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Deborah Knupp, Managing Partner | Chicago, IL
Deborah Knupp has worked globally with CEOs, executives, managing partners and attorneys as a coach and business executive for over 17 years. She has helped these leaders align their people systems and business objectives to create cultures based on the principles of accountability, integrity and authentic relationship building. Her work has focused on making the work environment a place where employees "want" to be; where clients "want" to buy; and, where leaders "want" to serve a bigger purpose in their communities and families. Deborah brings her sales, leadership and culture development expertise to Akina and was one of Akina's founding Partners in 2001. She is currently leading the national launch of Akina Legal, a North American leader of sales and leadership consulting to law firms. Prior to joining Akina, Deborah was the Chief Knowledge Officer for Geneer, a Chicago-based software development services firm. During her tenure, Deborah was the pivotal leader in mobilizing a sales transformation effort through the implementation of the Akina sales framework. Prior to joining Geneer, Deborah was the Vice President of People Services for Commerx, a B2B hosted e-procurement solution provider. Prior to Commerx, Deborah was at Alcan Packaging, a multi-billion dollar international packaging business owned by Montreal based Alcan. While there, she served as General Business Manager for a $75MM business, as well as the senior executive in Human Resources for North America where she is credited with being a pioneer in global leadership and change management initiatives. Prior to Alcan Packaging, Deborah was an Area Director for Frito-Lay in Houston, Texas and began her career at Pearle Vision holding Sales and corporate Human Resources management positions. Deborah graduated with Senior Fellow honors and a Bachelor of Science in Speech/Organizational Communication from the University of Texas at Austin. On a personal note, Deborah has a number of other credits and achievements in her background. She has completed 5 Marathons (26.2 miles). She is a US Trademark holder for Spectathlete™. Deborah serves on the Board of Directors for SuperSibs! and formerly on Board Operations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois. In addition, she regularly provides leadership and staff development, pro bono, for numerous non-profit organizations. Deborah currently resides in Chicago with her husband and two daughters. Tracy LaLonde, Managing Partner | Chicago, IL 
Tracy LaLonde has 13 years of experience in the Human Resource and Organizational Development fields in the legal and high-tech consulting industries. Prior to Akina, Tracy completed numerous associate development projects for three law firms, including Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP. These projects included creating legal and business development training curriculum, developing integrated, multi-level orientation programs, designing retreats for new associates, mid-level associates and partners, as well as enhancing mentoring and performance evaluation systems. Prior to working in the legal industry, Tracy worked in the high-tech consulting industry. A skilled training facilitator, she developed and delivered hours of instruction on people management, project management, presentation skills, consulting, communication and change topics. Certified in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Tracy helps individuals find personal relevance in all of her programs to greater facilitate change and growth. Tracy's experience brings expertise to the team in the areas of Organizational Design and Development Consulting and People Management Training. Click on each area to view a listing of services and programs. Tracy has spoken many times at the Annual Education Conference of NALP, as well as at the Professional Development Institute. Some of those topics include What It Takes to Be a PD Professional, Using Adult Learning Principles to Increase Training Effectiveness, and Strategically Improving Associate Performance. She is a former Board Member of the Professional Development Consortium as well as a former Vice Chair of the Professional Development Committee for NALP. Tracy has an Masters of Education and a B.S. in Marketing, both from the University of Illinois. Alycia Sutor, Managing Partner | Chicago, IL
Alycia has more than twelve years experience helping law firms, corporations and non-profits in the areas of marketing, sales and strategic planning initiatives. Prior to joining Akina, Alycia was the Director of Marketing at the law firm of Goldberg Kohn. She also oversaw marketing for the Health Law practice group at McDermott, Will & Emery, an international law firm, which at the time had more than 800 attorneys worldwide. Her responsibilities included overseeing all of the firm's marketing and business development initiatives, including strategy development, PR, advertising, website development, printed collateral, attorney training, client feedback and proposal development. Alycia also worked with the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, where she was involved in the strategic planning to create and launch a line of nationally distributed educational products, including the award-winning line of Idea Factory® science kits. Alycia is an active member of the Legal Marketing Association (LMA), where she served on the Chicago Chapter Board for five years and was the 2005 Chapter President. Alycia has spoken on a number of sales and marketing related topics and for the past two years, she has been a part of the teaching faculty at the Chicago-Kent College of Law's innovative and unique law student marketing education program. Alycia also serves on the Advisory Board for The Midas Center, an integrated marketing communications agency. Alycia received her MBA from Northwestern University's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and her BA, summa cum laude, from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Paul Trout, Managing Partner | Chicago, IL
