CEO Support Systems, Inc.'s unique portfolio of resources is designed specifically for CEO's, Presidents, and Owners of small and medium sized businesses who are committed to growing their companies and themselves. Under the umbrella of Visor™ (Visible Organization), CEO Support Systems successfully delivers a powerful, yet simple and affordable way to help CEO's build value.
Jerry L. Little, President
Jerry has helped hundreds of CEOs, presidents and business owners meet the challenge of building and running a successful company. He is the founder of CEO Support Systems, Inc., a Tucson, Arizona based firm that provides to growth oriented business leaders an array of leadership development and management services. These services include one-on-one coaching, management consulting, professional development workshops, and proprietary software products.
Prior to founding CEO Support Systems, Jerry founded and ran two companies: J. L. Little and Associates, Inc., a commercial real estate brokerage company, and Regional Data Centers, Inc., an information company providing subscribers with electronic access to, and automated analysis of, nationwide commercial real estate data. He earned a B.A. in Math and Sociology from the University of Memphis, Tennessee.
With over 30 years of leadership and management experience in companies such as General Motors, IBM, Sperry Univac, and Coldwell Banker Commercial Real Estate, Mr. Little has acquired an in-depth understanding of the fundamental elements of management including system analysis, financial analysis, market research, sales, marketing, information technology, information management and product design. While at Sperry Univac, he won the prestigious Master Coat award for exceptional performance.
Jerry has facilitated mergers, coached boards, evaluated CEOs and managed clients companies as interim CEO. He has also developed interactive software for business owners, developed a strategic planning workbook, conducted company-wide "Purpose" and "Vision" workshops, and provided training programs in systems improvement, process, and sales and marketing. He is a speaker as well as an individual coach and trainer.
Rick Kraus, Chief Technology Officer
Rick Kraus is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of CEO Support Systems, Inc., a Tucson, Arizona based firm that provides an array of leadership and management services, proprietary software products, training, and other resources to the CEOs of small businesses. Rick is an expert in high technology product strategy, strategic partnerships, and product development and is a frequent speaker on leadership, management, technology, and strategic planning.
Prior to founding CEO Support Systems, Rick was employed by Artisoft, Inc., a Tucson, Arizona based public company in the communications hardware and software industry. At Artisoft, Rick served as Senior Director of Technology and Business Development, reporting directly to the CEO and Chairman, where he was responsible for long term technology and business strategy, business development, mergers and acquisitions. He was a principal architect of Artisoft's technology diversification strategy, highlighted by the acquisition of companies in the Computer Telephony and Remote Communications markets. His previous roles at Artisoft include Product Manager and Software Development Manager. Prior to Artisoft, Rick held a variety of software engineering, product development, and strategic executive roles at Persoft, Inc., a Madison, Wisconsin based communications and information software firm and Photometrics, Ltd., a Tucson based scientific imaging instrumentation company.
Rick is a past president and current board member of the Information Technology Association of Southern Arizona, a software industry association and industry cluster of the Greater Tucson Economic Council and Governor's Strategic Partnership for Economic Development. Currently he is responsible for developing the Center's CEO-focused programs. While serving as President, he launched an innovative industry outreach program for high school juniors and seniors called Soft(A)ware, and later was an incorporator of a non-profit educational foundation with the mission of continuing and expanding this program. He also spearheaded the Center's successful campaign to expand its coverage to include the Internet, Multimedia, and MIS industries. Rick also serves as a governor on Tucson Unified School District's 4th R Board of Governors, a group focused on improving the preparedness of students for the world of work. Rick has been a speaker at local high schools and served as an industry consultant in the Junior Achievement program. Rick is also a charter and current member of the Arizona Software Association based in Phoenix, Arizona.
Rick holds Master's degrees in Computer Science and Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is the co-author of two software patents and has spoken at numerous industry and public events.
Melissa Lewis-Duarte, Ph.D., Senior Consultant
Melissa Lewis-Duarte joined CEO Support Systems, Inc. in 2005. She brought with her expertise in Organizational Behavior, with a focus on leadership and executive coaching. She has a proven track record in delivering training programs, designing and implementing performance development programs, facilitating workshops, and creating educational opportunities. Her passion for creating a positive and productive work environment for individuals, teams, and organizations is evident in the work she performs.
Melissa has held positions with a variety of organizations. Her work experiences include research for the Mature Worker Council of Los Angeles County, which was used to strategically develop programs to facilitate job transitions for mature workers and earned her an award from the Workforce Investment Board. Concurrently, Melissa worked for Riverside Mental Health Services in the Program Evaluation and Research department, evaluating and assessing the impact of youth intervention programs. Prior to her evaluation experience, Melissa was employed by Kaiser Permanente to increase organizational effectiveness, performing studies regarding member satisfaction and employee performance feedback. In addition to her role as a Senior Consultant at CEO Support Systems, Melissa works as a Certified Trainer for Dale Carnegie Training and as an Adjunct Faculty member at Argosy University and Maricopa Community Colleges.
Melissa earned a Ph.D. and Master’s degree in Organizational Behavior from Claremont Graduate University’s School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Melissa is a member of the American Society for Training and Development, Organizational Development Network, and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
Connie C. Axelrod, Ph.D., Senior Consultant
Connie has partnered with CEO Support Systems, Inc. as a Training and Business Development Consultant since 1997. She has spent the last 25 years dividing her career between academic teaching and research and both private industry and government consulting and training. Her Higher Education work spans the country: University of Arizona, Weber State University, California State University, University of Illinois Chicago and Champaign-Urbana, and University of Phoenix.
Connie has held positions in State Government with the Utah State Office of Education. Her corporate experience includes Training and Development Manager for General Mills, Inc. California facilities and Investment Associate with Royal Bank of Canada's investment arm Dain Rauscher. As the Managing Partner of International Associates Training and Consulting, she formed an International consulting group based in Argentina, providing services for organizations in training, assessment, strategic planning and communication. Having lived in France, Belgium, Romania, Lebanon, and Argentina, she is truly interculturally fluent.
Her Education includes a B.A. in Mass Media and Writing, an M.A. in Interpersonal Communication, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication, from the Universities of Illinois & Brussels, as well as post graduate work and professional training through the University of California and Penn State University. She holds a variety of additional certifications including ISO.
Connie's expertise in training and management focuses in several areas centered on communication in organizations including: the use of teams, strategic negotiation, conflict resolution, decision-making, software use in education, quality and planning. Her private clients have included: the States of North Dakota, Wyoming and Utah, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Community Health Associations of Mountain/Plains States, DDB Needham Worldwide, the Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Competitive Engineering, the University of Arizona, Banco de Provision Social and Energia Mendoza S.E.
Fluent in French and conversational in Spanish, Connie is also the author of various articles, manuals, books and videos. She is a skilled research designer and analyst, technically fluent in many computer applications and in the use of training and communication technologies.
Craig Little, Consultant
Prior to joining CEO Support Systems Craig spent 15 years in the outdoor recreation industry. First in retail sales of backcountry equipment; then 10 years as a professional river guide on the Colorado River, eight of those years in the Grand Canyon. Thousands of river miles and the rise from “swamper” to trip leader have given Craig a unique understanding of leadership, execution and team building. Knowledge gained from years as a computer hobbyist has transferred to his position as the Help Desk Coordinator. Craig studied History and Spanish at Pima Community College and Northern Arizona University.