Frank R. Brletich

Frank Brletich is the Co-Practice Leader in Strategic Planning at the Centre for Strategic Management and director of our Chicago office as well. He has very broad experience as a CEO/COO in both private and publicly held corporations with a background in sales and marketing, operations, consulting, and finance. He is particularly adept at developing and implementing strategies and strategic management processes that allow for sustained growth, growing or turning around companies in high growth, competitive markets, increasing both revenue and profitability through the use of Systems Thinking, and improving operational effectiveness and efficiency of organizations using total quality management techniques.

Frank'≠s practice focuses on helping senior management and boards improve and sustain the performance of high tech companies. He has an extensive background in the telecommunications and electronics systems industry and holds an M.B.A. from Harvard University and a B.S. degree from the United States Naval Academy.

In his most recent prior assignment, Frank was President of Sphere Communications, Inc., an industry leader in converged voice, video, and data communications systems, where he implemented a strategy to transition the company from a niche technology player into a market leader. Revenues increased 10 times with sales expanding into Europe and Latin America and major contracts with Marconi Communications, IBM, and NCR.

Earlier, he was the founder and CEO of StarSupport, Inc. a company that offered outsourced customer care solutions to telecommunication service providers. Frank worked directly with a venture capital firm and a technology company to fund, establish, and manage this startup.

Prior to this, he was President and CEO of Frontier Advanced Service Technologies, Inc. where he was responsible for all business activities for this computer telephony subsidiary of Frontier Corporation (now Global Crossings) that offered enhanced services to the telecommunications industry. Frank changed the vision and strategic direction of the company to focus on large and more profitable accounts. With customers such as USWEST, Qwest, LCI and many other leading telecommunications companies, profitability grew from breakeven to over 35 percent of sales with revenue expanding at a 500 percent per year rate.

He earlier served as Vice President of Mobile Technologies for SAFCO Corporation where he managed a consulting group supporting large corporate clients entering the strategically important field of wireless data networks.

As the Chief Operating Officer of Telular Corporation, a wireless local loop equipment manufacturer, Frank expanded operations both domestically and internationally and led the development of several new product lines. He participated in various rounds of capital investment including a successful IPO.

Earlier, he was a member of the original management team of Oneac Corporation, a producer of power supplies and protection devices for electronic and telecommunications systems. While at Oneac, Frank served in a variety of executive positions including Vice President of Finance and Operations, Vice President of Sales, and Senior Vice President/General Manager of the Power Electronics Division. This company grew dramatically to become a leader in its field and was successfully sold to an international competitor.

Frank also has performed consulting, sales, and financial roles at Exxon Corporation, Teradyne, Inc., and Owens-Illinois.

He is family oriented and the proud father of two sons, an avid reader, enjoys traveling, sports, and working out.