The Katalyst Group Team
Kevin Kaye
Principal
Kevin Kaye blends a background in accounting and finance with a people-first mindset. He began his career as a staff accountant and quickly discovered his talent for building relationships. This led to eight successful years at Robert Half International, where he expanded operations and led high-performing recruiting teams across Vancouver, Chicago, and Portland.
His entrepreneurial journey continued at Percipio Consulting Group, where he helped drive rapid growth through recruiting and business development. Kevin’s global curiosity inspired years of travel across Central America, Europe, and beyond—broadening his perspective and fueling the launch of Katalyst Group in 2019. The firm reflects his passion for connection, culture, and growth.
Kevin remains deeply engaged in the business and nonprofit communities, supporting organizations like FEI, Orion3, and Start Early. At his core, he’s driven by meaningful conversations and connecting people with the right opportunities.
Kevin graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelors of Science in Finance.
Laura Witter-Johnson
Chief Financial Officer
Laura is an operationally focused finance and accounting executive with years of experience managing and directing financial organizations and the full spectrum of responsibilities needed to align with a company’s mission and long-term growth objectives. She is a Certified Public Accountant who started her career in auditing at KPMG and went on to roles with increasing levels of responsibility at several technology enterprises, most recently as CFO of a Chicago-based software company. She has been a key contributor in the successful sale of five different organizations throughout her career.
Laura enjoys collaborating with others, both professionally and personally. She is a member of several professional organizations including the AICPA, Third Degree, Orion3, Leadership Group and The FENG. In her free time, she is an enthusiastic National Park visitor who relishes challenging hikes as well as spending time with her family and her multiple “furry roommates.”
Laura is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy.
James Lewis
Vice President, Project Resources
James brings nearly 20 years recruiting and career coaching experience to Katalyst Group. A quintessential people person, James is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections in both personal and professional realms. Throughout his career, he has played pivotal roles as a leader and contributor across diverse organizations, spanning boutique startups to global corporations.
James is truly passionate about helping people be the best they can be – even in his free time. Since 2017 James has actively been volunteering with Code Platoon, a nonprofit coding bootcamp for military veterans seeking a move into software development post service. In his role as volunteer Career Coach, James offers interview training, resume writing, networking and career preparedness. He also volunteers with CareerSpring helping FGLI collegians prepare for entrance into the workforce.
Outside the office James embraces the outdoors as much as possible – cycling, running, hiking, and gardening. He, his wife, two children, cat, and five chickens (currently) embrace suburban living.
James studied Communications and Organizational Behavior at Northwestern University.
Erin Jewell
Executive Talent Partner
With a commitment to being fair to all parties involved, Erin serves as part negotiator, consultant, client service representative and listener. Knowing the process from beginning to end, both the rewards of matching talent with an organization and the challenges of kicking off a search, Erin stays focused on building meaningful relationships with individuals and hiring managers. Making the verbal offer, to Erin, is one of her favorite steps in the recruitment process, where she shares the excitement alongside the candidate as they envision themselves in their new role.
Erin has over a decade of recruiting experience, having started her journey in a nonprofit start-up. Since then, Erin has served recruiting roles in both the environmental and financial services industries. Enjoying both laugh-out-loud humor as well as crime podcasts and a variety of fiction, nonfiction and autobiographies, Erin also spends her free time visiting friends and family on the West coast.
Erin earned a BBA in Marketing from Saginaw Valley State University.
Christian Cañas
Executive Talent Partner
Christian Cañas is an accomplished executive search professional with experience spanning nonprofits, corporate organizations, and startups. He has held senior leadership roles at boutique and national search firms, including launching a nationally recognized Veteran hiring initiative that helped more than 700 veterans and their families secure meaningful employment.
A U.S. Army veteran and former Non-commissioned Officer with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Christian brings a disciplined, relationship-driven approach to every engagement. Known for his thoughtful leadership and mission-focused mindset, Christian is passionate about building strong teams — and enjoys traveling any chance he gets!
Christian holds a BA and an MBA from Loyola University Chicago. He previously served on the Advisory Board for Executive and Professional Education and continues to stay engaged with the Quinlan School of Business as a mentor.
Mara Perlow
Director of Marketing & Communications
From a young age, Mara developed a keen interest to the messaging behind products and services. Sitting attentively, on the other side of the phone calls her trailblazer grandmother was making selling classified ads for a major financial magazine, Mara understood the importance of the story behind the product and service. Hearing those well-crafted messages, Mara started to develop her own storytelling style, enjoying the creative process and seeing her version make an impact towards increasing customer engagement and the sales cycle.
In her free time, Mara practices yoga, cycles long distances, reads, and spends time with her family and friends exploring the cultural offerings of Chicago.
Mara earned a Master in Business Administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Arizona.
Susan Kingman
Executive Talent Partner
Susan takes a relationship-driven, thoughtful approach to her work, serving as a trusted advisor to both clients and candidates. She believes great placements come from truly understanding people—their goals, motivations, and the moments of change they’re navigating. From launching a search to guiding a candidate through an offer, Susan is focused on making the process both effective and meaningful for everyone involved.
She brings over a decade of experience in executive search, talent strategy, and business development, partnering with organizations across financial services, technology, and professional services. Susan has a strong track record of helping companies build high-impact finance and accounting leadership teams, particularly during times of growth and transformation. Prior to joining Katalyst Group, she started and led her own executive search firm, working closely with founders, boards, and finance leaders to place trusted advisors at critical inflection points.
Outside of work, Susan is actively involved in community initiatives, supporting organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Boys & Girls Club, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. She’s especially passionate about mentorship and expanding access to opportunity in underserved communities.
Susan earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Political Science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.