter, CPC
Partner / Chief Placement Officer

Steve has always been in the convenience store industry. Starting with Sheetz, Inc, he began a career that led to 28 years of serving customers and managing companies. After climbing through the ranks with Sheetz, Steve left to run his own oil distributorship in central Florida. He then moved to Phoenix, joining Circle K. At Circle K, Steve was promoted to Field Marketing Director of 393 stores, then to Division President. Steve then became COO of Kangaroo, Inc, in Gainesville, GA, where grocery and gas sales doubled over a three year period.  Prior to joining ELS, Steve was COO of DB Companies, Inc., in Providence, RI.

Matching qualified candidates to the proper challenge has always been a key strength of Steve’s managerial skills. His knowledge of the industry, drive to succeed, and strong business ethics make him an effective partner for matching the best candidates to your business needs. Using his senior management experience and keen intuition Steve is always prepared to assist you in the managing the skills of your organization.

Bob Iezzi, CPC
Chief Operating Officer

Specializing on the Supplier and Retail side of the industry Bob’s 30 years of business experience is a true asset to Executive Leadership Solution's clients and candidates alike.

Bob has spent most of his adult life in the convenience store industry. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family he was behind the counter at a very young age and joined Thornton Oil Corporation shortly after graduating from The University of Tampa with a BA degree in Business Administration. Bob and his lovely wife Donna have 3 beautiful daughters. The Iezzi’s family resides in Louisville KY

During his 23 year tenure at Thornton’s, Bob came up through the ranks starting as a Manager in a gasoline only operation and progressed his way through each operational position to be the Vice President of Operations, then Vice President of Marketing and ultimately last served as the Executive Vice President for the Corporation and served on the Board of Directors. Bob is well known in the convenience store industry, putting together a very unique and talented operations and marketing team that grew Thornton’s to 130 of the highest volume combination gas/convenience stores in the industry. Under Bob’s direction this unique team was responsible for the development of the very first store as well as over the years developing many unique concepts and brands including the development of the prototype concept, the Quick Café and Market. A true innovator in the industry Thornton’s launched the first full menu Subway, McDonalds and Taco Bell as well as the largest Dunkin Donut franchise in the U.S. within a traditional C-store operation.

One fact that Bob is very proud of is that virtually every member of the executive team he hired while at Thornton’s has moved to positions of Ownership, Presidents, Executive Vice Presidents and other executive level staff positions among the some of the largest convenience store and big box retailers in America.

In addition to the Convenience store industry Bob’s other business experience has included extensive experience in the Automobile related industry where he served as Vice President of Huber’s Inc. a multi unit automobile franchise and the ownership of a Budget Car and Truck Rental Agency. Bob still dabbles in the entrepreneurial world as co founder and partner in the Country Music Café.

Bob has an eye for talent. His proven skill of putting the right people in the right positions and his unique approach to providing a consulting approach proves to be a real added value to both the client and the candidate.

John Malik, CPC
Senior Executive Recruiter

John is an experienced, professional recruiter who brings over 12 years of recruiting experience to Team-ELS.

The son of a career Air Force officer and avid golfer, John was recruited by the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1987. There, John was 5th Man for their NCAA Div I Golf Team and studied Human Factors Engineering. Upon completion of his military career, John began a Management track in Retail Sporting Goods where he managed single and multi-unit, high volume big box locations for 2 National chains.

In 1997, John officially entered the executive search profession where is focus in HealthCare, Finance, Engineering and the Petroleum/C-Store Industries has helped advance clients and candidates alike. John currently resides in Dayton, Ohio and is married to Stephanie. They have 3 children; Tess, Nick and Gigi. Between the family activities and sports, John like to keep his golf handicap in single digits, participate in triathlons/duathlons, cycling and other outdoor activities. John’s personal motto is ”inspect what you expect” and translates to success for his clients and candidates. John looks forward to working with you in the very near future.

