Sommer Brings Corporate Experience To FinCom Job
Chatham resident Ken Sommer is putting more than 30 years of experience in finance to work for the town as well as for small businesses on Cape Cod. Sommer, newly named chair of the finance committee, was chief financial officer for Visa International before moving rull-time to Chatham in 2007. A native of Boston, Sommer’s family moved to northern New Jersey when he was a child. Sports were his passion and baseball in particular was his love. He played third base and pitched until he realized that he wouldn’t be a major leaguer. “I knew I better go to school,” he says now with a smile. At Michigan State University he studied accounting, graduating in 1980. It was also at Michigan that he met his wife, Betsy. He was offered a position in GE’s training program but before he could even start, the economy took a nosedive and the program was cut in half, leaving Sommer back at home in New Jersey without a job. He found a position at Lever Brothers inNew York and in 1982 he moved to Citibank, where he would rise through the ranks to become regional chief financial officer in both the Asia Pacific and Latin American regions. His years in Singapore were especially formative. Calling that period the “most important both personally and professionally,” he witnessed the rise of Asia as an economic power. He also experienced the cultural diversity of the area and developed a new understanding and appreciation of the people of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the entire southeast Asia region. In 2000, Sommer left Citigroup to become the chief financial...
Jerry Mills Named Among Top 100 Small Business Influencers
Jerry L. Mills Named in the Inaugural Ranking that Honors People and Corporations with Significant Impact on North American Small Business Market Phoenix, Ariz., August 22, 2011 — Jerry L. Mills, founder and chief executive officer of B2B CFO was named among the “Top 100 Small Business Influencers” in North America in an inaugural awards program created jointly by Small Business Trends and Small Business Technology. Small Business Influencer recognition was established to honor companies, organizations and people who have made a significant impact on the North American small business market. Over 125,000 votes were cast, on behalf of 520 nominees. In addition to the votes, the top 100 were decided by an expert panel of Judges with deep and wide knowledge of the small business market. The Judges’ votes weighted 60%, along with the community votes at 40%, to choose the final 100 Small Business Influencers. All honorees will be recognized at the Awards Gala and Reception in New York City on September 13, 2011. “I’m honored to be recognized among such a great group of thought leaders and service providers to the SMB market,” said Jerry L. Mills, founder and CEO of B2B CFO. “It is a great tribute to the growth of our firm and the need for the services we provide to small businesses around the country.” B2B CFO’s growth is reflected in numerous awards. The company made the prestigious Inc. 5000 list for two consecutive years as well as in ACE Corporate Growth Awards, which recognizes the 25 most successful and fastest growing private companies in Arizona. B2B CFO was also named the...
B2B CFO® Expands in Pennsylvania
B2B CFO is pleased to announce its expansion in Pennsylvania with the addition of Dennis Kennedy. Kennedy is joining B2B CFO after a 37-year successful corporate career in finance. He joins eight other B2B CFO Partners in Pennsylvania who currently provide CFO services to local business owners. With close to 200 partners across the country, B2B CFO, is the nation’s largest CFO for hire firm. The as-needed CFO role is a hallmark of the firm that provides services exclusively to emerging and mid-market companies. Kennedy joined B2B CFO as a partner in May 2011. Kennedy’s clients will benefit from his combination of executive finance and consulting experience supported by the depth of resources provided by the national firm. Prior to joining B2B CFO, Kennedy served in several financial oriented positions including Corporate Controller and CFO at numerous organizations serving a broad spectrum of industries with annual sales volumes ranging from stat up to in excess of $1 billion. Previous to his senior financial roles, he was part of the founding team that designed, developed and installed retail point of sales computer systems for Servistar hardware stores and lumber yards throughout the country. While serving as CFO of Synergistic Partners, Inc Kennedy developed a significant amount of expertise with retirement plans, specifically Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP’s). There he oversaw the conversion of the organization from a C Corp to and S Corp which resulted in millions of dollars being diverted from the payment of federal taxes to participant retirement savings. “We welcome Denny to the B2B CFO Partnership. In many ways he represents a snapshot of the organization: business experience and...
Interpreting & Leveraging the Value of Your Assets as a CEO
Business Wire News Releases Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “Interpreting & Leveraging the Value of Your Assets as a CEO” audio conference to their offering. In Interpreting & Leveraging the Value of Your Assets as a CEO, ExecSense examines the most effective techniques that CEOs can use to determine the value of their company’s individual assets as well as how to take advantage of these assets in the current economy. Take the 60 minutes to view this webinar (on your computer, mobile phone, iPad, Kindle or printed out) to update your knowledge on the most up-to-date asset valuation methodologies and learn which types of assets are deemed most valuable so that you can understand the impact when pursuing growth strategies, new capital expenditures, raising any type of capital or financing, or any other situation where you can capitalize on the value of specific assets. Upon ordering, ExecSense will email you a link to download the webinar files for viewing on your computer, mobile phone, iPod, iPad, Kindle or printed out. The downloaded files will include the PowerPoint presentation, audio narration and jpeg images of the slides (for watching on your mobile media device). Take advantage of your next commute, flight, business trip, lunch, or free hour in your schedule to view this webinar. The webinar is led by an expert on CEO best practices for valuing a company’s assets, Peter Aronstam (Partner, B2B CFO Partners), and focuses on: Everything you need to know in 60 minutes about how to determine the value of your company’s individual assets in the current economy and how to capitalize...
CFO Of the Year
David Whitwell is a member of the B2B CFO Par tners network, which places part-time and interim financial executives in short-term assignments, typically with emerging and middle-market businesses. During a current assignment as acting CFO of Blue Bell-based Ansaris, a division of Locus Pharmaceuticals, Whitwell helped the then-CEO transform the business from a non-revenue-generating clinical company into an R&D business with sales. Whitwell’s responsibilities since joining Ansaris in 2008 include working with the CEO on long-term strategy and general strategic and operating issues, including cash flow; board meetings, new business plans and infrastructure and operating expenses. He uses information about revenue and profits and losses to help guide a long-term strategy for the company. Whitwell got high marks from Ansaris CEO Joan Lau for his assistance restructuring the company to focus on its scientific strengths and cost reduction. “David is not only an excellent strategist, he has adapted seamlessly into our organization in a way that is very effective,” wrote Lau in her nomination. “Importantly to me, he provides me his opinion, counsel and recommendations on the pros/cons of any decision, and then after a decision is made, supports the implementation of the decision fully. He works both with management as well as scientists with ease, and many come to him for advice/counsel before making proposals to senior management.” ? How did you arrive at your field?: I always was very analytical and strong with numbers which lead me to accounting and financial positions as building blocks to the CFO position. What have you done to strengthen your company’s growth or profitability?: We eliminated several expensive programs with low...B2B CFO® are media experts on, and can speak to the media on:
- - Company Financials
- - Small Business Finance
- - Lending
- - Profit/Loss Statements
- - Exit Strategy
