• Why did you want to become a fractional CFO? 

Joining Crown and becoming a Fractional CFO was interesting to me because I enjoy going into different businesses, consulting with each of them and helping them achieve their goals.

• What industries are you focused on?

My areas of expertise include: Beer, Distribution, Food & Beverage and Manufacturing.

• Why do you enjoy the industries you focus on and why do you bring value to those industries?

I enjoy the beer industry and have spent the last 15 years focusing on this area. The beer industry is interesting because it is an area that most people can identify with. It is quite easy and fun to discuss the diverse types of beers, pick out favorites and share favorites with others. The industry is extremely high on events, whether it is a beer tasting event or sponsoring a concert or a tailgate at a football game. Socializing and having fun while working in my industry of expertise is a lot of fun. 

As a CFO, here’s a few examples of how I have built value in the beer industry over the past 15 years:

• • I have implemented methods of organizing the warehouse to optimize both space and productivity. The method we used to organize the 2,000 SKUs that we had was complicated, but effective. We utilized four different racking stations to accommodate the different packages and kegs that were provided to us. We also spent a tremendous amount of time reducing SKUs that did not fit well with our model of productivity. We eliminated customer pickups, which were an unnecessary distraction to the operations team.
  • My team and I developed a 10-model to identify and track brand and/or distributor acquisitions. This helped us to first project the ROI on our investment and second to make sure we achieved or exceeded the ROI.
• What are common challenges that you see in businesses?
  
  • Many organizations tend to focus too much on historical financial data instead of looking forward in a strategic planning process. 
  • It is also common to see that companies are not aligned with the right partners for their organization, whether it be insurance, CPA, attorney, or other professional organizations. 
  • Another often overlooked situation is that companies do not always challenge their suppliers for pricing or customer service levels.

• What other tips or insights can you share that you have learned in your work experiences?

• • Attention to detail is critical in making sure you cover all aspects of the business. 
  • Challenging your employees and your partnerships is key to improving profitability.

• Where was your favorite business trip? 

A few years back I was invited to travel to Dublin for the 250th anniversary of Guinness. Our group toured the Guinness facility, played golf on a Ryder Cup course, ate dinner with the Chief of Dublin, took in a Notre Dame vs Navy football game and ended the trip with an intimate concert by U2! We did all this in just three days! It was a very quick but memorable trip I will never forget. 

• Where was your favorite vacation and why?

Our daughter had a study abroad plan in Italy while she was in college at Kansas State in 2011. My wife, son and I decided we should pick her up from Italy. We spent a few days in Rome seeing the Coliseum, Pantheon, Trevi fountain and Piazza Navona. We stayed in an apartment that was next to where Ceasar was stabbed. We then went to the Amalfi coast and stayed in a villa in Positano. We visited Pompeii and the Isle of Capri. It was great getting to experience the culture and the delicious food, wine, and beer everywhere we went. 

• What business books do you recommend?

For any business owner, CFO or anyone engaged in the business industry looking to learn:

• • Good to Great by Jim Collins
  • Strategy-Pure & Simple by Michel Robert
  • E-Myth by Michael Gerber