gerald beechum
CEO / CFO
Summary
Over the past 20 years, I have served many roles, including principal investor, operating executive, and CFO / FP&A within small, middle market, and large organizations. I take a hands-on, fact-based approach to 1) evaluating business opportunities from a principal/owner perspective; 2) creating and executing operational solutions; and 3) "connecting the dots" to identify strategic opportunities for organic and acquisitive growth. I want to spend the next phase of my career activating these skills in a diverse, entrepreneurial environment, that combines operating, finance, and investment activities and welcome the opportunity to brainstorm ideas for working together.
Experience
PRIVATE EQUITY SPONSOR
WCLI
FOUNDER MANAGING PARTNER
• WCLI partners with family offices as an active private equity investor by combining intelligent capital and seasoned operators to create long term value in middle market companies
• Targeting consumer, business services, and niche manufacturing companies with less than $10MM in EBITDA
• Evaluated over 200 deals with total deal value exceeding $500MM
• PRE Brands LLC - Investor and CFO / COO of grass-fed beef CPG startup
o Completed initial capital raise from family office and HNW individuals
o Created sales strategy, implemented operational improvements, and partnered with marketing to develop and execute shopper marketing initiatives
• Performed rail tankcar cleaning market study for a division of Marmon Company (subsidiary of Berkshire
Hathaway)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
TEAM EXPRESS DISTRIBUTING, LLC
2012-2013
MIDDLE MARKET MULTI-CHANNEL RETAILER SPORTING GOODS EQUIPMENT AND APPAREL
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
• Successfully turned around and sold company to Owner/Operator-led investor group at 2.5x initial bids
• Grew monthly sales 25% year-over-year vs. -20%, resulting in record holiday season and drastically improved
liquidity
• Led key marketing initiatives, including shipping strategy, paid and natural search efficiencies, holiday season
planning and promotions, vendor partnerships, and website redevelopment
• Built consensus and improved cross-functional communication via weekly marketing and merchandise
planning meetings ("Read React") and monthly financial reviews
• Held regular town halls, initiated "voice of the customer, " and regularly engaged employees to create a laser
focus on providing superior customer service
Education
KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
MBA, Finance and Entrepreneurship
KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY - EVANSTON, IL 1999
MBA - Finance and Entrepreneurship
CORNELL UNIVERSITY - DYSON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
BS in Applied Economics, Applied Economics
CORNELL UNIVERSITY - DYSON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS 1996
BS in Applied Economics with Honors
Skills
