As Founder, started Mountain Khakis, a leading outdoor apparel company, with a lot of due diligence, a young creative partner, $5,000, 3 watercolor pictures and a business plan. Acquired co-founders to round out the business team, then was an integral part of providing, structuring, and raising a total of over $5,000,000 to grow it.

Continued as Founder and an active part of the executive team. Innovation and the facing down of challenges, included …

• Structuring and acquiring private equity and mezzanine debt investments through several milestone rounds
• Saving the company at an early critical time from a claim to proprietary rights … successfully negotiated a complete release of all claims for minimal dollars
• Creating program sales commitments, merchandising and results in pants or “bottoms” programs for retailers that were non-existent in the industry space at the time
• Creating and establishing internal dealer sales positions to establish direct relationships with retailers while also supporting the independent reps. Along with me, these young, brand-passionate internal reps often doubled or tripled the initial order size, detailing and ultimately accelerating mutual benefit and mutual brand and retailer results.
• Positioned a new multi-million-dollar credit line within 60 days when a previous lender called to non-renew at a critical time.
• With this new lender, I was able, on 3 different occasions, to negotiate and obtain “off covenant” critical need financing infusions. (To credit the lender … much appreciated and applauded)
• Mountain Khakis was selected to the Inc500 Fastest Growing Cos. (634% growth / #34 in consumer goods).

After successful sale transactions, Mountain Khakis is now owned by a strategic private equity group, previously reaching ~ $30M in revenues.

   Pavement Solutions, a full service parking surface repair, maintenance and construction company provided asphalt and concrete services for corporate and institutional property owners and managers.

As the principal investor and active director, I secured the original assets and operating rights from the commercial lender who had taken control by right of return through an SBA financing; re-set and added to the management team; secured new national accounts such as Bank of America; identified and interacted with subcontractors; developed and managed the direct relationship with the division head of Wal-Mart in Bentonville, Arkansas and ultimately acquired the major role of preferred service provider / first responder for Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs for over 14 years throughout North and South Carolina. I was also responsible for all lines of credit as well as the commercial fleet and heavy equipment financings.

During the early 2000’s, Pavement Solutions was an early adopter of digital proposals with photographs and indications of all repair areas, inclusive of satellite imagery.

    Was an integral part of the business development group growing a Florida based, then 11- door salon business, to a franchise model expanded to16 metro areas and states. Done in approximately 2 years to include ~ $6mm in private placements and franchise investments.

Partnered with a “family” hospitality business to develop and manage multiple Marriott properties in the Charlotte, NC metro area. 

Associated with a number of real estate properties and other private enterprise growth over a 20+ year period. Structured and implemented over $100M in private placements.

In referral from then Charlotte based investment banking group, Interstate Johnson Lane, engaged with a Birmingham, AL based pharma group, to raise operating capital for their “in trials” nitroglycerin based, dermal layer penetrative, wound healing and sexual dysfunction products. Funds raised to continue the process through FDA approvals and a major investment by European Private Equity and Life Cos.

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As a late 20-something was a principal with 6 other “youngsters” in Shreveport, LA based Urban Developers and Management; developing and managing high end apartments in LA and TX. Best practices lead to having one of the wealthiest oilmen in LA as lead investor; O.B. Mobley. Developed and syndicated multiple properties in just over 3 years.

When Oil and Gas industries fell on troubled times in the mid 80’s, along with the changes in tax laws, so ability to continue with new properties changed. I went to work with nationwide, NYC based, E.F. Hutton as a broker/investment banker … was recognized in 1985 as number 2 nationwide (in the 2year quintile groups of peers) in opening new accounts.