Heather Ainsworth

Managing Partner

Heather is a senior executive with twenty years of experience in new ventures, turnaround scenarios and post-merger integration.  She has led aggressive growth from key operating positions in all sizes of enterprise--Fortune 500 companies, large privately held companies, and start-ups as a co-founder.  Her industry experience includes media, imaging technology, education, retail, and management consulting at companies including Eastman Kodak, Knowledge Learning Corporation, Marakon Consulting and Intrax. Heather has a strong track record managing P&Ls for multiple lines of business simultaneously, navigating complex regulatory environments and leading teams from five to five hundred in high-growth and turnaround scenarios. 

Heather earned an MBA from Stanford University with a dual focus on strategy and operations, and received her A.B from Duke University.

Heather draws on her experience in both R&D and operating environments, and so is comfortable in both “blue sky” ideation sessions and the nitty-gritty planning to operationalize a strategy and set up the team to run a business.  She is able to quickly create value for clients using her skills in: development and execution of growth strategies, new ventures, turnaround scenarios, post-merger integration, budgeting and P&L planning, restructuring, risk management, rationalizing operations systems and processes, multi-agency regulatory compliance, franchise management, personnel development, leading cross-functional organizational change, and managing cross-cultural collaboration on global teams.  

Ross Woolley

Founder and Managing Partner

​FRONT FOUR CONSULTING GROUP is led by Founder and Managing Partner, Ross Woolley.  Ross is a C-level leader with senior executive experience at companies ranging in size from start-up to Fortune 20, with significant positions at Hewlett-Packard, Agilent Technologies, netMercury, and at acquisition targets Intrax, Bay Photo and FluentCommerce. International industry experience includes high-technology (digital marketing, semiconductor, medical products, computer), supply chain, retail grocery, management consulting, education, international cultural exchange and digital photographic printing.

Graduating summa cum laude in Finance with a minor in Computer Information Systems from Idaho State University, Ross went on to earn an MBA with a focus in Finance, Operations and Strategy from Harvard Business School.

​Ross has extensive leadership experience as a CEO, COO and CFO in strategic planning and successful execution of corporate strategy; start-ups and new venture funding; new product development, roadmaps and resource allocation; market and competitive assessment and definition; product branding, competitive positioning, and go-to-market strategy; sales, business development and digital marketing; cloud SaaS CRM, ERP, hosting and enterprise system selection and implementation (Salesforce, Intacct, NetSuite, Oracle, AWS, Linode and Google); operational and process improvement; financial analysis, business modeling and SaaS revenue modeling; business/ project valuation; mergers, acquisitions and integration; restructuring/turnarounds; franchise growth and management; board participation; organizational development; performance and change management; team building and culture improvement based on company values, vision and mission.

Rick Wong

Managing Partner
Rick is a senior level executive with deep experience in finance, international operations and supply chain management. Rick’s broad and diverse industry experience ranges from start-up to significant multi-billion dollar international companies, with noteworthy tenures at Baker Hughes and Energy Ventures in the petroleum services industry; Dal-Tile and Huttig Building Products in the building products industry; Intrax, Inc. in education and international cultural exchange; Medicus Healthcare Solutions in healthcare staffing; and ESI, New Wave Research and netMercury, Inc. in high technology (laser systems, semiconductors and distribution/supply chain). Rick carries notable expertise and is highly accomplished in all areas of finance, accounting, IT systems, supply chain and international operations.

Rick’s international education is distinguished with a BBA in Accounting and Finance from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada and an MBA with a focus in Finance and International Operations from the University of Texas at Dallas.

With extensive experience as a CFO and senior executive, Rick has considerable proficiency in finance and administration management, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain management, CRM, ERP and other enterprise systems selection and implementation (particularly Salesforce.com, Intacct and Oracle), restructuring, turnaround situations, merger integration, start-up and new venture rapid growth, operational and process improvement, financial analysis, accounting and successfully leading cross-functional international organizational change.

Melanie Vuynovich

Partner

Melanie is a senior executive with more than 15 year of experience creating and executing public relations and communications campaigns including detailed strategies for acquisitions, mergers and corporate downsizing. She partners with organizations to develop strong messaging, build awareness with key constituents, deliver compelling content across channels, guide reputation management and crisis communications efforts, and create long-term strategic programs that impact public perception and corporate culture. Her industry experience includes education, technology, lifestyle, and food at companies including Minerva Project, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Oscar Mayer Foods, Reynold’s Wrap, California Closets, Fresh Express, Akamai, and Intrax. Melanie has significant agency experience and has also led communications efforts in house for early stage start-ups and complex global organizations.

Melanie earned a B.A. in Journalism and Spanish from Indiana University.

Melanie’s clients appreciate her contributions to long-term corporate strategy development as well as her ability to see a project through to the fine details. She’s managed global PR agencies in Brazil, China, India and the United States while also maintaining strong direct relationships with high profile press outlets. C-level executives benefit from Melanie’s deep understanding of their audiences and the detailed preparation she provides them prior to global interviews and speaking engagements. Her areas of expertise include internal and external communications, strategic messaging, content development, media relations, reputation management, social media, international relations, and crisis communications.

Why Work with us?

We are uniquely positioned to advance your business goals - our team has deep, relevant experience as successful global operators in multiple disciplines in companies ranging in size from start-up to Fortune 20. We are not career consultants; we've built businesses from the ground up and know what it's like to be measured on growth and bottom-line results. 

Our philosophy

We approach our work with the assumption that our clients need an outside perspective, a specific expertise or a non-permanent leadership resource to help build their organizational capabilities or capacity - not a deep dependence on consultants. We help our clients acquire and integrate the skills and expertise necessary for the long-term success of their people and their organizations. 

OUR Team

Kimberley MEyers

Partner

​Kimberley is a senior level executive with over 20 years of diverse experience in human resources, project management, risk management and administration.  Kimberley can easily switch gears from leading all phases of employee relations, benefits, talent acquisition and performance management to corporate acquisitions or company relocation/renovation projects. Her corporate experiences include working for an American multinational energy corporation as well as non-profits and international education organizations. Most recently she has been assisting several clients utilizing her expertise in human resources, project management, acquisition integration and construction management.
Kimberley graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Business Economics and currently holds a Senior Certified Professional certificate (SHRM-SCP) from the Society of Human Resource Management and a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) from the HR Certification Institute.

Kimberley is a Bay Area native and believes that successful businesses create and foster relationships with employees and clients in order to provide superior customer service. Her outstanding coaching and consulting skills have consistently brought new awareness, actionable take-aways and resolution of difficult issues for both employees and clients. She has experience in strategic acquisitions, launching of global offices, corporate insurance and understands the intricacies that come with strict governmental regulations. Companies benefit from her blend of high expectation setting combined with empathetic communication and inspirational leadership.