Practice Leaders
Jeff Aldrich, founder and President of The Aldrich Group is a business executive and entrepreneur with a professional focus on executive search, team-building, and organizational development. He has been highly successful as a corporate profit center manager, entrepreneur, and practice leader, at different times leading the regional offices of an international search firm, the executive search division of a private equity owned operating company, and most recently, The Aldrich Group.
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Over his thirty-year career, he and his teams have served clients across a broad array of product and service-based industries including aerospace, industrial automation, packaging, printing, industrial and fine chemical development and manufacturing, pharmaceutical and bio-pharma research, development and manufacturing, healthcare services and nonprofits, as well as the banking and business and financial services firms that finance and support these industries.
Jeff has established a reputation with his clients for operationally excellent, process-driven search and organizational development that aligns executive competencies, motivation and fit factors with the ambitious business goals of his clients. He is noted for ability to find clear solutions to complex problems.
Jeff earned a BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Connecticut.
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He is a Chairman of the Board of Directors of Friends of Nathaniel Witherell in Greenwich CT, a charity supporting the lives of residents in long term care, and patients undergoing rehabilitation.
Jeff Aldrich
Founder
Executive Search
Organizational Development
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P. D. Riley
VP
IT and Fulfillment Operations
Anthony R. Aceto
Human Resources
Labor Relations
Anthony Aceto is a seasoned Human Resources Executive and Consultant with over 30 years of senior leadership experience in the Health Care industry including Hospital and Medical Practice Administration, Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals. His work has focused on Management Training and Leadership Development, Labor and Employee Relations, Compensation and Benefits, Executive and Management Selection, Employee Engagement and Employee Communications.
As an HR Executive his accomplishment included the successful negotiation of four Collective Bargaining Agreements, the redesign of a large Health and Welfare Plan and the conversion of a Defined Benefit Plan to a new Defined Contribution Plan. Aceto has also directed Due Diligence projects associated with mergers and divestments, directed all aspects of the HR integration of newly acquired companies, and successfully directed multiple high volume staff reductions and consolidation of operations.
Aceto served as staff to the Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees and in that role planned and coordinated all Executive Compensation programs. As a member of the Senior Leadership team contributed to the design and implementation of a multi-year financial turnaround plan resulting in organizational financial performance in excess of budgeted goals for five consecutive fiscal years.
As an Executive HR Consultant, Aceto directed a Leadership Development initiative for a large, multi–Hospital Health Care System providing 360° assessments and executive coaching to multiple Vice Presidents; conducted a comprehensive HR audit for a 250-employee specialty medical group, delivered a multi-phase management training program to a mid-size healthcare management company, and developed and implemented a new HR policy manual for the same company.
Aceto holds a B.A. degree in History from Boston College and an M.B.A in Management from the University of New Haven.
Everette J. Freeman
Higher Education Administration
Everette J. Freeman has served as a change agent and educator-practitioner throughout his professional career in federal employment, university pedagogy and administration, and the private sector.
Dr. Freeman is president of EJ Freeman and Associates, a vertical integration consulting firm established in 2021. Dr. Freeman was appointed to the Community College of Denver (CCD) presidency on November 1, 2013 and retired on December 31, 2020.
Previously, Dr. Freeman was president of Albany State University (ASU), having held that office from 2005 to 2013. At ASU, Freeman completed a $61.8 million capital construction for new student center and student housing as well as introduced new undergraduate and graduate programs in logistics and supply chain management, criminal justice (online), and nursing,
Prior to Albany State University, Dr. Freeman served four years as senior vice president and provost at the University of Indianapolis with campuses and affiliate branches in Greece, Cyprus, and South Africa. He previously was the executive assistant to the president at Tennessee State University, where he also served as interim vice president for university relations and development.
Dr. Freeman has been a member of the University of Phoenix Board of Trustees since 2007. Since 2015, he has served in a rotating capacity as vice chair and chair of the board. Freeman also served on the Antioch University Board of Trustees during the difficult period lea and including the suspension of the operations of Antioch College.
In addition to his academic and higher education administration credentials, he has held several corporate positions and has specialized interest in organizational development, rescue and rightsizing.
