Georgene Waterman, Ph.D.
President/CEO

In 1969 Georgene Waterman started her career in healthcare. In 1970 she was promoted to nurse manager and developed the first outpatient surgery preparation course in the Sacramento area. She returned to school to obtain a Ph.D. degree in education and started her own consulting business where she provided management education for hospitals and other businesses throughout Northern California. She returned to healthcare and became the Director of Marketing. Another promotion to Assistant Administrator was obtained in 1986. In this position she was responsible for the education of physicians, hospital staff and the community. Her other responsibilities included the development of a for-profit component of the healthcare system.

In 1990 Georgene became the Chief Executive Officer of Fair Oaks hospital in Fair Oaks, California. In 1991 she was responsible for building and opening a new acute care hospital in Yuba City, California. She administered both hospitals for a year until a suitable Chief Executive Officer could be found for the Yuba City site.

In 1995 she purchased the rights to Renaissance EXECUTIVE FORUMS of Northern California. The Forum is a national membership organization that provides support services exclusively to chief executives. The members leverage the knowledge and experience of the group to exponentially increase the speed and quality of decision-making and to pro-actively manage the changing business environment. The Forum acts much like a traditional board of directors and provides education to keep the chief executive current on business trends and strategic planning to help plan for resources needed in the future.

In 2006 Georgene founded Bridges to Leadership. Bridges to Leadership helps companies and individuals achieve excellence by providing planning, training and coaching. Her background as CEO and transitionalist helps in understanding what business owners and managers face everyday, enabling her to bring real life solutions to business issues.

Georgene has taught at the University of California in Davis, has been a keynote speaker at professional organizations and has served on numerous boards of directors. She has raised two children, which she says is the most difficult job that she has ever had. In her spare time she enjoys exercising and gourmet cooking and entertaining with her husband Ben.

Georgene has a monthly column in Prosper Magazine entitled Insomnia, where she gives advice on all kinds of business related matters.

Jim Savarese
Consultant

After serving four years of active duty in the United States Navy from 1965 through 1968 Jim Savarese started his career in sales with The National Cash Register Company (NCR) in the Systemedia Business Forms Division. 

In 1970 Jim was promoted to District Manager for the five boroughs of New York and Westchester County and was responsible for the growth of the organization in both personnel and sales.  

In 1972 Jim left NCR and accepted a sales position with Duplex Products Inc. as a sales executive and rapidly grew sales in New York by $1,000,000 dollars gaining the attention of the CEO and the Chairman of the Board. In 1973 Jim was promoted and transferred across country to the west coast to work directly with the CEO in reorganizing and building sales in Northern California. 

During his employment with Duplex Products he was promoted numerous times and eventually became the General Manager on the west coast. His responsibilities were to recruit, train, organize the growth structure, open new sales offices and strategically provide insight to new product and service development.  Jim orchestrated the new Financial Division on the West Coast and led in sales throughout the country year after year. Duplex Products Inc., west coast’s division, grew in double digits during Jim’s tenure. 

In 1995 Jim was sought after by Integrated Systems, Inc., located in Pleasanton, CA, to lead the company as the President.  At Integrated Systems, Inc.  Jim grew the business in double digits specializing in Financial Institutions.   He strategically changed the company originally known as Financial Forms Systems to a broader dynamic of integrated products and services.   

Jim’s legacy of developing highly talented and profitable sales personnel was the reason Reynolds and Reynolds, Inc. recruited him in 1998.  From 1998 through 2001 Jim once again performed with sustainable growth in sales and personnel having been promoted once again to Division Manager.   

In the latter part of 2001 Jim was once again recruited to join Stratacom as the Director of Sales for Northern California.  Stratacom is the largest distributor of print, print management, electronic print and mail, apparel and advertising specialties in the West.  Sales grew substantially under his tenure. 

Jim has been married for 41 years to Linda and has been blessed with four children and five grandchildren. Needless to say, Jim is quite proud of the accomplishments of his family. 

Over the years in working with various companies Jim has experienced numerous opportunities to assist both his staff and clients in their pursuit of excellence.  Jim has joined Bridges to Leadership to formally focus on his dream of compassionately assisting others to achieve their dreams in business.

Claudia Foutz
Consultant

Claudia has over 25 years of accomplished executive and program leadership in the non-profit and government sectors.  After graduating from UC Davis with a major emphasis in economics, Claudia began her career as an investigator for the City of Dallas, Texas, then returned to California be become an analyst for the California Department of Justice.  In 1977 she was appointed by then Governor Jerry Brown to an executive position in his administration as an Assistant Bureau Chief in the Department of Consumer Affairs. In 1981 she accepted a position as the Chief Executive Officer of the California State Board of Pharmacy.  She was heralded as a progressive leader and served as the first non-pharmacist and female to head the board as their executive officer.  While there, she was credited for developing an enforcement program that ended the rampant diversion of controlled substances to the illicit market and was featured on ABC Channel 7 in Los Angeles and 20/20 for her enforcement and consumer protection program improvements.

After serving with distinction at the Pharmacy Board, Claudia was appointed Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs in 1983 by then Governor George Deukemejian where she had the oversight responsibility for 40 regulatory agencies.  While serving in this position she earned the reputation nationally as a professional regulatory expert.  After serving in that position for 8 years, she broadened her career by serving as the Chief of the Financial Audit division of the California Employment Development Department where she reduced staff and expenditures by 30% while curing a 5-year backlog.  She was instrumental in gaining the highest rating for audit performance for her division.  While serving in California government she developed the first strategic plans for several agencies and was routinely recognized for her ability to maximize staff and program performance, and providing exemplary service to California citizens.

In 1995 Claudia left state government to begin a career in non profit professional association management.  Her first executive position was with the California Optometric Association as their Executive Director.  While there, she developed their first strategic plan, which led in part to helping them secure important scope of practice legislation, increased membership and broadened non-dues revenue resources. She was formally recognized by the President’s council for her vision and leadership.