John P. Foster has 30 plus years of progressive leadership and management experience with multiple companies at various stages of development across several fast paced industries including; finance (Investment Banking Partnerships, Valuation Services), business consulting (Strategic Planning), national distribution (Computer Hardware and Consumer Electronics), healthcare (Co-Founded Medicaid HMO) commercial real estate (Development of Medical Facilities, Personal Investing) and publishing (In Room Magazine – Hyatt Hotels).
John is the Managing Member of PathFinder Group (PFG), a Tampa based advisory firm serving Family Businesses. PFG is focused on Enterprise Risk Management through, Strategic Planning, Process Improvement, Leadership Development and Creation of High Performing Cultures.
John has been a life-long entrepreneur and from 1996 until 2005 he served as Chairman and CEO of Alliance Computing Technologies, Inc. (ACT), a company that was recognized by the Tampa Bay Business Journal Pacesetters, as the fifteenth fastest growing company in Tampa for 3 years in succession. ACT distributed computers internationally to the Rent To Own (RTO), a $6B Industry growing at 11% per year.
John has demonstrated expertise in the strategic and operational aspects of business. In his capacity as ACT’s Chairman, John interacted regularly with Shareholders, an outside Board of Directors, Bankers and General Counsel in communicating the company’s vision and reporting results. As CEO of ACT he led the formulation of strategic initiatives, oversaw the deployment of tactical plans for each functional area, and was ultimately responsible for the company’s success. Over a four year period ACT increased profitable sales an average of 127% per annum to $24MM. In 2004 John led an initiative to expand ACT’s product line and services through the acquisition of a national distributor. His duties also took him to Washington, DC where he met with both Houses of Congress as an advocate for the RTO industry for four years.
Prior to joining ACT John was President of Asset Management Exchange Corporation, which provided investment banking and financial management services to small business in the Real Estate, Manufacturing, Distribution and Healthcare Industries within the state of Florida. During this time, John helped form the Tampa Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, an international association recognized for its commitment to professionals involved in corporate growth, corporate development, and Mergers & Acquisitions.
From 1986 to 1992 John was the President of Compass Marketing Group, Inc., a boutique company focused on providing Commercial Real Estate Investment Analysis and Business Valuation Services to the healthcare industry.
John earned his BA in Psychology from Duquesne University and an MBA from the University of Tampa in 1993. In 2014 The University of Tampa invited him to be an adjunct professor in the John Sykes College of Business, Center for Entrepreneurism teaching Family Business. A lifelong learner, John has completed 240 graduate level credits in Commercial Investment Real Estate Analysis, acquired his Florida Real Estate Broker’s license, and a 6PAK Captain’s license. In February of 2013 he completed the Florida Export Series and then completed the International Trade Certificate Program in May of 2013. He is very active in the community serving on the BayCare Behavioral Health Advisory Board, University of Tampa’s, Board of Fellows the Downtown Rotary Club of Tampa Board of Directors, Rotary Foundation Trustee and past President of the Downtown Rotary Club of Tampa (2008-09). He is a new member of Economics Club of Tampa. In January of 2018 John was invited to serve as a Director on the Board of Flanigan’s Enterprises Inc. trading as BDL (NYSE).the Economics Club of Tampa. In January of 2018 John was invited to serve as a Director on the Board of Flanigan’s Enterprises Inc. trading as BDL (NYSE).