Real Estate and Construction

With over 20 years of experience in Executive Search, Elizabeth Jacobs, is a recognized expert in Chief Financial Officer search and leads the Finance & Accounting search division as Executive Vice President at StevenDouglas. Elizabeth started with the firm in 2002, and since that time has substantially grown the Finance and Accounting Search practice first throughout Florida, and then expanded the practice nationally.

Elizabeth has been honored as one of South Florida’s top 25 Most Influential Business Women by the South Florida Business Journal. She enjoys working closely with clients, helping them explore their current and future hiring needs, as well as identifying individuals that will thrive within their culture. Her practice is focused on providing financial executives for emerging middle market to Fortune 500 companies. The Finance & Accounting practice specialties include general accounting, financial reporting, finance, treasury, tax and audit searches from mid-level management to C-level executives.

Before joining StevenDouglas, Elizabeth managed two branch offices for an international search firm for four years. Prior to entering the search industry, she worked for Morgan Stanley for seven years in the areas of corporate tax, investment banking and corporate accounting.

Elizabeth is active with a number of non-profit organizations. Most notably, she has helped raise over $2 million for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital chairing the Diamond Angel’s Gala. Additionally, she serves on the board of the South Florida Business Forum, and stays active with the Broward Partnership for the Homeless, Women’s Executive Leadership (WEL), and the United Way Women’s Leadership Program.

Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University, became a CPA in NY, and then completed her MBA from Fordham University.

Alan Berger has spent over 25 years focusing on the employment lifecycle with significant experience in Staffing & Recruitment, Employee Screening, Career Management and Organizational Development all in the South Florida market. Alan’s practice encompasses all aspects of Human Resources search as he has proven to successfully place top talent at all levels for emerging and mid-size to Fortune 500 companies. Additionally, in his role as Vice President, Alan is a client service and business development ambassador of the firm across all of our service lines.

Alan’s accomplishments include running one of the premier background screening firms in Florida for over 15 years and successfully selling it to an industry leading Fortune 500 firm. After the sale, he spent over 5 years with a start-up Professional Recruiting firm and helped to build and grow the Human Resources practice as well as the overall firm. After another successful exit, Alan was a Vice President for the world’s largest Career and Talent Management organization. Berger originally began his working life as an Air Traffic Controller spending seven years in the profession before leaving Miami Center to begin his business career.

He currently is active with a number of organizations and serves on the Boards of the Greater Miami and Weston Chambers of Commerce. He is also very active with the West Broward YMCA’s Father Daughter Group Y-Princess having recently completed his term as Chair and serves on the YMCA of Greater Miami’s Board Development Committee. He also Chairs the Executive Re-Employment & Outplacement Task Force for the Miami Chamber. From 2001 to 2006 he served as a State elected official on the Board of the Hamal Community Development District and was Chairman for four years.

Berger’s previous awards include Price Waterhouse/South Florida Business Journal’s Up and Comer of the Year in Management, Miami-Dade County BCE Employer of the Year, Weston Chamber’s Person of the Year and Small Business of the Year

Mr. Kalisher, who manages StevenDouglas' corporate Information Technology Search practice, has an impressive track record of successfully completing search assignments with many of the mid-market and Fortune 500 companies in South Florida, as well as with his national accounts.

Steve began his career in executive search in 1982 in New York City where he placed IT professionals with Fortune 500 clients, including Wall Street companies such as J.P. Morgan and Chase Manhattan Bank. In 1987, Steve founded Galaxy Management Group, a New York-based executive search firm specializing in corporate IT search for the greater New York-area marketplace.

In 1992, Steve moved to South Florida to join StevenDouglas and help build the firm’s corporate information technology practice. His extensive experience in information technology search has enabled him to successfully complete key search assignments for such positions as CIO/CTO, director, middle management, system analysts, programmer analysts, and engineer level positions.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the City University of New York, Queens College in 1980.

Vivian has been an executive search professional since 2003, with specialization in accounting and finance search. Her ability to evaluate both client and candidate needs, via a consultative approach, provides a more in-depth targeted search with a consistently successful outcome. Vivian focuses on providing search services for mid-market to Fortune 500 companies in the areas of accounting, financial reporting, treasury, and finance searches from mid-level management to “C” level executives.

Before joining StevenDouglas, Vivian focused on the Accounting and Finance needs of clients for a boutique recruiting firm in the Central Florida area. Prior to finding her passion for providing search services, Vivian worked for The Walt Disney Company, where she oversaw the human resource and recruiting functions within her division.

