Our Team

A Leadership Team Delivering Real-World Solutions

At Valerian Partners, our leadership team is made up of successful industry professionals who have a combined 90 years of experience working at top Fortune 100 companies. With unparalleled expertise across multiple industries, including IT, finance, operations, retail, and manufacturing, our managing partners bring a wealth of knowledge to every project. From operations to strategic planning and process optimization, we work closely with businesses to solve their toughest problems with practical, scalable solutions that ensure long-term success.

Managing Partners

Mike Zeigler

With 30 years of executive leadership experience at Fortune 100 companies, Mike Zeigler has a proven track record of driving business growth and operational excellence. His career at Micron Technology, Inc. included senior and executive leadership roles in IT, Worldwide M&A, P&L ownership, GM of MicroDisplay business unit, and VP of global HR operations. Mike has also held interim CHRO, CFO, and Co-CEO responsibilities across a number of businesses.

Corporate/IT M&A.
Process controls and automation engineer.
Operations Excellence – driving 30-40% cost reductions while improving quality by 20%+.
IT executive management for global manufacturing with over 500+ engineers across seven countries.
Financial management.
HR Executive Management, HR Operations, and Data Analytics for 34,000 employees across 20 countries.
GM and P&L Owner - driving revenue growth from $2m to $40m+ within 18 months.
Extensive Contacts in Japan, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore (including the Economic Development Board), and Europe.
Extensive knowledge and experience in aseptic plant construction, business operations, production, processes, and systems.

Holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Montana Tech and an MBA from Boise State University.
Board Member and Compensation Committee Chair for AmericanPharma Technologies.
Board Member for Boise Valley Economic Partnership (BVEP).
Investor & Screening Chair - Boise Angel Alliance promoting business creation in the Treasure Valley.

Holds extensive experience in retail, operations, and multi-site management.
Interim CSO/CRO roles across multiple industries
Led a $1 billion business segment with 4,000 employees.
Managed over 40 projects related to store builds, remodels, and digital transformations.
Held various leadership roles in food, apparel, general merchandise, and new business development (potential customers of Walmart), including operations across Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon.
Directly supervised large multi-site teams and leaders in HR, Loss Prevention, Safety, Digital, and Pharmacy.
Served as a public relations representative for Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada as a top regional market representative for Walmart.
Member of the Idaho Preferred Board, working with the Idaho Department of Agriculture.

Tory Nichols

Tory Nichols brings 28 years of Fortune 1 executive leadership, primarily from his career at Walmart. With deep expertise in retail and operations, Tory has successfully led teams, managed large-scale projects, and driven company growth.

Jeff King

With over 32 years of experience at Fortune 100 companies, Jeff King is a leader in IT, global M&A, and operations. His expertise spans from designing and launching global site start-ups to managing large-scale technology projects.

Helps mentor and guide business and IT growth, strategy, effectiveness, and breakthrough performance.
Interim CIO and CEO roles across multiple industries
32+ years at Micron in various senior IT leadership roles in Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Product Lifecycle Management in Facilities, IT, and worldwide M&A.
Successfully managed over 20 multi-million to several-billion-dollar worldwide site start-ups, acquisitions, and integrations.
Holds a Business/IT degree from Boise State University.
Holds extensive high-level and detailed experience in:

Sales
HR
IT
Finance
Executive Communication
Corporate & Government Affairs
Manufacturing
Aseptic Plant Development
Plant Operations
Plant Management
Safety & Quality

Our Consulting Team

Valerian Partners – A Partnership You Can Count On

At Valerian Partners, our leadership team is more than experienced professionals—we’re passionate about helping businesses grow, thrive, and succeed in an ever-changing landscape. Our deep industry knowledge, combined with a hands-on approach, ensures our clients receive the guidance and support they need to achieve sustainable success.

Ready to partner with us? Fill out our online form or email us at info@valerianpartners.com.