Company address
1045 West Glen Oaks Lane, Mequon, WI 53092
Industry
Corporate finance, private equity
Number of employees
3
Company’s annual revenues
More than $1 million projected for 2006
Your education
B.A., Southern Methodist University; MBA, Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
Family
Wife, Edith, and two sons, Micky and Augie. My wife has a strong background in marketing and helps the business out.
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
"Without a doubt, the smartest thing we did was to focus our efforts in allocating investors assets in the oil and natural gas industry. By moving our clients into "direct investment" in oil and gas, we have been able to take advantage of the increasing price of the commodities, as well as provide our investors with incredible tax benefits. It is also an incredibly exciting industry to invest in, especially in these times."
What’s new at your company?
"There is so much going on with the company. It is really exciting. I am in the midst of creating a multi-million dollar energy fund that has the potential to attract extremely high returns for investors. I and the broker/dealer
I work with, Brookstreet Securities, have engaged in a multi-million dollar project with B & R Energy and Newfield Exploration (NYSE: NFX), a $6 billion company. When investors can invest along side of Newfield Exploration, a Fortune 400 company, they are investing with very ‘smart’ money."
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?:
"There is no question I would like to hire a number of financial representatives this year. I will also increase my investment in marketing substantially. I like to do that through endeavors such as charitable contributions. I had the fortune of becoming the presenting sponsor position for The Junior League of Milwaukee’s Evening with Steve Forbes. The event and the public relations I received from it was great. It feels pretty good to have my name above many of Milwaukee’s most respected corporations, which were also sponsors. I feel Milwaukee really needs community and corporate leaders to step up from a charitable standpoint so the city can fulfill its promise. If I can help do that personally, while also benefiting my business, I will let charitable contributions be my P.R. director every time."
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
"The main challenge I face is sustaining the growth that we accomplished last year. I was able to bring investors to a number of fantastic private equity offerings last year that have tremendous upside. The private equity business is pretty fickle, and you are only as good as the companies you help finance."
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
"The hottest trend in the private equity industry are hedge funds. Although they can be great investments, I think it’s becoming the "flavor of the day." I have always been a believer that if an accredited investor is going to devote monies to private, illiquid investments, they should invest directly into the companies with great leadership, a highly differentiated product, and a multi-million dollar industry."
Do you have a business mantra?
"Our business mantra is don’t invest for singles! Just like Babe Ruth didn’t swing for singles, we are looking to handle the accredited investors’ monies that they have allocated for the home run return. A good portfolio of private equity securities should most definitely outperform the public markets. The historical returns are significantly higher, and my prediction of a weakening economy and a lackluster stock market make private equity investments very intriguing."
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
"My father. Although my father passed away a year ago, he taught me a ton about business and the right way to do it. From the public eye, it would have to be Steve Forbes. He has an absolutely incredible global perspective of the markets and economics."
What was the best advice you ever received?
"The best advice I ever received regarding business came from my father. My father was known for treating his clients like kings and queens. From the time I joined the financial business, right out of college, my father made it clear to me that the client is the only asset you have and that you must be honored to have their business. When he ran his company he went to great lengths to show this, such as writing thank you notes on business cards and putting them on the dashboard of cars his customers purchased. That is just one example of his going the extra mile."
