Who's who in consulting. (top officials of business consulting firms) (Who's Who in Dallas)

DONALD AKINS President Hildebrandt Inc.

Donald Akins said he has found the greatest reward in "salvaging several law firms on the brink of dissolution."

Akins, president of Hildebrandt Inc. since 1990, specializes in consulting services for the legal profession in areas such as compensation, mergers, acquisitions and management. He was director of administration with Geary, Stahl & Spencer before joining Hildebrandt as senior vice president in 1980.

Akins said he has been challenged by maintaining profitability and improving the quality of life for lawyers while facing intense competition.

He said he has been most influenced by Brad Hildebrandt, chairman of the company, and the late Milton Stern, former managing partner of Hannoch, Weisman, Stern & Besser in New Jersey.

Akins' professional activities include the International Association of Legal Administrators and the law practice management section of the American Bar Association.

A native of Hillsboro, Akins earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and education from the University of Texas. He and his wife, Barbara, have two children and live in Carrollton.

RICHARD ALAND Managing Director Innovative Financial Services Inc.

Richard Aland founded Innovative Financial Services Inc. in December 1988. His company specializes in domestic and international finance, and public and private partnerships.

Before founding his company, Aland was president of Cookieworks. His first job was with Smith Barney & Co. in London. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan and a doctorate from Columbia University.

He said he has been most challenged by the development and expansion of his own business to national and international recognition. He said the biggest challenge for the finance industry is finding capital for expansion and development of projects.

Aland serves as financial adviser for the Texas High Speed Rail Authority, the City of Grand Prairie, the Perot Group and Paul Quinn College. He is a member of the Dallas Symphony's Stradivarius Club and the Symphony Guild.

A native of Birmingham, Ala., Aland lives in Dallas and has two children.

DON ARNWINE President Arnwine Associates

Don Arnwine began his career in medicine as an administrative assistant with the University of Colorado Medical Center. He was chairman and chief executive officer of Voluntary Hospitals of America before founding Arnwine Associates in 1988.

Arnwine Associates specializes in strategic and organizational development for the health care industry. Arnwine said "converting from status quo to a managed competition model" is the biggest challenge facing that industry.

Arnwine, a native of Ponca City, Okla., earned a bachelor's degree from Central State University in Oklahoma and a master's degree from Northwestern University. He named Robert Denhom, a teacher from his graduate studies, as the person most influential on his career.

He said he has found the greatest reward in leading Voluntary Hospitals from a small, shared services organization to a large, national hospital alliance.

Arnwine has held leadership positions in the American Hospital Association, the Fellow American College of Health Care Executives and Optimists International. He is a recipient of the B'nai B'rith national health care award. The University of Charleston awarded him an honorary doctor of law degree.

He and his wife, Norma, live in Irving and have two children.

ANNE BAVARIAN President and Director Bavarian International Associates Inc.

Anne Bavarian said she has been most challenged by -- and has found the greatest reward in -- "going into a man's business and succeeding quickly."

In August 1992 Bavarian founded Bavarian International Associates Inc., which specializes in training and business development for economies in transition. She was with Arco International Oil and Gas Co. in its international training division.

After earning a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Southern Methodist University in 1973 and a master's degree in education from the University of Texas, she taught English to Iranian students during the country's '79 revolution.

Bavarian said she has been most influenced by Geert Hofstede, who she calls a "cross-cultural guru." International trade's biggest challenge, Bavarian said, is learning to focus on the potential of a project rather than dwelling on the history of failed projects. She credits the growth of Bavarian International Associates in 1993 to "our ability to run a lean organization, to take risks and stay focused."

She is active in many groups, including the Russian American Chamber of Commerce, Advocates for Peace and the Society for Human Resource Development. She also has a long list of community projects, including symposiums to promote interest in developing nations and a pen-pal project with 200 schoolchildren.

Bavarian, a native of Hartford, Conn., lives in Carrollton with her husband, Mehrdad, and their two children.

MANIE CAMPBELL Principal Campbell Wilson

In 1987 Manie Campbell founded Campbell Wilson, which specializes in health care finances and operations. He had been vice president of consulting for Voluntary Hospitals of America.

His clients are most challenged, he said, by "learning to operate efficiently and survive federal cost controls." Campbell's greatest challenge, he said, is representing hospital clients against the federal government on Medicare issues.

Campbell, a native of Houston, first worked as an auditor with Blue Cross Blue Shield after earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Houston. He has chaired the reimbursement committee for the Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council and teaches Sunday school at Highland Park United Methodist Church.

Campbell named his wife, Danna Wilson, as being the most influential on his career. They live in Dallas and have two children.

W. THOMAS CROSS Partner-Products Group Price Waterhouse

Thomas Cross joined Price Waterhouse in 1976 and was admitted as a partner in 1984.

A native of Jasper, Ala., Cross earned a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University and a master's degree from the University of Alabama. Before joining Price Waterhouse, he worked for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.

"I measure my success by my client's success," Cross said. "My most rewarding accomplishment is our track record of successful projects that allow clients to grow their business, penetrate new markets, serve their customers better and operate more efficiently." …