Larry Hughes - CEO

Larry has operated as CEO, Board member, Advisor and investor in global growth, transformational and transitional situations across a vast array of industries and consumer products. He has served on 12 Boards and as CEO, CRO, and COO in over 15 companies including American Buildings, LouverDrape, Del Mar, Home Fashions Canada, Westinghouse Remediation Services, Alexander Doll, QualServ Corporation, Monarch Windows, Clark Holdings, Inc., Lee Brass, Fulton Bellows and HiTech Electronic Displays. He has held leadership positions in the U.S and abroad with some of the world’s largest and most successful companies. Larry has operated on a worldwide basis to implement business-building strategies, relaunch companies, achieve turnarounds and corporate restructurings, manage innumerable M&A projects and reengineer infrastructures to eliminate struggle points. He has professionally managed relationships from the lender to the Board to the plant floor in public and private companies. Larry has led start-up operations domestically as well as in Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. He has managed companies in bankruptcy and other troubled situations such as fraudulent actions on the part of executives. As CEO of Everest Group International, Larry has been integrally involved in numerous entrepreneurial business ventures. His Fortune 500 general management, operations and supply chain career includes International Playtex, Sara Lee, Harris Corporation, and U.S. Industries. (B.S., Industrial Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; M.S., Systems Management, Florida Institute of Technology)

Thomas Bosley

Tom has extensive C-level management experience in telecommunications, manufacturing, construction, and logistics industries. He has operated as COO, Board Director, and on Advisory Board assignments and his career spans the full range of disciplines including creating and managing entrepreneurial companies and large, continuously improving organizations. Tom has also taken a company into Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring and successfully re-launched it as a healthy new entity. His responsibilities have included C-level management for sales, marketing, product management, business planning, engineering, operations, and supply chain optimization. Tom’s experience spans both North America and worldwide, including England, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Japan, Afghanistan, and Iraq. His corporate career included management responsibilities at IBM, Concert, MCI Worldcom, TSI, and consulting for TNMG and EDS. (B.S., Computer Information Systems, Mercy College; M.S., Telecommunications Management, Pace University)

Allen Capsuto

Allen is a Board participant and a CEO and CFO interim Manager with more than 35 years of national and international business experience in both public and private companies. Allen has an extensive and diversified background in general management, finance, M&A, administration, operations, IT services, Trustee, Board, and principal/owner capacity. His diverse industry experience includes manufacturing, transportation, supply chain management, telecommunications, health care, financial services, and e-commerce businesses. Allen’s background includes start-ups, high growth, restructuring, turnaround, and bankruptcy situations. He has served on the Board at QualServ Corporation (Chairman), Champion Homes (Audit Chair), CCLM Holdings (Chairman), Euramax (Compensation Committee), Magnatrax China JV-steel company, EquipMD (Chairman), and was the sole Trustee of the Magnatrax Shareholders Liquidity Trust. Allen is adept at communicating ideas, fostering discussion and teamwork, and developing managers. His expertise includes all facets of cash management. His corporate background includes Magnatrax, Smart Ventures, NeoForma/EquipMD, International Medical Innovations, Outsourcing Solutions, Purolator, FedEx, and United Airlines. (B.S., Computer Science and Math, University of Illinois; M.B.A, Roosevelt University)

Reid Douglas

Reid is a public and private company C-level executive, Advisor, CFO, and CIO who focuses on business transformation, business process redesign, IT assessment, IT architecture, large-scale systems integration, and financial analysis and reporting. His Fortune 500 financial reporting and IT management experience includes operating as both CFO and CIO for the Anaconda Company’s Uranium Division, managing Oil Revenue Accounting for ARCO Oil & Gas, and directing systems development for Burlington Northern Railway (BNSF). As a systems integrator, he has designed and/or developed an automated claims processing system for United HealthCare, a global transaction-processing environment for Honeywell, an international data entry system for Citibank, and a worldwide document management infrastructure for Interpol. Reid also has extensive experience with internal control environments and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. (B.S., Business Administration, Arizona State University W. P. Carey School of Business)

