EVEREST GROUP INTERNATIONAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- COO
- DIRECTOR
- General Manager
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)
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.
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)
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR
- MANAGING DIRECTOR
Bob Webb - Managing Director
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR
- COO and Vice President Engineering
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)
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR
- C - Level Manager
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)
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)
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)
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)
Larry Hughes - CEO, Managing Director
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)
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)
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)
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)
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR
- C - Level Global Marketing Manager and Retail Specialist
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)
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)
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)
Ron Shehane - COO, Managing Director
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Job Titles:
- MANAGING DIRECTOR
- C - Level Sales and Marketing Executive
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)