About Catalyst

Catalyst helps protect and grow bottom lines by maximizing operational, financial and reputational impact. 

Partners Eugene Munin, a longtime budget director/CFO and general counsel, and Laurent Pernot, a senior executive/chief of staff and veteran of several public affairs consultancies, have steered organizations through operational and reputational adversity from financial, legal, compliance, operational and communications angles.

But we know the best way to steer clear of business emergencies and drive success is through proactive adaptation of your organization, dogged management of your reputation, focused articulation of your value, concerted management of initiatives and teams, and vigilant defense of your finances and rights.

Laurent and Eugene were colleagues at a City of Chicago agency, where they partnered on such critical and delicate matters as structuring the design-build process and construction oversight for the development of a $251 million college; participation in the Federal Communications Commission broadcast spectrum incentive auction; remediating the mishandling of human cadavers used for medical instruction and revamping moving-forward processes and oversight; as well as collective bargaining. 

Between them, Eugene and Laurent have devised and implemented strategic plans and major reorganizations, balanced budgets and navigated dire financial straits, ensured internal alignment and efficiency, branded organizations, managed crises, spearheaded government and stakeholder relations, and handled high-level project management and negotiations. 

We are not professional advice-givers; we have personally managed high-wire situations that meant the difference between an organization thriving and hanging it up. That is why we don’t just help devise plays; we get on the field with your team to translate vision into results.