Whitney Eckler

Based in Switzerland and Germany, Whitney is a C-level Sales and Marketing executive with over 20 years of domestic and international experience in strategy, marketing, and total business development and management. She has also resided and worked in Finland and Kuwait as well as undertaken business development initiatives in a variety of European, Asian, Middle East, and Latin American markets. She is fluent in German and has knowledge of French, Spanish, Finnish, and Arabic. Her global consumer products and manufacturing experience crosses multiple industries and includes decorative interior products, furniture, healthcare, logistics, packaging, construction, and technology industries. She started up the International Division for LouverDrape, served as Interim Vice President Sales and Marketing at QualServ Corporation, and as interim marketing manager for a $400 million public company. Whitney also has repeated experience devising sales and growth strategies as part of a company’s re-launch post-crisis. Her corporate background includes Maidenform, LouverDrape, National Semiconductor, and Wipak Oy. (B.S., B.A., Economics and German, Vanderbilt University)

Ron Shehane, PH.D.

Ron is a COO-level executive providing assessment and advisory support for corporate transformation. He specializes in logistics, supply chain management, business process improvement, operational audits, IT assessment, information systems integration, and quality management. He has over 30 years of experience in logistics, manufacturing, banking, and service organizations. His corporate career includes Lockheed Martin, First Atlanta Bank, First Citizens Bank, Lanier Business Products, and as a Director of Logistics responsible for multi-state operation with 2,500 employees involved in providing transportation, maintenance, and supply operations that included rail, air, and seaport support. Previous Department Chair, Information Systems and Quantitative Methods, as well as Global Program Coordinator at Troy University. (B.S., Industrial Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; M.B.A., Finance, Georgia State University; Ph.D., Computer Information Systems, Nova Southeastern University)

Steven Sloan

Steven has proven multi-industry financial leadership skills as an entrepreneur, advisor, senior executive and Board member. His EGI roles involve advising and leading M&A engagements, strategy and finance assignments. He has a successful background in both buy-side and sell-side M&A and capital raising transactions and significant senior leadership experience in manufacturing and financial services environments, including turnaround situations. His M&A experience includes over 50 transactions involving prospecting, negotiation, due diligence and integration planning. Clients have included founder/owners without sponsors as well as private equity funds and family offices. His prior roles include Portfolio Manager of ARCO’s pension fund’s $100 Million Alternative Investment Portfolio, Los Angeles, including venture capital, private equity and real estate investments; Northrup Sloan, Dallas, where he was responsible for over $45 Million in land acquisitions that later sold for $120 Million; and Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of de novo Americity Bank, Dallas, grown to $1 billion assets before being sold. His entrepreneurial background includes U.S. Cotton where he served as shareholder/Board member/CFO and led the Company’s growth from $5.0 Million to $135 Million sales, including acquisition transactions, and its subsequent sale to Parkdale Mills and as shareholder/senior advisor of Academy Corporation where he led the growth strategy from $45 Million to $220 Million in sales, including acquisitions, and its successful sale to Brush-Wellman. (Dual B.S.E./M.B.A., Finance and Accounting, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania)

Bob Webb

Bob is a CFO and CRO level executive with over 25 years of financial expertise in all aspects of enterprise transformation and transition as well as CEO to small and mid-sized family businesses and portfolio companies on an interim basis. He concentrates on due diligence, rapid acquisition/divestiture integration, re-capitalizations, consolidations, cost reductions, raising capital, enhanced cash flow, working capital management, viability assessments, and product-line divestitures. Bob’s industry experience includes chemical processing, industrial products, technology, consumer products, petroleum, professional services and operating management roles in manufacturing, plant relocations, and distribution operations. He has conducted over 20 high-impact projects throughout the U.S., Europe, and Mexico including the rapid improvement and sale of a company for 9X EBITDA, as well as key management roles in over 10 other M&A transactions. Bob provides executive coaching in finance, organization, and operations, where he specializes in Lean manufacturing and Lean accounting, and teaches CPE classes in leadership, management, and accounting. His corporate experience includes DuPont, Dover Corporation, and equity interests in privately-owned companies. Certifications include CPA. (B.S., Business Administration, University of Tennessee)

