Meet The Iconic Leadership

We believe Founders deserve expert guidance from a team that understands both the strategic and emotional complexities of navigating business transitions. Our team is made up of experienced Founder-owners who have successfully grown and transitioned their businesses, along with trusted advisors who have spent decades working alongside entrepreneurs—helping them make high-stakes decisions with clarity and confidence.

Kory Mitchell

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Kory is a proven business builder, strategic growth expert, and trusted advisor who has walked the exact path he now helps other Founders navigate.  With over 25 years in the specialty contracting industry, Kory has experienced the full entrepreneurial journey—from building a small regional business into a nationally recognized brand to a nine figure transaction.  Like most business owners, Kory learned along the way, working very closely with his dad and brother to grow both organically and through small acquisitions.  In 2019 the business merged with another regional leader to form EIS Holdings.  They continued the growth journey and ultimately had a very successful financial exit in 2021.  Kory transitioned the CEO role in 2024.  Today the business thrives as a $200 million leader in the environmental services space. 

Since that time, many business owners have asked for advice on how they might run a similar playbook.  Many leaders struggle with how to take their business to the next level through acquisitions, or how to sell their business without destroying the legacy of the brand.  As a result, Iconic Founders Group was born.  Instead of going it alone, business owners now have someone who thinks and talks like they do, someone who can be in their corner as an advocate. 

Travis Rue

Partner | Chief Operating Officer

Travis is a seasoned entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and trusted partner to founder-led businesses navigating growth and transition. With a background spanning investment banking, private equity, strategic advisory, and scaling national companies, he brings a rare combination of Wall Street expertise and hands-on operational experience. He began his career advising on M&A transactions at Credit Suisse and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette before going on to co-found and successfully exit a national building products company. He also founded and scaled a national facilities services company, where he continues to serve as a Strategic Advisor. 

Today, in addition to his work with Iconic Founders Group, Travis advises CQL Capital, a middle-market private equity firm, where he supports execution of key strategic initiatives at the firm's portfolio companies and also plays an integral role in the firm's due diligence processes. He is passionate about helping founders build lasting businesses, unlock meaningful value, and achieve successful exits without compromising their legacy. Travis is also deeply committed to his community, having founded a 501(c)(3) in 2014 that raises funds for children and veterans through annual Member Guest events.

Kelley Johnson

Partner | Chief Growth Officer

Kelley is a strategic growth advisor, customer experience architect, and trusted partner to founder-led businesses navigating scale, transition, and legacy planning. With over 20 years of experience operating inside founder-run and family-owned businesses, she brings a rare blend of operational discipline, brand clarity, and emotional intelligence to every stage of the founder journey.

Kelley began her career in marketing and strategy, eventually moving into executive leadership roles where she has helped businesses scale with intention, implement systems that drive measurable growth, and prepare for successful exits. As a seasoned fractional executive, she has advised founders across multiple industries on how to align vision with execution, elevate customer experience, and build organizations that are both sellable and sustainable.

Kelley is passionate about helping founders grow what they’ve built without losing what made them special. She is also deeply committed to mentoring women and young leaders in her community, encouraging the next generation to lead with clarity, heart, and courage.

Heidi Heckler

Chief of Staff

Heidi is a strategic operator, trusted advisor, and behind-the-scenes force who ensures leaders stay focused on what matters most. With a background spanning corporate, legal, and entrepreneurial environments, she brings a rare combination of business acumen, operational discipline, and high emotional intelligence to every engagement.

Throughout her career, Heidi has worked alongside executives and leadership teams to drive clarity, alignment, and execution. She is known for creating structure without bureaucracy, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and building systems that scale. Whether she’s untangling complexity or keeping the trains running on time, Heidi brings a steady hand and strategic lens to every challenge.



At Iconic Founders Group, Heidi serves as the connective tissue across people, priorities, and processes—ensuring our mission, momentum, and founder-first approach stay tightly aligned.

Natalia Dugandzic

Head of Strategic Partnerships

Natalia is a connector, trusted advisor, and relationship strategist with a 20-year track record of supporting visionary founders through growth, transition, and legacy planning. At Iconic Founders Group, she leads Strategic Partnerships, building and nurturing a national network of trusted professionals who introduce us to the kind of founders we were built to serve.

Known for her high integrity and relational depth, Natalia focuses on creating warm, trusted connections with advisors and industry insiders who work closely with owner-led businesses in the specialty contracting and skilled trades sectors. These introductions often unlock transformative growth opportunities or spark conversations around values-aligned exits.



Across every role, Natalia brings discretion, intentionality, and deep respect for what founders have built—making her a powerful ally for those navigating what’s next.

Katie Anderson

Executive Operations Manager

Katie brings a sharp operational mind and a client-first ethos to Iconic Founders Group as Executive Operations Manager. With a background in real estate and an MBA from Rockhurst University, she has spent the past decade delivering high-touch service and managing complex transactions in both Chicago and Denver.