The Stuart School needed new leadership and exclusively retained KULPER & COMPANY to
the lead the search. We were told that our firm was selected as a direct result of being referred by another current
client. Our client spoke positively about our reputation for producing sought after results
in a highly professional and timely manner. Completion of a search of this magnitude in a highly competitive
market for top leadership requires attention to many subtle details. Our initial discussions began with an in depth
review of Provost Myerson’s hiring need and vision for the Stuart School. It continued with a review of how the search
process would unfold including a detailed review of our ISO 9001:2000 registered search processes. Once that was done
we agreed that we could undertake this search assignment and Provost Myerson signed off on our written consulting agreement.
After working closely with Provost Myerson, and other members of the Search Committee, a Position
Specification was approved. The Position Specification became
not only, a description of the job, but also, a marketing document that encapsulated current mission and renewed vision
of the Stuart School. The Position Specification underscored the many career growth opportunities of the opportunity
as well as the attractiveness of living and working in a major city like Chicago. We then started contacting key higher
education and corporate leaders in our own network and asked for candidate nomination suggestions. We also proceeded
to reach out directly to many current Business School Deans and Department heads. We supplemented this effort with
advertisements in major industry publications such as the Chronicle
of Higher Education. Shortly thereafter, we began a series of discussions with potential candidates some of whom
were qualified and put forward to the search committee for further consideration.
The search committee wanted, and needed, to meet with multiple candidates in order to feel
comfortable with their ultimate selection. The feedback from both the search committee and Provost Myerson was essential
for calibrating our search effort. The net result of this effort was the production of a slate of candidates which
after several iterations ultimately, led us to Dr. Kahalas.
By the time we spoke with, qualified and presented Dr. Kahalas it was apparent to us here
at KULPER & COMPANY and to the members of search committee as well as Provost Myerson, that Dr. Kahalas would be
a great choice to become the next Dean of the Stuart Graduate of School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Members of the search committee, the provost and the president and university trustees all agreed with this assessment
and reached quick consensus on his candidacy. Shortly thereafter, a verbal and then written job offer was made to Dr.
Kahalas and accepted.
The search process from start to finish took about one year to complete. Typically, a higher
education search of this level of importance can take this long because of the multiple factors involved in reaching
solid consensus among the constituencies represented. The proof of the effectiveness of this search will be in the
longer term success of the hired candidate, but, based upon Dr Kahalas’ fine track
record and deep experience as a successful senior academic administrator and scholar we have the highest hopes
for his long term success.
Again, we offer heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Kahalas as well as to the members of the
search committee and administration of the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Keith D. Kulper
President
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KULPER & COMPANY uses an ISO registered process to complete our search assignments because
we believe so strongly in the benefits that our continually improved quality search process produces. As with all ISO
registered companies and professional services firms our commitment to quality is rooted in a deep desire to serve
our clients in the most professional and effective way possible. We don’t take on volumes of search assignments at
one time. Instead, we work carefully with our clients to accept only those assignments that are the most strategically
important to them. We particularly like to work with clients who have done their homework enough to appreciate the
value of how we do – what we do for them. The proof of our effectiveness rests in our reputation as a first rate service
provider and in the loyalty of our clients.
In Jim Collins’ landmark book, GOOD to GREAT, he discusses
the importance of the notion: “FIRST, get the right people on the bus” and the idea
---based upon his extensive research---that a company or organization’s most important resource is not its staff or
executives, “but the RIGHT People”. Organizations that are able to produce a sustained
performance –over a multi year period---that can be readily identified by financial analysts, their peer group, and
their own employees ---over time--- as being “great”, rely on having the right people in key positions who are internally
motivated to do an exemplary job. Often the right people are right under the nose of management or the Board, but can
not be seen as being able to assume the next rung of leadership responsibility. When this happens good people can sometimes
be lost….and that is bad for business!
When KULPER & COMPANY is engaged to conduct a search for a top leader such as President
or any “C” level position or their direct reports, we always probe our client to make sure that no internal candidates
are being overlooked. Clearly, this is a smart thing to do and is easily integrated into a search process when the
search firm is being viewed as a trustworthy business consultant driving the project to a successful conclusion in
full partnership with the client---not a “headhunter” simply emailing resumes out and hoping that a few will be judged
“acceptable”. A proven and effective search process like ours produces the results you need within the agreed upon
time horizon and can pay dividends for many years to come. To work with us in an optimal manner we believe you need
to share our business values: intellectual curiosity, honesty in all dealings, persistence, hard work and –yes---fun,
too! A search is an adventure….and the end result can be truly transformative for all involved.
Here is one final point: when you select KULPER & COMPANY you will deal directly with
the president and owner of the firm throughout the search process. We learned early on that working closely with decision
makers helps produce long lasting results; so we strip away those layers and the proof is in the number of loyal clients
and happy hired candidates we can readily reference.
I hope you are interested in learning about how KULPER & COMPANY can help your organization become great! Please
email or call me, directly, and I will personally respond to you at my earliest opportunity.
Keith D. Kulper
973.285.3850
kdk@kulpercompany.com
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