Meet the Professional Staff of Thomas & Associates
The principals of Thomas & Associates have among them over 100 years of experience in providing results-oriented consulting services. Drawing upon a significant tenure of positions in companies, academia and entrepreneurship
Click on a link below to see a full bio of the staff that makes up this winning firm:
- John Thomas
- Ponnekanti Dayachari
- Chike Nwasike
- Kristine Webster
- Brojen Baruah
- Warren Trenchard
- Gary Chartier
- Siddharth Swaminathan
John Thomas, President and CEO
Dr. Thomas has more than 20 years of experience in new venture start-ups, mergers, acquisitions, capital sourcing, research and development both domestically and internationally. Dr. Thomas is Dean of the School of Business and Management at La Sierra University (sister campus of Loma Linda University) in Riverside,California, where he teaches finance, entrepreneurship and economics and has mentored and developed four consecutive winning teams for the Students in Free Enterprise International Championship, which includes more than 1,000 colleges and universities.
A creative thinker committed to integrity, compassion, and entrepreneurship,Thomas has mentored many businesses in combining both theoretical and practical acumen to solve business problems and is considered by many as a innovative and creative “deal maker.” His industry experience includes global risk assessment, international finance and international trade development and retailing, franchising and distribution. Dr. Thomas holds graduate degrees in marketing and finance, and a PhD in political economy. His thesis focused on the behavior of international lenders, and was designed to increase understanding of the nature of lending biases,and their potential contributions to financial crises. Numerous awards have honored his success as a passionate teacher who motivates students to seek and achieve excellence. Among them are the Freedom Foundation's Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education (1998), the Zapara Award for Teaching Excellence (1996), Inducted in the SIFE Hall of Fame (2007) and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce Hero Award for Community.
Dr. Ponnekanti Dayachari: Executive Vice President
Dr. Ponnekanti Dayachari has been with the Indian Administrative Services for over 27 years and has held important portfolios especially in the fields of Agricultural and industrial Management, International Trade, Project Conceptualization, Implementation & Monitoring. He was a consultant to USAID for over a year during 1994 to 1995 and did the feasibility studies for export of mangoes and other fruits for the Guinea Republic, West Africa and later helped them export them to other countries. He figured in Asia's who's who in the year 1995 when he was the Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Co-operative Federation. He has also served as Chairman of the Tobacco Board of India, Director of Marketing for MARKNET, Collector, Joint Collector and District Magistrate.
To all the assignments that he has held, Dr. Dayachari has brought a freshness of thought, definitive action and systematic planning and execution. His organizational abilities and gift of acquiring technical competence in any given field through self study as also interaction with experts in the field, has helped him handle diverse tasks with equal facility.
His versatility is demonstrated by the fact that while he has a Masters degree in Economics and also holds a doctorate in the same field, he has also acquired a Masters degree in Law and is currently pursuing a Masters in Computer Applications. He has consistently leveraged technology and applied innovative methods to streamline processes and increase productivity and profitability, always with a view to benefit society.
Chike Nwasike, Vice President: Technology and Energy
Mr. Nwasike is the founder, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer and Chairman of Novantus Corporation a California based software development and systems automation company. Novantus Corporation has subsidiaries in India (Software Research & Development) and a Digital Media content company in Jersey UK where Novantus is pioneering full digital movie production under the label Novantus Cinematic Pictures.
Mr. Nwasike attended University of California Los Angeles (1975 - 1978) on an academic scholarship earning a degree in Chemical Engineering and Applied Sciences. A recognized expert in enterprise automation and financial systems, he was initially employed as a Drilling Engineer for Mobil Oil Corporation and has now spent over 28 years in the development of complex large scale enterprise software.
Some of Mr. Nwasike's clients include companies such as IBM, Comerica Bank, Countrywide Savings, US Bancorp, Wells Fargo Bank , Bank of America, Washington Mutual Bank, Glendale Federal, First Bank of Chicago, Multibanco Comermex--Mexico, Union Bank of California, Harris Bank & Thrift, Thrifty Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Key Bank Albany, M & T Bank Buffalo, Blue Cross of Southern California, Disney Corporation, Southern California Edison, Federal Mortgage Bank Nigeria, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Riverside County Office of Education and the Government of Cross River State Nigeria among others.