Phyllis Bishop

Phyllis is a C-level Global Marketing Manager and Retail Specialist who has a general management, M&A, and turnaround management background. She was responsible for the internationalization of a privately-held $2.7 billion company. She has expanded new businesses into China, Turkey, India, Australia, Eastern Europe, UK, Holland, Portugal, and Argentina via acquisitions, joint ventures, and start-ups. Phyllis resided in Paris for a number of years and is fluent in French. Her corporate career includes Bristol Myers, Estee Lauder, Playtex, Benckiser, and Giorgio Beverly Hills. She has also represented companies to the U.S. Department of Justice as well as French labor officials and unions. (B.A., Psychology, University of Tennessee-Knoxville; M.B.A., Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration)

Thomas Burkett

Tom is an operations executive with 40 years of experience in private industry and government agencies. During his 25 year career with the U. S. Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), where he had agency wide responsibility, he developed and managed partnerships between the BOP and components of the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Army and Marine Corps, as well as other federal and state agencies. Tom has manufacturing expertise grounded in experience as general manager of a $200 Million business unit, division manager, engineering, and plant manager. Directed the startup of five new factories. He holds a Six Sigma Black Belt, is a Lean Instructor, including curriculum development, and has managed over 20 Lean Six Sigma Black Belts and 150 Green Belts, while deploying Lean in over 90 facilities producing more than 80 different products. He has presented papers at several national conferences detailing the challenges and benefits of implementing Lean Six Sigma. Corporate experience includes Combustion Engineering and International Playtex. Veteran, United States Navy. (B.S., Industrial Management, University of Alabama; M.B.A., Management, University of West Georgia)

Alfredo Castillo

Alfredo is a COO and General Manager-level International Manufacturing, Operations, and Distribution executive whose expertise includes cutting-edge use of manufacturing techniques to achieve world class and sustainable operating performance as well as management of joint ventures. He has managed operations in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, and Mexico with workforces in excess of 3,000 employees and is fluent in Spanish. Alfredo held functional responsibility for International Engineering in Spain, France, Scotland, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. His skill sets include advising companies that perform work for U.S. government agencies, lean manufacturing, and process engineering. Corporate background includes Bristol-Meyers, International Playtex, and Sara Lee. (B.S. and M.S. Mechanical Engineering, City College of New York)

George Daly

George is a COO and CFO-level manager with an extensive financial background, particularly in forensic accounting. He served as a professional staff member on the “Treadway Commission” (officially named the National Commission on Fraudulent Financial Reporting.) George was interim CFO in situations such as a $1 Billion distribution business, toy company, affinity products company, and plastic injection molding business. Corporate experience includes real estate, raising capital, financial modeling, tax administration, company valuations and situations requiring SEC reporting. He led successful turnaround of a company that had experienced three successive years of operating losses and was able to maintain the existing banking relationship. Corporate career includes Polymer Solutions International, Inc., Laventhol & Horwath, A.S.K. Plastics, and Alexander Doll Company. (B.S., Accounting, Villanova University; M.B.A., Drexel University)

