Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States
With over 29 years of experience as CEO and Managing Director at Willis & Associates, I specialize in guiding middle-market companies to achieve sustainable growth and operational efficiency. My expertise spans strategic advisory, organizational transformation, P&L management, team building, executive mentoring, M&A, divestitures, and go-to-market strategies, enabling businesses to navigate complex challenges, unlock long-term value, and ROI. By providing visionary leadership, I have contributed to complete business transformations, including research analysis, strategic planning, global expansion, and capital-raising efforts. My mission is to deliver actionable strategies that balance growth and efficiency while empowering teams to achieve measurable results.
► Launched the firm with continuous strategic advisory engagements between direct company CEO and President roles. Specialize in middle market companies providing guidance needed for balancing sustainable growth with operational efficiency. ► Provide strategic, visionary leadership steering complete transformations in everything from research analysis, business planning and organizational structure to P&L, raising capital, sales and marketing as well as well as go-to-market strategies. Most Recent Client Engagements and Success for several CPG, Energy and Engineering Firms 2019 – 2025 Agilis Engineering: ► Guided the company through commercialization of a breakthrough first‑of‑its‑kind, fuel‑agnostic 1.5MW mobile generator. Conducted application analysis, defined strategic direction, and shaped the business case. ► Built the generator division’s complete go‑to‑market strategy. Developed proposition, market segmentation, competitive analysis, and commercialization roadmap. ► Steered strategic planning for the core jet‑engine engineering business. Aligned product roadmap, organizational structure, and long‑term growth priorities. ► Identified and evaluated potential joint‑venture partners to accelerate market entry and expand commercialization channels. ► Re‑engineered an overly flat organizational structure with clear reporting lines, and defined KPIs, with accountability systems. Dole Fresh – Procurement & Operations: ► Supported VP of Purchasing in reversing margin deterioration by identifying lower- cost suppliers and optimizing procurement for the consumer salad division. ►Sourced cost‑effective packaging providers and negotiated lower cost vendors for main and other components used in the company’s new Cobb and Chef salad kits. ► Transitioned the company from using expenisive pallets; slashed waste and generated over $5M in annual savings. ► Led a full end-to-end launch plan across departments twith successful rollout of new salad kit products.
Founded a boutique management consulting firm that regularly advises the CEO. Specializing in middle-market companies lacking impactful guidance on generating sustainable growth, operational efficiency, or a sense of urgency.
● Founded the company in 1994, a boutique consulting firm serving mid-market companies. ● Achieved a 50% increase in revenue by implementing global expansion. ● Negotiated and integrated acquisitions exceeding $75M in new business. ● Mentored 5 executives who went on to be President or CEO of Fortune 1,000 companies. ● Improved operational efficiency by over 30%, relocating the company and consolidating operations. ● Generated nearly $1B in new revenue spread over 8 companies through directing the innovation of dozens of new products, technologies, and services. ● Focused on delivering strategic planning services to drive growth and boost efficiency. ● Provided comprehensive M&A support through proactive collaboration with cross-functional teams to expertly navigate complex transactions and maximize overall value. ● Achieved significant P&L growth through tailored consulting strategies and expert guidance that consistently drove improved business performance.
Selected Engagements During this Time: Mattingly Foods: Strategic Consultant/Turn around Advisor ► Led a full business assessment for a struggling food distribution company on the brink of bankruptcy, redefining core business focus and eliminating unprofitable lines. ► Streamlined a massive SKU portfolio, removing low‑velocity items and freeing significant warehouse space while improving working capital. ► Recommended discontinuing unprofitable customer relationships and advising against expansion into a major meat distributor due to lack of expertise and margin risk. ► Negotiated cost‑saving contract with a common carrier, reducing insurance and labor expenses. ► Drove a full operational and strategic turnaround, transforming the company into a highly profitable, double‑digit‑million‑dollar business. Nelson Packaging: Growth Advisor Provided Valuation Insight ► Assessed a $12M contract packaging business with $10M EBITDA and identified critical customer‑concentration risk due to sole reliance on Procter & Gamble. ► Built and presented a strategic roadmap to diversify revenue streams, reduce dependency on a single customer, and position the company for sustainable growth rather than a distressed sale. ► Supported leadership transition to a new CEO who successfully expanded the business to $15M in annual revenue.
Directed operational leadership, driving end-to-end products and brand development for the world’s first topical dermal filler.
► Steered entire end-to-end product and brand development for the world’s first topical dermal filler. ► Orchestrated product positioning, packaging development, and vendor negotiations. ► Led go-to-market strategy and divestiture plan. Product line successfully divested months after market launch.
Acquired a penny stock company for the Mennen Family Office. Mentored cross-functional teams of 50+ employees across marketing, sales, finance, R&D, and manufacturing.
► Directed cross-functional teams across marketing, sales, finance, R&D, and manufacturing. ► Restructured a struggling penny stock company into a profitable global market leader in the heavy equipment on-site diagnostic instrument industry. - Catapulted to market leader driving product innovation and operational cost reduction. ► Delivered a multimillion-dollar turnaround by reversing a $3.6M negative cash flow and delivering double-digit EBITDA growth. ► Accelerated global revenue streams by personally contributing 65% of total sales and driving the successful sale of 2,300+ high-value diagnostic instruments, solidifying market leadership. ► Orchestrated a $10M+ divestiture to a global technology company, overseeing negotiations, due diligence, investor presentations, and private equity engagement to ensure a successful transition.