James L. Pellegrino
Biography

As a broad-spectrum senior executive with substantial management responsibility in both large and small corporations and in the private and public sectors, Jim brings a significant breadth and depth of experience from business, education and government, to the career management consulting industry. In addition, Jim has been successful outside of corporate life as an entrepreneur and management consultant.

The Henderson Leonard Group, for whom Jim has worked for the last eleven years, was originally an affiliate of Bernard Haldane Associates (BHA), which was the largest, oldest (48 years) and most successful career management consulting firm in the world, with more than 100 offices and 25,000 clients. As Regional President and COO, Jim led his regions’ growth, in three years, from two offices and 350 clients to 12 offices in seven states within three regions (New England, Upper New York and Colorado), 100 employees, and more than 2500 new clients each year. He has personally worked with senior management clients in virtually all professional and technical fields, to include entrepreneurs and those starting their own businesses. His clients have secured career positions throughout Connecticut, the Northeast, the continental U.S. and abroad

After graduation from the University of Connecticut, Jim began his career as a data systems officer (four years) in the U.S. Air Force where he was selected as one of nine people to implement leading edge computer systems worldwide. Utilizing his information systems and technology skills, he then joined the Hamilton Standard division of United Technologies, as a Senior Systems Analyst, rising quickly into senior management, sometimes on special assignment reporting directly to the division president.

Jim was then promoted to Director of Information Systems at United Technologies, Sikorsky Division, where as a member of the Senior Operating Committee, he was responsible for all business and engineering systems development and the Division's computer center activities in an explosive growth environment. The scope of his career began to broaden as he took on additional responsibilities as Manager of Production Control Services and Director of the Division's productivity improvement program. His work on the strategic integration of competitive information systems resulted in international recognition for both Sikorsky and as a national lecturer and guest speaker for IBM.

At the Textron Lycoming Division of Textron Corporation, which Jim joined as Vice President of Information Systems and Services, he was given additional special assignments: government relations in Washington, public relations and advertising and his portfolio included serving as spokesman for the corporation's healthcare cost containment task force. Each of these assignments generated significant bottom-line impact successes during a time when the division's sales quadrupled to over $1 billion. For his performance, Jim was promoted to Vice President of Material and Procurement, a position which involved both profit and cost center responsibility for up to 2,000 people and more than $1 billion in assets. His work on several restructuring initiatives earned him national recognition because of the significant reductions in cycle time and cost while improving quality, delivery and customer/supplier satisfaction.

Jim has created strategic alliances with both multinational large and small corporations, performed due diligence with venture capital firms and economic development partnerships with government and business. Using these negotiating and entrepreneurial skills, he acquired the exclusive rights to the Connecticut Institute for Management Studies (CTIMS), where he more than doubled the corporate membership to 35 within two years.

During his in parallel (with private business) government service career, Jim served two terms as a Mayor and Chief Elected Official, worked with the Connecticut Congressional Delegation, negotiated the merger of two hospitals, was the architect for regional alliances of economic development and education, was appointed to the Governor's Technology Advisory Board and was selected to serve as a special consultant to the U. S. Department of Commerce in the area of export licensing. He is currently serving on the Governor’s Commission on Aging.

In addition to his degree from the University of Connecticut, Jim has attended the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Business, Harvard Law School's program on negotiations, and classes in leadership development at the Yale School of Organization and Management. He has been a guest speaker for the University of Connecticut's Executive MBA School and Public Policy Institute, plus, he was selected as a visiting business executive at the University of Connecticut's Business School. He was the host/producer of a monthly business TV program for twelve years, featuring prominent business, government and university leaders, is currently co-host of a weekly radio program on job search, and was founder and President of the University of Connecticut's Central Connecticut Alumni Chapter.