PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Propeller, a Portland-headquartered management consulting firm known for leading organizations in retail, technology, healthcare, energy and utilities, and the public sector, announces new executive leadership in Portland. The current managing director of the Portland office, AJ Oberland, has transitioned to a new role as vice president of operations. In his new position, Oberland will oversee several internal functions to improve processes and facilitate Propeller’s continued growth and scalability.
Oberland joined Propeller in 2015 as a consultant and quickly ascended to director in 2016 and subsequently managing director of the Portland office in 2017. During his tenure as managing director, Oberland played a pivotal role in doubling the size of the Portland market and its leadership team and hired 120 consultants locally. Oberland’s commitment and compassionate leadership style helped drive the regional success of Propeller and its employees.
“We are excited for AJ to take on this new challenge as VP of operations,” said Sunil Kasturi, CEO at Propeller. “As managing director of our original and largest market, AJ partnered with leaders across Propeller to deliver success for clients and the firm and has been instrumental in the growth and success of our Portland office. I am confident he will bring the same dedication to his new role.”
Assuming the role of Portland managing director is Maura Koehler-Hanlon. Koehler-Hanlon joined Propeller as a consultant in 2017 and quickly proved her capabilities, earning promotions to director in 2021 and becoming the first senior director in Portland. As managing director, Koehler-Hanlon will be responsible for the Portland office’s core business, fostering a positive organizational culture, and managing the client portfolio and local directors.
“The cornerstone of Maura’s leadership is an anchoring belief in making a positive impact,” said AJ Oberland, former Portland managing director and new vice president of operations at Propeller. “Maura’s exceptional leadership skills focus not only on the success of Propeller’s business but also on the experience of the clients and team members with whom she collaborates in pursuit of that impact. Her ability to rally her team makes her the ideal choice to lead our Portland office. Under her guidance, our home office will continue to thrive, further enhancing our reputation in the market.”
During her tenure, Koehler-Hanlon has contributed to Propeller's growth by driving exceptional business results for clients and Propeller. She helped to deepen key relationships across the Portland community and has been a leader in helping Propeller expand its operating model as it grows.
Under the leadership of AJ Oberland as vice president of operations and Maura Koehler-Hanlon as managing director, the Portland office is positioning itself for continued success and growth.
About Propeller
Propeller is a management consulting firm that helps businesses thrive in change by delivering impact-driven solutions that build momentum. Propeller consultants work alongside client teams to deliver customized frameworks and tools that solve problems and drive change. Propeller has specialized expertise across people and change, experience design, data and analytics, and technology transformation. Since its founding in 2012, Propeller has received industry awards, including Great Place to Work’s® Best Medium Workplace™ and Portland Business Journal’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies. Propeller has offices in Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; San Jose, California; Denver, Colorado; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit https://propeller.com/.
