Michael Stomberg is the founder and CEO of The Planet Group which includes several renowned staffing companies and global consulting organizations. Since founding Planet in 2009, Michael has led the organization to record organic growth while also leading the company through the launch of four new business lines and the acquisition of multiple firms. He also led the M&A activities when in May 2021, The Planet Group merged with ProPharma Group, the leading global provider of outsourced regulatory, clinical research, compliance, pharmacovigilance, and medical information services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. Michael assumed the role of ProPharma Group's CEO in September 2021.
Michael has over 20 years of experience developing and leading global organizations focused on the Life Sciences, Technology and Energy industries. His expertise includes organizational development, leadership development, streamlining operations, technology integration, team development, and global business strategy. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management.
Andrew Streiter
President, Planet Forward
Andrew is an accomplished leader in the recruitment industry with over 25 years of experience in sales strategy and management. Prior to joining Planet Forward, he served as CareerBuilder’s Senior Vice President of Staffing and Recruiting, which served nearly 98% of the top 150 staffing firms in the country and had more than 3,000 customers. In the role, Andrew led the sales strategy and product vision for one of the most critical segments in the world of recruitment, the staffing industry. He also served as Senior Vice President of their Managed Services division while running numerous regions as Vice President of Sales responsible for developing human capital strategies for a variety of organizations ranging from Fortune 1000 companies to mid-sized businesses. Andrew holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business and an undergraduate degree from West Virginia University.
Marni Helfand
Chief HR Officer and General Counsel
Marni Helfand is the Chief HR Officer and General Counsel for The Planet Group. Marni oversees all legal and HR functions including providing training, advising on all areas of compliance, negotiating client agreements, managing litigation, and protecting the company's intellectual property. After leaving private practice with the law firm of Littler Mendelson, most of her career has been spent in the staffing and consulting industries. Prior to beginning her career, Marni received her Bachelor's Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations form Cornell University, and attained her JD Law Degree from Northwestern University's School of Law.
Jim Patton
President, Planet Healthcare
Jim Patton joined The Planet Group in 2016 to expand the healthcare division and services. Jim brings over 13 years of experience in healthcare and is responsible for business development, recruitment strategies and account management. Jim brings a wealth of experience to clients with attention to detail and offering flexible solutions. Jim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Cleveland State University.
Andrew John
Executive Vice President, Planet Technology
Formerly one of three Partners of R121 (Planet121), the first company acquired by The Planet Group, Andrew John now serves as Executive Vice President of Planet Technology. In this position, Andrew is responsible for the continued expansion of the Enterprise Systems Group in North America and Europe, which covers SAP, Workday, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and ServiceNow.
Andrew has worked in ERP staffing and consulting since 1998, covering industry verticals such as manufacturing, insurance, energy and utilities, life sciences, and professional services.
Tim Simmerly
President, The Planet Group
Tim Simmerly is the President of The Planet Group and oversees global strategy as well as the day-to-day operations for our global staffing and consulting companies. With more than twenty years of experience in talent and human capital services, Tim has helped launch three of Planet's companies and continues to lead PFES today.
Tim's leadership ability, business development acumen, and operational excellence are key to his role in expanding The Planet Group into new market segments worldwide.
Tim joined the Planet Group of Companies in 2009 and has held numerous leadership positions including Director of Business Development, Vice President, and Executive Vice President.
Christine Belmonte
Executive Vice President, Planet Technology
Christine Belmonte has spent the past 15+ years partnering with some of the world's most recognized brands on their data, technology, ecommerce and talent needs. As Executive Vice President at Planet Technology, Christine creates strategic hiring solutions and project management plans for global clients in the Enterprise Systems space. She also leads a high-performing sales team to ensure service excellence and exceptional results.
Prior to joining Planet, Christine was VP of Client Development for Syndigo, a global SaaS platform in the eCommerce industry where she built an enterprise organization from the ground up. Previously, she was the Managing Client Director of Gartner's Healthcare and Global Enterprise practices and served in several sales management roles with CareerBuilder, leading teams and overseeing national enterprise accounts.
