Advisory Team
Ilona Koti, MLS, MS IM, CRM, PMP, CIPM
CEO
thinkLiNKx
A former foreign diplomat with 25+ years in information governance (IG), and extensive experience in privacy, cybersecurity and GRC assurance. Specialization in content management system implementations, digital transformation initiatives for remote work/collaboration capacity, strategic information program development and auditing, along with providing advisory services to global clients in IT, bio-tech, oil & gas, energy, manufacturing, public sectors and world government. Ilona has an MLS and am MS IM from Syracuse University and is also a Certified Records Manager (CRM); Project Management Professional (PMP); Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM); and is pursuing doctoral studies from Capella University in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. Additionally, Ilona is a teaching fellow at the University of Dundee in Scotland, a Fellow of the Institute of Information Management (FIIM) in Africa and is a Past President of ARMA International. A keynote speaker and published writer, Ilona is a recognized leader in the information governance profession.
Van Athanasakos
Management Consulting and Training Services
Van C. Athanasakos has over thirty years’ experience as a senior level management consultant, business executive and academician. As an executive in private industry and with domestic and international consulting firms, Van improved performance by applying results oriented strategies that defined strategic goals and objectives that strengthened the infrastructure, operations, skills, controls and information flow of an organization.
His prior consulting experience includes: President, Omega Management Systems, Inc.; Manager, Consulting Services with Coopers & Lybrand; and, Management Consultant with Booz, Allen & Hamilton, Inc. In addition, he has held executive positions in private industry where he served as: Vice President/General Manager, Property Management at Aetna Diversified Properties; President and Chief Executive Officer, Fox & Carskadon Management Corporation; Financial Vice President/Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Partnership Administration, Fox & Carskadon Financial Corporation; and, Director, Information Systems Department for Sutro & Co., Inc. In addition, he also held positions in sales management and technical management at Honeywell’s computer division. Van is also a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of California.
Nick Penido
Managing Partner
Nick Penido is the Managing Partner of The Busola Group, a Financial Management and Business Consulting firm based out of Scottsdale, Arizona. He and his team specialize in working with closely held companies that range from $3M-$70M in annual revenue. He has an emphasis in tech, manufacturing, and serviced based companies. For over a decade, he has helped companies refine their objectives for their company and personal lives and then cross test all of their actions against that goal. With a focus on the financial and psychological, he and his team try to maximize efficiency in areas such as: banking, debt structure, increased EBITDA, buyout structure, tax mitigation, acquisition, insurance protection, legal protection, and increased cash flow.
