People Centric CEO sells stake, exits firm

Randy Mayes

Don Harkey

Diana Day

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People Centric Consulting Group LLC CEO Randy Mayes sold his stake in the firm he co-founded six years ago.

Effective Feb. 1, Chief Innovation Officer Don Harkey became CEO and sole shareholder.

Harkey said he first approached Mayes about the buyout last year. He declined to disclose the purchase price for Mayes’ half of the company. Mayes, Harkey said, is seeking new entrepreneurial ventures following the transition.

At People Centric, Harkey said the firm is growing from coast to coast, specifically in publishing with such clients as Boston Magazine and Philadelphia Magazine.

“I think our next big growth is going to be in health care,” he said, estimating 2017 revenue rose by 15 to 20 percent. “We’ve had some really good growth working in hospitals.”

People Centric also promoted Chief Business Officer Diana Day to chief operating officer.

The firm in 2014 and 2015 qualified as a finalist for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Award.

Founded in 2012 by Mayes and Harkey, People Centric provides business and management consulting services. Its local representative clients on its website include Whitaker Publishing, Tomo Drug Testing and GigSalad.

Both businessmen have been recognized by Springfield Business Journal as Men of the Year, and Day was honored in 2015 as one of SBJ’s Most Influential Women.