We Don’t Just Put Leaders on Top. We Help Keep Them There.
Our stories start with defining talent, but that’s not where they end. Whether for a board or executive search or executive assessment, we personally conduct every assignment and execute each stage of the process from start to finish to ensure long-term success. In partnership with our clients, we accomplish amazing things together.
Alan Kaplan
Founder + CEO
Alan is a national expert in leadership succession, corporate governance, and talent management across the financial services, private equity, and middle-market sectors. He has over 30 years of leadership assessment and executive search experience, after an initial career in corporate banking with two leading Philadelphia institutions. He has successfully led hundreds of CEO, board member, and financial officer succession assignments. Alan has been instrumental in helping client organizations elevate their corporate governance through both board assessment and board succession projects.
Alan holds an economics degree from The Pennsylvania State University, and an MBA in finance from Temple University. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Alan is a Certified Director and Board Leadership Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors and sits on the board of directors of NACD Philadelphia. Alan is also a board member of Clarifi, an organization helping to support community members with financial resilience and literacy. He recently served as a Global Board Member of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants, the industry’s leading education and advocacy organization, and was the recipient of the association’s Award of Excellence in 2022. He is member of the board of advisors of the Fischer-Shain Center for Financial Services at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. Alan previously was an Advisory Director of Penn Liberty Bank prior to its sale to WSFS Bank, and was well known for 16 years as a weekly business commentator on talent and career issues on KYW News Radio 1060 in Philadelphia. He is a regular columnist for Bank Director Magazine and other publications, as well as a frequent speaker and author for business and financial services organizations nationwide.
Karen Kane
Managing Director
Karen is the Co-Leader of Kaplan Partners Financial Services Practice, with over two decades of C-level search, leadership, and board advisory experience. She has deep expertise assisting clients across the banking and financial service sectors, as well as middle market companies in a variety of industries. Karen works closely with executive management and boards, specializing in the validation of candidate leadership skills in highly complex markets. Her personal investment in the search process—and deep integration into client culture and the project team—result in an extremely high level of repeat client engagements.
Karen earned a B.A. in business administration from DeSales University. She is currently a member of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants.
Dara Klein
Managing Director
Dara is the Co-Leader of Kaplan Partners Financial Services Practice. She is consistently recognized for her expertise in executive search, board advisory, and talent assessment, as well as her keen understanding of multi-faceted cultures and complex board dynamics. Dara is known as a confidant to C-suite leaders and for her unique and trusted relationships with boards of directors. She combines exceptional listening skills with integrity, delivering honest, actionable feedback that consistently results in highly effective organizational success.
Dara serves on the board of directors of Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO). She is a national speaker on board and CEO succession for industry associations, women’s business organizations, and universities. Women’s Leadership Magazine recognized Dara as one of the top 104 women business leaders. The Pennsylvania Bankers Association recognized Dara with their Champion for Women Award. Dara is a member of the Forum of Executive Women and a former Advisory Council Co-Chair for Women Business Collaborative. Dara is a committed mentor to the next generation of leaders and an advocate for the advancement of women and people of color. Dara began her career with Xerox Corporation where she progressed through the ranks, serving Fortune 500 clients in financial services and government. She earned a B.S. in marketing from Pennsylvania State University.
Nick Demedio
Principal
Nick has 25 years of experience in executive search, talent management, and human resources, including leadership roles in community banking and HR consulting. He has successfully led CEO and C-suite searches, working directly with boards and executive management teams in senior recruitment and succession planning. Nick has managed both strategic and hands-on HR initiatives, including the design and administration of executive compensation and employee benefit programs, and executive on-boarding.
Nick holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Temple University, as well as the Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Society of Human Resources Management.
Daria Placitella
Principal
Daria has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry including wealth management, commercial real estate and asset recovery. Daria was the Managing Executive for PNC Wealth Management’s Eastern Region, leading the activities of over 1000 employees and 35 teams with AUM of over $20 billion. Daria also served as PNC’s Regional President of the New Jersey market. Most recently, Daria combined her entrepreneurial spirit and passion as co-founder and board member of Hope Trust, a fintech company helping special needs families plan for the future via innovative, technology-driven solutions.
Daria holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Delaware and is dedicated to making a difference in her community. She serves as a board member of both Robert Wood Johnson Somerset and The Independent College Fund. Daria has also received the New Jersey Best 50 Women in Business Award, the Women Turning the Century Award for Outstanding Achievement in Banking and Finance, and was honored by the Jewish Federation for her dedication to that organization.
Mitch Wienick
Coaching Partner
With more than 40 years of corporate, private equity, and venture capital leadership experience–including CEO of publicly traded CDI Corporation–Mitch now serves as President and CEO of Lead Coach LLC, specializing in executive coaching and career mentoring. His unique approach facilitates strategic support and leadership development, C-suite partnership, boardroom management, and career transitions focused on assuming increased responsibilities.
Mitch has served on the boards of directors of the Atlantic Community Bankers Bank, CDI Corporation, Cielo Inc., PPR Capital Management, Steel Jupiter, CEO Alliance of Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia First and the World Affairs Council. Mitch earned his MBA from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business and B.A. in Economics from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.
David A. Weiman, Psy.D.
Coaching Partner
David is a licensed psychologist, president of Weiman Consulting, and adjunct assistant professor at Widener University’s School of Human Service Professions where he supervises advanced doctoral students learning executive coaching. He has designed and delivered leadership development and executive coaching programs for global and Fortune 500 companies in banking, construction, consumer products, real estate, and law enforcement. Interviews with David have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Businessweek, Entrepreneur, and Men’s Health.
David is a member of the American Psychological Association, Pennsylvania Psychological Association, and American Society for Clinical Hypnosis. He earned his B.A. in Religion from Dickinson College, M.S. in Psychological Services from the University of Pennsylvania, and M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Widener University.