Cara France

Chief Executive Officer

Cara France is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Sage Group (formerly Sage Consulting Associates). She has built her 20+ year career on a passion for understanding business needs and delivering results. Now in her ninth year as CEO, Cara and her team have grown The Sage Group into an award-winning professional services firm that provides marketing & business consultants and contractors to leading Bay Area companies.

Under her leadership, Sage has been recognized as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in America by Inc Magazine in 2009 and one of the Largest Bay Area Women-Owned Businesses by the San Francisco Business Times in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Cara was awarded Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011 by the Women’s Initiative where she received Special Congressional Recognition from Nancy Pelosi. In 2012, Cara was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Winning Women award.

Prior to The Sage Group, Cara gained deep business acumen in management, marketing and strategic consulting positions at companies including Intuit, Charles Schwab, Sun Microsystems, Instill Corporation, and Oliver Wyman Consulting.

She is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), Watermark’s Women CEO Forum (www.wearewatermark.org), and a Board Member and Treasurer of Impact A Village (www.impactavillage.org). Cara has a BBA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Stanford University. She resides in the Bay Area with her husband Scott and their six-year old twins, Tandara & Gabriel.

Cara loves the Bay Area because:

of the eclectic culture, the entrepreneurial spirit, the extraordinary nature, and the amazing food scene

Cara can’t live without:

her family, yoga and morning smoothies

“I’m passionate about creating a company where our core values drive everything we do – in good times and bad.”

Chris Yelton

Chief Operating Officer

Chris is the Chief Operating Officer at Sage overseeing both Client Management and Placement Services.  Chris has a 25+ year track record of driving innovation, revenue growth and operational transformation in emerging technology, clean-tech, and   non-profit environments. Chris has a reputation for exceeding aggressive performance targets by fostering a culture of collaboration by bringing diverse stakeholders together to achieve outstanding results.

Before joining Sage, Chris was the Vice President of Worldwide Channel Sales and Market Development for Echelon Corporation, a clean-tech company. Prior to Echelon, Chris was the CEO of the International Museum of Women, where she built the first digital media museum of its kind in the world. Under her leadership, the museum received the Anita Borg Social Impact Award, the American Association of Museums MUSE Award, and a Special Congressional Recognition from Nancy Pelosi.

Chris also held various executive positions at Lucent Technologies including Vice President/General Manager, Japan, where she led the subsidiary to become the highest performing region worldwide.  She also developed their Latin American region, and ran worldwide sales operations for the $700M organization.

Chris has served on the Boards of the Professional Business Women of California, the International Museum of Women, and currently serves as a Director of the Dream University Foundation.

Chris has her BS from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She and her husband reside in the bay area with their two dogs Mancha and Spirit, cheering on their son in Los Angeles as he launches his career in sound engineering.

Chris loves the Bay Area because:

of its culture, natural beauty, food, wine and Mt. Tam

Chris can’t live without:

a phenomenal glass of pinot, cab or chardonnay from Napa, Sonoma or Anderson Valley

“Sage is a new breed of company unlike any other – we have an extraordinary team and culture committed to truly living our values.”

Tara May

Head of Business Operations

Tara brings more than 20 years of leadership in operations, project management and customer advocacy to her role leading Sage’s Business Operations team.  Her international experience at leading companies ensures seamless execution from the Operations team.

With a passion for customer service and an eye for detail, Tara’s successes have won accolades and praise from clients, consultants and industry peers.  As the second employee to join Sage, she’s guided the company through every stage of its growth and success, and her longevity with the company speaks to her commitment to Sage’s mission.

Prior to joining Sage, Tara worked in operations management and customer service for such companies as Quest Diagnostics, Century 21 and the University of Maryland.

Tara is a Bay Area native, currently resides in San Francisco, and holds and Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Tara loves the Bay Area because:

it provides it all – stunning scenery, a wide variety of culinary options, and a chance to explore where she’s happiest – outdoors!

Tara can’t live without:

the wine regions nearby – Napa, Sonoma, Livermore and the Russian River valleys

“I’m inspired by and in awe of the team spirit and collaboration at Sage; everybody plays a part in our success and our clients’ and consultants’ successes.”

Teresa Carlos

VP of Recruiting

Teresa Carlos comes to The Sage Group with over 18 years of recruiting, sales, and staffing industry experience. She has 10 years of Fortune 500 staffing experience and has been a key participant in organizational and policy change to improve strategic growth. Teresa has coached, trained and mentored several teams of recruiters, many going on to a President’s Club standing.  Her vast industry experiences include working in Legal, Accounting/Finance, Homebuilding/Land Development, and Marketing/Creative. With her entrepreneurial spirit, Teresa once owned a successful staffing firm that placed executive level professionals in full time positions. Teresa’s passion about the staffing industry has always been about giving the highest level of service to her clients and candidates and seeing the business grow to new heights. Teresa holds a BA in Political Science from San Francisco State University.

