The Cogent Management Team
David S. Schafran – Managing Partner
David Schafran is one of the best known and best respected figures in the Managed Services industry. David has years of experience both running Managed Services businesses and consulting with IT Services firms. He is a frequent and respected speaker on a wide range of strategic and operational topics, presenting at a variety of industry events each year. He is also frequently quoted in industry publications and has authored articles for a number of industry-related publications. In 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, David was named to the MSPmentor 250 in recognition of his leadership in the Managed Services industry.
David is an IT Services veteran with 25 years in the industry. His wealth of experience within IT Services companies includes roles in technical, managerial, and executive functions, and as a business owner. As a consultant, David has a long track record of helping IT Services firms optimize and grow their businesses. His expertise covers all aspects of IT Services business, including strategy, marketing, operations, technology, Human Resource Management and business governance.
David is an active volunteer in efforts to fight multiple sclerosis (MS). He served on the Board of Trustees of the New York City chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and held several executive volunteer positions – including Co-Chair and Senior Co-Chair – with its fundraising auxiliary, The Manhattan Society. He is currently on the Board of Directors of
MS Hope for a Cure. In 2002 he formed, and continues to lead, an MS Walk team which has raised over $420,000 to date.
Rick Murphy – Managing Partner
Rick Murphy is an innovative and successful serial entrepreneur with a wide range of experience and success in C-level management roles across a number of companies. He is a Merger & Acquisition veteran with a long track record of starting and leading businesses while pursuing and completing liquidity events for those firms and their shareholders. Notably, Rick was the founder of Streaming Media Corporation, a leader in broadband video streaming, which grew via a series of acquisitions through to the sale of the combined firm to Akamai (NASDAQ; AKAM) for over $150 million dollars.
Rick is expert at conceiving, planning and leading all aspects of comprehensive corporate development and M&A strategies to transform and enrich businesses. He is an exceptional M&A leader, fluent in all related corporate, financial and legal matters from inception through closing, consolidation and integration. As an M&A advisor, he manages the entire acquisition lifecycle including corporate structuring, target identification and evaluation, initial target contact and negotiation, due diligence, financial advisory and target valuation, deal structure negotiation, term sheet preparation and complete deal documentation through to closing.
Rick’s operational background is varied and deep, and he brings particular expertise in strategic planning, business planning, financial analysis/modeling, and strategic marketing. His broad functional background enables him to work with client in a variety of tactical operational areas as well, including sales management and marketing collateral creation.
George Sierchio – Partner
George Sierchio is an entrepreneurial veteran having owned and operated several successful services and consulting businesses in the last 20+ years. This includes his work as a consultant and coach to owners of IT companies, providing guidance in profitability, overall growth and M&A related activities. He is highly experienced in the areas of strategy, finance, operations, marketing, human resources and corporate structure. Specific to mergers and acquisition, George is well versed in many areas, including growth strategy, acquisition targeting and evaluation, valuation, due diligence, deal structure and integration.
George is internationally recognized as an advisor, speaker, author and expert on the IT Consulting & Services industry. As a thought leader, he is frequently asked to speak and write for the top educational content providers within the channel and participate as an expert at principal industry events. George has also been acknowledged several times on the MSPMentor 250 list for Leadership in the Managed Services Industry as well as the SMBTN/SMB Nation Magazine top 150 Influencers list.
George’s diverse background as a business owner and advisor in the industry allows him to bring a wealth of experience to benefit the parties involved in a transaction. George truly understands how crucial a smooth start to finish transaction is to our clients and how it impacts their professional and personal lives.
Alison Anderson – Director of Financial Review & Analysis
A native Californian, Alison grew up on the outskirts of the Silicon Valley and spent the early part of her career in corporate accounting during the rise and fall of the dot.com era. With over 20 years in technology firms holding positions such as accounting manager, sales controller, Director and VP Finance, Alison also spent 8 of those years as CFO for a managed services firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she now resides. She has also provided accounting consulting services for various Heartland Technology Group members supporting ConnectWise and QuickBooks integrations along with cash flow management, budgeting, reporting and account reconciliation/analysis work. Alison holds her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting from California State University, Sacramento.
Jennifer Turner – Research Director
Jennifer Turner lives in Denver, Colorado. She has over 15 years of sales and marketing experience, largely focused on the technology sector. Most recently, Jennifer worked at Level 3 Communciations, for over 6 years, in various business development and marketing roles in support of some of Level 3's largest customers. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Micah Lucas – Associate
Micah Lucas is a Tennessee native who spent several years in the legal industry working with The Gordon Law Firm, where he worked on bankruptcy, general civil and business matters. Micah has extensive experience with case management and diligence review. He received his Bachelor of Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Beyond his professional career, Micah has held the position on the board for the Georgia Tech Black Alumni Organization (GTBAO) since 2008 as well as on the Georgia Tech Endowment Committee. He also serves as a mentor to several students within the greater Atlanta community.
Judy Morrison – Research Associate
Judy has an extensive background in marketing and managing business processes. A consummate professional in strategic marketing and turnkey project management, she has been acknowledged for groundbreaking efforts in achieving large-scale success and profitability in bringing new products to market. Her career reflects success in product/project management across a diverse corporate and investor client base and the proven ability to provide leadership for profitable and successful projects both nationally and internationally.