Navigate Establishes Advisory Board
Navigate recently established its Advisory Board, with inaugural members representing professional experience and insight core to the Firm’s business objectives. The Board has been created to provide an important source of third-party support and counsel for the management team as Navigate continues to execute on its strategic growth plan, specifically regarding business and corporate development, market strategy, and management accountability.
The following individuals have been appointed to the Navigate Advisory Board:
- Skip Maner, Managing Director at Parkes Run Capital in Villanova, Pa., a private equity firm focused on lower middle market control buy-out transactions and recapitalizations. Prior to this position, Skip served as Managing Partner at Inverness Graham Investments. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors for a variety of technology, energy and other companies, as well as a number of regional nonprofit organizations.
- Topper Ray, President of Bravo Group Communications, a division of The Bravo Group. Topper leads Bravo Group Communications in offering public relations, advocacy relations, and new media consulting and creative services. Previously, Topper was a founding Principal of Blank Rome Government Relations LLC and served as Chief Communications Officer for Blank Rome LLP. Topper is currently a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees for Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital, and is on the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Charity Ball
- Richard (Dick) Smoot, retired Regional Chairman of PNC Bank, Philadelphia/South Jersey Markets. Prior to that position, Dick held the role of President and CEO of PNC Bank in Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, as well as its predecessor, Provident National Bank. Dick has served on the Board of Directors for Aqua America since 1997, and is also on the Board of the Philadelphia Orchestra, of which he was formerly Chair.
“As Navigate continues to expand its services and team, we believe it is an ideal time to create a formal Advisory Board of trusted counselors who can help ensure we are maximizing our strengths. We expect them to challenge us on how to best serve our clients and provide support for our management team as we grow our presence in the region” said Navigate Managing Partner Robert Kathol. “Skip, Topper, and Dick have tremendous expertise across different facets of business, and we look forward to the opportunity to work with them.”
Thank you to our Advisory Board members, who have already provided us with valuable insight and guidance.