KEVIN KAYE
Principal
A natural affinity towards accounting and finance, alongside an authentic human approach towards building relationships and appreciating the in-demand skills businesses need to succeed, describes Kevin Kaye professionally and personally. Right after graduating from the University of Iowa, Kevin joined Bidwell & Company as a staff accountant. Embracing his strengths in relating to others through genuine conversation and communication, growing a network, and problem solving, Kevin identified a natural fit to apply these technical and soft skills to benefit the accounting and finance community. He then joined one of the world’s largest staffing and recruitment firms, Robert Half International. Over the course of eight years Kevin developed and grew the company’s presence in Vancouver, Chicago, and Portland, quickly becoming a key contributor in successfully training and mentoring high-performance teams. READ MORE
CATIE BURKE
Executive Recruiter + Manager of Business Development
With a background in the travel industry, Catie decided to pivot to executive search in 2020. Given her outgoing and approachable personality, Catie is well-suited to connecting on a human level and serving as a resource to both individuals and organizations. Catie has a proven track record placing candidates in specialty roles like Pricing Analysts. Coming from a family of accountants, along with four accounting classes in her college days, Catie is closely familiar with the specific requirements organizations are seeking and the value in which individuals offer with their hard-earned and unique skill set.
Catie attended Purdue University and in her free time enjoys traveling, cooking, dining at the many restaurants in Chicago, and taking care of her Corgi named Woodie.
ERIN JEWELL
Executive Recruiter
With a commitment to being fair to all parties involved, Erin serves as part negotiator, consultant, client service representative and listener. Knowing the process from beginning to end, both the rewards of matching talent with an organization and the challenges of kicking off a search, Erin stays focused on building meaningful relationships with individuals and hiring managers. Making the verbal offer, to Erin, is one of her favorite steps in the recruitment process, where she shares the excitement alongside the candidate as they envision themselves in their new role.
Erin has over a decade of recruiting experience, having started her journey in a nonprofit start-up. Since then, Erin has served recruiting roles in both the environmental and financial services industries. Enjoying both laugh-out-loud humor as well as crime podcasts and a variety of fiction, nonfiction and autobiographies, Erin also spends her free time visiting friends and family on the West coast. Erin earned a BBA in Marketing from Saginaw Valley State University.
JENNY BURKE
Project Manager
Jenny’s over 30 years of finance and accounting experience gives her a first-hand appreciation of the in-demand skills candidates offer and how they can match with our organizations’ requirements. As Project Manager, Jenny supports the efforts of the executive recruiters as well as reviewing, editing and formatting candidates’ resumes. Collaborating with the recruiter, Jenny prepares a description and summary of candidate qualifications, career aspirations and goals, salary desired and other relevant information.
During the course of Jenny’s career, she has worked in public accounting, industry and educational organizations and at the collegiate level. She holds an Illinois C.P.A. license, a master’s degree in Finance from DePaul University, a master’s degree in Taxation from Northern Illinois University, and an undergraduate degree from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.
LAURA WITTER-JOHNSON
Chief Administrative Officer
Laura is an operationally focused finance and accounting executive with years of experience managing and directing financial organizations and the full spectrum of responsibilities needed to align with a company’s mission and long-term growth objectives. She is a Certified Public Accountant who started her career in auditing at KPMG and went on to roles with increasing levels of responsibility at several technology enterprises, most recently as CFO of a Chicago-based software company. She has been a key contributor in the successful sale of five different organizations throughout her career.
Laura brings to Katalyst Group a deep understanding of finance and the varied aspects of running a successful business and utilizing data analysis to improve processes and highlight the drivers for sustained growth and profitability. In her new role, she will serve as a trusted advisor and business partner to the Founder and Principal of Katalyst Group, and she will support the organization in the development of critical reporting, policies, procedures and operational best practices critical to helping the organization to scale.
Laura enjoys collaborating with others, both professionally and personally. She is a member of several professional organizations including the AICPA, Third Degree, Orion3, Leadership Group and The FENG. In her free time, she is an enthusiastic National Park visitor who relishes challenging hikes as well as spending time with her family and her multiple “furry roommates.”
Laura is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy.