Teresa loves the Bay Area because:

the natural beauty, quick trips to phenomenal places like the ocean and the wine country, and the great food wherever you go

Teresa can’t live without:

weekend fun with my 11 year old son, trips to New York and amazing dining anywhere in the Bay Area

“It’s a pleasure to work with such a great team!”

Ali Whitehurst

Recruiter

Building on recruiting coordination experience within large high-tech and financial services companies, Ali can balance detail management and strategic engagement with our network of consultants. After earning her degree in English Literature and Media Studies from Colgate University in upstate New York, Ali returned to her hometown San Francisco to start her career with companies like Google and Ameriprise Financial.

Ali loves the Bay Area because:

you can get from ocean to city to forest in under an hour

Ali can’t live without:

the color orange and the San Francisco Giants

“One of the most exciting parts of working with The Sage Group is that our work and our relationships are created in style!”

Ana Duffy

Accounting Manager

Ana provides accounting and financial support ensuring The Sage Group is poised for long-term growth and success.  A Certified Management Accountant and San Francisco native, Ana received her Master’s Degree from Golden Gate University. Prior to joining The Sage Group, Ana was Controller for a San Francisco-based internet startup and Finance Manager at PG&E where she spent ten years of her career.

Ana loves the Bay Area because:

the food, music, outdoors, and activities to enjoy with her children are abundant

Ana can’t live without:

a cup of hot chocolate and a good night’s sleep

“Sage’s success solely lies in its employees, who are dedicated to finding the right candidate for each and every position through a highly collaborative process.”

Anna Lund

Business Operations Associate

Anna supports Sage headquarters initiatives and crucial business operation functions, all while providing exceptional service to our clients and consultants. Anna graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of California Los Angeles before returning to her native San Francisco. Prior to joining The Sage Group, she was a Virgin America flight attendant and executive assistant in the legal field.

Anna loves the Bay Area because:

the combination of city, ocean, and mountains is unbeatable

Something Anna can’t live without:

her trusty running shoes

“I’m inspired by my work with The Sage Group because I have a dynamic role where I am constantly challenged to develop and grow.”

Barbara Caylor

VP, Business Development & Client Management

With extensive expertise built working for Bay Area companies such as Intuit and Wells Fargo, Barb brings acute business acumen to assisting the clients we service. Barb’s approach to her business is hands on – she’s data driven while also being nimble and is a huge asset to our team and the hiring managers Sage supports. Barb is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in marketing, product management and business strategy. A California native, Barb received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Barb loves the Bay Area because:

it’s multi-cultural and people have acceptant attitudes

Barb can’t live without:

sunshine – it’s a hug from Mother Nature

“I love working for Sage because our service offers great relief to hiring managers in need of ’just the right’ consultant or contractor to support important business initiatives.”

Bonnie Doyle

IT Consultant

Bonnie is a leader in database application development. Her interface and system design are so renowned she has been hired by the makers of Filemaker and IBM/Lotus not only to develop the templates that are packaged with their applications but also to develop and teach their train-the-trainer programs. Bonnie specializes in developing enterprise systems for small businesses and applications for corporate departments with specialized needs. She has developed systems for Apple, Smith Barney, Arthur J. Gallager, Barclay’s Global, Clorox Corporation, McKesson, and Epson America to name a few. In her spare time Bonnie writes, designs costumes, performs in 2-3 jazz groups, travels, and even welds just a bit.

Bonnie loves the Bay Area because:

there is an infectious attitude of creativity and possibility here

Bonnie can’t live without:

a spirit of inquiry

“The Sage team is dynamic and thoughtful and a joy to work with. “

Cameron Joyce

Manager, Business Development & Recruiting Operations

Cameron manages the operations of both the Business Development and Placement Services departments. She leads strategic initiatives to support overall client development, account management and process implementation. Building on experience working with senior executives in driving widespread organizational programs across various industries, Cameron’s key focus is on streamlining processes and developing lasting internal and external partnerships. A southern California native and former collegiate volleyball player, Cameron earned her Bachelor of Arts in Socio-Economics and Politics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Cameron loves the Bay Area because:

she’s a foodie fanatic and loves the local culinary scene

Something Cameron can’t live without:

a good cup of coffee and her favorite NBA team

“I believe The Sage Group will change the marketplace by leading it with vision, focus and integrity.”

