Board of Directors
William H. Bartels serves as a Director of SGRP, a position he has held since July 8, 1999. Mr. Bartels served as an officer of SPAR Group, Inc. from 1999 until his retirement in January 2020. Prior to the SPAR Group Inc. merger, Mr. Bartels served as Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Senior Vice President of the SPAR Marketing Companies, a business he co-founded since 1967. From 1967 to 1999, Mr. Bartels was responsible for sales and marketing of the SPARLINE technology and its related consulting business for evaluating trade promotion spending and strategies for the top tier of CPG companies, domestic and international. Mr. Bartels gained industry-wide recognition for SPARLINE as reported through numerous industry publications.
John Bode joined the Board of SGRP in October 2023 and currently is a member of the Audit Committee (its Chairman), Governance Committee, and Special Committee [on Strategic Alternatives]. Mr. Bode was recently named Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Transformation Officer of Postmedia Network Canada Corp. effective October 6, 2023. Postmedia is a leading Canadian news media company. He is currently transitioning from the role of interim Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of FISION Corporation, a start-up technology platform focused on internal and third-party software development, where he is also a member of the Board of Directors. From 2018 to 2022, he was the EVP, Chief Operating Officer of Readerlink Distribution Services, LLC, which is the largest full-service distributor of books to retailers in North America. From 2015 to 2018, Mr. Bode owned and operated a boutique strategic consultancy which was partnered with BGJ Group that focused on retail distribution and product placement. From 2013 to 2015, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Tribune Publishing Company. Mr. Bode began his career in 1996 as a CPA with BDO Seidman, LLP. He currently serves multiple public, private and charitable boards including McClatchy, Postmedia, Zevra Pharmaceutical and Veterans Ventures. Mr. Bode served on the board of Proficient Alpha Acquisition Corp. which ended when the acquisition of the Lion Group was completed in 2023. He earned his degree in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.
James R. Gillis joined the Board of SGRP in August 2023 and was elected Chairman of the Board in October 2023. He currently is a member of the Compensation Committee (its Chairman), Audit Committee, Governance Committee, and the Special Committee (on Strategic Alternatives). Mr. Gillis is currently the CEO of Gillis & Associates, Inc., an M&A advisory firm that helps buyers and sellers in complex transactions. From 1993 to 2011, he was the CEO of Source Interlink Companies, Inc. From 1989 to 1993, Mr. Gillis was Managing Partner of Aders, Wilcox, Gillis Group, a global developer of trade relationships serving major brand marketers and retailers worldwide. He currently serves on the boards of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (AST), and Travelport Worldwide LTD, and is an advisor to Siris Capital Group and Platinum Equity. Mr. Gillis has served on the boards and committees of multiple companies including Source Interlink, Park City Group, and Globe Communications. He attended Nova University in Fort Lauderdale.
Linda Houston joined the Board of SGRP in October 2023 and currently is a member of the Governance Committee (its Chairman), Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Special Committee [on Strategic Alternatives]. Ms. Houston is currently an Affiliate for Bates Consulting Group providing expert witness testimony on wealth management. She is also a Consultant for LGH Consulting LLC, an independent consulting firm that consults wealth management teams and trust departments. From 2011 to 2017, she was the Managing Director/Division Executive, and the Head of Global Wealth and Investment Management Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Council for Bank of American/Merrill Lynch. From 1999 to 2011, Ms. Houston held positions, also at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, as New Jersey Regional Managing Director (2010-2011), National Marketing and Sales Manager (2008-2009) and Managing Director/Marketing Executive (1999-2008). She serves on the board of Virginia National Bank, Florida Oceanographic, Community Foundation of Martin and St. Lucie Counties, Sailfish Point Foundation, Alvin Ailey Dance Company and Baruch College Zicklin School of Business. Ms. Houston earned her Bachelors of Arts degree from Southern Illinois University. She completed the Women's Executive Business Leadership Program at Harvard Business School and the Women's Executive Leadership Development Program at Keenan Flagler School of Business University of North Carolina.
Michael R. Matacunas serves as the Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director of SGRP and has held such positions since his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of SGRP on February 16, 2021. Mr. Matacunas is a Fortune 500 veteran with more than 30 years of relevant leadership experience. He has worked in public and private companies, developed and led international business growth, driven exceptional operational results and built world-class teams. Mr. Matacunas was previously the Chief Administrative Officer at Dollar Tree, Inc., where he helped lead the successful multi-billion-dollar acquisition and integration of Family Dollar Stores, including, among other things, merchandising, sourcing, operational and executive improvements. Prior to this, Mr. Matacunas was CEO of a successful retail professional services business that transformed leading global retailers, wholesalers and consumer packaged goods companies. Mike's experience also includes strategy, consulting and world-wide roles at leading technology companies, including IBM and Manhattan Associates. Mr. Matacunas earned a B.A. Degree in Economics from Boston University and an MBA from the College of William & Mary Mason School of Business.