Christine has a Bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University.
Tim Bauwens
Chief Financial Officer
Tim Bauwens is the CFO of The Planet Group of Companies and is responsible for accounting and reporting, financial planning, cash management, human resources and risk management. He has over 25 years corporate accounting and finance experience, having spent the early part of his career focused on mergers & acquisitions, mostly in the service and utilities sectors. Tim has spent the last ten years in the professional services and construction industries working with publicly traded and privately held companies with an emphasis on accelerated topline growth, improved cashflow, and maximizing return on investment. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Augustana College, and holds a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship from DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.
Nick Demling
President, Planet Pharma
Nick Demling offers 25+ years in Clinical Trials Resource Management, Business Development – Consulting / Project Teams, Staff Augmentation, FSPs and Outsourcing. Nick has expertise in Global Workforce optimization solutions across multiple areas of clinical research to the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Medical Device, and CRO Industries. He provides a lead role in business development and client management, working with managers and on-site vendors within the industry to meet their needs for staffing solutions.
Among Nick's specialties: Deep-rooted relationships in the pharmaceutical / medical device / CRO industries, strategic planning, business development, resource management, business re-engineering, P&L management, acquisitions & divestitures. He's intelligent, cost conscious, innovative, and a natural problem solver, all of which lend tremendous expertise when working with international clinical trials focused on helping patients live longer, healthier lives.
Scott Ragusa
President, Planet Technology
As president, Scott Ragusa oversees strategic direction and daily operations of Planet Technology. Scott joined Planet Technology's predecessor, WinterWyman, in 1999 after more than five years with two national temporary staffing firms. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Staffing Association (MSA).
Stu Coleman
Executive Vice President, Planet Professional
As EVP, Stuart Coleman oversees the strategy and operations of Planet Professional, formerly WinterWyman’s Professional division. Stu joined WinterWyman in 1999 and quickly helped the company expand its financial services contract and temporary offerings.
He subsequently began directing all the firm’s Accounting & Finance, HR, Administrative and Professional business development and recruitment services. Stu has expanded the division's national presence with teams in Boston, NY, Chicago, San Diego and recruiting throughout the country.
Melissa Masse
Executive Vice President, Planet Technology
As EVP with Planet Technology's Core Tech division, Melissa Masse oversees a national sales team servicing the East Coast, Western US, and Southeast regions. Additionally, she leads Planet Tech's Cybersecurity team that provides security talent on a national scale.
Melissa joined Planet Technology's predecessor, WinterWyman, in 2004 and held various roles in sales, recruiting, and leadership. With over 20 years of operations, training and sales / business development experience, Melissa is focused on providing top technology talent within Software Development, Information Technology, and Cybersecurity to organizations across the country.
Originally from New York, Melissa holds a Bachelor's degree from The State University of New York College at Geneseo with a degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication.
Jeff Jorgensen
Executive Vice President, Planet Technology
Formerly COO of Interactive Business Systems, one of the legacy companies forming Planet Technology, Jeff Jorgensen now serves as Executive Vice President overseeing the Mid-West. Jeff has played a pivotal role in developing many of Planet Technology’s key practice areas, including automated testing solutions.
Jeff joined IBS in 2001 as the Cincinnati Branch manager and was crucial in distinguishing the firm within the IT staffing space. Jeff doubled majored in Accounting & Finance at Kent State University in Northeast Ohio.
Gary Dytor
Executive Vice President, Planet Technology
Formerly founder and CEO of I.T. Works Recruitment, one of the companies acquired by The Planet Group, Gary Dytor now serves as Executive Vice President of Planet Technology. In his role, Gary oversees the continued expansion of niche recruitment for ERP, HCM, EMR, and Lab Informatics.
Gary has over 20 years of experience in staffing and has worked with tier two software systems and users since 2004. He has a background in Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Business Management.