Catalina Valencia

Recruiting Coordinator

Catalina supports our Consultant & Placement Services Team with skills in recruiting coordination and sourcing amazing talent to match the needs of our clients.  Catalina joined the Sage Group in 2013 and comes to us with a strong background in sales and marketing.  Before joining the sage group, Cat worked on Latin America Campaign for Votermapping.com, translating marketing collateral, presenting at conferences and following up with international leads.  Catalina is from Forest Hills NY and has a B.A. from Princeton University with a Certificate in Latin American Studies.

Catalina loves the Bay Area because:

of its awesome, constantly evolving food scene.

Catalina can’t live without:

her friends, family, and chocolate…but mostly the chocolate.

“At Sage, everyone brings their A-game and genuinely loves what they do.”

Danielle Layous

Business Development Operations Associate

Danielle drives widespread lead generation and support efforts for Sage’s growth and business expansion initiatives. A central California native, Danielle graduated Cum Laude from UCLA where she was recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence, the Ruth Luna Outstanding Senior Award, and the Four Year Belle Award. Another prolific traveler on the Sage team, Danielle has visited six continents and studied abroad in Brazil. Most recently, Danielle was a Corps Member for Teach For America in Seattle, Washington.

Danielle loves the Bay Area because:

the amazing diversity that is representative of the golden state.

Danielle can’t live without:

music, cooking, shark week, and Tarantino movies!

“I’m inspired every day by my work with Sage – I get to learn from some of the most intriguing and impressive people the Bay Area has to offer!”

Emma Seuferer

Business Operations & CEO Support Associate

With her background in operations and knack for time management, Emma leverages our CEO to ensure she is able to achieve her personal and professional goals.  Emma works with the operations team to ensure the company is able to provide consistent and excellent client service. She is also the main point of contact for the Sage Group’s administrative needs. Before her career at Sage, Emma worked as an operations supervisor at Washington Mutual and JP Morgan Chase Bank, was a business consultant for Rue 22 Jewelry and enjoyed working in child development.  Emma has a B.S. in Business Administration focused in Finance from the University of California, Riverside.

Emma loves the Bay Area because:

of its rich and diverse food culture

Emma can’t live without:

laughter

The Sage Group will rock your world because everyone on the team enjoys coming to work every day.”

Eva Walcott-Ayers

Recruiter

Eva knows the key to understanding the unique skill sets and intangible characteristics of professionals in our network to form deep relationships with both consultants and clients. With top-notch customer service and an eye for detail, Eva expertly matches just the right talent with just the right assignment. This Oakland native is a University of California, Santa Barbara gaucho, and graduated with her BA in Physical Anthropology and French Literature. Eva is an experienced recruiter – she spent years in-house at financial services, technical, and non-technical companies.

Eva loves the Bay Area because:

she’s close to family, friends, and beautiful wine country

Eva can’t live without:

her Puggle, Macy

“The best part of working at The Sage Group is getting to know so many different people with such impressive, diverse backgrounds!”

Julie McSweeney

VP, Business Development & Client Management

With over 20 years experience primarily in high-tech, Julie has a strong background in strategic marketing, business development, advertising and alliances/partnerships. A San Francisco native and UC Berkeley graduate, Julie’s expertise truly lies within the Bay Area.  Prior to joining Sage, she spent the bulk of her career working with large Bay Area companies.  Most recently, Julie held numerous alliance/partner marketing and business development roles at Cisco during her 9 year tenure at the company.  Julie is a highly creative leader with substantial go-to-market experience in technology. With a love of international travel, what she enjoys most about trips abroad are the opportunities to meet new people and make lasting new connections.

Julie loves the Bay Area because:

of its extraordinary diversity of people, amazing assortment of business opportunities and wonderful international flavor

Julie can’t live without:

laughter

“I  love working at the Sage Group  because the Sage team is  comprised of an incredibly dynamic, intelligent group of individuals and it’s extremely rewarding to see how thrilled our clients are with the results.”

Mackenzie Kassis

Marketing Associate

Mackenzie loves the Bay Area because:

of all the unique activities and delicious food right outside my doorstep

Mackenzie can’t live without:

peanut butter

“The Sage Group will rock your world because of the awesome, innovative and exceptionally smart team!”

Melanie Vest

VP, Business Development & Client Management

Melanie supports our clients with strong business expertise and superb customer service. She digs deep with our hiring managers to understand their challenges and business needs and manages the delivery of top-rated talent. Melanie’s background includes over 20 years experience as a management consultant, e-business strategist, and account and program management executive at Deloitte, E-LOAN and Navigant Consulting. Prior to joining Sage, she created and led a national marketing and business development program for Navigant. Melanie earned her MBA from Loyola University in Chicago while working full-time in commercial lending at National Westminster Bank.

