3. Overview L&J Associates
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L & J Associates is a boutique executive search firm founded in 2000
by Jack Stroker and Larry Polsky, two Fortune 500 executives. Mr.
Polsky became Executive Chairman in 2008 and the firm expanded into
IT, Finance and Diversity search by adding:
Robert Jones, a veteran with more than fifteen years of IT recruiting
experience
Adam Elmore, an experienced Finance and Accounting professional
Chris Zerbo, an experienced IT, Finance and Accounting professional
Trudi Lacey, ex General Manager of the WNBA Charlotte Sting and a
professional business career coach, to focus on Diversity.
The firm provides a range of executive talent solutions to meet the
needs of manufacturers, service providers, non profits and
governmental agencies.
4. Overview L&J Associates
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Representative List of Searches Completed
Retained Search
President VP, Finance Senior Attorney
Director, Compensation & Benefits
Chief Operating Officer VP, Manufacturing Plant Manager
Director, Training and Development
Chief Financial Officer VP, Operations General Manager
Director, New Product Development
VP, Sales & Marketing Director, Compensation Controller
Director, Materials Management
VP, Human Resources Director, HR Shared Business Manager
Director, Communications
VP, Engineering Services Six Sigma Regional Manager
Information Technology
IT Audit Director PMO Director Network Administrator Database Administrator
IT Director IT Auditor Telecommunications Manager Systems Administrator
SAP HRIS Director Software Developer Helpdesk Analyst Data Analyst
IT Manager Software Architect SAP Functional Analyst Business Analyst
Finance & Accounting
Controller Tax Manager Director, Finance Accounting Manager
Chief Financial Officer Tax Director Regional Finance Manager Senior Accountant
Audit Manager Tax Associate Senior Financial Analyst Staff Accountant
Pricing Manager SEC Analyst Purchasing Manager International Tax
Accountant
5. Our Professionals L&J Associates
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Jack Stroker: President
Jack came to the executive search business following 30 years of sales and marketing,
strategic planning and general management experience. He worked in New York City for
Eastman Kodak and the Celanese Corporation, and later bought two divisions from
Celanese with other key executives. Since 2000, he has completed executive searches
for manufacturing companies in a variety of functions including general management,
finance, operations, IT, sales and marketing, engineering, human resources, and supply
chain management.
Larry Polsky: Founding Partner, Executive Chairman
Larry has worked as a Human Resources professional throughout his career for such
companies as Cooper Industries, Coltec Industries, and BF Goodrich. After retiring as
the VP HR at Goodrich, Larry co-founded L&J Associates with Jack Stroker. Now
retired from L&J, Larry is an active community volunteer. He recently served as
Chairman of Discovery Place as well as Chairman of The Learning Society of
Queens University. Presently, Larry serves on the Board of Advisors for Carolinas
Healthcare System and is the incoming Board President of The Echo Foundation.
6. Our Professionals L&J Associates
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Robert Jones: Managing Director – Information Technology
Robert brings a background of 30 years of Information Technology experience to L & J
Associates. After attending Wake Forest University, he started his career at Memorex Corporation,
selling systems into the IBM marketplace, as a salesman, and later as a branch manager for the
Carolinas and the southeast. Robert then continued his IT career in the field of recruiting, beginning in
1994, at Robert Half International, the largest specialized recruiting firm in the world. Since then, he
has completed several IT placement startups, including the Charlotte office for Robert Half
International. He specializes in IT searches throughout the Carolinas and the United States. He has
successfully completed over 300 searches since 1993.
