Partners + Advisors
Phil Andrew
Principal Partner
Attorney, investigator, mediator and former FBI agent and crisis negotiator with expertise in leadership, strategy, policy, advocacy, violence prevention, threat management, de-escalation, training, crisis management and team building.
Jadine Chou
Partner
Trained as a chemical engineer, Jadine Chou, launched her career in corporate branding with Fortune 500 companies such as Kraft and AT&T. But the call to make a societal impact led her into a life of service, most recently as the head of safety for the Chicago Public Schools and, prior to that, the Chicago Housing Authority, in all serving under four different mayors.
Steve Knipstein
Strategic Comm. Partner
Experienced corporate communicator with expertise in responsive communications, strategy and public message campaigns.
William (Bill) Corbett
Partner
Training, THREAT ASSESSMENT, ACTIVE RESPONSE, VENUE SECURITY,& NEGOTIATION
Former FBI agent leading terrorism, national security and war crimes investigations in Africa, Middle East, Baltic States and Ukraine. Served as a faculty leader at the University of Hawaii in justice, criminology, and law enforcement ethics. Expert trainer in crisis management, investigation and travel security.
Frank DePodesta
Partner
CRISIS RESPONSE, Investigations, CYBER FRUAD, SECURITY ASSESSMENT, security & COLD CASES REVIEWS
Former US Army Captain, Intelligence Officer, and FBI agent and supervisor with over 27 years of experience in complex financial crimes, fraud, cyber, public corruption, and money laundering investigations. Certified as a federal court expert in narcotics investigations. Over 20 years of operational experience with FBI SWAT, VIP protection, and Crisis Planning and Response. Serves on the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Card Review Board.
Michael Harrigan
Partner
Threat assessment, active threat Response, Investigation, executive protection & cold case reviews
Former FBI agent, also served at all levels of law enforcement, from police officer, military police officer, SWAT, and FBI SWAT, and led the ViCAP program, National Academy and Firearms Unit responsible for critical support of investigative resources to connect violent crimes and serial killers, and training and standards for law enforcement leaders around the world.
Michelle Reese Andrew
General Counsel
Legal Partner & Head of PAX Law - training, investigation, NEGOTIATION & mediation
Seasoned litigator, corporate employment counselor, legal investigator, and certified mediator.
Frank Gasper
Partner
Investigations, Threat assessment, fraud, Cold Case Reviews & due diligence
Retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, awarded 25-year FBI Special Agent and founder of Gasper Investigations with expertise in complex white-collar and financial crimes, securities, tax, bank and mortgage fraud, mail fraud, cybercrimes, and public corruption in addition to violent crimes and sexual assault. more
Valerie Rivera
Partner
Leadership, Culture & Team Performance
As an Air Force veteran and Stanford MBA, Valerie Rivera advises leaders on creating the conditions for people to thrive across government and corporate sectors. She specializes in designing and facilitating high-impact experiences that boost team performance and drive lasting change.
Sean Harvey, MSOD, MSEd
Partner
Leadership, Strategy, Team Performance, Bridge Builder
A pioneering force in transformative leadership, empowering leaders to become compassionate bridge builders, emergent facilitators, and conscious change agents dedicated to bridging divides, humanizing systems, and healing cultures on a global scale. Known as the “Facilitator’s Facilitator,” Sean draws on 25 years of experience in leadership and organizational development, including teaching roles at Cornell, NYU, Baruch College CUNY, and currently as an Executive Coach at George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership.
Barbara Daly
PAX group advisor
Crisis Management & Threat Assessment, Security
Over 30 years of FBI Agent and supervisory experience, an ATAP Certified Threat Manager with expertise in behavior analysis, intelligence, de-escalation, violence prevention, corporate resilience, and threat management.
Dr. Susy Best, PsyD, MBA
PAX Group, Consultant
Dr. Susy Best, PsyD, MBA, “Dr. Susy”, is a dynamic, results-driven bilingual corporate leader, team and business strategist, international bestselling author, executive coach and consultant, and clinical psychologist. Applying three decades of deep expertise in the neuroscience of leadership has enabled Dr. Susy to quickly identify and leverage CEOs’ strengths and strategies, transforming companies into global brands and increasing client reach.
Dr. John Mayer
PAX GROUP, Consultant
Dr. John Mayer is a globally recognized forensic psychologist and leading authority on violent behavior, crime prevention, and risk assessment renowned for his holistic yet straightforward approach. He is a graduate of Northwestern University Medical School, with over 35 years of experience consulting with law enforcement agencies, corporations, schools, and institutions ranging from large companies to small private organizations.
Dr. Anoop Takher
PAX GROUP, Consultant
Dr. Takher is an adult, child, and forensic psychiatrist. He currently serves as the medical director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Saint Anthony Hospital. He is also the founder of Takher Forensic Consulting, PLLC. Dr. Takher provides various services ranging from criminal to civil case evaluations, including competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, independent medical exams, fitness for duty, threat assessment, and child custody evaluations.
Sarah Roberto Larson
Senior Project Manager
investigation management, Compliance, analysis & research
Former member of the Freeh Group International Solutions, leads research and reviews for high-profile inquiries and investigations.
Steve Hersem
PAX Group Advisor
Former FBI Counter Terrorism Agent, Steve brings decades of experience in international intelligence and corporate safety and security to the organizational leaders supported by the PAX Group.
Matt Dolan
PAX Group Advisor
Investigation, threat assessment, crisis response
Former U.S. Navy officer, legal advisor, and general counsel of the U.S. Naval Academy was a leader at Freeh Group International Solutions.
Nate Gahr
PAX GrOUP ADVISOR
security assessment, threat assessment management
Former U.S. Army Ranger and FBI agent, now innovation partnership lead for national security programs at the University of Arizona with expertise in team building, project management, and culture formation.
Paul Pasin
Co-Founding Partner
Former COO of the iconic red wagon company, Radio Flyer, Inc. and expert in leadership, corporate culture, change management and innovation, strategy, feedback systems and value-based and situational leadership.
Paul Basola
PAX Group advisor
Project design & management, Investigations, threat assessment
Former U.S. Navy submarine officer and government advisor on the implementation of international peace treaties, with a specialty in the dismantling of weapons of mass destruction. Senior engineer and technical advisor for the Naval Seas Systems Command’s Small Business Innovation and Research Programs at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.
Garrin Kapecki
Pax group advisor
Digital strategies & crisis communication
Executive Director of SPCFuel, leading targeted digital strategies and delivering campaign messaging supporting safety campaigns.