Frank Connolly

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Frank Connolly is a New York-based partner in TechCXO’s Finance & Operations practice. He has been a CFO for public companies, VC startups, and PE-owned firms. He was also a principal in a PE investment firm and an M&A banker in a boutique NYC-based investment bank. Frank has executed 25 equity and debt transactions as a principal executive, private equity investor and M&A advisor with a total value of $2 billion including public equity and private debt offerings, as well as the purchase and sale of public and PE-owned companies.

Founders, Boards, investors and executive leadership teams from marketing, media, advertising, market research, professional services, technology, and customer information services companies most frequently call on Frank to help them as an advisor and interim or fractional CFO. He provides value in the following areas:

  • Advice on M&A transactions
  • Strategy for Successful Fundraising
  • Insight on best practices in finance and operations
  • Counsel on policy and procedure
  • Guidance for systems implementations
  • Investigation of tax strategies
  • Benchmarking management compensation
  • Industry insights for the marketing, media, market research landscape.

Throughout his career, he has executed transformational M&A transactions, provided strategic insights, built highly effective teams, designed new operating/financial procedures, restructured balance sheets, rolled out scalable business process flows, realigned costs, and implemented a variety of systems to support high growth businesses.

Frank began his career with Accenture in the New York Metro practice. This provided an excellent grounding in the use of technology by businesses to create value. His clients included General Electric, Pitney Bowes, Marsh & McLennan, US Tobacco, American Can and Xerox. After his start in consulting, Frank joined The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, which at that time consisted of 35 operating units across the information, marketing, and media spectrum where he held various corporate HQ finance positions.

While still a division of Dun & Bradstreet, he transferred to Donnelley Marketing, a B2C marketing business with three units in marketing technology/consumer data, promotion services and direct marketing. He continued as CFO with Donnelley Marketing after it was sold to a private equity sponsor. Frank was instrumental in creating value at Donnelley through exiting unprofitable product lines, reducing expenses and optimizing the balance sheet. The marketing technology/data business was subsequently sold to First Data Corp., and the consumer promotions and direct marketing units were sold to Cox Enterprises resulting in a combined 11x equity return.

He then joined DigaComm, the private equity group that had purchased Donnelley. Frank evaluated dozens of PE and late-stage VC investment opportunities in North and South America. Four investments were made during Frank’s tenure focused on emerging internet marketing services companies. Following DigaComm, Frank joined Modem Media, a public internet marketing pioneer as CFO after the severe industry downturn. He was pivotal in returning that company to top-line growth and achieving profitability. The enterprise value of the company doubled during his 3-year tenure. Modem was acquired by Digitas.

He was CFO at Harris Interactive, a public market research firm that pioneered the use of the internet to collect and interpret custom research data for clients. Harris was acquired by Nielsen.

Frank was an investment banker at AdMedia Partners, an M&A advisory firm in New York, for five years. He would source clients, find buyers, and execute transactions. He closed 9 deals during his time there, focused on marketing services, media, and market research.

He was CFO at a full-service agency, Media Storm, that more than doubled its billings from $200 million to $550 million in the four years since he started. He was instrumental in building a team, establishing operating workflows & processes, and implementing new financial and media buying systems to support this hyper-growth. Media Storm was acquired by the Merkle division of Dentsu.

Frank was CFO of FocusVision where he introduced the use of operating metrics to improve the profitability of the professional services and software implementation businesses. FocusVision has been acquired by Forsta.

He was the CFO at Viamedia for the past four years as part of a turnaround effort. While aligning costs with revenue and optimizing working capital, Frank’s accomplishments provided liquidity for the digital transformation of the company to transition its advertiser clients and media technology clients to new digital marketing solutions and TV advertising technology platforms.

Frank has and MBA in Finance from Cornell University and a BA in Economics from Stony Brook University.