Pete Compise, CPC
Senior Executive Recruiter

Pete is an experienced, professional recruiter who will assist you in accomplishing your goals. He has been involved in recruiting for over twenty years. He also has experience in the retail arena as a Region Manager for a retail chain prior to joining Team-ELS. His varied background includes positions as a Human Resource Manager, Corporate Recruiter, Director of Trade Relations, Regional Trainer and owner of two full service restaurants.

Pete grew up in Western New York and was recruited to play football at the University of Louisville. Upon graduation he entered a career as a College Football Coach, with coaching stints at University of Louisville and at Indiana University in the Big Ten. After thirteen years coaching, Pete had the opportunity to open two full service restaurants in Louisville, KY. As owner and managing partner he developed both into award winning restaurants. During his time spent coaching and developing restaurants Pete realized that winning was a combination of a sound business plan and good people that made a team, and a company successful. The keys to success are to recruit good people, train and develop them into leadership positions, have a great business plan and the winning will take care of itself. He has taken his "Win with People" philosophy and applied it to every aspect of retail operations and recruiting during his career.

After spending the last few years with a successful retail store chain, Pete decided to combine his outstanding knowledge of the industry with his skills as a recruiter and coach and join Team-ELS. His intelligence, work ethic and character driven leadership will help our client companies locate and hire the best candidates for their management team.

Pete is married to Rhonda, has two grown daughters and a new grand son. Favorite past times are Fly Fishing for Trout, camping and cooking. In the fall, Pete spends his Saturday afternoons as the Radio Color Analyst for the Indiana University Football Hoosiers on the Indiana Radio Network.

Jeff Hokamp, CPC
Senior Executive Recruiter

Jeff is a graduate of Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Personnel Management. He has been involved in many facets of the petroleum industry during his 22 year career with Mobil Oil Corporation, Koch Industries and as the Owner / President of his own regional convenience store/petroleum company.

Jeff began his career with Mobil in Marketing Operations in Los Angeles, CA where he quickly advanced in various roles such as Operations Analyst, Delivery Coordinator, Terminal Manager, Delivery/ Warehouse Manager and Packaging/Warehouse Manager in Portland, OR. Jeff’s next career challenge was out of Burbank, CA, in transportation, responsible for light and heavy products truck carrier traffic in 10 western states.

Recognizing Jeff’s proficiency with computer systems, Mobil changed his career path by promoting him into the US Supply IT department as a Business Systems Consultant at their headquarters in Fairfax, VA. He was then assigned to a much larger role involving the rollout of a new truck loading automation system for 58 gasoline / distillate truck loading terminals nationwide. Jeff received Mobil’s “Pegasus Award” in recognition of his contribution to the financial results of the company’s US Marketing and Refining business. Jeff was later recruited by Koch Industries, in Wichita, KS where he managed the replacement of Y2K non-compliant truck loading automated systems for all of their Petroleum and Hydrocarbon terminals across the nation.

In the fall of 1999 Jeff decided to leave the corporate world and move his family to Sarasota, FL where he purchased a regional full service gas station, convenience store and car wash company. Jeff applied the skills and knowledge gained in the corporate arena in managing this enterprise, to include providing “legendary” service to his customers. Jeff looks forward to providing that same service in helping his clients attract talented candidates.

A native of Southwest Florida, Mason attended Edison College and University of South Florida where he studied Business Administration. Mason’s career has prepared him for excellence and outstanding service in Executive Recruiting.

In his first career of 20 years as an Executive in the International Airline Industry, Mason excelled in creating a management team that ensured delivery of world class customer service, streamlined and highly efficient operations, quality personnel recruitment and management, and award winning sales programs.

This experience was invaluable as Mason ventured into the entrepreneurial world as a key member of the country’s largest travel agency franchise organization. As Divisional Director of Business Development, he assisted in the sales of new travel agency franchises throughout Florida. In this role, he functioned as expert industry advisor and mentor to each and every agency business owner. Totally immersed in franchise image and conversion re-imaging, Mason also used his business skills in planning and assisting owners in their business and sales plans, revenue projections, profit and loss management, and recruiting and hiring expert travel industry personnel.

