Bauer Harris Recruits Chief Operating Officer for Mathnasium- Fortis Franchise Group
November 7, 2024 – Boston, MA-based executive search firm Bauer Harris has assisted in the recruitment of Melissa Gebhard as the new chief operating officer of Mathnasium- Fortis Franchise Group in Winter Park, FL. The assignment was led by Bauer Harris founding partner, Jeff Harris.
“Congratulations to Melissa Gebhard on her new role as chief operating officer with Mathnasium- Fortis Franchise Group,” Bauer Harris said in a LinkedIn post. “It was a pleasure collaborating with the team to find the right fit, and we are excited to see the impact she will have as they continue their rapid growth. Wishing Melissa all the best as she steps into this exciting new chapter.”
The majority of Ms. Gebhard’s career has been spent on field operations. She has a demonstrated history of driving strong business operations exceeding metrics on revenue, labor, and expenses with a prioritization around people development. Ms. Gebhard most recently served as vice president of operations with C2 Education. In this position, she responsible for 85 retail locations, 120 local markets (virtual/hybrid/in-person), 12 Districts, across 10 states with a consistent financial contribution of 72 percent of total company revenue. Ms. Gebhard led strategic planning and expertise with operations, human resources, academics, real estate, marketing, finance, and IT. Earlier in her career, she gained experience with Learning Care Group and Kuman North America.
“The opportunity to work with CEO Mo Khalil and his team, along with Snapdragon Capital Partners who all share passion for education, fitness and health and wellness is super exciting and inspiring to me,” said Ms. Gebhard.
Mathnasium- Fortis Franchise Group’s mission is to unlock potential and enhance lives by providing high-quality, personalized learning experiences that foster academic excellence, confidence, and critical thinking skills. Founded in 2010, the company has grown from a single location to 70+ centers across the United States.
Bauer Harris is a national executive search firm specializing in the recruitment of C-suite executives and their direct reports. Search practices include: financial services and fintech, private equity, healthcare, industrial, non-profit, professional services, consumer goods and services, and technology.
Related: Urgent Action Needed to Attract Talent in a Rapidly Changing World
Bradley Bauer is a founding partner of Bauer Harris and has over 20 years’ experience in executive search and consulting. Throughout his search career, he has been a trusted partner and advisor to his clients, Fortune 500 to middle-market companies to emerging, well-funded start-ups. His expertise encompasses healthcare, financial services, non-profits, professional services, technology development, as well as private equity, manufacturing, and distribution.
Predicting Talent Acquisition Trends for 2025
As organizations navigate the post-AI boom and the shift to skills-based hiring, many are experiencing analysis paralysis, but now is the time to act with purpose. Korn Ferry recently surveyed over 400 talent acquisition professionals and consulted with more than 40 of its experts to uncover five key hiring trends shaping 2025, including the critical importance of skills and the evolution of employee value propositions.
AI has solid potential, but it’s not the one-stop shop many expected, the Korn Ferry report said. “With the right tools and expertise, AI can supercharge productivity and elevate recruitment,” the firm says. “But today’s tech can’t handle high-level talent acquisition strategy needs, such as identifying talent gaps or interpreting non-verbal cues.”
Mr. Harris is a for some of the fastest-growing companies in the world, helping them secure senior-level executive talent at critical inflection points. He has more than 20 years of experience in executive search, management consulting, and sales across multiple industries.
Past Search
Bauer Harris also recently helped place Scott Tungseth as vice president of finance with First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard. “Congratulations to Scott Tungseth as he steps into his new role with First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard as vice president of finance,” the search firm said. “We always enjoy working with the PREMIER team, and we’re excited to watch Scott run with this terrific opportunity. Wishing Scott and his family all the best as they begin this next chapter in a great community.”
Mr. Tungseth most recently served as senior vice president, financial insights and reporting director at U.S. Bank. In this role, he directed cross functional team to develop enterprise client segmentation and product definitions.
Related: The Role of Values-Based Hiring in Talent Attraction and Retention
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
