MANAGEMENT TEAM:

Northstar Ventures and the Northstar Thinktank TM operate seamlessly as a team of seasoned entrepreneurs. In the past, they have started and managed more than 50 successful companies; from real estate, publishing and healthcare to software development, manufacturing, and beyond. They have raised millions of dollars from individual investors and Venture Capitalists, and have managed all aspects of their own businesses and those of others.

Through the hands-on experience of taking many of these businesses from start-up to high-growth, they have learned the very heart of what makes a business enterprise successful. Now, committed to sharing that wealth of experience with others, they are united in their objective to empower other entrepreneurs to produce performance breakthroughs in critical areas of their businesses,

Jeff began his entrepreneurial career in 1992, as the Founder of Foothill Fire Safety Co. (FFSC), an industrial service organization with over 12,000 clients throughout Southern California. He continued to manage FFSC while forming a second company, Home Healthcare Direct, which distributed medical supplies within “assisted living” environments. Both companies were successfully acquired in 1997.

From 1999 to 2002, Jeff served as Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of DispenseSource, Inc., and was the driving force behind the DispenseSource vision. With more than $10 million in venture capital behind him, he quickly established DispenseSource as one of the leading providers of automated inventory systems within the industrial and manufacturing environments. The company has emerged as the world’s leading provider of automated inventory systems, securing over $30 million in venture financing, and serving clients such as Chrysler, BF Goodrich, Xerox,and Honeywell.

In 2003, Jeff launched Northstar Ventures, a company whose business model draws on Jeff’s entrepreneurial passion.  He is responsible for recruiting some of the world’s leading business experts to the cause of developing world class curriculum, training, and mentoring programs, for entrepreneurs and small enterprises.

Jeff is a successful author and public speaker, who has a passion for effective communication, learning, and personal development. He is an avid runner, surfer and wake-boarder. He lives in Austin, TX, with his wife and 3 children.

JAY VAN SICKLE
Director of Project Management

Jay joined the Northstar team in 2004 as Sales Director and General Manager. His excellent communication skills and an amazing ability to motivate and manage our successful sales team puts him head and shoulders above his industry peers.

Jay has proven himself, a successful Project Manager, Business Analyst, and Consultant, having previously managed various projects for international companies such as Mercer, Hitachi, Arthur Andersen, and KPMG Peat Marwick. Jay’s broad expertise extends to assisting  professional teams to work cohesively together, enabling them to produce outstanding results.

He's been involved in managing Enterprise Management application implementations for (Arthur Andersen), managed client projects for fully integrated Human Resource Outsourcing with Mercer, and facilitated strategic company-wide assessments for Hitachi. Jay, combining his extensive direct sales experience with his detailed consulting background, facilitates the consultative selling approach of Northstar Ventures.

As a goal focused, detail oriented, manager, Jay is a talented self-starter, who effectively produces results while maintaining his strong work ethic and compassion for his associates. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Utah and lives with his wife and two children.

Anya’s professional passion is inquiring with business people, at all levels, into how to distinguish the thought processes that limit their power and effectiveness, both on a personal and organizational level.  In doing so, she is able to contribute to their growth and development, watching them accomplish results beyond their own imagination.

Prior to joining Northstar, Anya served as Vice President and General Manager of Valeo Consulting Group, an executive coaching and consulting firm. In addition to management consulting, Anya facilitated productivity management and leadership programs, executive work-sessions, and retreats for a wide range of clients.

She holds a B.S. in Public Relations from the University of Texas at Austin, School of Communications, including Graduate Studies, Social Development in Children at the University of Texas at Austin. She also holds Coach training certificates from Coach University, Corporate Coach University, and Leadership Coaching and Facilitation training from Landmark Education Corporation.

Anya lives with her two children in Austin, TX.

GIORGIO NALLIRA
Finance Manager

Giorgio is a highly successful Financial Director, Small Business Consultant, and Accountant, who formerly worked with National Corporations such as: Fidelity National Financial, American National Financial, Ticor Title, Inc., and American Document Services, Inc.

Giorgio is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has established himself as a Financial Business specialist for the past 11 years. With extensive and broad-based knowledge in project management, departmental development, and financial growth planning, Giorgio’s expertise has been to help organizations in the development of financial policies and procedures, company-wide financial assessment, as well as general accounting principles.

Specifically, he has been involved in the merging and creating of financial departments for ADS and Ticor Title, developing accounting software packages for ADS, and controlling all aspects of the financial cycle for growing organizations.

Giorgio brings a commitment to excellence to the Northstar Organization and has been extremely effective in the past in helping organizations maintain a high standard of ethics and profitability throughout his tenure.  Giorgio lives in Austin, TX with his family.