Leader with a proven track record of creating values.
Senior leader with an outstanding record of creating shareholder value as a strategic change agent leading companies to achieve greater worth through growth and operating effectiveness
Career Milestones:
- Built a self-sustaining wireless telephony company increasing the value 3X, formerly losing more than $1MM a month.
- Turned around a $200M food processing and marketing corporation, newly acquired by a PE firm.
- Catalyzed new customer and manufacturing strategies to rejuvenate a furniture company.
Diverse industry background and experiences enable quick identification of growth opportunities and solutions to operational problems. A natural talent for managing stakeholders.
MBA in New Venture Management and Strategic Planning
Member of Board of Directors for several companies
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
EVANS MANUFACTURING, INC. 2018 - 2020
Interim EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Led organizational and strategic change at a top 40 promotional product supplier, experiencing declining sales and profitability previous three years, resulting in double-digit growth and 2X prior year EBIDAT.
⮞ Reorganized and focused a team and organization to next level effectiveness and performance. Deemphasizing non-value activity; Focusing from “everywhere but nowhere” to winning defined product and market segments.
⮞ Increased production capacity over 19% in the Mexico facility, leveraging a labor and product lead time advantage versus the competition, while improving customer experience. Improved quality of service company-wide leading to a 34% decline in credits and over 5% EBIDAT improvement.
⮞ Successfully implemented price increases (3%) two consecutive years while increasing demand.
AIRADIGM COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 1999 to 2017
As CEO, held full strategic planning, operating and organizational leadership, and P&L responsibilities of start-up wireless telephony provider increasing the value 3X.
⮞ Built three separate business segments resulting in self-funding all activities without outside capital.
⮞ Executed an operational strategy and a growth plan that more than tripled the company value ($65M to $235M) in only 18 months, during a major decline in the telecom industry.
⮞ Launched an M2M technology connectivity service that has connected over two million devices.
⮞ Contended against national carriers by introducing new consumer products and marketing strategies that resulted in 100% increase in subscribers and 60% upsurge in overall revenue. Negotiated roaming relationships with national carriers and grew the segment to 25% of all revenue.
⮞ Focused operating efficiencies, reduced headcount, led capital reductions (from $14M to $5M in first year). Streamlined continuous improvements to cut traffic cost and enrich network quality, while tripling network size with only cash generated from operations.
⮞ Managed and Led the company through two separate ownerships and transactions.
CATALINA FURNITURE, INC. 1997 - 1999
Led growth and operational strategies of $60M+ furniture manufacturer. Turned around company in six months to generate $1.5M operating earnings, compared to $600K in losses during the prior six months. Managed relationships with national and regional retail chains.
⮞ Spearheaded a new product and customer strategy resulting in 25% increase in sales, while reducing SKU’s 30%, and customers 20%.
⮞ Augmented production capacity through new facilities in Mexico to take advantage of associated cost savings, resulting in improved operating efficiencies of $2M.
⮞ Renegotiated credit facilities with lenders, providing additional capital and better term
GRUEN MARKETING CORPORATION 1996 - 1997
Developed, implemented, and executed a strategic and operational turnaround of a $50M watch company, with cash losses exceeding $5M.
⮞ Reengineered sales and marketing strategy, resulting in renewed business with major retailers (i.e. Walmart, Costco). Increased international capabilities, eliminating $3.75M+ in costs by consolidating five facilities into two, and closing eight unprofitable business units.
⮞ Negotiated terms with overseas vendors to meet seasonal orders. Repositioned sales policies that reduced returns and discounts. Slashed inventory by $4M without damaging future business.
⮞ Persuaded lender not to foreclose until its sale was successfully negotiated and settled. Company sale totaled $23M in cash, providing a recovery to lenders and investors.
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Graduate School of Business Administration 1993
MBA in New Venture Management and Strategic Planning
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 1986
BSBA, Concentration: Corporate Finance & Investment Analysis
ADDENDUM TO RÉSUMÉ
CONSULTING / ADVISORY EXPERIENCE
Able to draw on operational and investment experience to deliver wide-ranging performance improvement, growth and turnaround management, and business advisory. Professional focus on creating business solutions that deliver results. Companies/industries include equity sponsor groups, lenders, corporate management teams, and board of directors – publicly held or privately owned.
RDI – Restaurant Group
Provided strategic and operational advice for 50-store restaurant company. Strategized and executed a plan that eliminated loses and generated positive EBIDAT. Resolved significant litigation exposure.
Public Company – Consumer and industrial optical products
Engaged by the Board of Directors to access corporate operations and performance, in order to facilitate performance improvement.
Retail One – Equipment sales and service provider to the retail channel.
As temporary CEO, developed and implemented a turnaround that led to profitability in less than 90 days, for the first time in more than three years.
New West Foods – Fruit processor
Provided restructuring advice to minority equity holder to gain control of the company and restructure its bank facility, and operational advice to management as Chairman of the Board.
POWERSPORTS – Motor sport retailer
Advised and participated in developing a business plan that provided for profitable reorganization and integration of fourteen separate franchises acquired in a ‘roll up.’
EV Roberts – Chemical distributor
Led development and implementation of a business strategy that improved corporate profitability, enabling it to refinance its senior debt.
Autoshade, Inc. – Automotive accessory manufacturer and distributor
Provided an assessment of the company’s overseas operations and negotiated an exit, on behalf of the minority investors.
Two Count Distribution – A direct store frozen food distributor
Developed, implemented and executed growth and operational strategy for a food distributor.
Heller Investments, Inc. / Vice President
Architect of equity and equity equivalent investments in underperforming middle-market companies. Managed investment companies as a member of the Board of Directors.
Heller Financial, Inc. / Vice President
Identified, advised, and structured mergers, acquisitions, and recapitalization projects ranging from $15M to $125M in all industries. Managed portfolio of performing/non-performing highly leveraged investments; played a lead role in loan restructuring, divesting operating divisions, liquidating assets, and managing bankruptcies
Contact Robert J Galle
Leader with a Proven Track Record of Creating Value