Vivian earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management from Florida International University and her MBA from the University of Central Florida. When not hard at work, Vivian enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.

Kerin Mickenberg has spent more than 20 years in professional recruiting as a Corporate Recruiter and as an Executive Search Consultant for a national search firm where she was recognized consistently as a top producer in the country. Kerin’s ability to find and identify valuable talent through deep market penetration has allowed her to provide a level of excellence that clients can rely on. Her reputation for honesty and integrity has become an invaluable asset to her clients and candidates.

Kerin returned to StevenDouglas after spending 8 years as part of the Talent Management team in a Fortune 100 company where she has supported Corporate Accounting, Finance, Tax and Audit with professional staffing needs. She has actively participated in company sponsored college campus events leading discussions on techniques for job seekers in career path mapping and interviewing. Kerin is recognized as an AIRS Professional Recruiter and holds a certificate in Advanced Internet Recruiting. She is an active member of the National Association for Female Executives and has been involved in corporate diversity recruiting initiatives for the last couple of years.

Kerin is a graduate of the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. She is a dedicated volunteer for the American Cancer Society and the Susan G Komen Foundation.

Ms. Rabinowitz has been an executive search professional since 1998. A CPA by background, Dana is an organizational expert who is adept at research and digging for details that become obvious for her but are hidden from most. She is focused on providing clients with top talent. Deep in scope, her searches extend from executive management to key individual performers. Her client base is broad as well from start-up companies and middle-market growth clients to major corporations.

Prior to joining StevenDouglas, Dana managed branch offices for a Fortune 500 recruiting firm and then a boutique search firm. Prior to search, she began her career in public accounting with Coopers & Lybrand and also held various accounting roles – from financial analyst to controller – in private industry.

Dana is a CPA, graduating with her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Barry University, and earning her Master’s Degree in Taxation from Florida Atlantic University.

Over the years, Dana has been actively involved in the American Society of Women CPAs, the South Florida Healthcare Human Resources Association, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation and several other professional organizations.

Mr. Synkowicz has been in the recruiting industry since 1999, with a focus on finance and accounting search in the South Florida region. His practice spans from staff-level accounting and finance professionals to controllers and CFOs across all industries.

Prior to joining StevenDouglas, Alan worked for 10 years as a Sr. Recruiting Manager for a Fortune 500 recruiting firm. Before entering executive search, Alan worked in Corporate Accounting for 3 large publicly-traded corporations in the Manufacturing/Distribution, Construction, and Hospitality industries. Alan graduated from University of Florida’s Fisher School of Accounting with his B.S. in Accounting.

Alan is currently on the Board of Directors of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Brian Piccolo Chapter. Additionally, Alan has been a very active public speaker for the AICPA, FICPA, FAU (Accounting Students Association), Northwood University (Accounting Student Association), ASWA, and IMA. He has sat on the Advisory Board of both Northwood University and Palm Beach Community College’s Accounting and Business programs, and he regularly volunteers with the Broward Partnership for the Homeless and the Frankie Foundation (a NFP that is committed to providing Automatic External Defibrillator’s (AED’s) in parks and athletic fields throughout South Florida).

Leigh Flanders-Cassett joined the Finance & Accounting Search Division of StevenDouglas in the beginning of 2012. She joined us from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Miami, and is a licensed CPA in the State of Florida. As she is a Big 4 alumni, her primary focus is recruiting candidates in public accounting as she can easily relate to, and assist, those looking to make a transition into the private sector. She also assists those with public-private and financial planning & analysis backgrounds find their next opportunity in the ever-changing job market. Leigh’s enthusiasm and understanding nature contribute to her keen identification of both candidate and client needs, and her familiarity with the accounting field helps her to easily match skill-sets with positions.

Leigh graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Masters of Accounting from the University of Florida. In addition, she has been actively involved in various charitable organizations including the United Way’s Reading Pals and Camillus House.

Dario Furman joined the Finance & Accounting Search division of StevenDouglas in the summer of 2014. He began his career as an executive search professional in 2008 with a national search firm where he was consistently recognized as a top producer in the country. Mr. Furman’s approach is very thorough, confidential and professional. He integrates the use of the new modern recruiting techniques along with the proven “old fashioned method” of relationship building through face to face meetings with clients and candidates.

