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)

Jerry Watson, Ph.D.

Jerry is a Consultant who during his career has employed Industrial Engineering techniques to reduce direct and indirect labor costs, improve throughput, reduce transportation costs, and lower the costs of purchased materials. Results were achieved by applying value stream mapping, productivity improvement teams, Kaizen events, implementation of incentive systems, cellular manufacturing, lean manufacturing, development of standard cost systems, and installation of manufacturing integrated computer systems. Jerry’s corporate career includes U.S. Plywood, Paxar, Haworth, Matrix, and Star Paper Tube. His service in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant resulted in the Bronze Star and Air Medal. He has authored or co-authored four publications and ten conference proceedings. Jerry holds the following certifications: Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma White Belt. (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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Bob Latham

Bob is an M&A Lead Advisor as well as a CEO and COO-level Operating and Turnaround Manager with a distinguished background in operations, marketing, and finance. He holds designations of Certified Business Intermediary and M&A Master Intermediary. Bob has held leadership roles in many buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions across an array of industries including Manufacturing, Construction and related trades, IT, Motorsports and Agricultural Equipment, Marine Services, Healthcare, Continuing Education, and Advertising. 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), Reflange (engineered piping products) and ATG Group (plastics contract manufacturing). (B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University; M.B.A., Columbia 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)

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)

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)

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)

George Daly

George is an M&A Specialist, COO, and CFO-level manager. His M&A highlights span the process and entails an acquisition audit of the New England Patriots Football Club, managing the acquisition of Effanbee Doll Company on behalf of Alexander Doll Company, acquisition audit for the purchase of Alexander Doll Company, stringent financial reporting in conjunction with M&A transactions, and extensive due diligence work. He excels in forensic accounting and has 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 the 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 encompasses Polymer Solutions International, Inc., Laventhol & Horwath, CPG Realty Management, Inc., A.S.K. Plastics, Tonner Doll Company and Alexander Doll Company. (B.S., Accounting, Villanova University; M.B.A., Drexel University)

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)

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)

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)

Whitney Eckler

Based in Switzerland and Germany, Whitney is a C-level Sales and Marketing executive, interim manager, and founding member of Everest Group International and Everest Group Global. Whitney is an integral part of the M&A group at Everest Group International, working on both buy and sell-side transactions in all aspects of the process. With over 20 years of domestic and international experience in strategy, marketing, and total business development and management, she has also worked and resided in Finland and Kuwait as well as undertaken business development initiatives in a variety of European, Asian, Middle East, and Latin American markets. Whitney 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. She 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)

Reid Douglas

Reid is an M&A Specialist as well as 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. He is a senior member of our M&A practice who has guided numerous buy-side and sell-side projects across an array of industries. 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)

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)

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)

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)