Patrick Ferguson

Patrick has over 12 years of experience functioning as an expert in business improvement. He is an accomplished trainer and implementation specialist in: Profit Improvement, Management by Data, Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Quality Systems, Waste Analysis and Countermeasures, Program Management, Operations Management, Cost Reduction, Product Development, and Visual Factory/5S. Patrick has completed over 100 formal projects in 20 U.S. states and six countries. His projects have yielded over $50 Million in certified economic impact. He authored a reference book about business improvement tools, The Science of Business Improvement: Visual Management by Data for Profit Maximization and co-authored a complete ISO TS: 16949 Operating System (automotive supplier level) with visual compliance mapping. His industry experience includes industrial, consumer goods, durable goods, automotive, health care, distribution, electronics, computer hardware, and medical. Patrick’s background includes being a published scientist in metallurgy, a product engineer and inventor, and manufacturing operations manager. His corporate career includes Senior Engineer and Cost Reduction Program Specialist for Newell-Rubbermaid. (B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University)

Steve Giordano

Steve is a C-level Sales, Marketing and general management executive with expertise in tactical and strategic marketing, business development, turnaround of top-line performance, P&L management, A.I. technology, sales organization analysis and restructuring. His experience includes existing and new business development, territory analysis and alignment, mass market initiatives, internet presence and growth, tier 1, 2 and 3 account management, brand expansion and global products sourcing. Steve is an authority on strategic alliances and acquisitions from a business development and revenue synergy perspective. He oftentimes serves as an interim sales executive such as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for a national cellular technology company. Steve is an insightful business builder and consummate people person. His corporate career includes Levolor, Kwickset, Delta Creative, Media Arts Group, Proctor and Gamble and Applause Dakin. (B.S., Marketing with Minor in Management, University of Maine)

Paul Gross

Paul is a C-level leader and senior marketing executive with over 30 years of experience in public and private companies where he specialized in acquisitions and merger management, start-ups, new product launches, turnaround opportunities, and providing creative energy to advance companies to the next level. He is focused on consistently delivering sales and profit goals by developing integrated strategies across all disciplines. Paul’s experience is comprised of a wide spectrum of consumer-packaged goods, e-commerce, and retail. His accomplishments include over 1000 successful new store openings, 15 acquisitions, and leading a record 70 consecutive quarters of compounded sales growth while navigating the successful transition from a public company to two different PEG owners, followed by an IPO. Paul is an innovative problem solver who brings clarity to undefined environments and has a demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams to successfully execute strategic initiatives. His corporate career includes Procter and Gamble, Fruit of the Loom, Heinz, LensCrafters, and National Vision. (B.A., Georgia State University)

James Hart

Jim has been serving as a court-appointed financial neutral since 1995. He has been appointed as a Receiver, Special Master, or Auditor in State and Superior Courts in Georgia, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. District Court in Georgia, and other courts in North and South Carolina. In these capacities, he has managed companies, settled litigation, sold assets, settled debts, collected judgments, performed financial investigations, and tracked assets. Jim is a forensic accountant with an extensive background in forensic accounting and business valuation, with vast experience in matters involving: bankruptcy/insolvency, commercial damages and lost profits, fraud, financial investigations, due diligence, and collateral and asset tracing. Additionally, he has led engagements dealing with fraud, kick-back schemes, ponzi schemes, white collar crime, and bankruptcy that involved the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspectors Office, and U.S. Attorney’s Office. Jim has also worked as a consulting or expert witness on engagements involving arson, asset impairment, business valuation, bankruptcy/insolvency, breaches of contract and fiduciary duty, business interruption, business damages, commercial damages, fraud, kick-backs, lost profits, lost wages and income, professional malpractice, qui tam, and various securities issues. His government agency involvement includes the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspectors Office, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. District Court, and Georgia Bureau of Investigations. Jim has testified as an expert witness in State, State Superior, Circuit, U.S. District, and U.S. Bankruptcy courts, as well as private mediations. He has significant experience in crisis management and is the former Chair of the Georgia Society of CPAs Forensic and Valuation Services Section. Jim’s corporate background included Peat Marwick (KPMG) and CFO and Controller positions in mortgage banking and insurance. (B.B.A., Accounting, The College of William & Mary; M.B.A., Kennesaw State University)

