Jay Mathur
Principal

Since January 2002, Jay Mathur has significantly contributed to Furst Group's success, and has had an ownership interest in the firm since 2007. Jay enhances Furst Group's abilities to assist our clients with their strategic development processes. Through his global leadership and consulting background, Jay has considerable experience in creating value for stakeholders by quickly and efficiently increasing their profitability.

Previously, Jay was a principal with Ernst & Young's management consulting practices where he provided global leadership to the Growth Solutions and New Product Development segments. During a more than 20-year consulting career, he has worked with numerous clients in multiple industries, including health care, life sciences, manufacturing, high-tech services, public sector and not-for-profit organizations with sizes ranging from start-ups to Global 500 companies.

Jay has been actively involved in multiple boards, community organizations and advisory councils. Among those, he serves on the Global Networking Committee for TiE, the world's largest advocacy and support organization for technology entrepreneurship. He is also sits on the Rock River Valley Entrepreneurship Center's managing board, which is sponsored by Illinois' governor. Previously, Jay was chairman of the Rock River Chapter of the American Red Cross.

In addition, he is the founding member of the Regional Initiative for Community Excellence (RICE), a broad-based community organization promoting regional cooperation in northwest Illinois. As a member of the Rotary Club of Rockford, he served on the International Group Study Exchange Committee as the Vice Chairman of Outreach and World Community Services/Polio Eradication Committee. Jay is a frequent speaker on various topics including Innovation, Building Excellence, Operational Transformation, Profitable Growth and Shareholder Value Creation. His speaking engagements have included numerous international conferences, professional organizations, CEO and senior executive forums, academic institutions, service clubs and research organizations. He has been interviewed and extensively quoted in published and electronic media on a variety of management topics.