About Us 

Nick Synko, Principal Partner

Nick founded Synko Associates in 1991 to help organizations gain a competitive edge through the development of all levels of employees.  His extensive understanding of organizations and individuals allows him to fulfill numerous roles for Synko Associates’ clients, ranging from corporate strategy classroom programs to one-on-one career coaching.  Nick’s passion is connecting with organizations and people who are serious about rapid and continuous improvement.

His last corporate employment role was with Tenneco Automotive where he was responsible for Executive and Professional Development for a 15,000-employee $2B company.  In this capacity, he directed Tenneco’s internal management university.  Prior assignments across four Tenneco companies included the organizational design of green-field facilities/divisions, the leadership of mergers and acquisitions teams, leadership changeover management, executive recruiting and management of outplacement strategies.

Prior to joining Tenneco, he had progressive leadership roles at two RCA divisions and at Ford Motor Company. As the author of Future@Work, An Employee Survival Guide for the 21^st Century, he is also a popular speaker at high schools and colleges with his get-real, get-prepared now message. Nick has a BS in Business Economics, from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Business.

Cathy Synko, Partner

Cathy Synko, an integral part of our Career Transition coaching staff, is involved in classroom as well as one-on-one coaching.  In addition, she is the head of our business writing team and the editor of our internal and client publications.  She has co-written and edited numerous Synko published articles and training programs.

Prior to joining Synko Associates, Cathy was the editor and publisher of RCA’s Consumer Electronics’ in-house newsletters and magazine publications.  Earlier in her career, she was responsible for RCA’s leadership development center and organizational development activities.  Cathy has a BS in Clinical Psychology and minor in Business from Purdue University.

David Hammond, Senior Consultant

David Hammond is a key member of the Synko Associates staff and is involved in Career Coaching, Corporate Training and is responsible for Business Development.

David has held positions as Communications Manager, IT Director, Solutions Manager, and Principal Consultant in organizations such as 3M, JBA Software, and SAP. He has been involved in over fifty change management projects in various industries including automotive suppliers, aluminum processing, coal mining equipment, medical devices, insurance, high tech, and consumer products. He has extensive experience in business communications, project and process management, corporate training, as well as wide-ranging business consulting. He is also certified in production and inventory management.

David received his MBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a BA from Eastern Michigan University in English Language and Literature.

Beth Stoner, Senior Consultant

Beth Stoner brings to Synko Associates over twenty-five years of experience helping people and organizations to grow, change, and thrive.  She provides the means by which individuals, teams and organizations navigate change successfully. Beth is involved in all phases of client support, including classroom programs, facilitation of small groups and one-on-one coaching.

Beth holds a BS degree from Eastern Michigan University, with a major in English Language and Literature and a minor concentration in Marketing.  Her MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership is from Seton Hall University. Beth is an Examiner for the Michigan Quality Leadership Award (MQLA).

In addition to her work with Synko Associates, Beth directs Eastern Michigan University's online corporate training initiative, EMU WorldWide, which offers online training in Quality, Health and Safety and OSHA curriculums. Working with OSHA Education Centers nationwide and the OSHA Office of Training and Education, she initiated and championed the development, marketing and delivery of six OSHA courses, the first to be accepted by the National Training Institute as acceptable alternatives to traditional classroom delivery.

Anne Williams, Senior Consultant

Anne Williams is known for her strategic planning seminars, which integrate lean and continuous improvement concepts to corporations, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.  Anne’s engineering and continuous improvement expertise helps our manufacturing and technically oriented clients sort through options and develop a strategy that sells in today’s worldwide highly competitive employment markets.  Beginning day one with initial strategy, Anne knows how to turn client questions and thoughts into a return on investment.

Her seven years with DaimlerChrysler as coordinator of the dimensional management programs for two vehicle programs resulted in on time, within budget delivery on both platforms.  According to Anne, “Meeting desired goals requires a plan with strategies, timelines, measurable outcomes, and action plans."

Anne is presently pursuing certification as a Six Sigma Black Belt through the American Society for Quality (ASQ).  She also brings experience as Director of Academics at the Center for Professional Studies and as adjunct faculty at Lawrence Technological University, Oakland Community College, and Wayne State University.  Anne received her M.S. in Industrial Technology and her B.S. in Biochemistry from Eastern Michigan University.  She is currently working on her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership through the University of Phoenix.

James J. Delmotte, Ed.D, Senior Consultant

In addition to his coaching role with Synko Associates, for the past 15 years, Jim has managed retained searches for management and senior-executive positions in healthcare, non-profits, education and business sectors. His major focus has been on developing effective research processes, building client-relationships and establishing networks with a myriad of professional associations and societies.   

Prior to becoming an executive recruiter, Jim served as Associate Dean for the Arts & Sciences Division for one of the nations’ largest grantors of Associate Degrees. From 1987 to 1997, he provided the academic leadership for curriculum design, faculty professional development, inter-collegiate athletics, community wellness, and facility operations.

Jim is a graduate of Wayne State University, where he earned a Baccalaureate degree in 1974, a Master’s degree in 1978, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration in 1997. He has continued to grow professionally through active participation in state and national associations, such as the American College of Healthcare Executives, Leadership 21 Conferences sponsored by the Community College Consortium and Emerging Leaders Institute held at the University of Michigan.