Kristine Webster, Vice President: Finance
Ms. Webster co-founded 2HQ.com, and joined the Company in February 1999 as its Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, which position she holds today. From 1997 to 1999 Ms. Webster was the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Shopping.com. In addition, Ms. Webster performed consulting services to Shopping.com a wholly owned subsidiary of Compaq Computer Corporation. From July 1995 to August 1997, Ms. Webster served as an Assistant Professor of Accounting at La Sierra University, a private four-year university, and as an adjunct professor at California State University, San Bernardino. From April 1993 to July 1995 Ms. Webster served as the Controller of National Xpress Logistics, a transportation logistics brokerage company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Xpress Enterprises, Inc. Prior to that she was with Ernst & Young LLP from January 1988 to April 1992. From May 1992 to March 1993, she was a consultant and contract professor. In addition, since December 1990 Ms. Webster has owned Plaza Travel, a travel agency specializing in group travel. Ms. Webster received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree, summa cum laude, from Loma Linda University in 1989 and her Master of Business Administration degree from La Sierra University in 1991. She is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of California.
Brojen Baruah, Senior Associate Infrastructure and Power
A Dynamic Mechanical Engineer from JNTU Hyderabad, India Mr. Baruah has sharp technical & commercial acumen. His areas of expertise include: Trading; Technical process Industries, Power Projects from Concept and Design to implementation and Consultancy in the field of software
In the power projects sector, he is the Managing Director of 'Andhra Pradesh Power Projects Private Ltd', and 'Sri Sreenivas Swamy Systems and Services Private Limited'. Under his stewardship AP. Power Projects Private Ltd., has also received linkage for 5 Lakhs MM SCMD per day of Natural Gas for implementation of a Gas based power project with a capacity of 120 MW from the Government of India, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in the Krishna Godavari Basin from Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Under his leadership the company has obtained successful financial closure for their Hydel Power Projects and he has immense knowledge in handling FI's, formingconsortiums and JV-Partners.
His business relationships leverages an in-depth understanding of Indian business as well as an extensive network of experts that facilitate the collaboration of domestic and international enterprises, to create opportunities for domestic producers to export their technology and products and to assist international companies in their efforts to establish a base in the country. Recently, he has worked with several Malaysian Construction Companies who are represented by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) among others
Warren Trenchard, Senior Associate: Strategy
Warren C. Trenchard is a strategic analyst and thinker with interests and expertise in several areas. His publications include several books and numerous articles. Trenchard holds a PhD in New Testament and Early Christian Literature from the University of Chicago. He also has three degrees from Andrews University: a BD from the Seminary; an MA in New Testament Studies; and a BA in Theology. He has taken post-graduate work in the School of Business and Management at La Sierra University. Dr. Trenchard is a professor and director of graduate programs in the School of Religion at La Sierra University, Riverside, California. He also serves as a member of the Strategic Intervention Team and a business consultant, specializing in planning and strategy, in the School of Business and Management at La Sierra University. Trenchard spent nine years in college and university administration, seven of which were as chief academic officer. During this time, he was responsible for academic strategic planning and participated in comprehensive institutional planning. He has conducted workshops and lectured on Total Quality Management and operated several successful small businesses.
Gary Chartier, Senior Associate: Strategy and Law
Gary Chartier's consulting-related interests include institutional policy formulation and analysis, organizational communication, ethics, and public policy. He currently serves as Special Assistant to the Dean, School of Business and Management, and Assistant Professor of Business Ethics and Law at La Sierra University. He holds a JD from the University of California at Los Angeles and a PhD from the University of Cambridge (England). He is the author of articles in law, philosophy, and theology and of forthcoming books in religion and ethics.
Dr. Siddharth Swaminathan PhD, Senior Associate
International political economy, conflict processes, development economics, econometrics, research design
![](/img/mailv.gif"){kind=link}