MANAGEMENT BIOS

AJ Lawler is a Senior Manager on the Employment Screening operations team at Scherzer International. AJ joined the firm in 2000 as a research analyst conducting employment purpose background investigations for all of SI’s clients. In 2002, AJ became Manager of the Employment Screening operations team, and over the years, has helped refine existing processes and develop new ways to assist clients in achieving their background screening goals. AJ currently serves our law firm clients, working with some of the top law firms in the country. As an industry veteran, he brings a wealth of professional experience and knowledge to the table, helping his clients meet their unique and specific needs. AJ is responsible for providing reliable and responsive customer service, a thorough and comprehensive research process, and accurate reports that are legally compliant, among many other things, to each of his clients.

Prior to joining SI, AJ worked in the Human Resources field as well as Security and Security Consulting. AJ is a Veteran who served two years in the United States Army, followed by six years in the California Army National Guard.

Alex J. Rodriguez has over 15 years of experience in the industry. He joined the Scherzer International management team in 2019. Previously he served the company as a research analyst and team lead. Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Aside from work, Alex enjoys sports and the outdoors.

Bill Stone is an EVP of Scherzer International and has several years of experience in the industry, all of it at SI. Bill is one of many managers in the company’s operations, trying hard to delight the clients. In this regard, he tries to assist others in meeting the goal of providing high-quality reports in a timely manner. After working his way up the SI ladder from research assistant to research analyst to managing a research department, in his current role, he primarily assists with the coordinating of staffing among departments, monitoring capacity, measuring efficiencies, providing back up when needed, and generally overseeing the operational functions of the company. Through his various positions and in partnership with the clients over the years, he has gained a lot of experience understanding what is important and what is needed to provide great service.

In his spare time, he enjoys trying new foods, meeting new people, and seeing new places, not necessarily in that order.

Carole serves on the Board of Directors of Scherzer International and a charitable organization. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and is still a Cleveland Guardian fan. Previously she served on a number of Board of Directors of charitable organizations.

Carole received her degree from USC after moving to California with her husband, Larry. She enjoys walking.

Dave is a Managing Director furthering Scherzer International’s sales and marketing efforts and has been involved with the company since 1993. Prior to SI, Dave held executive leadership positions with Progressive Insurance and Capitol American Life Insurance and graduated from Dartmouth College and Harvard Business School.

Outside of work, Dave is an avid but aging tennis player and enjoys his role as a grandparent.

Ina started with SI in 2006 as a research analyst and was promoted to manager in 2011. She is currently in charge of the Background Department. Prior to SI, Ina’s experience was with humanitarian organizations (International Red Cross and Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation). Ina has a master’s degree in history from the University of Sofia, and is fluent in Bulgarian, Russian, and French.

Kelli Koch is the Manager of Prospective Client Investigations and Quality Control at Scherzer International. She has 25 years of experience in the prospective client/due diligence industry, including national and international investigations as well as litigation support research. She joined Scherzer International in 2012 and manages the Cleveland branch. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Baldwin Wallace University and is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Larry is the founder and President of Scherzer International. He has served on the Board of Directors of three community banks which were acquired while he was a director. He currently is the Vice-Chairman of a fourth community bank.

Larry enjoys giving back to the community and has been involved with a number of charitable organizations.

Larry received his undergraduate degree at Bowling Green State University and his MBA from Case Western Reserve University. Following the Cleveland Guardians and walking are two of Larry’s favorite hobbies.

Having started his career with Scherzer International right out of college, Rich began as a research analyst and, within 18 months, was promoted to Manager of the Prospective Client unit. Rich has led a team of researchers, several of whom he would mentor and would go on to become managers of their own departments. Since 2013, Rich has been manager of the Business Background unit, overseeing the growth of current and new clients and focusing on winning clients’ trust with an excellent customer experience. Rich joined the company’s board of directors in 2017 and was named Executive Vice President in December 2020.

Rich earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies with a minor in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two boys volunteering to coach their youth sports teams, and is an avid backpacker.

Prior to joining the management team in 2015, Vijay Cruz was a research analyst in the employment screening department and brings extensive experience in conducting employment-purpose background investigations. He received the basic and advanced FCRA certifications from the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of California at Irvine, a Master of Science degree in Management from the University of Illinois and Post-Graduate Certificates from the University of Georgia and Columbia University. Vijay was born and raised in Southern California and outside of the office he is a fervent collector of comic books and toys, plays the stock market and poker, exercises at F45 to work off all the ice cream he eats, and would probably try to recruit you to join him in an Obstacle Course Race the first opportunity he gets.