Paul leads the Corporate Division of Akina, leveraging 15 years of experience within the manufacturing, high-tech, legal and professional services industries. He helps to build stronger bridges between corporate vision, marketing aspirations and sales execution by using the voice of the customer to guide his work. Paul's focus has been in the improvement of internal communications and leadership effectiveness within corporations. He has provided leadership and sales coaching to professionals ranging anywhere from a Senior Vice President of a $400 million chemicals and biosciences corporation, to a Director of International Sales of a $30m medical equipment corporation to Partners and Associates in law firms. Paul also has specialties in go-to-market strategy development, market research, marketing positioning, internal & external messaging, and key account management. He is currently writing a book on the topic of Building Buy-In, which will help professionals first learn how to motivate themselves to act, then persuade others within their organizations to follow. Paul is a syndicated columnist on the topic, writing for MidwestBusiness.com, the Midwest's largest online portal for technology news and information. His syndicated column also appears in over 40 association and trade magazines, bringing total readership to over 300,000 people. He is past chairman of the Professional Development Committee and the Entrepreneurship Committee for the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and is a member of the University Club of Chicago. He volunteers with Howard Brown Health Center, a community-based health services clinic. Paul received his MBA in Marketing and Information Systems from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in 1999. He also received a BA in Urban Studies and Planning from the University of California at San Diego in 1991. Jeff McKinney, Ph.D., Principal 
Jeff has spent the last 12 years teaching, conducting research, and leading organizational change efforts in the field of higher education. During his time in higher education, Jeff has been teaching about diversity issues and how people can better understand themselves in a diverse society. He has taught courses on cultural awareness, white privilege, GLBT issues, social/class privilege, public speaking, business communication, interviewing, and work/school/life balance. In addition, for the last 4 years Jeff has independently consulted with institutions of higher education, corporations, and nonprofit organizations on diversity issues, conflict management, change management, and communication skills. As Senior Associate Director of the Project on Academic Success at Indiana University, Jeff led a change management process for 16 colleges and universities in the State of Indiana. He conducted surveys, interviews, focus groups, and data analysis examining enrollment and retention of minority student populations. In addition, Jeff helped to develop programs to assist schools in recruiting and retaining more students from underrepresented backgrounds. Jeff has presented numerous papers and original research at national conferences over the past decade. He has published articles on organizational change and diversity issues. Jeff believes in serving his community as well, participating on boards and volunteering for local organizations in the areas of poverty & homelessness and glbt issues. He is founding president of the Indiana University GLBT Alumni association. After traveling for the first 3 months of 2007, Jeff decided to develop and start his own nonprofit organization which will focus of providing educational opportunities to children in Fiji and Cambodia. Jeff earned his BA & MA in speech communication from Indiana University and his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Indiana University. Barbara Bearss, Executive Assistant | Chicago, IL
Barbara is currently working as Executive Assistant for Akina Corporation. She joined the team in January 2006 and has been an integral part ever since. Barbara has a rich and varied background from property management to working for non-profit organizations focused on helping the low income elderly and homeless. As Executive Assistant, Barbara works closely with team members to ensure the successful delivery of projects as well as day-to-day operations. Barbara has held several managerial positions. She also has experience in the areas of sales and customer service; having led sales quotas for a Chicago area run business in a previous position. An entrepreneur, Barbara is a part time realtor and runs a jewelry making business. She earned her BA in Social Sciences from Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois. Suzanne Baker, Principal | Chicago, IL 