Davey Jordan

Davey is a C-level manager, entrepreneur, and strategist who provides interim management, advisory services and technology solutions, focusing on enhancing organizational operations through advanced business intelligence. He transitions companies from data indifferent to data driven by instituting systems, dashboards, KPIs, and processes that define decision-making procedures and create accountability. Davey obtains results by automating, integrating, and re-engineering operational processes through embracing the latest technological advances. He is also an M&A specialist with particular emphasis on connecting buyers and sellers including utilizing data scraping and automation to research and filter public and private databases. While still in college and working at a wireless retailer, Davey recognized a market opportunity and started his first company. He grew a start-up cell phone business to 11 wireless retail stores while opening and supplying 20 sub-dealer locations. He acquired underperforming competitors, rebranded and restructured them, and then executed value-driven turnaround plans to achieve growth. (B.S., Business Administration, University of Tennessee Martin, M.B.A, Middle Tennessee State University)

John Kelly

John is a CEO and COO-level executive who has a Fortune 500 manufacturing and global supply chain management background. He has recently served as CEO for a specialty packaging company as well as Executive Vice President and Director of Operations for a U.S. start-up owned by a firm headquartered in China. John has managed up to eight U.S. and offshore manufacturing operations with more than 3,000 employees. His corporate experience includes Ithaca Industries, where he was a major shareholder in their first, highly successful divestiture, and International Playtex. He served in the U.S. Army, Special Forces as a Demolition Specialist and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals. (B.S., Industrial Management, University of Alabama)

Doug King

Doug is a CIO, COO, and CAO-level executive who provides IT assessment, advisory, and implementation services. He specializes in IT strategy development, due diligence and integration, organizational assessment and design, Cybersecurity, and management of IT transformation initiatives. Doug’s background also includes oversight, design, and development of cloud-based custom software applications, including IoT-based solutions enabling the monetization of customer data. He has directed over 20 enterprise-wide system implementations and transformation efforts. Doug has over 25 years of experience spanning numerous industries including manufacturing, healthcare, life sciences, construction products, publishing/media, and aerospace. His corporate background includes Booz-Allen and Landauer. His operational leadership roles also include Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Corporate Vice President of Operations, Director of Supply Chain Management, and Program Office Director, along with consulting positions at Arthur Andersen. (B.A., Economics and Mathematics, Northwestern University; M.B.A., Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University; Masters Manufacturing Engineering Management, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University)

Alton Kornegay, Ph.D.

Alton is a Consultant with more than 30 years of production management, electronics, and engineering experience in three Fortune 500 companies. His corporate career includes John Deere, McDonnell Douglas, and Wagner Electric (Automotive Brake Division). He provides transformational manufacturing, systems, and operating consulting services. These services include process efficiency, productivity improvement, lean manufacturing, incentive systems, quality control systems, cellular manufacturing, engineering, and Kaizen events. Alton played a key role in the Lean Six Sigma implementation at John Deere and was a founding partner of the Annual John Deere Lean Academy. He served in the U.S. Airforce, Avionics Division. (B.S., Electronics Technology, Savannah State University; M.B.A., University of Iowa; Ph.D., Industrial Education and Technology, Iowa State University)

Bob Latham

Bob is a CEO and COO-level Operating and Turnaround Manager with a well-rounded background in operations, marketing, and finance. He is an M&A specialist who played a leadership role to countless M&A transactions and holds industry designations of Certified Business Intermediary and M&A Master Intermediary. He possesses strong credentials in construction, manufacturing products, aerospace structures, plastic goods, engineered products, natural gas transmission, industrial services, product management, and process engineering. Bob’s skill set includes business process mapping and improvement, manufacturing strategies, ERP systems, and ISO9000. His background includes Owner/Founder of a construction company while his corporate experience includes LTV Aircraft Products, SONAT (natural gas transmission), Rimnetics (custom plastic molding), and Reflange (engineered piping products) and Transworld Business Advisors. He is a FAA Licensed Pilot. (B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University; M.B.A., Columbia University)