To satisfy his yearning to have his own successful travel agency franchise, Mason purchased a struggling agency and in a short time, turned it into a local powerhouse agency taking the leading market share in the community. The secret to that success Mason says was the recruiting of the best professional travel agents in the area, taking the sales efforts directly into the community by way of hundreds of personal sales calls, civic and community involvement, and delivering outstanding travel agency services 24/7.

After selling his successful travel agency, Mason continued to employ his expertise in selling enterprise software solutions to Fortune 50, Fortune 100, Fortune 1000 Clients and Governments all around the world.

Using sound business and marketing practices combined with the highest integrity is Mason’s business mantra. His personal belief is to give back to the community through involvement in local charities and volunteer work.

Mason’s goal is to deliver world class service to his Clients and his personal dedication is to “remember that persuasive promises must be backed up by consistent and measurable results.”

Mike Lowe, CPC
Senior Executive Recruiter

Mike and his wife Beth, make their home in Jacksonville, Florida. They have two grown children, Danny and Sarah. Mike grew up in the mid-west, and saw the world while serving in the US Navy for several years. Mike and Beth spent most of their adult life in North Carolina. Mike is famous in a close circle of family and friends for being an excellent backyard grill cook. Mike and his family also enjoy boating on the St. Johns River in North Florida. From 1979 to 1998, Mike worked with Stallings Oil Company of Rocky Mount North Carolina. Mike held numerous positions in the company including Travel Center General Manager, Travel Center division President, and Operations Vice-President for the company. In 1998, Mike transitioned to working with The Pantry Inc. when The Pantry purchased the chain of stores from Stallings Oil Company. While Mike was with the Pantry in North Carolina, he was quickly recognized for his leadership and people skills and promoted to a position in Florida to assist with recent acquisitions the company had made. Mike served in several Vice President positions for The Pantry from 1998 until 2007 when he joined Executive Leadership Solutions. While at The Pantry, Mike experienced the demands and requirements of creating shareholder value in a Fortune 500 publicly traded company.

Mike has been in retail management positions most of his life where he learned he was really “in the people business” and happened to sell various goods and services. During his almost 30 years in management positions, Mike learned from the “hiring side of the desk”, the importance of quality people. Mike’s continues to recognize this strategy today in his recruiting practice. Mike looks forward to serving client and candidate needs in “the people business”.

Ralf Doerstling, CPC
Senior Executive Recruiter

Ralf was born in the Chicago area to parents who immigrated to the US from Germany. After 12 years in northeastern Illinois, his family spent three years near the scenic Amish country in southeastern Pennsylvania. Then it was back over the ocean to Germany, where Ralf graduated from a German college prep high school in Garmisch-Partenkirchen while staring out the classroom window at the beautiful Bavarian Alps. (One of his P.E. classes combined snow skiing and basketball!)

Ralf returned to the US after German high school and obtained his BS in Accounting from BJU in Greenville, South Carolina. He joined the audit staff at Arthur Andersen in Atlanta, Georgia, where he earned his CPA certification. After seven years in accounting and finance with Arthur Andersen, BellSouth, and a start-up company, Ralf moved into the recruiting industry as a retained medical search consultant in Atlanta, where he placed physicians of all specialties in hospitals and group practices around the US. After a tour of duty as the international sales manager for a small consumer products company in Atlanta, Ralf returned to recruiting in the corporate arena. He created happy hiring managers and candidates as the Corporate Recruiting Manager at The HoneyBaked Ham Company of Georgia; as the team lead for an RPO engagement with DBM, a leading global outplacement and career transition firm; as a recruiter for the Data Quality and Integrity practice at Deloitte; and as the Corporate Recruiting Partner at Gartner's inside sales base in Fort Myers, Florida.

