Strategic Development | Team Building | Cultural Transformation | M&ACareer Step is a leading provider of career-focused healthcare education, software and consulting services; Twice recognized as one of Utah’s Best Companies to Work For by Utah Business Magazine; Inc. 5,000 Fastest Growing Companies 2013 – 2017.Brought in to accelerate growth through the buildout of dedicated Technology and Product Development teams. Served as CFO for 15 months, with additional oversight of HR, Operations and Legal.Growth and ProfitsGrew sales by $31M+ and increased EBITDA margins from 18% to 24%, through the execution of organic/inorganic growth strategies, completing four acquisitions within 24 months.Departmental RestructuringRestructured IT, Software and Product Development departments to align resources and objectives, more than doubling the company's product offering by reducing development cycle times by 25%, while improving overall product quality.Cultural Transformation │ Team DevelopmentRecruited and hired for key strategic positions, including the CFO, VP of Technology, VP of Product Development and VP of HR.Student Lifecycle Redesign │ AICollaborated with the leading student engagement consulting firm to redesign all aspects of the student lifecycle, creating a Student Advocate function that utilized artificial intelligence solutions combined with 1x1 coaching sessions to engage learners, reinforce positive study habits and celebrate key milestones.Company Relocation │ Talent AcquisitionIdentified need to relocate the company in order to attract the talent necessary to grow the business. Led all aspects of relocation, including site selection, interior design, and buildout of a 22,000 sq. ft. office space, while successfully retaining 100+ employees over an 18-month planning and transition period.Successful Company SaleWorked closely with William Blair, the Board and bank lenders to complete a sale of the company to Revelstoke Capital Partners.

Operational Leadership │ Team Building │ Cross- Functional Oversight Recruited by the CEO to lead all non-academic operations across the University’s Main Campus (Online) and Branch Campuses in Atlanta, Houston, Fort Lauderdale and London. Managed nine direct reports with a span of control of 750 employees across Admissions, Financial Aid, FP&A, Accounting and the Office of the Ombudsman, with dotted-line responsibility for shared services, including Marketing, HR, IT and Legal. AIU is a regionally accredited, degree-granting institution, serving 17,000 students with annualized revenue and operating income of more than $350M and $70M respectively.Budget Management │ Financial ForecastingLed the annual budgeting process and managed monthly financial forecasts, making key investment and expense decisions within a $350M budget while attaining annual operating income targets.Organizational RestructuringRestructured the Admissions organization, transforming the department by driving better productivity and accountability, resulting in student participation show rates increasing five percentage points. Recruited key leadership positions, including University VP of Admissions, VP of Online Admissions and Director of University Admissions Operations.Quality Control InitiativesImproved the quality of lead and applicant flow through investments in organic search channels and reallocation of an $80M marketing budget, reducing dependence on Internet lead aggregators by 10 percentage points.Team LeadershipServed on the University Leadership Team, presented quarterly to the University Board of Trustees, and managed seven successful accreditation visits receiving the highest levels of accreditation in the US.Strategic PlanningCo-authored the University's five-year strategic plan, providing students with the “highest return on time and money invested” through the delivery of externally validated programs combined with the highest levels of student support.

Organizational Leadership │ Corporate Governance │ Relationship Management Recruited by the CEO and CFO to create a Strategic Development and Investor Relations function for this publicly traded SaaS company. Taleo was acquired by Oracle in 2012.Policy and Corporate Communication Strategy DevelopmentDeveloped corporate and organizational policies to manage all aspects of the IR and strategic development role, including the crafting of corporate governance policies, creating a unified corporate communications strategy and managing relationships across all levels of the organization.Investor RelationsWorked closely with 100+ buy- and sell-side portfolio managers, research analysts, investment bankers, venture capitalists, industry analysts, business media and key opinion leaders, ensuring the company's strategy and competitive positioning were clearly articulated.Stock OfferingsCompleted $130M secondary stock offering, pricing 6.5 million shares at $20.25 through Credit Suisse, J.P. Morgan and Oppenheimer & Co.Coordination of Quarterly Reporting ProcessLed the quarterly reporting process, authoring press releases, SEC filings, and conference call scripts, while preparing the CEO/CFO for likely Q&A session topics and coordinating follow-up communication and documentation.Maintenance and Growth of Shareholder ValuePartnered with CFO to lead the company through a revenue recognition restatement, proactively communicating with the investment community to minimize the impact on share price and maintain the integrity of the company’s accounting practices.

Research and Analysis │ Thought Leader │ Business & Sector Growth StrategistThinkEquity Partners was a startup boutique investment bank focused on the growth sectors of the economy, including Education, Technology, Healthcare, and Consumer. Acquired by Panmure Gordon in 2007.Joined ThinkEquity as Founding Partner and Head of the Software and Business Services Research Group, advising growth companies and growth investors within the education, technology and human capital management sectors. Developed a network of close relationships with key thought leaders and industry sources while serving on numerous discussion panels at industry trade shows and user-group conferences. Sector & Company Research and AnalysisEvaluated hundreds of emerging growth companies across a systematic framework for assessing their likelihood for long-term success.Due DiligenceLed the due diligence effort for multiple private placements, IPOs and Secondary Offerings. Research and PublicationsPublished research on both public and private companies across the software and business services research group, including the February 2008 white paper ThinkPeople-Power: Picking the Big Winners in HCM; top picks Taleo and SuccessFactors appreciated 136% and 325% respectively before being acquired by Oracle and SAP.

Founding Partner and Senior Analyst for boutique investment bank focused on emerging growth companies that were under-followed, undiscovered or in turnarounds with new management teams.