David Brown, Certified Turnaround
Professional, is the Managing Director of Red Hawk Associates and is ultimately
responsible for the firm's Clients. He is an expert at developing and helping
to implement value creating strategies focusing upon improving cash flow and
profitability. He also is an expert at
managing lender and creditor relationships and raising capital.
David's professional profile is as a turnaround expert, entrepreneur, dealmaker
and investor with more than 2 decades of focus on the middle market. He has
actively improved more than 75 businesses in a variety of industries, and
initiated and closed numerous corporate finance transactions. David invested in
and led his own consulting/investment banking firm since 1998 and has
international experience (worked in more than 60 countries) with an
international perspective.
David began his post graduate career with Deloitte & Touche, was an
investment banker at McDonald & Co., was a principal at a boutique
consulting/investment banking firm and then in 1998, founded Red Hawk.
David has published numerous articles and coauthored a book, "The
Turbocharged Company, Igniting Your Business to Soar Ahead of the
Competition". Colleen Barrett, former CEO of Southwest Airlines, said that
"its common-sense, easy-to-read style offers countless measures of
wisdom“.
Specialties: Debt restructuring, turnaround
consulting and management, strategy development, capital formation/investment
banking, sourcing, marketing and sales.
David has advised or been referred by numerous lenders and equity sponsor groups including Bank One (now JP Morgan Chase), National City Bank, Key Bank, Huntington Bank, FirstMerit and Foothill Capital (Wells Fargo).
He holds an M.B.A from Carnegie-Mellon University and a Bachelors of Science in Economics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He has worked in more than 60 countries and speaks proficient French. He is a member of a number of organizations including the ACG and the Turnaround Management Association (he is one of approximately 500 Certified Turnaround Professionals). He is Past President of the local chapter of the TMA. David is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Venture Association.
Ron is a general management professional with over 30 years of business experience. He has held various senior management positions with P & L responsibility and is recognized for having strong leadership skills and analytical ability. Areas of expertise include marketing/sales, business development, strategic planning and operations improvement.
His corporate career was primarily in the rubber industry with BF Goodrich and successor organizations including Tire Centers Inc. and Michelin. His responsibilities spanned a wide range of functional areas from finance to marketing communications, sales, purchasing and ultimately business unit general management.
Ron’s diverse skill set has afforded the opportunity to consult with mid market companies to the Fortune 500 on a broad range of assignments including process and operation improvement as well as turnaround situations. Beyond the rubber industry, he has experience in the chemical, pharmaceutical, distribution and custom chip fabrication industries. Ron holds BS degrees in Administration and Management Science and Economics and an MS in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University. He is also a certified six sigma black belt.
Shamim (Sam) Ahmad, MS in Polymer Science
Sam provides consulting services related to manufacturing, planning and procurement. He has a special set of skills and experiences to share with Clients related to rubber, plastics and chemicals. He was Manager of Materials for Michelin North America where he led a effort that reduced production costs by over $100 million in 6 years. That project included directing 11 teams across the continent to identify and execute on cost reduction opportunities in production, sourcing, design and process technology. Also with Michelin and Uniroyal-Goodrich, he served variously as Manager, Quality and Technology, and Senior Director of Materials and Product Development. Sam holds a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering, a MS in Polymer Science and an Executive MBA.
Brad Eldridge, CPA/ABV, ASA, CIRA, MBA, CFFA
A 1976 graduate of Cornell University, Brad Eldridge subsequently received an MBA from Carnegie-Mellon University. While attending Carnegie-Mellon, he was the recipient of the alumni fellowship in economics. He holds a Certificate of Accounting from Northwestern University which he received in 1978.
Prior to affiliating with Red Hawk Associates, Mr. Eldridge was the managing partner of the local office of a regional accounting firm as well as lead partner for consulting, valuations and litigation support for another regional firm. His experience also includes time spent with Arthur Young (now Ernst & Young) as well as with two large multinational oil companies. He has a strong background in real estate, not-for-profit organizations, mergers and acquisitions, leading refinancings for privately held companies including manufacturers, retailers, insurance, oil and gas and construction companies and business valuation and support.
Mr. Eldridge is a member of the Ohio Society and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the American Society of Appraisers, the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors and has served on numerous boards of community organizations including BalletMet, Junior Achievement of Columbus, Children’s Hospital, Ohio Statewide Development Corporation, and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council. He has also served as a member of the Operations Improvement Task Force of the State of Ohio, the Committee to Select Tax Commissioners for the State of Ohio and the Governor’s Export Credit Committee.