A Washington, DC. native, Dr. Freeman received a B.A. in Sociology/Economics from Antioch College in 1972, a M.A. in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois in 1974, and an Ed.D. in Education Foundations from Rutgers University in 1983. Additionally, he holds a certificate from the Institute for Educational Leadership at Harvard University and a certificate in economics from Fircroft College in Birmingham, England. He has extensive experience in human resources, having served for many years in various corporate capacities as a performance, educational and organizational effectiveness consultant He also has served as a labor mediator and arbitrator as well as a member of the tripartite UAW Pubic Review Board.
Dr. Freeman’s primary practice area is in assisting organizations recover from inattentive or poor management particularly in the post_DEI corporate and educational environments.
Mike Guido
Non-profit Executive Search Organizational Development
Mike brings a portfolio of industry expertise and professional insights to Aldrich Group clients from a long and successful career as a Managing Director with Commonfund, the world’s leading nonprofit investment management and advisory firm. At Commonfund, Mike held a variety of leadership positions in business development, strategy development, senior staff leadership and development, sales, and service
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As a business development officer, and client relationship manager with Commonfund, Mike developed investment strategies with C-Suite executives and board members of endowments, foundations, healthcare organizations and other nonprofits across the United States and Canada allowing his clients to achieve sustainable growth and fiscal security in changing markets. He helped to create and led Commonfund’ s first two private real estate investment trusts, constructing diversified portfolios for his clients with the aid of real estate advisors to invest over $600m in apartment, office, industrial and retail properties.
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Prior to joining Commonfund, Mike was CFO for a CT based real estate development company and worked for firms in real estate investment management, public accounting.
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Mike earned a BA in Humanities from Providence College and an MS in Financial Management from Fairfield University. He also did post graduate studies in Nonprofit Leadership at LaSalle University. Mike holds Series 7, 63, 31 and 24 licenses.
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He is Vice President and Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Friends of Nathaniel Witherell, in Greenwich CT.
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At Aldrich Group, Mike directs our nonprofit sector business development and fulfillment operations with the same client-focused dedication that has distinguished him throughout his career.
James Heins
Corporate Communications
For more than 25 years, Jim has combined a passion for public health and science to provide strategic communications counsel and support to health care organizations, patient advocacy groups, and biopharmaceutical companies. He specializes in corporate reputation, scientific and brand communications, stakeholder engagement, crisis management, and patient engagement. Jim has created and implemented multi-channel communications programs to help clients raise their profile among key audiences, including the investment community, healthcare industry, and the public.
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For 18 years, Jim worked as a communications executive within the pharmaceutical industry. He was Senior Director of Corporate Affairs & Communications at Purdue Pharma. In this role, he successfully positioned the company as an industry leader and responsible corporate citizen. He also managed several high-profile crises related to product liability, corporate restructuring, government investigations, and regulatory actions.
Prior to joining Purdue, Jim was responsible for corporate reputation, internal communications, and day-to-day media relations at Boehringer Ingelheim. He was a key player in a multi-national program to create a unified global brand for the company and helped to commercialize several blockbuster medicines in the U.S.
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In addition to his in-house experience, Jim has held senior-level positions in the life science and healthcare practices of several communications agencies, including LaVoieHealthScience, Hill & Knowlton, ICR Healthcare, Cooney Waters/Health Unlimited, Burns McClellan and Fleishman-Hillard.
Jim is a graduate of the University of Richmond in Virginia and lives with his family in Darien, CT.
Will Kuchta
Organizational Change and Development
Labor Relations
Will Kuchta Ed.D. has over 40 years experience in corporate leadership, including a combined role as CHRO, V.P. Legal, and V.P. Government Affairs for a high growth $2.5 Billion S&P 500 company. Starting as an assembly line worker, he rose through roles in the Army (Vietnam 68-69), manufacturing management, then moving into progressively more responsible Human Resource positions, ultimately CHRO for over 20 years in two companies. His corporate environments include aircraft manufacturing, 15 years in pharmaceuticals and 17 years in
Financial Services. [Uniquely Will has served as both a Teamsters Union Business Agent and later on the Management Team for Negotiations with the Teamsters Union.]
