Press release
Close Cohen Doubles Footprint to Serve Research Triangle; Welcomes Former Zillow VP Poznoff to Coaching Team Amid Director Job Loss Crisis
Firm expands coast-to-coast as executive coaching demand surges among Directors facing job loss.
SEATTLE - Dec. 16, 2025 - Close Cohen, the national career consulting firm, today announced a major strategic move: its East Coast expansion into Raleigh-Durham and the addition of former Zillow Vice President Nancy Poznoff [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-poznoff/] as Executive Coach. This growth initiative follows the firm's recent recognition with the Corporate Vision 2025 Award for leadership in career coaching. The expansion also aligns with the firm's support for Directors, its largest client segment, who are battling historic job losses due to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related factors.
Close Cohen was founded in 2015 and is led by CEO Laura Close [https://www.linkedin.com/company/closecohencareerconsulting/]. Laura is an expert on AI workforce impacts, having also founded venture capital-backed AI startup Included.ai in 2021. Included.ai is an enterprise technology that derives insights and trends from workforce data.
Drawing on proven playbooks built for high-tech and innovation-driven hiring environments, Close's national firm equips professionals to hit competitive career milestones in high-tech environments. Data from 2025 shared by Close Cohen shows that most clients were Directors, underscoring how this organizational level faces the steepest barriers to career stability in the new world of enterprise AI.
"Organizations are under intense pressure to shrink their workforces, and Directors, who are typically seen as high value and next in line for VP roles, are now viewed as redundant with the advent of AI agents," said Laura Close, CEO and Founder of Close Cohen. "What we are seeing are professionals who've built their careers around managing large headcounts, global scopes of work, and managing reporting cycles-being laid off. AI is now assuming those responsibilities, and directors are in a tough position. We equip them with the strategy needed to secure their next role."
The firm's expansion to Raleigh-Durham establishes a second headquarters in one of the country's fastest-growing innovation corridors, home to Fortune 500 companies, high-growth startups, and world-class universities. The move positions Close Cohen to better serve professionals on both coasts while tapping into the robust talent ecosystem of the Research Triangle.
In addition, Nancy Poznoff joins the Close Cohen team as Executive Coach. A former Vice President at two local greats: Zillow and Starbucks. Poznoff also co-founded the Mother Bear Marketing & Communications Agency. She brings decades of senior leadership experience across Starbucks, Zillow, T-Mobile, SaaS, real estate, and consumer products. Her blend of Fortune 500 leadership and entrepreneurial success makes her a sought-after thought partner for executives navigating growth opportunities.
"I've built teams and brands in some of the fastest-moving industries in the world," said Poznoff. "Now I'm excited to help leaders align who they are with how they lead, especially those navigating high stakes transitions at the director and executive levels."
Close Cohen's recognition with the Corporate Vision 2025 Award [https://www.corporatevision-news.com/winners/close-cohen-career-consulting/]underscores the firm's innovative approach to executive coaching, blending data-driven insights with mentorship from executive coaches who have successfully navigated corporate power structures.
With West Coast headquarters in Seattle and East Coast office in Raleigh-Durham, Close Cohen is positioning itself as the go-to national brand for executives seeking to accelerate their career trajectory in an increasingly complex workplace.
For more information, visit www.closecohen.com [http://www.closecohen.com/]
About Close Cohen
Close Cohen Career Consulting helps senior professionals and executives navigate career transitions, secure promotions, and build strategic leadership presence. Founded in Seattle and now expanding to Raleigh-Durham, the firm is trusted by leaders across technology, finance, healthcare, and consumer industries.
Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2025/12/13d873966a0e67a8482a376d4a1dbe63.jpg
Laura Close
Media Contact
Company Name: Close Cohen Career Consulting
Contact Person: Laura Close
Email: Send Email [http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=close-cohen-doubles-footprint-to-serve-research-triangle-welcomes-former-zillow-vp-poznoff-to-coaching-team-amid-director-job-loss-crisis]
Phone: (206) 697-1691
Country: United States
Website: http://www.closecohen.com
Legal Disclaimer: Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. GetNews makes no warranties or responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you are affiliated with this article or have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article and would like it to be removed, please contact retract@swscontact.com
This release was published on openPR.
Permanent link to this press release:
Copy
Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release.
