Michael Gilson Email & Phone Number

San Francisco, CA, US

Sacramento, CA, US

Davis, California, US

As an adjunct to my passion for providing thought leadership to early stage and emerging technology companies, I provided advice and counsel to a company that has a patent and a provisional patent in biotechnology, including one that is focused on early detection of breast cancer.

• Set strategic vision for organization, driving consensus and leading ongoing efforts of the library and learning center to position itself as a vital community cornerstone.
• Provided daily oversight and counsel to executive director and staff, building consensus across 18-member board and a 2,000-member volunteer organization.
• Managed an annual budget of $1.4 million.
• Led raising of $18 million in two capital campaigns. I
• Recognized as instrumental in the success of a $44 million construction project: considered a “ground breaking, cutting edge” facility, the library sponsored 400 programs and drew 450,000 people annually.

• Recruited to lead sales and marketplace turnaround in face of stagnant product line, loss of distributor pipeline, and declining international sales.
• Revitalized existing customer relationships and built a new global distribution network for launch of new brand strategy and products.
• Assumed General Management responsibility for: product management, supply chain and vendor relations, product testing--QA and QC—and customer training.
• Built backlog to highest level in company’s 26-year history, growing annual sales revenues from $2 million to $6 million and increased export revenues by 60%.
• Reestablished customer relationships with clients including General Electric, Westinghouse, and the FBI, US Navy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, 45 universities, and 24 armed forces worldwide.
• Launched three new products into the highly competitive hydro-electric inspection, nuclear power plant, and homeland security marketplaces—segments occupied by formidable and well-funded competitors.

• Rebuilt company with 55 employees supporting the airline, armed forces and rail industries.
• Oversaw regulatory approvals, planning, and overseeing the development and structuring of all financing and contracts, and internal operations.
• Raised external funding and achieved FAA certification and OEM qualification, and provided finance, accounting, and IP leadership.
• Reengaged and rebuilt customer relationships with airlines and armed forces worldwide including the governments of Israel, Belgium, Spain, Germany, US, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, as well as Saudi Arabian Airlines.
• Reorganized assets and grew revenues from zero to $15 million and successfully sold business units of the company to multi-national aerospace suppliers

• Designed and led marketing and global strategy efforts following acquisition of Polaris Aircraft Leasing.
• Developed a forward-thinking strategy driving integration, resulting in approval for penetration of Asian markets and exploitation of Gulf War opportunities.
• Relocated to China and managed first major Chinese commercial transactions. Defined and led growth initiatives that grew company from $3B to $6B in assets over tenure.
• Drove sal and lease revenues of over $1 billion and acquisitions over $3 billion through development of more than 10 complex transaction structures.
• Conceptualized and directed three major China transactions ($100 million in profit, $700 million in leasing revenue) by conceptualizing and implementing comprehensive Chinese capital acquisition plan.
• Managed overhaul of several aircraft to meet airline requirements.

• Devised and executed strategic marketing initiatives resulting in 100% revenue growth—from less than $500 million to $1 billion annually) and 700% employee growth (from 15 to 125).
• Developed business plan shaping growth from one customer to eight.
• Played a key role in market launch of four new aircraft models that generated minimum of $5 billion in US sales.

• Directed in-house and on-site client engagement teams for leading US and European transportation, manufacturing, chemical and metal companies.
• Special focus on financial turnaround, corporate finance strategy and organizational change

Mba, Finance And Corporate Strategy

Ba, Political Science And Local Government

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Political Science And Government