Adam Elmore: Managing Director
Adam works directly with L&J’s clients to locate and hire all levels of finance and accounting
professionals. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree from Davidson College, Adam spent four years in
operations with a multi-billion dollar leasing company before getting into the executive search
industry. He then spent two years with RemX Financial, where he consistently developed and
maintained new business with clients in a variety of industries. He is currently pursuing his MBA
from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
7. Our Professionals L&J Associates
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Chris Zerbo: Managing Director
Chris has worked in the Executive Search industry for 11 years in a variety of roles. After
receiving a Bachelors Degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he
started his recruiting career in training and development at the headquarters of a national
recruiting firm with over 150 offices. Chris then worked as an Executive Recruiter with the
second largest financial recruiting firm in the country, achieving “Superstar” status in his
rookie year. Most recently Chris was integral in the Carolinas startup of a regional recruiting
firm specializing in financial and information technology placement. In that role he helped
manage multiple offices across the Carolinas, train and mentor recruiters, and was a top
producer at the firm, earning multiple awards for his recruiting efforts.
Trudi Lacey: Managing Director – Diversity
Trudi specializes in executive level searches with a focus on diversity candidates . Trudi is
a respected speaker at conferences and events and is sought after for human development
seminars and personal leadership coaching. Formerly, Trudi served as head coach and
general manager of the WNBA Charlotte Sting. Her basketball coaching career spans more
than 19 years. In addition to her numerous years working in the WNBA as a coach, Trudi
was a key contributor with USA Basketball working with the gold medal men’s and women’s
basketball teams at the 2000 summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
8. Our Professionals L&J Associates
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Emily Richards: Research Manager
Emily has spent five years in the executive search industry. As Research
Manager, Emily is responsible for conducting candidate identification and
development phases of searches and works closely with L&J’s Partners
throughout the entire search process to deliver top candidates to L&J’s
clients. Emily has conducted multiple searches for a variety of functions
within the manufacturing industry.
Susan Scales: Administration Manager
Susan joined L&J Associates in April 2008. Susan has extensive experience
as Director of Administration for Boston Ballet as well as administrative
experience in the executive search business.
9. Searches L&J Associates
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Placed the Division President, VP Placed the Division President and VP
Global Marketing and VP Technology HR for this global manufacturer of
for this global manufacturer helicopters
Placed the Vice President of Finance
Placed the Corporate Director of Human
and Vice President of Human
Resources in Eastman Kodak’s
Resources for this manufacturer of
Polychrome Division
heavy duty truck parts
Placed the Director of Operations
Placed the Vice President of
for this privately held Spacesaver
Advancement for this Charlotte-
distributorship
based museum
10. L&J Associates
Searches cont’d.
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Placed two Vice Presidents of Placed the Vice President of Operations
Operations for this manufacturer of for this manufacturer of carbon products
brick and tile
Placed the Director of Global Shared
Placed the Chief Operating Officer for
Services for this manufacturer of
this private high tech start-up
machine tool products
Placed the Information Technology Placed the Director of SAP HR
Director for the fourth largest tire Systems for the largest food
maker in the US services company in the world
11. Recommendations L&J Associates
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L & J Associates provided Wessex, Inc. with its procedures, focus and contacts to define and locate qualified,
interested corporate executives for our needs. Their professionalism and business savvy are of a level we
have not seen before in the selection of executives. We would highly recommend their services to start up,
growing or mature businesses.”
John Olver, CEO, Wessex, Inc.
“L&J Associates has been a key part of EnPro’s talent acquisition process for senior and middle managers
since we formed the company in 2000. Attracting quality in the competitive market for leadership talent is
a challenge. L&J Associates’ professional process has been effective in helping EnPro meet that challenge.”
Ernie Schaub, President and CEO, EnPro Industries, Inc.
“We recently called on L&J Associates to help us fill a critical executive level position on Kennametal’s
Human Resources team. Our need was unique, and L&J Associates was able to provide us with a slate of
solid candidates in a very timely manner. In less than 90 days, we hired an “A Player” for this key position.
Our experience with L&J Associates was excellent and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
Kevin Walling, VP and CHRO, Kennametal , Inc.
“I have had experience with many search and selection firms over the years; but now solely work with L&J
Associates for managerial and executive level positions within Hanson Brick. We will continue to use them
because they provide us with excellent candidates on a timely basis. They have certainly helped us upgrade
the quality of our overall management team. We are particularly impressed with the thoroughness of their
work and the constant follow up.”
Simon Bates, Executive VP of Operations, Hanson Brick
