Group of Financial Industry Veterans Announce New Consultancy Service Aimed at Community Banks and Credit Unions

Miami, FL, April 5, 2016 (Newswire.com) - A group of recognized financial technology and banking industry leaders announced the formation of Edge Consultancy, LLC a new strategic consulting firm aimed at community banks and credit unions.  The founding team of advisors believe that Edge is uniquely positioned to offer community based FI’s access to exceptional financial industry strategic minds, with extraordinary skill sets, at an affordable price.

The FI-centric consultancy service has assembled an impressive group of financial industry veterans and executives to launch the practice. The leadership team consists of Edge’s CEO, Kirk Kordeleski, former CEO of Bethpage Federal Credit Union; and President, Joe Dugan, former executive vice president of Canandaigua National Bank.   In addition, noted industry veteran and author, Louis Hernandez, Jr. through his equity firm, Black Dragon Capital is also involved as Edge’s founding lead investor.

"We created Edge because we saw a real need for community banks and credit unions to have access to the collective wisdom of former C-level financial industry executives, in order to help find solutions to the complex challenges facing community-based FI's , today."

Kirk Kordeleski, CEO

Similar to the Uber model, Edge will source former C-level executives and veterans from the community bank and credit union sectors and affordably match their specific skill sets with the various consulting needs of the bank or credit union. 

“We created Edge because we saw a real need for community banks and credit unions to have access to the collective wisdom of former C-level financial industry executives, in order to help find solutions to the complex challenges facing community-based FI’s , today," Kordeleski said.

In forming the consulting group, one of the primary considerations when assembling the leadership team was to ensure that Edge had proven veterans from both the credit union and community bank worlds. Carlos Rodriguez, a 30 year industry veteran, rounds out the team, acting as COO. In addition, Raju Shivdasani, former CEO of Harland Financial Services, Inc. (now part of D&H), will function in an advisory capacity, while Bill Dalton, former Executive Director of HSBC Holdings, PLC, will serve as the group’s Chairman.

Edge’s founding lead investor, Mr. Hernandez, is the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Avid Technology, Inc. He spent over 20 years in the FinTech industry, serving as Chairman and CEO of Open Solutions, Inc., until the company was sold to Fiserv, Inc., in 2013.  While at Open Solutions, he developed a passion for the role that community-based financial institutions play within the community.

“The creation of Edge Consultancy has its roots in my desire to continue to help community FI’s succeed,” Hernandez said. “I have lobbied, written about and innovated for the financial services industry and call many of my closest friends community based financial institution leaders. Now, is the time to assemble the best talent to help these FI’s navigate through the changing financial services’ landscape.”

“Our industry experts stand out because they have faced like challenges and have garnered the leadership experience necessary to help community FI’s develop strategies to stay relevant despite continued market disruptions,” continued Kordeleski.  

Edge has already begun to attract a talented group of former CEO’s as consultants, including Juli Anne Callis, formerly of NIH Federal Credit Union; Ken Joyce, formerly of Rurban Financial Corp.; and Steve Post, formerly of Vermont State Employees Credit Union. The group already has about a dozen other consultants onboard and expects to grow substantially over the coming months.

“I am very excited about the formation of Edge because I believe we can play a significant role in preserving the viability of community based financial institutions,” commented Dalton. “It takes serious thought leadership to help community FI’s keep up with the mega banks and non-traditional players when facing continued margin compression, rising compliance expenses and a digital revolution. At Edge, we believe we can bring that leadership to the table.”

About Edge Consultancy

Edge Consultancy, LLC, is headquartered in Miami Beach, Florida and currently has 12 top consultants onboard.  It plans to expand to over 25 consultants in the coming months with the ultimate goal of having over 100 consultants engaged by the end of 2018. For a list of Edge’s consultants and consulting services, go to edgeconsultancyllc.com