Ralf is blessed to be married to his wife, Patty. They have been enjoying southwest Florida for almost two years now and have four school age children who excel academically and athletically. His favorite pastimes include chasing his children around the soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball fields; playing tennis and golf; snow skiing; and travel. Ralf is fully bi-lingual in German and managed to add a few years worth of French while he lived in Germany. However, please don't ask him to remember too much of that!

Ralf's strengths include his ability to learn fast, his broad experience, and a rare blend of technical acumen and strong people skills. He excels at building mutually beneficial, long-term client relationships founded on absolute integrity.

Jerry Mount, CPC
Senior Executive Recruiter

Prior to joining the "recruiting industry" Jerry served as a Regional Vice President with A L Williams Financial Services, now Primerica, a subsidiary of Citi Corps. Jerry cut his teeth by setting record one month production numbers in term insurance, IRA mutual fund accounts, and new recruits. He applied ALW's "pushing up people" philosophy, and educate the consumer first emphasis, and he made a difference in the finances of his neighbors. In less then three years Jerry had mentored 4 new RVP's through his sales organization and personal recruiting.

Jerry joined ELS after two productive years with another executive search firm. During these recruiting years, Jerry continued to put up impressive numbers but more importantly Jerry's clients provided references such as this:

"During this time period, which contained a lot of recruitment activity as we grew, we have enjoyed the relationship with his firm and with Jerry in particular. We have found Jerry to be fair and honest, and he's made good on his word as he's worked to serve us as the clients and his candidates to the best of his ability. We would certainly, and in fact already have, recommended Jerry Mount's recruiting services to other business associates." John A. Hayes, President & CEO, Gates Builders, Inc

Jerry holds a Master Degree in Cross Cultural Studies from Fuller School of Inter-Cultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary, and his Bachelor's degree is in Christian ministries. He's also an ordained Minister and Church Planter, where he's focused serving the needs and issues that affect men. Jerry's hobbies are fishing, boating, chess and creative writing.

Tim Cook, CPC
Senior Executive Recruiter

Tim started his career with Bethlehem Steel in Burns Harbor, Indiana, a plant of 38,000 employees. Due to the intense cross-training system which the company provided, he was able to get a vast experience in Payroll, Purchasing, Human Resources, IT and Accounting while, at the same time, gaining his bachelors degree in Computer Science from Valparaiso University. The major portion of his 20 year tenure was spent in Accounting where he was promoted to Assistant Chief of Accounts Payable overseeing a staff of 30 clerks. Several years later he was made Chief Internal Auditor of the plant. Prior to Tim's work life at Bethlehem Steel he worked in his family's restaurant business. His father being an Executive Chef, Tim was fortunate to spend much of his young life in the kitchen. As in most family owned businesses, he was called upon to cover almost all operating positions including Prep Chef, Souse Chef, Executive Chef, Server, Bar Tender and Restaurant Manager. At times, he was even called upon to bus tables and wash dishes. After 20 years at Bethlehem Steel, Tim relocated to South Florida where he has held positions as Executive Recruiter, Comptroller, VP and Chief Financial Officer of several corporations. Now a member of ELS, he is committed to using his vast experience to assist clients in making the right match.

Tim's wife Anna emigrated from Latvia 14 years ago. Her mother was an actress in the Children's Playhouse Network in Latvia and Anna grew up in the theater sewing costumes and building and painting sets. Tim and Anna love to cook and spend much of their leisure time traveling all over the world. They also have a great love of nature and enjoy boating, fishing and just being out in the open air on their motorcycle. Tim has 3 children and 3 grandchildren, all living in South Florida.

Mike Rasnak
Senior Executive Recruiter

Mike and his lovely wife of nearly 30 years are empty nesters who enjoy country living. While their 2 grown children have gone, the 2 horses, 3 cats and 2 dogs remaining. He splits his time between his South Carolina and Florida homes.

