Our Staff

Principals

David J. Nelson
Founder and CEO David Nelson has extensive management and consulting experience including more than 25 years of leadership consulting, advising and coaching with organizations and key executives  in the United States and Canada.

As the firm’s founder, David’s vision has always been to foster new ways of thinking in a highly personalized offering that emphasizes the uniqueness or ‘DNA’ of each client organization and each individual client. This approach is designed to reframe important and pressing issues, needs and opportunities in ways that produce effective and sometimes surprising outcomes that work best for the organization and for its leaders.

Previously, David served as a principal with regional and national consulting firms engaged in leadership transition, coaching and career guidance. He  works with key leaders in healthcare and academic institutions, medical groups, law firms, financial services, research, scientific and not for profit organizations as well as retail, manufacturing and other enterprises.

David holds a masters degree from the University of Minnesota and a bachelors degree from St. Olaf College.

As the market and our economy continue
to cause everyone concern, DNA continues to be
a valued resource to our corporate clients and
to their leaders as they face new and often very
stressful work and career challenges.
—David Nelson

Chuck Orrestad
President Chuck Orrestad is an experienced and trusted advisor to senior leaders and organizations and a seasoned corporate executive in the healthcare technology sector with significant board experience. Chuck’s senior leadership roles have spanned public and private companies, startup and turnaround ventures as well as not-for-profit organizations. His insights as board member, board leader and as President with board accountability give him a unique operational perspective valued by our clients.

After several years at Bell Laboratories and Johnson & Johnson early in his career, Chuck led product development and operations efforts at Medtronic Physio-Control and at Quinton Instruments, global medical device companies. More recently, Chuck has served as COO in emerging, web-based software companies and as President of an international not-for-profit venture.

Chuck applies this extensive background and broad range of skills to engage boards, board leaders, CEOs and other senior and emerging leaders around high stakes leadership issues and strategies.

Chuck holds a masters degree from Stanford University and a bachelors degree from the University of Washington.

A particular DNA strength is in working with boards,
board leadership and other senior leaders
to provide strategic guidance around critical,
often difficult high stakes leadership concerns
that prevent enterprises from reaching
their full potential.
—Chuck Orrestad

Arnie Ohaks
Vice President Arnie Ohaks has been a leader in expanding DNA’s organizational advising, leadership investment and career management services, bringing a rich background of service delivery, business development and account management.

Recognized by corporate clients as a trusted partner, advisor and excellent service provider, Arnie has more than 20 years of experience in guiding organizations and key leaders in addressing important leadership issues with candor and creativity. His keen insight and mentoring style create a climate of growth and support for both the corporate client and the individual leader that often lead to new ways of thinking and creative win-win outcomes. Arnie is recognized for his ability to help individual leaders gain clarity on their best strengths and to translate natural gifts, passions and interests into well aligned roles and careers.

Prior to joining DNA, Arnie played key leadership roles with regional and national consulting firms, including The Brighton Group/OI Partners for 12 years.

Arnie holds a masters degree from Yale University and a bachelors degree from St. Olaf College.

Our passion and focus at DNA continues
to be leadership and career health: challenging leaders
to be at their best and to manage their careers well; helping
organizations address important and sensitive leadership
issues that need timely attention; and guiding organizations
to utilize their key talent wisely and well..
—Arnie Ohaks