NCJS Advisory Board

Lloyd Buckwell

Lloyd is a skilled Human Resource Executive, with four decades of experience in Manufacturing, Health Care, Restaurant and Insurance Industries. Lloyd’s background in employee recruitment, retention, business strategic planning, change management, succession planning, within union / non-union domestic and international settings has provided him experience in all types of business setting. Additionally, he has worked closely with the executive leadership team and the Board of Directors on the development and implementation of human resources and business strategies. He has been directly involved globally in the hiring and promotion of numerous employees. Lloyd has extensive experience in human resources in publicly traded and private equity companies as a HR Business Partner. His work experience has provided him with opportunities to work with individuals at all levels of the organization in 22 countries around the world. Connect with Lloyd on LinkedIn and join him in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.

Vicky DePiore

Vicky is an HR professional with over 30 years of experience in numerous industries.  Her past experience ranges from a 1-person show in a company of 80 to having a staff of 14, handling 3 unions, performing under the auspices of bankruptcy, within unionized and non-unionized companies, to working in multi-national companies in the Fortune 2 of our world and working to keep unions out.

Along with her generalist spirit, she has morphed into a person with a passion and excellence in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion field and has won awards being recognized by her peers.  While using this passion, she held the position of VP of Diversity and Inclusion for the Cleveland Society of Human Resources for 5 years.

Vicky has a BS in Industrial Relations from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s Degree in Labor Relations and Human Resources from Cleveland State University.  She holds the certifications of Senior Professional in Human Resources, Global Professional in Human Resources and the Society for Human Resources Management – Senior Certified Professional.  In addition, she is holds the designation of Professional Coach from the International Academy of Behavioral Medicine, Counseling and Psychotherapy) and won the President’s Award for Volunteerism under President Obama.

Vicky lives in Twinsburg, Ohio, with her husband, John, and her daughter, Olivia.

Paul DiPronio

Paul is a seasoned Operations Management Consultant and Fractional CFO, with FocusCFO. He has a proven track record of helping executives in small and mid-sized companies achieve outstanding results. He excels in driving transformative change through process optimization, productivity enhancements, and innovation. His focus is on reducing costs, accelerating revenue growth, and improving profitability.

Paul's approach is collaborative, working closely with teams to craft tailored solutions that address specific business challenges, ensuring sustainable success and competitive advantage. His expertise spans industries including distribution, office operations, and more. 

Prior to consulting, Paul led operations at ComDoc, A Xerox Company. He also ran large health care, food and environmental service departments, for Sodexo.

Paul holds an MBA, from Bentley University, in Waltham, MA, and a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, degree from Suffolk University, in Boston, MA. Connect with Paul on LinkedIn and join him in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.

Jim Folger

Jim is a recruiter, and the President of OneSource Technical, Inc., a national search firm that partners with small to medium sized companies to help them recruit for a broad range of professional positions. Jim is an Engineer with 2 decades of industry experience in engineering, management, and customer facing roles prior to founding OneSource Technical.

Jim’s background as a hiring manager and as a recruiter provides a unique perspective that encompasses both sides of the hiring desk. Jim can be a valuable resource to reach out to should you be at a crossroad in your career and need to brainstorm ideas. Job seekers are also welcome to Search Jobs in the company’s network of nearly 1.000 recruiters. Connect with Jim on LinkedIn and join him in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.

Jean Gagné

Jean is an Information Management Professional with experience in Manufacturing, Distribution and Retail organizations. His formal background is in Information Technology but in addition to serving in various IT Management positions, he also gained significant business acumen working in Customer Service, Warehousing and Distribution, Supply Chain and Human Resources. Jean, a transplant from Quebec, Canada, earlier in his career found himself in transition without a network, job search tools or techniques. This forced him to develop and refine a comprehensive Job Search Process Map ranging from what you need to do before you start your search through on-boarding your next opportunity. Jean serves as board member on two job search groups in NE Ohio and has been part of NCJS from its inception in 2014. Connect with Jean on LinkedIn and join him in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.

Christopher Gentry

Christopher is one of NCJS' skilled resume reviewers and LinkedIn experts. Job seekers value his insight and feedback on their own LinkedIn profiles, activity, and presence, and his guidance and strategies for using this essential online tool. Christopher is also a skilled resume reviewer and practices mock-interviews with job seekers. Professionally he owns Assisting Hands which offers personalized, non-medical support services that help elderly, disabled, and other individuals maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life, regardless of where they call home—whether it's an apartment, house, assisted living facility or hospital.. He generously shares many skills and experiences he has learned in his career journey through multiple companies and industries. He is a frequent contributor to the NCJS LinkedIn Group adding career and job seeking insights, skills, and resources. Connect with Christopher on LinkedIn and join him in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.

Emily Smayda Kelly

Emily Smayda Kelly, Esq. guides both individuals and companies through transitions with her legal consulting company, Kel-Lume Group. She has taken twenty years of being a labor and employment attorney experience in public (Jane Campbell Administration), private (Union Representation), corporate (Tradesmen International), and nonprofit (GC of Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio), settings on both sides of the table and now focuses on making a difference. She helps individuals navigate through their employment challenges, including non-compete, severance packages, unemployment and coaches them through to their next opportunity be it traditional employment, business owner, or independent contractor.

She believes that her twenty-five years of coaching experience as a professional figure skater dovetails into her legal skills when individuals experience high emotional turmoil in their transitions. When she is not in an ice rink or a courtroom, she believes in giving back to the community with volunteering her time in job seeker outreach groups, local political campaigning, United Way, St. Dominic Church Financial Council, WIN Cleveland Board, and judging at local skating competitions. She is most proud of her balancing of her household with her husband Mark and son Grayson. Connect with Emily on LinkedIn and join her in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.

Terese McGroarty

Terese specializes in helping clients looking to become entrepreneurs to find the best possible match for their skills, lifestyle, goals, and financial capabilities. From start to finish, her professional approach and business knowledge will guide you through exploring top-quality business ownership opportunities. Together, we will find a fit that leads to a lifetime of fulfillment. Terese is passionate about helping job seekers whether it is for a business opportunity or finding their next position in the corporate world. She is a great connector and networker and is happy to help you in these areas. Her business website is www.frannet.com/tmcgroarty. Connect with Terese on LinkedIn and join her in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.

Jeff Peterson-Davis

Jeff has been with NCJS since its beginnings and is behind our website, email communications, registrations, etc. Since disability retirement, Jeff does freelance website and graphic design. His company, Kairos Studio, specializes in affordable solutions for small businesses and nonprofit organizations, and allows him to volunteer his skills and services for NCJS. Jeff's professional career was in pastoral ministry and nonprofit management, but a rare and complex lung disease forced early retirement. Jeff is married and has a young adult daughter. He is passionate about wine (his doctoral dissertation used wine as a lens for theological reflection!), gourmet cooking, good coffee, and cherishing every day as a gift. Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn and join him in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.

Bob Willard

Bob is a seasoned professional with a career-long record of performance improvement, operations optimization, and operations management experience. From leading innovative sourcing strategies throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to "resurrecting" several businesses and divisions into revenue-producing, high-performing companies.

Bob is a hands-on leader both in his professional life and volunteer work -- like North Coast Job Seekers. He is passionate about fostering team cultures focused on accountability and collaboration. Having been through job transitions himself, Bob brings a wealth of experience and skills to NCJS. Connect with Bob on LinkedIn and join him in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.