Will has managed all functions within HR and Organizational Development with particular success in creating unique Benefit programs especially in the Wellness arena, where he was asked by the Senate Finance Committee to work on the first Affordable Care Act under Senator Max Baucus. His efforts also led to recognition by the “Great Place to Work” organization. He was personally responsible to the Board for Executive Compensation and mentoring of all Executives and approximately two dozen High Potentials. He also created the Government Affairs function for his company, as well as starting and managing the Legal Affairs function for eight years.
In the non-profit sector Will has served on the boards of WXXI (NPR), Urban League of Rochester, NAACP of Connecticut as well as academic Advisory Boards at Michigan State U, Nazareth University, and St. John Fisher College. He was a member of the Connecticut Board of Higher Education Committee on Accreditation, and has had adjunct appointments at Cornell, University of New Haven, Western Connecticut University. After retiring from the corporate world he served for 6 years as Professor of the Practice at the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina. Will has an Ed.D [from the University of Bridgeport]; MLIR, [Michigan State University], MS [Education, SUNY Albany], and BA [Economics and History Union College (NY)].
Suzanne Matteson
Executive Development
Suzanne Matteson has a broad business background, holding senior roles in the pharmaceutical industry and management consulting before founding her own firm in 1995. She has worked with hundreds of leaders as an HR Business Partner, regional leader at Right Management Consultants, and business owner, helping maximize individual and team performance.
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With extensive coaching, facilitation, and team development experience, Suzanne has influenced organizational culture on a global scale across industries including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, finance, manufacturing, and services. Clients she has worked with include Bristol Myers Squibb, Carl Zeiss, Genentech, Indivior, and Daiichi Sankyo.
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Suzanne tailors her coaching to each client’s goals, offering candid feedback delivered with care. She helps diagnose critical success areas and works collaboratively to drive accountability and achieve results. Her expertise spans culture change, leadership and career development, and talent management at the senior level.
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Specializing in senior leadership teams, Suzanne supports integrating new leaders, defining purpose, and improving team effectiveness, often working with MDs, PhDs, and scientific professionals. Known for her humor, empathy, and excellent facilitation skills, she quickly builds trust and fosters open communication in group settings.
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Suzanne is a lead coach for the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association’s Circle of Advisors program and is a Certified Retirement Life Coach. Additionally, she was Adjunct Faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership and a Board-Certified Leadership Coach. She holds a B.S. in Business from Mercy College.
Public Sector Finance and Administration
John’s more than thirty-year career in the public sector has included appointments as a comptroller, treasurer, town finance officer, school business administrator, assistant superintendent and CFO. He is proficient in all aspects of fund accounting as well as business office operations, regulatory procedures, and internal procedures and controls.
He is experienced in the continuum of financial grant regulations and management from applications to operations to record-keeping and reporting requirements. This has included direct federal grants, state grants, federal pass-through grants and various private sector corporate and foundation grant awards.
John has issued tax-exempt security instruments; general obligation bonds, bond anticipation notes and tax anticipation notes. He has presented on both the national and state level as well as to numerous local boards and commissions. He frequently communicates with state and local officials and has testified before state legislatures.
He holds bachelor degrees in Economics and Marketing from Boston College, an MBA from Indiana University and an M.S. in Educational Administration from Fordham University. Currently John is serving as the interim school finance official in a Connecticut municipality.
John’s more than thirty-year career in the public sector has included appointments as a comptroller, treasurer, town finance officer, school business administrator, assistant superintendent and CFO. He is proficient in all aspects of fund accounting as well as business office operations, regulatory procedures, and internal procedures and controls.
He is experienced in the continuum of financial grant regulations and management from applications to operations to record-keeping and reporting requirements. This has included direct federal grants, state grants, federal pass-through grants and various private sector corporate and foundation grant awards.
John has issued tax-exempt security instruments; general obligation bonds, bond anticipation notes and tax anticipation notes. He has presented on both the national and state level as well as to numerous local boards and commissions. He frequently communicates with state and local officials and has testified before state legislatures.
He holds bachelor degrees in Economics and Marketing from Boston College, an MBA from Indiana University and an M.S. in Educational Administration from Fordham University. Currently John is serving as the interim school finance official in a Connecticut municipality.
