Our People

Additional Consulting Resources

We bring together a network of experienced consultants to address our clients’ unique research needs.

Robert J. Wilkening –
Wilkening & Company

Robert J. Wilkening assists ORF’s clients with the design of sales force, manager and executive compensation systems. He also lends his expertise in organizational design, business strategy formulation and the evaluation of market share and potential.

Mr. Wilkening founded Wilkening & Company in 1989. The firm has worked with organizations in a variety of industries, including construction, consumer goods, distribution, financial services manufacturing, retailing and software.

Prior to forming his firm, Mr. Wilkening was the Midwest Regional Practice Director, Sales and Marketing Consulting for Hay Management Consultants’ Chicago office. He began his consulting career in 1982 and, prior to that, he held several executive positions at Gould, Inc. In the Gould Fluid Components Division, he was General Manager for the Imperial Tool Company, a $15 million, international manufacturer of hand tools.

Mr. Wilkening is a frequent lecturer at the University of Wisconsin Executive Education Institute. He covers topics such as sales force compensation and the design and automation of sales force automation systems.

Mr. Wilkening holds an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He also earned a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

John D. Larkin –
John Larkin & Associates

John D. Larkin consults with ORF on compensation, benefits and organizational effectiveness.

Mr. Larkin founded John Larkin & Associates in 1994. For many years after forming his own firm, he worked as an independent consultant for Bernie Hoffmann and Associates, a Detroit area health care consulting firm. Mr. Larkin also spent 13 years as a Senior Consultant at Hay Group, the world’s largest HR consulting firm. Before he became a consultant, Mr. Larkin held HR positions at Archer Daniels Midland Company, Baxter Laboratories, Chemetron and Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

Mr. Larkin’s clients have included Allied Van Lines, the American Hospital Association, Elkay Manufacturing, Mid-Plains Telephone, Midwestern University, Orchard Software, Provena Healthcare, Sara Lee, Steak ‘n Shake and others. In addition to his work with ORF, Mr. Larkin has also partnered with Wilkening & Associates and John Linton and Associates.

Mr. Larkin holds an M.S. in Industrial Psychology from Iowa State University and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Iowa.

Richard J. Petronio, Ph.D. –
Surcon International, Inc.

Dr. Richard J. Petronio consults with ORF in the area of employee, management and customer survey research. His firm, Surcon International, brings together a team of organizational and industrial psychologists with a keen understanding of how employee opinions drive an organization’s success.

Founded by Dr. Petronio in 1987, Surcon provides consulting services to clients around the world. His team has developed survey systems in a multitude of industries – including financial, health care, manufacturing, services, technology and transportation – as well as the government.

Prior to founding Surcon, Dr. Petronio was the President of Organizational Decisions, Inc. He also was a Senior Consultant at Hay Management Consultants and a Senior Project Director for International Survey Research Corporation. He began his career as a consultant at Control Data Corporation.

Dr. Petronio has taught at the University of Minnesota and Eastern Michigan University. In addition, he was a Research Associate at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research.

Dr. Petronio holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and Communications from the University of Michigan. He also holds an M.A. in Psychology from the New School for Social Research and a B.A. in International Relations from American University.


Arturo Fisher –
Global Rewards Solutions, LLC

Arturo Fisher is an international human resources consultant with more than 21 years of experience. His firm, Global Rewards Solutions, assists ORF’s multinational clients with the creation, assessment and management of compensation and rewards strategies.

Mr. Fisher has extensive experience helping companies establish efficient and effective practices in the countries in which they do business. During his career, he has helped develop pay and benefits programs in more than 80 countries. He also has conducted audits for mergers and acquisitions in Latin America, Europe and Asia. He has worked with organizations of all sizes in a wide variety of industries.

A former principal of Hewitt Associates, Mr. Fisher spent his early career at E.I. DuPont de Nemours, EDS and Kentucky Fried Chicken, holding multiple roles in Finance and HR. He holds a B.A. in Business from La Salle University in Mexico City and is a frequent speaker at International HR forums.

©2007 Organizational Research Forum Inc.