Mike is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy. He was Class president for 3 years and a member of the executive search committee for a new chancellor. He has attended Penn State’s Executive Strategic Management Program, been through the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, and a graduate of Ashland Chemicals “Simply the Best” program.

Mike’s career has been heavily tilted to retail for 30 years. His career started by purchasing his first of three pharmacies in the Chicago market during his senior year of college. He then helped developed the Kmart pharmacies through out the Midwest, opening over 200 units in 7 states. In the mid-seventies, Mike was recruited by Super America to develop pharmacies within convenience stores. This led to a whole new direction in careers as he was promoted to Regional VP of operations. With the joint venture of SpeedwaySuperAmerica, Mike was named Divisional VP of Ops with over 600 hundred stores under his leadership. Mike has been active in numerous pharmacy and oil convenience organizations.

Most recently Mike assisted Family Express in the development of in-house commissary, bakery, and self distribution as the VP of marketing.

Mike is an avid aviator holding a commercial pilots license with instrument and multiengine ratings. He currently flies a Korean War vintage army plane, and is active in numerous aviation organizations.

Matt Riggs
Senior Executive Recruiter

Matt is a graduate of Ohio Dominican College in Columbus, Ohio where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration. Matt brings to Executive Leadership Solutions over 20 years of sales and management experience. Prior to his career as an executive search consultant, Matt was successful working in various industries including transportation, industrial and advertising. Matt is married to Janine and they have three children and make their home in Cape Coral, Florida. Matt looks forward to utilizing his experience to create a win-win situation for our clients and candidates.

Robert "Bob" Miller, CPC
Senior Executive Recruiter

Robert is a native of Chicago Ill, and attended Northwestern University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. After serving his country in the United States Coast Guard as an Officer, he was a professional Yacht Captain for 12 years based out of Falmouth Maine and trusted with delivering multi- million dollar yachts for high profile owners all over the world. He is also a graduate of the Bath Apprentice Shop where he was trained in traditional wooden boat building. That experience led him into yacht sales for Viking Yachts where he was a top producer, selling custom built yachts and supervising the construction of these vessels to assure that the yacht exceeded the owner’s expectations in every way. In 1994, Robert relocated to Southern Florida and was a sales consultant for BMW, where he was one of the top ten producers in the United States. Robert's wife Robin is from Wisconsin and is a jeweler, specializing in vintage jewelry. Together, they have three children, and three grandchildren. Living in Wisconsin and Maine. Robert is an avid wood worker, and his interests include wooden boat building and motorcycling.

Robert now brings his skills to the area of executive recruiting and prides himself on providing both of his customers-clients and candidates with exceptional service. As Warren Buffet CEO, Berkshire Hathaway said: "looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you."

Mark Van Ullen
Senior Executive Recruiter

Mark has over 20 years as an executive recruiter. Mark began his career working for an executive search firm in New York City while at Vassar College. After college, his experience includes working both as a corporate recruiter and in executive search with some of the largest firms in the nation. Mark’s extensive background in recruiting encompasses a broad range of positions within many industries including the Oil, Financial, Technology, Engineering, Construction and Retail arenas. Mark’s clients have included well funded start-ups through the Fortune 50, both nationally and internationally. His commitment to building both strong client and candidate relationships, coupled with his passion for what he does makes Mark a skilled and talented executive recruiter. Mark presently resides in Florida with a client list from the west coast to the east coast of the United States.

Terri Knapp
Database Administrator

Terri is married to Bob and they have three children; Christina, Casey and Tim and one grandchild Aiden.

Terri’s experience prior to joining Executive Leadership Solutions was working for the Law Firm of Cole, Brown & Fesmier, where she served as their office manager and bookkeeper for nine years. A native of Michigan; Terri moved from Ohio to Florida in 2006.  Terri’s duty at Executive Leadership Solutions primarily revolves around maintaining and updating the firm’s growing database of clients and candidates.