Dave Penson

Dave is a COO and Vice President Engineering level executive with over 40 years’ experience in all operational functions, including over 25 years as a Management Consultant. His experience includes global operations and supply chain optimization. As an owner and Chief Operating Officer, Dave grew a start-up to $15 Million in revenue and sold it to a strategic buyer. He has managed operations and manufacturing projects in over 30 U.S. states and 27 countries to include operational evaluation and improvement, sourcing, import/export, and continuing development of resources. Dave has a working knowledge of Spanish, and lived and worked three years in the Dominican Republic. His industry experience includes Plastics, Apparel, Textiles and Electronics and his corporate career includes DuPont, Sara Lee, VF Corporation, and MicroPore Plastics. (B.S., Textiles, Georgia Institute of Technology; M.B.A., International Business, Georgia State University)

Steve Powell

Steve is a PEG-experienced President, CFO, Controller, Treasurer, and CPA across a variety of industries in both public and private companies. He has successfully led domestic and international management teams to deliver results for increased profits, cash flow, and added value. Steve’s skill set includes significant Board participation as well as Board reporting; mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and due diligence expertise coupled with a serious grasp of integration issues; P&L ownership and management; debt financing and bank negotiations and relationship management; cash flow and profit analysis and improvement; internal and external financial reporting; global strategic business planning; and, turnaround and distressed situations. He has diverse international experience in Europe, Central and South America, Canada, and Asia. Steve’s strengths include margin management, pricing strategy, project management, AR and cash management, organizational structure and development, as well as SEC filings. Additionally, he has worked as a PEG manager in early stage, growth, project management, and turnaround situations with revenues up to $600 Million. Steve’s corporate experience includes Propex, Morris Capital Management, Tandus Group, Chattem, Inc., Brach Confections, and Decosimo CPA.(B.S. Accounting, University of Tennessee Chattanooga)

Gerald Prince

Gerald is a financial manager, management consultant, and M&A Specialist providing advisory services to Clients on M&A, asset sales, financial and operational restructurings, and valuations. Gerald has advised management teams, equity holders, lenders, and numerous unsecured creditors. He provides comprehensive insights and guidance for Clients through deep analysis of historical and forecasted financial performance and cash flows using dynamic Excel modeling and databases. He also has substantial experience with business plans, management presentations, CIMs, LOIs, term sheets, complex negotiations, QOE, sale and purchase agreements, and other investment offering documents. He has significant experience in a variety of industries including commercial real estate, oil and gas, leisure, airline, consumer products, and not-for-profits. Gerald began his career at Ernst & Young advising and performing extensive due diligence for investment banks. (B.S., Finance, Louisiana State University)

Mike Schwartz

Mike is a CFO and seasoned C-level financial executive whose international experience includes Canadian, Asian, European, Mexican, North African, Caribbean, and Central American operations. Mike specializes in: providing CFO services, directing financial functions for defrauded businesses, forensic accounting, uncovering insider transactions and recovering millions from ponzi operations, designing and implementing systems to quickly and accurately make distributions to fraud victims, interim financial management, profitability analysis, budgeting, financial planning, and financial modeling. He has experience providing CFO support and forensic reviews in numerous businesses for a court-appointed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Trustee. In addition to assisting the Trustee recover millions from ponzi operations, Mike managed recovery distributions to defrauded investors, distributing in excess of $250 Million without a single exception. Mike’s 30-year corporate career includes Lockheed Martin, Sara Lee Corporation (Hanes Brands) and Ocean Apparel, Inc. (B.S., Accounting, University of Maryland; M.B.A., Appalachian State University)

