Vito Bialla
Partner and Founder

Vito Bialla has spent over thirty years in consulting and executive search working for domestic and international clients. With experience in consulting to companies ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups to leaders in emerging industries, to established giants, Vito adds unique expertise to the firm. His large contact base and long-standing business relationships give the firm access, credibility and network resources within the business community.

Vito's focus is on Consumer Product Goods, Sports, Consumer Technology, Media & Entertainment. His functional expertise is on: CEOs, Officer-level, and outside Directors.

He is a member of the Olympic Club running and triathlon teams, a member of The San Francisco Yacht Club, and also serves as Chairman and Director of Zoot Sports®, Inc. a Southern California-based apparel company.

John McCrea
Partner

John McCrea has been a senior marketing and business development executive with a unique balance of experience in both large corporate environments and small start-up companies, marketing everything from technology to tourism, beer to banking, packaged goods to retail.

In the 6 years prior to joining Bialla, John held Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, General Manager and Business Development positions with successful start-up companies like MarketTools, Egreetings and others, where he created, launched, marketed and/or managed multiple successful Internet applications including zTelligence, Zoomerang.com, Egreetings.com and ArtToday.com. Previously, John spent 16 years in the advertising agency business. He was a Senior Partner at J Walter Thompson in San Francisco where he ran the high technology group, and was a founder of Poppe Tyson's West Coast operation. Earlier in his career he worked at such notable agencies as Chiat/Day and Grey Advertising. During his agency career, John was responsible for such successful brands as Sun Microsystems, Dell Computer, Toshiba, Symantec, Samsung, ADT, Bank of America, Dos Equis Beer and others. John received his B.A. from Hamilton College with graduate work at the University of Southern California.

John's cross-industry experience has enabled him to successfully conduct searches in areas ranging from consumer goods to marketing services, but he concentrates on the technology sector with functional expertise in marketing, sales and business development.

In his spare time, John plays basketball in the "Over 40" League, rows for the Marin Rowing Association's master's program, coaches his kids in youth sports, backpacks enthusiastically, and plays his guitar when he can squeeze it in.

Carolyn Carpeneti
Partner

Carolyn Carpeneti started her career at PeopleSoft. Soon, after a successful career in high tech, Carolyn became a successful CEO of her own company. For the last ten plus years her business has focused on high profile political fund-raising for prominent California officials, including Antonio Villaraigosa, Gray Davis, Cruz Bustamante, Kevin Shelley, Jack O'Connell, and John Burton. She has worked at the state and local level as the Finance Director of major candidates and propositions such as the campaign to Re-elect Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. and numerous others.

Carolyn has also spent much time in the non-profit world raising money and producing high-profile events such as the San Francisco Summit for Women. This annual conference was attended by 5,000 women throughout the Country. From the Glide Foundation to Senator Hillary Clinton, Carolyn has had a long list of clients. She has raised millions during her career. Her extensive contacts—from working at the board and CEO level in the private sector to her congressional and senatorial relationships—make her a welcome addition to our firm. As a search professional she brings much business experience and a diverse background to our firm.

John Geoghegan
Partner

John Geoghegan has spent nearly twenty years as a senior-level marketing executive advising Global 1000 companies on their marketing and advertising strategies. As a result, John brings his global experience to searches for senior-level marketing, sales, Internet and business development positions. John recently served as VP, Global Sales & Marketing for LucasArts, the video game division of LucasFilm. While at LucasArts, John oversaw worldwide video game sales and marketing for Star Wars, Indiana Jones and new IP titles - including the five all-time best-selling LucasArts video game releases.

Previously, John managed advertising agencies both in the U.S. and Asia for WPP, IPG and Saatchi. He was President of Hill Holliday in San Francisco and General Manager for J. Walter Thompson in San Francisco, and he worked in New York, Japan, Thailand and Korea for Saatchi.

John also served as CEO of CareGuide (a Venture-backed, Internet start-up specializing in providing elder care and child care services) where he raised $20 million in venture funding and recruited a world class Board of Directors. John received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College and attended The Choate School. Married with 2 children, ages 2 and 6, John lives in Kentfield, California.

Kris Snodgrass
Associate Partner

Kris Snodgrass comes to Bialla via Heidrick & Struggles and has over five years in the executive search business. In her earlier career Kris worked in New York in PR for luxury brands such as ESCADA and Ford Lincoln. Before breaking into the fashion industry, she spent seven years in hi-tech. Kris worked in sales for start-ups and large enterprise companies such as Netscape, RealNames, Sybase, and VeriSign.

Prior to returning to the Bay Area, Kris also worked in International Marketing for a private telecom company in Frankfurt, Germany.

Kris holds her BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder in International Affairs and speaks French and German.

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Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Co.
3470 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite A310
Lafayette, CA 94549
(510) 299-1040

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