Board

Leo Sheridan
Board Member

Leo is the founder, CEO and President of The Advanced Group of Companies. For more than 20 years, The Advanced Group has a history of success offering consulting services as well as clinical research and talent management solutions with ten offices in four metropolitan areas. Since 1994, Leo built a strategic Clinical Research solutions organization, Advanced Clinical (AC), to support the unique research and development needs for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies. From the start of AC, Leo has driven Advanced Clinical’s fast evolution into a national company that delivers consulting, strategic sourcing, talent management, and eClinical technology solutions.

Leo earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from St. Michael’s College in Vermont. He completed the Executive Management Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He has provided leadership to a variety of professional organizations, including the National Association of Computer Consulting Businesses, American Staffing Association and Young Presidents’ Organization.

Jim Johnson
CFO

Jim has been Advanced’s Chief Financial Officer since 2002.  He oversees all matters related to finance, accounting, treasury, operations, technology, and human resources.  He has led the negotiation and subsequent integration of several mergers and acquisitions, negotiated several business divestitures, and negotiated more than ten loan agreements.

Previously, Jim served as the EVP of Finance for HALO Industries, Inc., a $400 million, publicly traded, marketing services and products business.  Prior to this role at HALO, Jim was the Chief Integration Officer, responsible for all aspects of the integration of Starbelly.com, an e-commerce promotional products company, with HALO – cultural, operational, technological, and financial. 

Prior to joining HALO, Jim had been the CFO of Starbelly.com, where he was responsible for all financial and accounting matters of the venture-backed internet company, including equity raising efforts and financial leadership in the sale of Starbelly.com to HALO in May of 2000.

Jim began his career at Arthur Andersen in 1989 where he worked until joining his client Starbelly.com in 1999.  He concluded his career at Arthur Andersen as a Senior Manager.  Jim led audits, consulting projects, due diligence efforts, and post-acquisition integration projects for his clients. 

Jim is a Certified Public Accountant in Illinois and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1989 with a B.B.A. in Accounting.  Jim’s passions include golf, tennis, Notre Dame football, and having fun with his wife and three young children. 

Bob Aylsworth
CEO, Founder

Bob Aylsworth is a Founder and serves as our Co-Chief Executive Officer. He is based out of our Chicago office and is our team’s quarterback responsible for getting everyone in the right position and making big plays. Bob has a knack for rallying the team even when times are tough and spirits are down. His optimistic attitude in life sets the tone for our company.

Bob has broad-based experience in executive search serving nearly all industries and functions on a domestic and international basis. He has successfully completed Board of Directors, CEO, COO, CFO, and President searches for prominent clients representing the legal, financial service, investment banking, insurance, venture capital, real estate, health care, consumer product, software, manufacturing, hospitality, gaming, information technology, and advertising industries nationwide. Additionally, he has built many organizations from the ground up, filling multiple positions with one client at all levels.

Bob began his career at DHR International where he managed research and was responsible for all executive search execution, management, administration, and training. Bob grew the research organization from 15 to 150 researchers and DHR as a whole grew to be the fifth largest executive search firm in US revenue. In 2002, Bob was asked to take on additional responsibility and become the President and CEO of JobPlex while continuing to serve as a Partner of DHR International where he executed many senior level searches. With existing revenues of $600k and declining sales Bob began a turnaround with a team of four. Using his industry knowledge and sales ability JobPlex grew to $6 million in revenues in less than one year’s time and has been extremely profitable. Over the next five years, he continued to grow the business at a rate of over 50% annually and expanded the service offerings to include, Middle Management search, OnSite events, and large scale enterprise programs (RPO).

Bob graduated from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania where he attained All American Honors as a quarterback and was a two-time MVP for the Patriot League. He resides in Chicago and is an active member of the Chicago Chapter of Entrepreneur Organization (EO).

Steven Ziegler
Chief Strategy Officer, Founder

Steve is a Founder and serves as our Co-CEO He is based out of our Denver office and is a key member of our executive team providing strategic direction and driving innovation to all aspects of our business. His entrepreneurial spirit is contagious and he is constantly living and breathing our WHY.

Steve has broad-based experience in executive search serving nearly all industries and functions nationwide. He has successfully completed executive and middle management assignments for early stage start-ups, entrepreneurial ventures, micro-caps, and private equity backed firms. His expertise focuses on serving clients in technology, analytics, outsourcing and professional services industries. Additionally, Steve has orchestrated searches within the sectors of financial services, manufacturing, energy, precious metals, engineering & construction and healthcare.

Steve has been in the executive search industry since 1995 where he began his career as an Executive Recruiter with The Stratford Group, the retained division of AIM Executive. He left to join international retained search firm Jackson Group (now Downing & Teal) in 1997, where he built their technology practice. Upon leaving in 1998, Steve founded ZDS Executive Search. He built his company to one of the Top 5 Permanent Recruiting Firms in Colorado as recognized by the Denver Business Journal. In January 2005 he sold to JobPlex, the middle management division of DHR International. Steve served as their EVP of Strategic Sales and was a key component in JobPlex’s revenues tripling during his tenure. Additionally, he partnered with several of DHR’s top producers in winning executive level searches.

Steve is extremely active in the Denver community. He is an active member of the Colorado Chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) having served on their Board for 4 years, he recently served as the Chairman of the Board of YouthBiz, he is a graduate of Impact Denver, is on the Board for Flobots.org and has been an active volunteer at Namaqua Center.

Steve earned a BS in Marketing from the University of Colorado in Boulder. During college he worked for the Southwestern Company in their sales and sales management training program. In his freshman year he was a member of Creighton University’s tennis team.