Mike Seals

Mike is a C- level financial executive with over 35 years of accounting and business leadership experience in the lower middle market sector where he has served as President, COO, CFO, Board member, Advisor, and investor. Mike’s journey includes numerous C-level positions and engagements such as senior executive for a Top 100 construction contractor, a transportation and logistics company, a large tourist destination restaurant, food industry, building products as well as equipment rental and leasing. His expertise incorporates business plan development and execution coupled with accounting systems knowledge across development, implementation and setup as well as migration. Mike’s financial grasp also encompasses elaborate but practical and straightforward cash flow and forecast models, budgeting applications, business intelligence and providing executive leadership support in day-to-day operations. He has a deep knowledge of EXCEL combined with many years of experience on a range of accounting platforms and is able to quickly adapt to new applications, enhancing his value and delivery of services. Mike is also CEO of CFO Performance Group, LLC where he provides specialized financial advice primarily to founder-owners. Certifications include CPA. (B.B.A., Business Administration, Middle Tennessee State University)

Steve Swidarski

Steve is a CEO and C-level sales executive specializing in business-building strategies. His experience includes formulating growth strategies, mission-critical sales and marketing plans, new product launches, transformations, transitions, start-ups, and turnarounds. He has performed turnarounds and re-launched companies multiple times over a 35-year career in business. His expertise is in improving sales performance, working with national and “big box” accounts, and accelerating revenue growth. Steve served as President of a Division of Hunter Douglas. His corporate career includes Consolidated Foods, Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, Inc., Beatrice Foods, and CSI Donner Hardware. (B.S., Business Management, John Carroll University)

Richard Tadros

Based in Montreal, Richard is a CFO/Controller-level executive with over 28 years of financial and accounting experience. He has been involved in many aspects of enterprise transformation, mergers and acquisitions, accounting/finance department integrations, reporting, budgeting, controls, and consolidations. Richard has vast experience with ERP manufacturing and inventory accounting environments, having held leading roles in manufacturing plant relocations, operations, and distribution. He has advanced analytical and interpersonal skills allowing for engagement with all management levels of an organization. Richard is fluent in English and French, with knowledge of Italian and Arabic. He has been involved as a partner and President of a successful real estate management firm with a portfolio of 51 properties and $1 Billion in asset management. His corporate career includes Northern Telecom, Sennheiser, Boehringer Manheim Pharma, Smith & Nephew Medical, and U.S Cotton Canada Cosmetic/Medical. (Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and Accounting, Concordia University/John Molson School of Business in Montreal, Canada. CMA/CPA candidate)

Jerry Watson, Ph.D.

Jerry is a Consultant who teaches Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina A&T State University. His activities include value stream mapping, productivity improvement, Kaizen events, incentive systems, cellular manufacturing, lean manufacturing, quality control systems, integrated computer systems, standard cost systems, and ISO 9000 implementation. His expertise also encompasses application of industrial engineering techniques to healthcare, packaging, and furniture. Jerry’s corporate career includes U.S. Plywood, Hayworth, and Paxar. Served in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant and received the Bronze Star. (B.S., Industrial Management, Georgia Institute of Technology; M.S., Industrial Management, Georgia Institute of Technology; Ph.D., Industrial and Systems Engineering, North Carolina A&T University)

Bob Vanderhoff

Bob is a CEO-level executive with over 30 years of management, M&A, advisory and Board experience as a strategic visionary leader who delivers global growth, exceptional financial results, and value creation. With proven P&L responsibility up to $1 Billion, he has experience in family, private, PEG and public companies leading acquisitions, mergers, process improvements, turnarounds, sales and marketing initiatives, and cost containment to drive market share, revenue and EBITDA. He has managed and advised businesses with international operations in Europe, India, Africa, Middle East, and the Far East. Bob has worked as a consultant providing interim executive management, operational calibration, leadership coaching, and strategy development. Having launched his own company, Bob knows how to create enterprise value. His corporate experience includes Westinghouse, Wesco, Coleman Cable, Industrial Distribution Group, Sears Holding Corp., Argo International, and Magnum Venus Products. (B.A., Behavioral Science, Messiah University)