For over 20 years, Suzanne Baker has served as a catalyst and leader of change for corporations, consultants, and executives. Her accomplishments have included being a pioneer in large scale transformation efforts and culture change within a Fortune 100 company, sales and strategic relationship management for a Big 4 consulting firm, and serving as a speaker and coach to many in the arena of work-life integration and purpose. Prior to joining Akina as a Principal, Suzanne was with Deloitte Consulting serving internal and external clients. Her most recent role was in sales and account penetration with strategic clients. As a consultant, she served financial services, healthcare, and consumer business clients helping them to align internal programs, priorities, and executive leadership behaviors with external strategy and marketing. Serving Deloitte internally, she managed the distribution of mandatory and optional learning programs targeted to the consultant population. Before Deloitte, Suzanne was with State Farm Insurance Headquarters serving in a variety of line and staff roles. Her career focused primarily on initiation and implementation of new business and technology strategies for sales and underwriting, transformation projects, leading and managing staff, and building an internal change management and communications practice. Suzanne has also worked independently over the last seven years developing a speaking and mentoring career, focusing specifically on work-life integration and the development of authentic, successful, and fulfilling relationships. Suzanne believes a complete life includes serving others. She has created and served on a variety of not-for-profit endeavors serving the community socially, spiritually, and with the arts. She is currently working on ways to harness the influence, resources and creativity of Executives & Professionals to support those less fortunate. Suzanne has earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Master of Arts in Religion from Trinity International University and professional certifications in Management, Change Management, and Financial Planning. Mark Levin, Principal | Chicago, IL
Mark has spent more than twelve years in the legal industry in roles ranging from attorney to Westlaw account management to strategy and business development in the law school and continuing education spaces. Before and during that time Mark has also managed numerous rock bands, founded, operated and sold multiple record labels and negotiated numerous record deals and entertainment contracts. As Director of Strategy and Business Development for West Education Group (WEG), Mark was responsible for finding and leveraging synergies within existing businesses, proposing and building new businesses within WEG's space and investigating 'white space' opportunities and partnerships. Mark has extensive experience in strategy, acquisitions and strategic partnerships, and product development from ideation through launch. Mark has been a board member of Chicago's Lawyers for the Creative Arts for years and an active member of the Chicago Yacht Club. Mark is also still active in the music community, attending music conferences and consulting with bands and record labels about viral marketing, community building and protection of intellectual property in a digital era. Mark received his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, with majors in Marketing, Management & Strategy and Media Management. Mark also received his JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law and his BA from Northwestern University. Mike Stankus, Alliance Partner | Boston, MA 
Mike Stankus is a published author and frequent speaker on topics such as transforming sales organizations, sales management, and executive leadership. He has personally trained / coached thousands of sales managers and reps. In late 1999, Mike helped found and launch S&H Solutions, a $70 million loyalty marketing firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Prior to founding S&H Solutions and Akina, Mike was Vice President of Sales at Sapient Corporation. Sapient (NASDAQ: SAPE) is a $350 million professional services firm that provides business strategy, technology integration, and change management for Global 1000 companies. While at Sapient, Mike built the e-commerce strategy and organization that propelled the company into a market leadership position. Prior to Sapient, Mike spent 5 years at CompuServe's Network Services Division. He held a variety of sales management positions as well as managing strategic planning and acquisitions. Mike has a B.S in finance from Marquette University and a M.B.A. from Bentley College. He has participated as a member / advisor on several boards including travelgator.com, Olliance, Corey McPherson Nash, Saint Laurence High School, and Star House, a group home for severely abused children located in Beverly, MA. Mike, his wife Wendy and their two daughters reside in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. Sheldon Gottlieb, President and Attorney at Law, Fast Forward Partners Ltd. (an Akina Alliance Partner) 
Sheldon brings a unique and highly diverse experience to the Akina team. He was a practicing attorney for over twenty-five years, concentrating on real estate and commercial transactions, and estate planning. He has extensive business, financial, management, sales and marketing experience as past owner of a direct mail advertising company and a business brokerage firm. Throughout his career he has taken an active interest in the careers of junior attorneys. He has frequently served as a mentor to younger attorneys. Before joining Akina, he was Professional Development Partner at a Chicago law firm, where he designed and implemented a program to create career benchmarks for associate professional development and advancement to partnership. He earned a bachelor-of-arts degree at the University of Michigan. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, magna cum laude, and was awarded the Order of the Coif. He is a member of the Executive Board, Chicago Region, of the Anti-Defamation League and a member of the Board of Governors of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Melrose Park, Illinois. Contact Sheldon Gottlieb today
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