You can edit or delete your press release Close Cohen Doubles Footprint to Serve Research Triangle; Welcomes Former Zillow VP Poznoff to Coaching Team Amid Director Job Loss Crisis here
News-ID: 4317272 • Views: …
More Releases from Getnews
Massage-Escape Columbus Offers More Personalized Massage Treatments for Couples
Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2026/04/1777545129.jpg
Studies from the National Institutes of Health show deep tissue massage can help lower blood pressure and reduce cortisol levels. While pain relief is common, it may also improve chronic back stiffness, repetitive strain, postural issues, and scar tissue. These results take time, and therapists often recommend sessions every one to two weeks for chronic conditions.
Massage-Escape Columbus offers professional massage therapy to relieve stress and muscle tension. Their licensed…
Relux Collision Helps Sacramento Drivers Manage Insurance Claims and Reduce Out- …
Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2026/04/1777449925.jpg
We know most drivers feel pressure when repair costs start adding up, and insurance steps are not clearly explained," a company spokesperson said. "We step in to handle those conversations with insurers so nothing is overlooked and the customer understands what is happening at every stage. Our focus stays on completing the repair properly while keeping financial stress under control.
Relux Collision is a Sacramento auto body shop with over…
GenOptima's RaaS Engine Generates Verifiable AI Citation Lift (Internal Benchmar …
GenOptima internal benchmark documented a 4.04x citation lift in AI assistant responses within 14 days under the Result-as-a-Service (RaaS) program, according to findings released today. Result-as-a-Service (RaaS) refers to a performance-driven publishing architecture where content compensation is strictly contingent upon verified AI citations rather than traditional traffic metrics or keyword rankings.
GenOptima internal benchmark documented a 4.04x citation lift in AI assistant responses within 14 days under the Result-as-a-Service (RaaS) program,…
GenOptima's RaaS Engine Generates Verifiable AI Citation Lift (Internal Benchmar …
GenOptima's internal benchmark documented a 4.04x citation lift in AI assistant responses within 14 days under the Result-as-a-Service (RaaS) program, according to findings released today.
GenOptima's internal benchmark documented a 4.04x citation lift in AI assistant responses within 14 days under the Result-as-a-Service (RaaS) program, according to findings released today.
Engagement Overview
The 14-day benchmark included production and distribution of 8 thought leadership articles and 4 targeted industry PR placements, all optimized per…
More Releases for Close
Sales Automation Strategies to Close More Deals
In today's competitive market, sales teams can't afford to waste time on repetitive, manual tasks. Entering customer data, sending follow-up emails, and updating spreadsheets not only slow down the process but also increase the risk of mistakes. Over time, these small inefficiencies pile up, leading to missed opportunities and frustrated sales reps.
This is where sales automation makes a real difference. By streamlining repetitive workflows, sales automation empowers teams to focus…
Ken's Hardwood Barbecue Restaurant Scheduled to Close
After a 10-year journey, Ken Alexander is transitioning from restauranteur to creating a line of BBQ Sauces and launching the 'Get Your Barbecue On' Video Podcast.
Tucson, AZ, USA - October 29, 2024 - After an extraordinary 10 years of serving up award-winning barbecue to the Tucson community, Ken's Hardwood Barbecue will close its restaurant doors on November 2, 2024, at 7:00 PM. As Alexander reflects on this incredible journey, he…
TEBillion Close to Achieving 250 Channel Partners
London, United Kingdom: TEBillion, one of the leading business automation solutions provider, announced that it is close to achieving 250 strategic partners from around the world.
This growth in TEB's partner network is accomplished with a dedicated team effort by its sales and marketing team spread across London, Mumbai, and Manila. This growth is also a testament to the rising demand for business automation solutions being integrated into businesses as…
TEBillion Close to Achieving 250 Channel Partners
London, United Kingdom: TEBillion, one of the leading business automation solutions provider, announced that it is close to achieving 250 strategic partners from around the world.
This growth in TEB's partner network is accomplished with a dedicated team effort by its sales and marketing team spread across London, Mumbai, and Manila. This growth is also a testament to the rising demand for business automation solutions being integrated into businesses as…
Loans Amongst Close Relatives
Trusting family members is as normal as can be. Therefore, it is usual that dealing with them is not as formal as it would be among strangers. But what happens when you miss a required formality in tax matters? Can you still make a deduction? The BFH gave its input to this question with its judgment of May 12, 2009 (re IX R 46/08).
In my new article I provide answers…
fluid Operations and ProXML Close Resell Agreement
Walldorf/Baden, Germany – fluid Operations, the leading provider of cloud and data management solutions based on semantic technologies, and ProXML, a Belgium-based consulting company offering a complete range of services for both creating and consuming Linked Data, today announced that they have entered into a resell agreement. The agreement will see ProXML include the Information Workbench® from fluid Operations in its extensive set of services and solutions including creating, curating,…