Melanie loves the Bay Area because:

of the amazing trails for running, being close to the mountains and great wine

Melanie can’t live without:

her family

“Sage’s culture is unique – we have a fun and collaborative environment, an amazing group of colleagues, and a fantastic service to bring to the Bay Area!”

Sandy Minella

VP, Business Development & Client Management

A self-described “Jill of all Trades,” Sandy has over 15 years of executive-level experience in just about every aspect of business. She specializes in creating, developing and deepening relationships with clients and partners to help all parties succeed in their respective business.

Sandy’s most recent stint was at Apollo Energy Partners, a solar leasing start-up, where she was the VP of Operations and Business Development. She worked with the CEO to build this start-up company from scratch into one of the few thriving solar leasing companies in the country.

Previously, she held a variety of positions, from recruiting for the nonprofit world, to managing the European region of a data analytics software company, where she managed a staff of 26 and turned around a struggling division to become the leader in sales for the company. She’s also started two businesses of her own after working in sales and banking earlier on in her career.

In her spare time, Sandy enjoys the outdoors, live music, volunteering, and most of all, her almost-4-year-old daughter. She is currently serving as a board member of Party Corps, a new nonprofit whose mission is to connect good people to good causes through music.

Sandy loves the Bay Area because:

the many levels of diversity, the incredible natural beauty, and great access to live music

Sandy can’t live without:

her daughter, Gianna and all of her friends and family

“I’m inspired and motivated by the collaboration of The Sage Group team, as well as the values-based approach to working with clients and doing business in general. “

Taylor Shirk

Associate Recruiter

Taylor supports our Consultant & Placement Services Team with skills in recruiting coordination and sourcing amazing talent to match the needs of our clients. Originally from Lancaster, California, Taylor is an award-winning recent grad from UC Berkeley where he earned his BA in American Studies and was honored with the UC Berkeley Leadership Scholarship, the Nestle USA Leadership Scholarship and the National Resident Hall Honorary Award. Prior to joining The Sage Group, Taylor interned with an executive recruiting firm focused on social advertising where he managed a team of social media marketing interns.

Taylor loves the Bay Area because:

of the incredible diversity

Taylor can’t live without:

his family, friends, and sports

“Sage will rock your world because we have the most impressive and talented team in the industry.”

Erin McGrath

Advisor

A former CEO, Erin McGrath is a Group Chairman for Vistage International and an Executive Advisor. Her clients are CEOs, presidents, and senior executives of Bay Area companies ranging from $10 million to $750 million in revenue.

While working with Erin, clients have: built award-winning teams, achieved consistent year-after-year double and triple-digit growth rates, successfully raised capital and sold companies, and gained higher levels of personal satisfaction as leaders in their businesses and lives.

Erin has a career history of management success in generating rapid growth and profitability in small and middle-market businesses and turnarounds, with functional expertise in strategy and marketing. She has over 30 years of experience as a business executive including: CEO and Founder of The Tasting Room, CEO of Nuprodx, President of McGrath and Associates, General Manager of Executive Resorts, and Strategy and Marketing Practice Leader for Arthur Young & Company (now CapGemini).

Past Treasurer and Board Member of the Harvard Business School Northern California Alumni Association, Erin has served on multiple nonprofit boards, and was a Director on the founding board of the Harvard Community Partners.

Erin holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in Economics, with honors, from the University of California, at Davis.

When not out hiking in the hills of Marin, Erin resides in Sausalito.

Gary Weatherford

Advisor

Gary Weatherford has over 25+ years of experience as a senior executive who excels at leadership, building teams, managing change, and producing extraordinary results at both private and public companies.

He currently advises leaders of small, fast growing companies to assist with strategy, executive development, business planning, and execution. Clients include The Sage Group, BTTR Ventures, Blue Bottle Coffee Company, Fort Point Capital Partners, Altus Traffic Management and Bulls Eye International.

Gary served as COO at Bare Escentuals, a multi-channel cosmetics company, where new operating teams and processes enabled an accelerated IPO creating $2 billion in market value for investors. Under his leadership, the company built and managed operating infrastructure enabling annual sales growth to increase from 50% to 83% (over $250 million).

Prior to Bare Escentuals, Gary served as EVP reporting directly to the CEO of CostPlus, a publicly traded specialty retail chain, with over 200 locations and $1 billion in sales. As a member of the three-person executive team, the company achieved average revenue growth of 20% per year from 1995 – 2004, and average operating profit growth of 24% over the same period. Gary was responsible for leading teams and departments representing 95% of the company’s workforce (approximately 6,000 employees nationwide).

Gary has his BA in Economics & International Relations from San Francisco State University and his MBAE from the University of San Francisco Masagung Graduate School of Management where he received the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence and Outstanding Student Leadership Award.