Elizabeth Spayne
Vice President, Marketing
As Vice President of Marketing, Elizabeth Spayne develops promotional and branding strategies that expand and further strengthen the position of The Planet Group and its multiple staffing firms, consulting companies, and consultants in the marketplace. She has extensive experience designing and implementing social media, public relations and communication programs in both the consumer and business-to-business sectors. Prior to joining The Planet Group, Elizabeth served as EVP of Marketing for WinterWyman, an award-winning staffing firm that was acquired by Planet in November 2019.
Previously, she served in senior marketing roles for a well-known career management firm and a publicly-traded senior housing developer and operator. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Providence College.
Jon Whiley
Chief Technology Officer
Jon Whiley is the CTO of The Planet Group of companies and is responsible for leading the firm's innovative technology strategy, including network infrastructure, system integrations, process improvements, new technology implementations, and IT support.
Jon has over 20 years of progressive tech and operations experience delivering transformative solutions that drive immediate business impact and continuous improvements across enterprises. During his career, he has designed competitive tools and adopted technology to optimize workflows and strengthen service delivery across multisite operations.
Prior to joining The Planet Group, Jon was Executive Vice President and CTO of Majestic Steel USA. A veteran of the US Marine Corps and graduate of Ohio University, he serves as a Governing Body Member of Evanta’s Midwest CIO group and is also involved with the Northeast Ohio chapter of SIM.
Brian Ganser
President, Launch Consulting
Brian Ganser brings over twenty-five years of experience, including several executive-level roles at high-growth consulting firms, to his role as President of Launch Consulting. In addition to leading the firm, he plays an integral part in helping client companies rapidly scale, all while evolving their service offerings to provide more innovative and impactful solutions.
Brian has also been intimately involved in the creation of high-performing teams by fostering a culture of empowerment, engagement, and collaboration. A native of the Chicago area, Brian is a graduate of Millikin University and earned a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in entrepreneurship from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
Dustin Abbs
Director of Corporate Development
As Director of Corporate Development, Dustin Abbs helps The Planet Group's executive leadership team execute on our mergers and acquisitions strategy. Dustin joined the company with a proven track record of success having spent his career in investment banking and management consulting, most recently serving as a Director with AlixPartners, a global consulting firm.
Dustin also served in a similar Corporate Development role with a publicly-traded human capital firm for four years. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.
Kyle Hemenover
Vice President of Finance
The Planet Group's VP of Finance, Kyle Hemenover, is a strategic financial leader who embraces change and is committed to continuous improvement initiatives, with a focus on developing talent. He also served in the same capacity at Strive Consulting (now Launch Consulting), a business and technology consulting firm that Planet acquired in December of 2021. Kyle joined Strive in early 2020, where he helped support their incredible growth and build out an internal Finance & Accounting team.
Kyle began his 15+ year Finance & Accounting career with RSM's Chicago-based audit team. Prior to joining Strive and The Planet Group, Kyle spent five years at Transco Inc., initially as Corporate Controller and was quickly promoted to CFO, helping them navigate several divestitures during this tenure.
Kyle is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Masters in Business Administration from The University of Notre Dame.
Jeff Dillenburg
Chief Operating Officer
Jeff Dillenburg brings over 20 years of experience in operations within the human capital consulting and staffing world to his role as Chief Operating Officer of The Planet Group and has a strong track record of success everywhere he has been. He was one of the first employees at both Inforte and Slalom Consulting and played an integral role in executing their high growth strategy as Managing Director.
Prior to becoming Planet's COO, Jeff served in the same capacity with Strive Consulting (now Launch Consulting) which The Planet Group acquired in December 2021. Jeff was instrumental in helping drive the strategy of Strive when the organization restructured from a staffing firm to a consulting firm.
Jeff brings a tremendous track record of success and hard work and is a thought leader that has used many innovative approaches to help construct some of the best delivery platforms in the business.