Dario’s practice spans from staff-level accounting and finance professionals to controllers and CFO’S across all industries and sizes of companies. His passion for recruiting, coupled with his tireless work ethic and desire to come through for his clients, has fueled his success. Dario is recognized as an AIRS Professional Recruiter and holds a Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) designation. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Dario graduated from the University of Florida’s Fisher School of Accounting with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

Matt Johnson has been in the Information Technology Staff Augmentation and Permanent Placement industry since 1997. Matt takes great pride in his effective capability to manage both the clients and candidates expectations through the employment placement lifecycle. Throughout the tenure of his career, Matt has been responsible for recruiting tier one IT professionals and has married their skills to technical requirements with Fortune 500 and mid size corporations throughout the state of Florida and on a national level.

Prior to joining StevenDouglas, Matt had progressive leadership roles within a couple of dynamic technology consulting and staffing firms in the local south Florida market. It was during this time that Matt honed his skills and commitment to connecting quality technical talent with superior employment opportunities.

Matt earned his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Management from Northwood University. Matt is involved with local and international ministries, nonprofit organizations and charities including 4Kids of South Florida, Sheridan House Family Ministries, Juna Amagara Ministries, LifeNet4Families, and The United Way.

Michael Beaton joined the Information Technology Search Division of StevenDouglas in early 2015.

Prior to StevenDouglas, Michael began his career with a large national recruiting firm in Orlando, FL where he specialized in the recruitment of application developers, infrastructure engineers, information security professionals and C level executives within the IT Industry. His national client base ranged from start-ups to small, medium and Fortune 500 companies. In this role, Michael became the number one producing recruiter in the nation.

Michael began volunteering at an early age for local organizations such as Kids In Distress as well as Jack and Jill. He currently serves as a Committee Member for the Jason Taylor Foundation and is a member of the United Way’s Young Leadership Society.

Michael is a native of South Florida and earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Florida State University.

Matthew Beck leads the Sales, Marketing and Operations Executive Search practice nationally for StevenDouglas. Matthew has a proven track record of delivering mid management to executive level talent to various organizations including small to Fortune 500 companies. He focuses on building long term relationships with clients and candidates alike which allows him to successfully deliver quality individuals within the client’s specific guidelines.

Prior to joining StevenDouglas, Matthew spent over 6 years with a Fortune 1000 recruiting firm in South Florida holding progressive roles in both sales and management. Most recently, Matthew was Managing Director of the Miami office and responsible for the day to day operations of the division in addition to client service. He was charged with leading the division’s new hire training program and the “Leaders of Tomorrow” program in which the top 1% of the company’s performers are chosen annually. Matthew has always set himself apart through tireless work ethic, great communication skills, and unquestioned business ethics.

Matthew earned his BA in Economics from Eastern Illinois University. He has been actively involved in various charitable organizations, currently serving as Chairman of the United Way of Central Maryland's Leader's United Executive Council. He is also an active member of United Way's Tocqueville Society. Previously, Matt served two terms as Chairman of the Young Leader’s Society (YLS) with United Way of Broward County. In 2014, Matt was recognized by the South Florida Business Journal as a 40 Under 40 Honoree, which identifies the most dynamic individuals in South Florida under the age of 40 who work diligently to contribute to their company’s growth and to improve the local community.

Chris brings over 10 years in executive search and twenty years in commercial real estate, corporate finance, operations and general management to StevenDouglas.

Prior to StevenDouglas, Chris was a Principal in a top 20 retained search firm, then founded a boutique executive search firm, where he provided banking/finance company clients with retained search in the areas of Wealth Management & Private Banking, Wholesale Banking & Lending, Credit & Risk, Capital Markets, Marketing/Originations, Finance & Accounting/Operations and Community Development Finance.

Before transitioning to executive search, Chris was Senior Vice President of Ocwen Financial Corporation, a multi-billion dollar, publicly traded financial services holding company. He was a co-founder of the company’s commercial real estate finance division, where he was instrumental in taking a start-up from 3 to 125 employees and a net income of $55 million within five years. At Ocwen, his responsibilities included loan acquisitions, servicing, asset management, Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities (CMBS) issue/management, and real estate management and dispositions. Through his efforts and leadership, Mr. Bezick’s division not only became the nation’s largest purchaser of distressed real estate mortgage assets, but was also rated by all agencies as Special Servicer for CMBS transactions. His division received the highest Special Servicer rating awarded by Standard & Poor’s.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Bezick was a real estate asset manager at Jones Lang Lasalle (LaSalle Partners), a financial analyst at Kraft and an officer in the US Army, where he was the logistics officer for a rapid deployment force brigade. Mr. Bezick holds an MBA in finance and marketing from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a BS in Engineering, with a concentration in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Military Academy, West Point.