Our Consulting Team

Andrew Clarke

As founder of Ground Floor Partners, Andrew has reviewed over a thousand business plans and advised hundreds of start-up businesses on business strategy, marketing, operations and other issues. He has worked with companies in a wide variety of industry verticals, including energy and environment, medical equipment, biomedical labs, healthcare services, advertising, technology and telecommunications, finance, residential and commercial real estate, insurance, retail, food service, music/entertainment. He has also worked with universities and non-profits.

 

Before starting Ground Floor Partners Andrew led all technology planning and operations at Equis, a privately held commercial real estate firm with 33 offices worldwide. While at Equis he also worked closely with the CEO on a business plan for a new online brokerage service.

Andrew also has extensive experience as an entrepreneur. In 1997 he founded ListNet, a real estate listing and advertising service on the Internet. He managed all aspects of the business including strategy, operations, marketing, sales, and web site development.

From 1995 to 1998, Andrew worked as Vice President of Analytics and then Vice President of Product Development at Hedge Financial Products, a privately held boutique derivatives firm in downtown Chicago. He led the risk management and quantitative analysis efforts for the Chicago office, designed several complex proprietary crop reinsurance risk models, and supervised a team in all aspects of model development from inception to completion. 

From 1979 to 1994, Andrew was a scientist and engineer, working in a variety of technical and management positions in academia and industry. He has published 15 scientific papers in the areas of Theoretical Chemistry, Fluid Mechanics, and Materials Science, and worked as a Research Scientist at University of Washington, Cornell University, and University of British Columbia. He also spent two years as an Assistant Professor in Physics and Engineering at Pacific Lutheran University.

Andrew holds advanced degrees in engineering and science from the University of Rochester, the University of California at San Diego, and the University of Wisconsin. He is a member of the Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance (CSBA) and the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC). He is also on the Board of Directors of Local First Chicago, a non-profit dedicated to building and promoting the local Chicago business community. Andrew is also an avid environmentalist with the Sierra Club.

Greg Curtiss

Business Consultant earned a B.A. in Economics from Rollins College of Winter Park, FL and holds an M.B.A from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to joining Ground Floor Partners, Greg worked for several years in advertising sales and marketing management for Clydesdale Capital Investments, an owner and operator of RV Parks throughout the country. Additionally, he has participated in project engagements for Accenture, Hewlett-Packard and Solutia covering a breadth of issues.

Greg is an experienced business consultant. He has written case studies, business plans, feasibility studies, market research surveys and reports in the areas of consumer products, plastics, micro fluidics, biological compounds, green initiatives, commercial real estate, biotech devices, mobile marketing, food safety, Internet services and outsourcing. Greg is an avid golfer and soccer fan.

Rory Kelleher

Senior Consultant, he specializes in research, analysis, and strategic advice to senior executives in the public and private sector on renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainability. He has worked with organizations in a wide range of industrial sectors, including transportation, energy, natural resources, environmental sustainability, real estate, waste management, training and education.

Rory has co-authored a number of strategy reports and feasibility studies for the European Union, environmental NGOs and Irish Senate committees. He is a former Editor and Financial and Technology Journalist, working for nearly a decade for leading national newspapers in Ireland.

He holds a Master of Science Degree in Sustainable Development (Environmental Science) from Dublin Institute of Technology, a Postgraduate Degree in Journalism and Public Relations from University College Galway, and a Bachelors Degree in Geography and History from University College Cork.

 

Scott McGarvey

Partner, has over 20 years' experience in consulting and industry management, and has provided consultative guidance in marketing and general management since 1992. Scott has extensive experience in market research, and has developed and executed dozens of marketing plans with small to medium-sized business clients.

Scott has worked with many larger firms, including Liberty Mutual Insurance, GMAC Residential Funding Corporation, Royal & SunAlliance, and Heller Financial (now part of GE Capital). Scott has also provided marketing services for several start-up and growing enterprises in industries ranging from professional liability insurance to third-party fulfillment to property tax abatement.

In his early career, Scott was industrial marketing manager for six years with Landis & Gyr Powers, a major manufacturer/installer of building control systems. Scott was also affiliated with the consulting practices of Price Waterhouse, Chase Econometrics (a decision support services provider) and Brand Group (a small firm specializing in product identity).

Scott earned his M.B.A. degree from the University of Chicago GSB in 1981. He is active and holds leadership positions in the National Funding Association, Chicago Association of Direct Marketing, Midwest Business Brokers & Intermediaries (MBBI), and Association for Corporate Growth. He also heads the Chicago GSB Marketing Roundtable and is VP Membership with the Chicago GSB Club, a business and social organization for Chicago-area alumni.

 

Ground Floor Partners has other business consultants on call for large and small projects.