Operational Focus
Entrepreneurs. Specialists.
Partners.
Operational Focus describes the way the Falfurrias team partners with management teams to leverage its significant, real-world experience to bring measurable contributions and to create lasting value in our portfolio companies. Example contributions include technology-enabling a product or service, introducing new product lines through market research and proven strategies, and recruiting high-impact management teams — all with the goal of building lasting value.
Bio & Accomplishments
Bio & Accomplishments
Chairman
- Co-founded Falfurrias Capital Partners with Hugh McColl, Jr. and Ed McMahan in 2006
- Former Chief Financial Officer of Bank of America
- Sixteen years as a senior executive with Bank of America
- Former Partner with Price Waterhouse
- Previously a Fellow with the SEC, serving as a principal advisor on financial services industry accounting and disclosure matters
- Served as Member of the Board of Directors at realized Falfurrias portfolio companies Bojangles’, UC Synergetic, Commercial Credit Group, Dorsey Wright & Associates, and Marquis Software Solutions
- Currently a Board member at 2 NYSE companies, Marsh & McLennan Companies and Sonoco
- Distinguished military record as a Vietnam veteran includes serving as an Aviator in the United States Navy from 1968 to 1973
- Current FCP Board Memberships: FM Expressions, E-Technologies Group, GPS Air, Best Impressions Caterers, Training The Street, and CIH
Marc Oken
Marquis Software Solutions
- Hired Susan Faulkner as CEO following the acquisition in September 2016. Supported Susan with building a high performing management team including CFO, CTO, Chief Compliance/Client Experience Officer, and Chief Human Resources Officer
- Successfully acquired and integrated Documatix sales operations and technology offerings into the broader Marquis business and product suite, thus providing bank and credit unions with end-to-end query, dashboard and communication tools for their customer data
- Supported greater than 50% employee growth through acquisition, and investment in technology and operations delivery. Grew the team from 76 at acquisition to 120 through Q1 2020
- Supported technology platform refresh across all products to enable cloud delivery and enhanced reporting
- Facilitated an internal restructuring to better coordinate the efforts of sales, support, and technology; sales and technology teams were further organized to improve accountability, accelerate product development cycles, and improve utilization of resources
Bio & Accomplishments
Bio & Accomplishments
Partner
- Began working with Falfurrias as an Industry First Executive on the industrial automation campaign. Joined Falfurrias Capital Partners with Fund IV
- Over twenty-five years of senior operating management experience in various executive roles at EnPro, G5 Technologies, and W.L. Gore & Associates
- Former Chief Operating Officer at EnPro Industries, Inc.
- Chairman & Board Member of the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte
- Current FCP Board Memberships: E-Technologies Group (Executive Chairman), GPS Air (Executive Chairman), FM Expressions (Executive Chairman), Sauer Brands (Executive Chairman), Carolina Foods, LLC , and Local Hive
Ken Walker
GPS Air
- Joined the Board as Executive Chairman. Retained founders and augmented team with a new CEO, CFO, and other key leadership roles
- Relocated headquarters to Charlotte, NC and established a Technology & Innovation Center to showcase new and existing products
- Within the first two years of ownership, more than tripled the size of the team to support exponential growth and increased order volume
- Restructured the go-to-market sales strategy implementing a 3-pronged approach through direct, manufacturing representatives, and strategic partnerships
- Implemented a marketing strategy to further educate the market on GPS’s unique product offering, and how the products can improve air quality in a COVID-19 environment
Bio & Accomplishments
Bio & Accomplishments
Partner
- Began working with Falfurrias as an Industry First Executive on the financial services campaign in April 2013. Joined Falfurrias Capital Partners as a Partner with Fund IV
- Over thirty years of senior operating management experience in various executive roles at Bank of America and PriceWaterhouse
- Former President of Consumer and Small Business Banking at Bank of America
- Former Chief Financial Officer at Bank of America
- Immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity’s worldwide operations
- Emeritus, Board of Advisors, Belk College of Business, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Served as Member of the Board of Directors at realized Falfurrias portfolio companies, RegEd, Marquis Software Solutions, Industry Dive, and Tax Guard
