About Us  -- Our Mission
The Executive Alliance Group strives to deliver the highest quality of professional services to its clients and candidates demonstrating integrity, thoroughness and responsiveness which clearly distinguishes our consultants and our firm.

Company Profile - Our Consultants

Linda R. Nicolai - Partner & Director, Executive Search

Susan J. Pecuch - Partner, Organizational Development

Erin R. Sutton - Managing Partner, Executive Search

(to email:  first dot last at eagroup dot biz)

 Ms. Linda R. Nicolai, President  

Ms. Nicolai has been a Professional Executive Recruiter in the Entertainment and Digital Media industry for over 17 years. With clients ranging from Fox Mobile Entertainment, G4 Media, LiveNation, TNS Media Intelligence, News Digital Media to NIKE, Sothebys, Roadrunner, AOL, and iVillage, her background experience covers the broadest range of traditional entertainment to advanced media of any professional recruiter.

She is known for her hybrid expertise in media and technology and is equally devoted to the emerging technologies which are transforming the entertainment industry. From Interactive Television, Digital Media, Mobile Entertainment, Video Games/Massive Multiplayer Games, Broadband Video, Podcasts/MicroProgramming, and Digital Cinema, Ms. Nicolai is always tracking new talent for Next-Gen Leadership.

Ms. Nicolai began her career as the formative group of Korn/Ferry International's WW Entertainment Division.  She then ran the Entertainment and Convergence practice at Brad Marks International from 1994 to 2000.

A strong proponent of diversity in the workplace, Ms. Nicolai works with associations which promote awareness and opportunity for minority placement, including National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications, The Los Angeles Urban League, the National Hispanic Media Coalition, the Asian Professional Exchange, Women in Cable and Telecommunications, Women in Technology, Women Entrepreneurs, among others.

She is Chair of Industry Relations for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences` Interactive Media Peer Group, which created new Emmy categories for Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Programming. She is also a Board Member of The Digital Coast Roundtable, a strong organization which promotes opportunities for business growth in Southern California and sits on the Board of American Women in Radio & Television, SoCal.

Ms. Nicolai has been on numerous industry panels including the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences NexTV, NATPE, NAB, Digital Hollywood, Women in Film, LAVA, Southern California Software Council and served as industry spokesperson for The Industry Standard, The Los Angeles Business Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Red Herring among others.

Married to a Frenchman, Ms. Nicolai has two children and does not cook.

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Ms. Susan J. Pecuch, Training and Development Partner

 Ms. Pecuch has designed training strategy, implemented training plans, created new programs and facilitated learning for world-class organizations over the past 15 years.  For Singapore Airlines, Nike and The Walt Disney Company among others, Ms. Pecuch has facilitated learning from overall corporate strategy to one-on-one frontline guest services.

As Global Director of Training for Nike Retail, Ms. Pecuch designed and directed a training and development strategy for NIKE’s 4,000 person, rapidly expanding, global retail division. She led a global team of 30 training managers who conducted all opening training for new NIKETOWN Stores and NIKE’s factory outlet stores. Her curriculum design included a leadership business academy, a new Brand training module, a ”Know Sports” curriculum, high impact monthly product training, a cross-cultural team-building module and an annual train-the-trainer conference.

As National Training Director for Six Flags Theme Parks, Time Warner Entertainment, Ms. Pecuch worked under the Bob Pittman-led company driving the seven-theme park organization through a culture shift -- from an operational to a “Guest First” focus with measurable results.

For Singapore Airlines-Singapore Government, National Quality Service Centre, Ms. Pecuch designed and implemented a national quality-service training curriculum for the country of Singapore. Her leadership program included preparing 20 “master trainers” to train over 500,000 in the national workforce.

Ms. Pecuch began her career at The Walt Disney Company where she undertook a variety of in-house projects including the Disney University, where she designed and directed implementation of the Disney MGM Studios Grand Opening Training, a ten-day program that included orientation, Disney showmanship/service and presentation skills for over 3,000 employees. Her EuroDisney Project involved serving as the design consultant and master trainer for EuroDisney training program curriculum: a two-day, pre-departure, expatriate cultural awareness program and a 2-day, post-assignment repatriation program for 900 employees. Her initial introduction to training and development was through the Disney Business Seminars (now, Disney Institute), Walt Disney World (WDW) where she was Facilitator-Seminar Designer presenting three-day business seminars on the Disney Approach to: Quality Service, People Management and Marketing, for external business executives and educators. Ms. Pecuch represented Disney throughout the US as a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator.

Ms. Pecuch holds a BA in Communication from the University of Pittsburgh; a Masters of Science Studies in Organizational Psychology, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), UK; a Mastery of Coaching Training Tampa, Florida and Landmark Education Programs Central Florida.

She is a Paul Harris Fellow, Ambassadorial Scholar-Rotary International and Rotary International Group Study Exchange Awardee - Africa: Burundi, Tanzania, Zaire (Congo).

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Ms. Erin L. Sutton, Managing Partner

Ms. Sutton is a consummate professional services executive. She effectively segued her legal career into the executive search field and subsequently became an integral member of the Media and Entertainment practice with Ms. Nicolai.  Ms. Sutton conducts numerous executive searches for studios, cable and broadcast networks and is a significant team member on a multitude of new media searches. Ms. Sutton rejoined Ms. Nicolai to become a part of The Executive Alliance Group and focuses on leveraging her excellence at executing the firm’s searches. Her contact base covers both the traditional entertainment arena and convergence sector. Ms. Sutton assists in developing client research, sources and in-depth company reports. She interfaces directly with clients insuring service levels maintain high integrity. She is adept at overseeing the entire search process, assigning project teams and supervising the research, recruiting and interview processes. Previously, Ms. Sutton worked as senior recruiter for Redondo Systems, a privately held company that develops military systems and radar simulation. Ms. Sutton controlled contract recruiting and developed a workforce base to assist the company in preparing for international contracts. She negotiated and drafted all legal agreements and aided in securing lucrative domestic and international contracts. She interfaced with senior management on workforce planning and project management for “all-contingencies” contract situations. Ms. Sutton was awarded a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine Law School and is a member of the California Bar. She received her Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University in Economics where she also tutored Calculus and Trigonometry. Ms. Sutton is involved with the Beverly Hills Bar Association, American Women in Radio & Television, Women in Film and Women in Cable & Telecommunications.

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