STEPHEN E. FODO

sefodo@kingwoodcable.net

2515 Golden Pond                                                                                                           Home: 281-360-5781

Kingwood, Texas 77345                                                                                                          Cell -832-721-6132

SENIOR FINANCE EXECUTIVE

Chief Financial Officer / M&A & Investment Strategist / Financial Advisor & Consultant

 

Expert qualifications across corporate finance and general management has honed ability to think strategically and execute tactically. Sound M&A, investment, strategic partnering and corporate development skills with success in leveraging capital and investments to build scale, reposition markets/products and move businesses forward.   

Natural talents in fostering critical decision making at the executive level which have translated complex strategies into workable solutions.  Excels in managing the top line revenue and bottom-line cost structures, and building sound financial teams and organizations.  Instilled fiscal discipline promotes pragmatic growth across new economy and old line manufacturing and service businesses in various stages of growth, turnaround and transition.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Current Activity

 

Chief Compliance Officer

Commonwealth International Series Trust, Houston, Texas                                                                   2004-current

A family of international and global  mutual funds                                                                  

                                                                   

Reporting to the Trustees insure compliance with SEC rules and regulations including Sarbenes-Oxly

governing registered mutual funds. Successfully completed SEC Exams and resolved Wells Notice for Market Timing. Led RFP for replacing Service Providers. Part-time, contract position.

 

Advisory Board Member

Ingenero Inc, USA, Mumbai India                                                                                             2003-current

An emerging growth offshoring company providing process engineering services via the internet to downstream energy firms                                                                     

 

Key member of the US based interim management team providing business development and organizational services to this Venture Capital backed 3 year old company. Assisted in directing the growth of the firm to over 150 engineers and a global foot print. Part time, contract position.

 

Prior Engagements

 

Chief Financial Officer

Organic Fuels Holdings Inc, Houston Texas                                                                              2007-2008

A bio diesel and alternative fuels venture backed early stage growth company

 

Engaged by the Venture Capital firm to revitalize the financial function and participate in raising debt and equity capital. Mission accomplished.  Part time employed position

 
 
 
 
 
 

Managing Director

Morris-Anderson & Associates Ltd., Chicago,  IL                                                                                       2003 to 2005

A national turn around / crisis management firm serving the middle market

                                                                   

Specialist in providing needed business expertise to stabilize and steer under performing companies toward operational and financial success. Business Development responsibilities for Houston.

 

Assignments

 

• Advisor to a Venture Capital backed technology manufacturing company transitioning to a software      

Developer.

         *    Chief Restructuring Office for a troubled steel fabrication roll up which resulted in the sale of the operating          

                units to the original  owners

 
 

Engagement Partner -Houston

TATUM CFO PARTNERS, LLP, Atlanta Georgia 2000 to 2002

A national partnership of career CFOs serving early stage, middle market and large corporations

 

Retained for long-term financial, transactional and investment leadership assignments with primary focus on moving businesses forward.  Roles focus on parallel paths of strategy and forward-thinking tactics to raise financing, facilitate strategic acquisitions and enhance investment market visibility, while reengineering financial infrastructures, improving internal controls, and instilling benchmark operating standards.

 

Investments, Acquisitions & Growth/Exit Strategies Assignments

 

• Chief Financial & Strategy Officer for Enerva Corporation, an $8 million 60-person web-based software and solution development company recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in Houston. 

 

• Identified, structured and closed a horizontal acquisition allowing the firm to increase business capability 50%, by adding intellectual assets and rounding out technology service offerings.
• Expanded bank facilities and secured equity participation.
• Mentored key executives and technical staff on sound fiscal management and business discipline.
• Established an outsourced finance and accounting function allowing firm to lower cost of overhead. 

 

• Advisor to Muehlstein Corporation, a global chemicals manufacturer and commodity products distributor.

 

• Screened 63 specialty product manufacturers to determine the best acquisition candidates, performed analysis, due diligence and participated in negotiations.
• Formulated value added alternatives to base business.

 

• Advisor to Proline Manufacturing Company, a $20+ million privately-held buckets/grapples manufacturer.

 

• Developed a complete business exit strategy for a sole proprietor outlining divestiture, merger, joint venture and/or strategic alliance scenarios.
• Led discussions with largest competitor and proceeded to formal deal structuring stage.

         

 

WESTLAKE GROUP, Houston, Texas 1993 to 2000

Billion-dollar, private chemical company and member of  the Chao Group, a rapidly growing Asian family enterprise

 

VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER – BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (1993 to December 1999)

 

Top Finance Executive for a multi-plant US manufacturing business and confidential advisor to foreign owners and Malaysian affiliate.  Scope of accountability and authority spanned finance and corporate development, and included interactive involvement in all related projects and transactions. Member of a six-person Executive Committee providing strategic insight to owner in overcoming adverse industry conditions and business constraints.