- Current FCP Board Memberships: Penta, Crosslake Technologies, Training The Street, Chargeback Gurus, My Code, engage fi, CIH, Said Differently, Executive Platforms, Brainlabs, and Synergy ECP
Joe Price
RegEd
- Restructured management team and hired a new CFO and CTO
- Implemented numerous technology, financial, and operational processes and redundancies to establish an appropriate level of infrastructure necessary to execute the strategic plan
- Facilitated dialogue with several prospective traditional bank customers to create a real-time regulatory risk management software, which could replace otherwise manual and disjointed processes at many of the world’s largest financial institutions
- During FCP’s ownership, built a diverse portfolio of regulatory compliance technology and solutions for financial institutions
- Successfully grew the business over a 3.5 year hold period leading to the sale to Gryphon Investors in December 2018
Bio & Accomplishments
Bio & Accomplishments
Managing Director, CTO
- Joined Falfurrias Capital as Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director in 2008
- Over 25 years-experience in executive roles at several software companies. Co-Founded DealCloud in 2011 and sold the business in 2018
- Works exclusively with Falfurrias portfolio companies on strategic initiatives that drive automation through the use of technology
- Also leads efforts to streamline portfolio company back-office operations through the use of technology
Rob Cummings
Dorsey Wright & Associates (DWA)
- Assisted with the two year re-platforming initiative to rewrite the dorseywright.com technology platform that supports DWA’s Point-and-Figure technology enabled service
- Led the selection and implementation of a best-of-breed software platform to automate subscription service management, marketing and campaign management, dashboarding, KPIs, and financial reporting; platform later adopted for use across all NASDAQ subscription services
- Partnered with management to implement new service offering packages, and to optimize pricing across all service lines, facilitated through the use of technology
Bio & Accomplishments
Bio & Accomplishments
Managing Director
- Joined Falfurrias Capital in 2019 to form & lead the firm’s Strategy group, and promoted to Managing Director/Head of Strategy & Market Insights in September, 2021
- Former Management Consultant at McKinsey & Company 2014 – 2019.
- While at McKinsey, focused on growth and go-to-market strategy, operational excellence, and was a member of the Marketing & Sales and Digital practices
- Works with portfolio companies to develop growth strategy and research and implement new lines of business
- During due diligence, leads market research diligence to validate end-markets and growth opportunities
- Serves on the Board of Directors of Rusco and Vu-Flow
Nick Bueno
Sauer Brands, Inc.
- Led a procurement review project to help Sauer establish a world class supply chain and procurement organization. Project results included millions of dollars in savings across the supply chain
- Led a pricing, mix, and promotion project driving millions of dollars in impact in Sauer’s B2B and B2C businesses
- Led operational efficiency and scheduling diagnostic leading to significant capacity improvement and enabling Sauer’s growth agenda
Bio & Accomplishments
Bio & Accomplishments
Partner, Finance
- Joined Falfurrias Capital at its inception in 2006. Currently a Partner with the Fund.
- Former PwC and Coopers & Lybrand Big 5 accounting firm managers
- Over 20 years in CFO roles at alternate investment firms
- Works with FCP portfolio companies to implement finance best practices, manage liquidity, monitor financial risk, and oversee bank covenant requirements
Managing Director
- Joined Falfurrias Capital in June of 2019
- Former Chief Financial Officer of Bojangles. Worked directly with Falfurrias during the Fund’s Bojangles ownership
- Recognized as ‘CFO of the Year for Large Private Companies’ by the Charlotte Business Journal
- Recognized in Charlotte’s ’40 Under 40′ list of up-and-coming leaders under the age of forty
- Served as Treasurer of Parnell-Martin for 10 years
- Formerly worked for Coopers & Lybrand as a Manager
Managing Director & Chief Compliance Officer
- Joined Falfurrias Capital Partners in June of 2014, and promoted to Managing Director/Chief Compliance Officer for Falfurrias in September, 2021
- Formerly a member of PriceWaterhouseCoopers Financial Services group
- Prior to PwC, worked in Reznick Group’s Assurance Services and Transaction Advisory
JJ Schonberg
John Jordan
Matt Kilian
Bojangles
- Led senior debt refinancing resulting in a recap of the preferred A equity holders. FCP purchased an interest in this security from other investors at a discount.
- Acquired 17 franchise stores from third-largest franchisee
- During 4-year investment period, average same-store sales growth of 2.6%, unit growth of 27.1% , added 42 new company-owned stores and 62 new franchise stores