Philip Monti
Chief Financial Officer
Philip Monti is the CFO of The Planet Group and is responsible for driving the firm’s profitability as well as providing financial discipline and capital direction. With over two decades of senior financial leadership and a deep understanding of the global consulting and staffing industries, Phil excels at overseeing complex financial systems that serve enterprise-level organizations with thousands of employees.
He is a valued business partner with a strong record of balancing the interests of executive leadership and the board while also being a financial voice for the organization; navigating debt and equity capital transactions; and negotiating, closing and communicating M&A transactions in private equity and public company environments.
Prior to joining The Planet Group, Phil was Chief Financial Officer of DISYS where he helped guide the firm as a global staffing leader. Previously, he served in a variety of similar executive-level corporate finance roles with Signature Consultants and Acosta Sales & Marketing. A certified public accountant, Phil received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his Master’s in Accounting from the University of North Florida.
Jeff Bonci
President, Planet Professional
As president, Jeff Bonci oversees the strategy and operations of Planet Professional, a staffing and recruitment firm specializing in Accounting & Finance, Human Resources and Administrative. In addition to helping Planet Professional expand its national footprint, Jeff leads a team of nearly 100 staffing professionals. He has 15+ years of relationship building, solution selling and business strategy, all within the staffing industry.
Prior to joining the firm, Jeff was the Senior Managing Director of Collabera, a digital-first engineering technology talent leader, where he helped increase billing by 500% and developed a multi-region sales team. Jeff has also held senior management, sales and recruiter positions with Insight Global, a full-service staffing agency.
Jeff holds a Bachelor's degree from Stonehill College in Easton, MA and volunteers with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Abigail Allen
Executive Vice President, Planet Technology
Executive Vice President of Planet Interactive, Abigail Allen, has more than 20 years of Sales and Operations experience, including more than a decade in the staffing industry. Before joining Planet Interactive, she was the VP of Enterprise Accounts at a leading staffing agency that specialized in recruiting digital marketing, advertising and creative positions. Prior, she held operations and account service roles with iProspect, a global advertising and digital media agency.
Abigail has a Bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University.
Nate O'Keeffe
Executive Vice President, Planet Technology
In-depth knowledge of emerging technologies and a commitment to creating strong cultures are critical to Nate O’Keeffe’s role as Executive Vice President of Planet Technology where he oversees business development and strategic partnerships for the firm’s Core Technology division as well as leads a team of 30 sales professionals.
Nate has 20+ years of relationship building, solution selling and business strategy experience and has been part of the staffing industry ecosystem for more than a decade. Prior to joining the firm, he was the President for the North American operations of a leading life sciences human capital firm. Nate has also held senior leadership, director and account management positions with a nationally-recognized staffing and consulting firm where he was responsible for the oversight and direction of all personnel training and development, production, revenue performance and operational aspects for the company’s ERP, Healthcare IT and cybersecurity business lines.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University in Westfield, MA.
Russ Whitman
Chief Strategy Officer
A champion of the now and next, Chief Strategy Officer Russ Whitman leads the go-to-market strategy for Planet and its global consulting and staffing divisions. He has over 25 years of experience in digital product development, business and marketing and has successfully grown several AI, SaaS and cloud-based technology companies from startups to multi-million-dollar entities.
Before joining The Planet Group, he led strategy for Launch Consulting, an AI-first digital transformation firm that Planet acquired in June of 2022. Previously, he held various senior positions with technology leaders and global consulting companies. His passion for people and technology along with his ability to accelerate business aligned to industry trends have played a pivotal role in his success.
Jim Pagliero
President, Planet Forward
Jim Pagliero has 20+ years of experience in the staffing industry. As company President, he oversees Planet Forward's strategy and operations, and leads a team of nearly 50 staffing professionals. Prior to joining the firm, he was the Regional Vice President of a leading provider of digital transformation services including technical and engineering staffing.
A graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he has also held general manager and executive sales roles at other well-known staffing and consulting companies.
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