Life at Maine Pointe

Maine Pointe is pleased to have several team members who left, then returned to the firm to continue their career with us 'In the Spotlight.' Hear from three of them, ‘Why Maine Pointe?’

Robert Vanderwerf, Managing Director, Head of Delivery & Quality

How does Maine Pointe's team environment differ from other consulting firms you've experienced?

MP has a true specialist, results driven, transformational approach.  MP doesn’t just create slides or advise, we partner with our clients to not only identify the opportunity, but work side by side with them as specialists to deliver bottom-line results, and organizational, process and technology capability uplift not only to sustain but to deliver continuous improvement and bottom-line results going forward.

What convinced you that rejoining Maine Pointe was the right move for your career?

With AI, there is a generational change happening in how business will operate, what technology will do and what people will do. The largest companies can afford to experiment and invest in this change. The majority of industry can’t afford the scale of this investment.  They need partners they can trust to support them on this journey. Those that will deploy solutions that they can count on to deliver bottom line results quickly, that will be able to be integrated seamlessly into their business and that will continue to improve as the technology advances. MP is uniquely positioned to delivery to this large population of industry.

What would you tell someone considering joining or returning to Maine Pointe?

MPs unique market approach, technology investments, target market, size and growth trajectory and the backing of SGS creates a fantastic platform for career growth.  The true one team and trust culture that is the basis for the future of MP internally and with our clients provides a fantastic platform for personal growth.  If you want to be a part of a team that focuses every day on value creation, excellence in experience and trust for our clients and our people you want to be a part of the future of Maine Pointe.

Katie Ward, Managing Director, Head of Analysis & Due Diligence

What aspect of our leadership made returning to Maine Pointe an easy decision?

I’ve always believed in the vision of the company and the direction we’re heading — Maine Pointe has shaped much of my professional journey. There’s a real passion for the work and pride in how the firm was originally built. Leadership has remained focused and committed, and many of the foundational team members are still here, which speaks volumes. At the same time, there’s been an exciting wave of new talent and fresh energy that’s pushing us forward in all the right ways. It’s a powerful combination.

What convinced you that rejoining Maine Pointe was the right move for your career?

What really drew me back was the opportunity to reconnect with the work I love—building trusted relationships with our team and clients, being on the ground solving tough problems, and driving real, lasting performance improvements.  I wanted to be back in an environment where we could make a tangible impact and continue growing alongside a strong team.

What would you tell someone considering joining or returning to Maine Pointe?

If you want to do work that truly matters—with people who bring passion, commitment, and a sense of purpose—this is the place. Maine Pointe is fast-paced and dynamic, with endless opportunities to learn, grow, and tackle meaningful challenges. You’ll be part of a team that combines deep experience with fresh perspectives. It’s an environment where you’re supported, stretched, and celebrated—and where the impact you make is felt every day.

Field Jones, Engagement Director

How does Maine Pointe's team environment differ from other consulting firms you've experienced?

Maine Pointe’s approach to client engagement enables team members to demonstrate and hone their skills through direct access to client leadership at the highest levels. This open line of communication empowers team members to provide thought leadership, reinforce our work, and grow alongside our clients at the highest levels. In contrast, the structure of many other firms can limit client growth and engagement. Maine Pointe lives up to its core value of teamwork, fostering an environment primed for the growth of both team members and client relationships.

What convinced you that rejoining Maine Pointe was the right move for your career?

Maine Pointe’s core team is a curated group of high-performing individuals. The work is challenging yet rewarding, offering the opportunity to thrive in the exciting parts of business. Supporting our clients through inflection points and in the crucible of change is an environment I find most rewarding and fulfilling.

What would you tell someone considering joining or returning to Maine Pointe?

Maine Pointe has been a critical part of my personal and professional development. I have been fortunate to serve the business in various roles during my tenure. If you are looking to join a team that nurtures growth, provides opportunities, and offers visibility with a direct line to leadership, this is the place for you. This type of environment has rarely been matched in my roles at other firms or in industry.

For exceptional collective impact, we are recognizing an entire engagement team as our Values in Action recipients - a team which exemplifies delivering results and real transformation through our core values.

The client brought a complex and multifaceted environment: developing procurement capabilities, fragmented systems across multiple acquisitions, and inconsistent data quality. The client doesn't just need savings—they need a partner to help build capability and enable long-term value creation. And that's exactly what this team is delivering.

Following a fast-paced transition from Analysis to Engagement, the team hit the ground running—delivering over $1.5M in Quick Wins within the first 8 weeks of a 8-month engagement. They also facilitated an early Focus and Alignment session that directly shaped the client’s Integrated Supply Chain design and strategy, resulting in a comprehensive 3-year transformation roadmap—proving that our work is not just tactical, but deeply strategic.

As the client’s Chief Procurement Officer noted: "The Maine Pointe team didn't just bring expertise—they brought partnership. They've helped us build capabilities we'll use long after this engagement ends."

Each team member brings unique strength to the mission:

Engagement Leadership

Mike Patterson, Engagement Director, provided strategic engagement leadership and stakeholder management, ensuring seamless client relationships and clear delivery focus throughout the engagement

Subject Matter Experts

Scott Lange, Electronics SME, brought deep domain expertise to critical A&D categories, developing innovative sourcing strategies for complex electronic components

Mark D'Amico, Direct SME, tackled sourcing complexity for Direct materials across multiple business units, establishing unified supplier relationships

Chris Kaisand, Indirect SME, unlocked hidden value in software and services categories, identifying consolidation opportunities worth $400K annually

Steve Marshall, Leadership and Organizational Improvement (LOI) Consultant, led the Focus and Alignment session, and continues to guide client leadership with strategic direction on organizational design and transformation

Analytics & Governance

Matt DeSantis led governance, analytics, benefits tracking, and data structure support across workstreams, creating the reporting framework that enables ongoing performance management

Program Management

Dominique Kren drove PMOS, engagement coordination, and practical, effective training, ensuring seamless collaboration and knowledge transfer

While there is still much work to be done, this engagement team stands out not just for the impact delivered, but for how it was delivered—with empathy, teamwork, and a genuine commitment to the client's long-term success.