Investment Strategies, Capital Funding, Asset Management & Wall Street Relations

 

• Guided long-term growth and value optimization strategies through heavy M&A and investment activities.

 

• Growing the corporate portfolio from six to 12 businesses within six years.
• Strategic acquisition and bridge financing of $100 million chemical manufacturing facility.
• $120 million roll-up transaction of three companies to gain controlling interest in domestic and international facilities valued at $800 million.

 

• Led capital acquisition activities, and served as the principal architect and negotiator and of complex, large-dollar transactions.

 

• Secured $1+ billion in bank credits and private placements
• Led pre-IPO activities – selected counsel and underwriter, performed due diligence, prepared filing and contributed to road show presentations
• Delivered improved ROI through the disposition of non-productive assets valued at $10 million

 

• Built critical ties within the financial community, and strengthened relationships for shareholders with lenders and analysts.  Achieved Investment Grade from rating agencies.

Corporate Finance Management & Business Leadership

 

• Created the holding company business infrastructure for the six original US companies, and realigned the organization as it doubled in size over a six-year period.

 

• Contributed to creating financial planning, budgeting, general accounting, audit, analysis, and reporting systems that provided operating managers and owners with critical financial information for decision making.

 

• Established a corporate risk management function and linked it to investment and asset management. Monitored interest rate exposures and restructured business insurance contracts for the global Chao Group.

 

• Contributed to the implementation and proficient utilization of SAP/EVA systems having a significant impact on financial analysis and decision-making capabilities.

 

C.A. JOHNSON COMPANY, Houston, Texas 1988 to 1993

Investment banker providing transaction brokering services and management advisory for start-up and turnaround enterprises

 

INTERIM CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & GENERAL MANAGER – ACPC, INC. (1991 to 1993)

$100 million manufacturing company owned by Sural Group, a private holding company based in Venezuela

Organization Restructure & Turnaround

• Executed an enterprise-wide restructuring which halted losses and delivered positive cash flow in one year.

• Closed non-performing manufacturing facility, and relocated a plant and corporate HQ.  Reduced headcount by 50% and cut overhead costs by up to 35%.

• Rebuilt lender relationships resulting in a $35 million secured line of credit and a $3 million equity infusion. 

• Established financial reporting systems (budgets, revenue projections, cost forecasts, cost accounting, IT).

• Redirected domestic marketing and expanded European trading to protect profits as the US market declined.

 

VICE PRESIDENT , FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION – WELLSTREAM CORP. (1990)

$50 million manufacturing company – Hillman Company second-stage start-up

 

Investment, Finance & Operations

• Structured a private placement memorandum and raised $11 million in venture capital, concurrent with building and leading the entire financial organization.

• Designed business processes and internal controls.  Led a team of 10 finance and accounting professionals.

• Instrumental in taking the company to the “next level” in market positioning and business performance.

• Initiated a formal profit planning system with structures for capital and departmental expense budgeting, and improved financial analysis and year-end closing processes. 

PRINCIPAL/SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR (1988 to 1993)

Business & Financial Analysis

• Designed structure and financing of $5 billion proposal for MBO of a Tenneco business.

• Analyzed a business for Chase Manhattan Bank on a $1 billion potential acquisition by foreign corporations. 

• Identified potential partners and financing for $35 million project management company. 

• Successfully advised a specialty retailer on an $85 million IPO of equity and debt.

EARLY CAREER included progressively responsible finance, accounting and treasury positions culminating in the Vice President and Treasurer position at Citgo and the Operating Treasurer position at Gulf Oil.  Structured and negotiated several complex transactions, and played key roles in diverse business situations (e.g., spin-off, joint venture, MBO, roll-up, corporate and project financing) with far-reaching political implications and significant financial risks. Built and led finance, treasury, financial analysis and general accounting teams. 

 

Financings, Investments & Transactions

 

• Worked through complex financings and transactional processes to secure capital and structure a Latin American joint venture between Citgo and Conoco.

 

• Negotiated $500 million international bridge financing in an adverse credit market, structured the private placement of $100 million in subordinated debt, secured $60 million project financing for Citgo.

 

• Placed $6 billion in offensive and defensive revolving credits, structured $700 million in Euro-dollar issues and managed $700 million expansion of captive finance subsidiary’s commercial paper issuance for Gulf.

 

• Directed the sale of $250 million production payment and initiated electronic funds transfer system that freed $60 million in working capital for Gulf.

EDUCATION

Executive Development Program, University of Pittsburgh

MBA, University of Kentucky

BSB, (Magna cum Laude), Morehead State University