Creative Services, Inc. - Our Company - Leadership

Leadership

  • Alan Sklar

  • President and Chief Executive Officer

  • In 1973, Alan began his career as a private investigator conducting insurance, legal, and corporate investigations.  He quickly identified the correlation between security problems and deficiencies in the employee selection process.  Since that time, Alan built an impeccable reputation as a trusted advisor in mitigating risk.  He is a recognized expert in employment screening, interviewing and interrogation techniques, organizational safety and security vulnerability assessments, insurance fraud and loss prevention, workplace violence, and security education.  He has been an invited guest speaker at nationally recognized seminars and appeared on several radio and TV talk shows.  He has been featured in, contributed to, and authored numerous articles appearing in local and national newspapers, insurance and legal periodicals, and various security and trade magazines.  Alan attended Curry College and Northeastern University, where he studied sociology, business administration, and criminal justice.

  • Judith Gootkind

  • Vice President of Finance and Administration
  • Judy joined CSI in 1992 as an expert in accounting with over 20 years of experience.  Today, as the Vice President of Finance and Administration, Judy continually insures CSI’s growth and profitability, allowing CSI to maintain a competitive standard.  Judy regularly presents on legislation, regulation and policy issues and represents CSI at numerous hearings including the RI Judiciary, MA Judiciary Committee, CT Department of Public Safety, NY Office of Court Administration, and the MA Attorney General’s office.  Judy is active in the screening industry as a Director on the Board of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) and an integral founding member of the Association.  In September 2010, she was selected to represent NAPBS by testifying at a hearing of the U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee.  Judy graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting.

  • Jack Nichols, Esq.

  • Director and General Counsel
  • In 2008, Jack joined the CSI team and is currently Director and General Counsel following a successful career in law enforcement that culminated in his appointment as Special Assistant to the Attorney General with the Virgin Islands Department of Justice and, most recently, as Special Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland, Maine.  In addition to earning his Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University School of Law, Jack holds degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science, graduating magna cum laude, from Southern Maine Technical College and from the University of Southern Maine.  Jack is licensed to practice law in both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States Federal Court-District of Massachusetts, and is a member of the Federal, Massachusetts and Boston Bar Associations.

  • Janet Thiel

  • Director of Nuclear Services
  • Janet joined the CSI team in 2003 as the Director of Nuclear Services.  Janet brought over 20 years of valuable experience in access control in the nuclear industry.  Janet managed plant Access Authorization and Fitness for Duty, served as the management liaison for Behavioral Observations and Access Authorization/Fitness for Duty issues, Personal Access Data System Site Administrator (PADS) and worked directly with contractors and vendors on all background, drug and psychological screening matters.  Janet was also a member of the NEI Fitness for Duty and Access Authorization Task Force, which was instrumental in the development and implementation of NEI 03-01.  Janet holds an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice from Midlands Technical College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Limestone College.

  • Heidi Raffanello

  • Director of Government Services
  • Heidi joined CSI as the Director of Government Services in 2009 after a successful career in federal law enforcement.  Heidi oversees CSI’s strategic goals and objectives for the Government Services Division including CSI’s position as a GSA Schedule vendor.  Heidi provides security consulting services to clients with federal regulatory oversight.  Heidi’s experience includes over 21 years with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge leading task force groups comprised of DEA, New York Police Department and New York State Police.  Heidi also served as the Deputy Chief Inspector of Security Programs, where she was Program Manager for DEA security worldwide.  Heidi is a member of ASIS International, Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) and Association of Former Federal Narcotics Agents (AFFNA) and serves on the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) International Committee. She was recently selected as an advisor to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Advisory Task Force.  Heidi holds a degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University.

  • Stacey Killingsworth

  • Senior Director of Operations
  • Stacey joined the CSI team in 2000 and is now the Senior Director of Operations.  Stacey has held positions of increasing responsibility including Team Leader, Criminal Division Manager, Corporate Division Manager, Manager of Operations, and Director of Operations.  Her varied experience within multiple areas of the company has given her an unparalleled view of CSI’s operations and valuable insight.  Stacey has implemented effective policies and procedures to streamline operations, reduce turnaround time, track criminal investigations to completion, and ensure compliance with state, federal and international laws.  Stacey received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bridgewater State College, and a Master of Science with distinction in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University.

  • Kellie O’Shea, PHR

  • Director of Sales and Implementation
  • Kellie joined CSI in 2003 and is responsible for successful implementations of multi-location, national, and global accounts with emphasis on client certification, education, policy and procedural compliance.  She is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor.  Prior to CSI, Kellie worked as a project manager serving national accounts and maintained roles within the legal field.  She is actively involved in and provides leadership to many Human Resources associations as well as the NAPBS.  As a trusted resource, Kellie is an invited guest speaker at regional and national seminars and conferences, authors background screening articles, and is quoted in newspapers and trade magazines.

  • Doreen Best

  • Manager of Business Development
  • Doreen serves the dual role of enhancing CSI’s internal operational processes by developing vendor relationships and system enhancements and leading external strategic marketing initiatives through industry partnerships and direct marketing.  Doreen has an extensive background in executive program management, corporate communication/marketing and vendor relations.  As a business leader and consultant she has successfully led programs to help Fortune 500 companies, start-up corporations and Federal organizations optimize efficiency and increase market share.  She holds a Bachelors degree from Carroll College in Communications and Psychology and a Masters Degree from Wake Forest University in Communications.

  • Matthew Regan

  • Operations and IT Specialist
  • Matt joined CSI in 2005 and works diligently to manage the IT Operations for the organization.  Matt leads the IT team to ensure that CSI is up to date with the standards set by regulatory legislation and adheres to multiple levels of security requirements required of Consumer Reporting Agencies under the FCRA.  He provides CSI’s clients with the tools they need to achieve and monitor immediate and tangible results of their screening program.  Matt studied Management at Purdue University.

  • Christy Chalvire

  • Client Services Manager
  • Christy joined CSI in 2004 with a strong background in employee screening.  As the Client Services Manager, Christy is responsible for ensuring CSI delivers the highest level of customer service and quality assurance.  Prior to her role as Client Services Manager, Christy was Team Leader of the Criminal Division.  She possesses an expertise in understanding and interpreting criminal record information domestically and internationally.  Christy also has extensive experience in drug screening and laboratory testing.  She is a graduate of Suffolk University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology and Law and earned a certificate in Paralegal Studies from Northeastern University.