Cristian G. Valbuena

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Cristian Valbuena is an experienced leader and finance professional. He has worked as a financial executive for numerous ventured backed technology startups & middle-market-sized companies across multiple industries. Positions include CFO, VP of Finance, Controller, and FP&A Analyst.

His areas of expertise include Strategic Planning, Business Development, Financial Modeling, KPI Dashboard Development, Cashflow Analysis, Business Credit, Process Development and Implementation, Controller Services, Financial Reporting, and Venture Capital.

Cristian holds a BBA in Accounting and an MS in Finance from Baruch College (Zicklin School of Business) and a CPA license. He has an entrepreneurial spirit, is passionate about business, and is fluent in Spanish.

Jim McClintock

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Jim McClintock is a seasoned business leader with 30 years of executive-level financial, strategic and operational management experience. Jim has served six different organizations — from startups to a $75 million company — as their CFO. As a TechCXO Principal, he brings his clients a balance of both Fortune 50 (Citibank, BellSouth) and entrepreneurial perspectives, including expertise in: M&A, strategic planning, corporate development, CFO services, financial reporting, accounting, internal controls, information technology, risk management, banking, venture capital and private equity.

His career spans multiple industry segments within financial services and information technology and across multiple functional roles. He worked in business development for Citibank’s LBO financing unit, as a partner at North Riverside Ventures, an Atlanta-based venture capital arm of Sam Zell’s Equity Group, and as COO/CFO for an Atlanta-based broker-dealer for independent financial planners.

Jim was a senior corporate development executive at BellSouth, where he led strategy and deal teams for BellSouth’s Broadband, Entertainment and Internet groups, including the completion of a $500 million digital cable TV programming partnership among BellSouth, Ameritech, SBC Communications and Walt Disney, the acquisition of five wireless cable companies for $250 million, and a wide variety of other strategic transactions (divestitures, strategic alliances, partnerships, software licenses, investments, etc.). He also led a BellSouth International team in developing strategic plans for BellSouth’s Latin American affiliates to enter the Internet services business in six Latin American countries.

Jim subsequently headed the startup of a broadband communications service provider in Canada (Cypress Communications) and served in fractional CFO roles for an information security software company, a telecom billing software company, and an INC 500 digital marketing agency.

Jim was a Partner at Pace Capital Advisors for eight years, where he provided M&A advisory and exit planning services to owners of privately held, lower middle market businesses with revenues of $5 million to $50 million.

During his tenure with TechCXO, Jim has served as fractional CFO for software as a service companies in the healthcare and financial services industries. He has also assisted owners of multiple businesses with M&A transactions.

Jim received his B.A. from Washington and Lee University and his M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Andrew Roberts

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Andrew Roberts is a CFO at TechCXO and covers a wide array of growth-stage companies’ forecasting and capital-raising needs. He came to TechCXO in 2020 from Seven Oaks Company, where he supervised the complete financial operating division with $500 million in assets under management. While in that role, he worked closely with clients and partners in their decisions involving finance and forecasting, accumulating vast experience in modeling for new investment targets and prospective dispositions. Among his previous roles, Andrew spent seven years working at Hines, an international real estate investor/manager, in the two distinct but complementary roles of controllership/asset management and project development. His skills include Accounting, Financial and Strategic Planning, Budget Development, Operational and Financial Forecasting, JV Investment, and Project Management.

Andrew has served as a Board member of the Georgia Chapter of NAIOP, one of North America’s largest commercial real estate organizations. He has a Bachelor of Science with Special Attainments in Commerce from Washington & Lee University and an MBA from Emory University. He attained his CPA license in 2005.

Jeff Fitzharris

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Jeff Fitzharris is an accounting and finance professional with over 15 years of experience working in public accounting and private industry. He specializes in technical accounting, financial reporting and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, tax compliance, audit oversight, and 401(k) administration. His career spans numerous industries, including transportation, manufacturing, and technology.

Prior to joining TechCXO, Jeff was a Director for BoomTown, a Software as a Service (SAAS) company based in Charleston, SC. His special project work for BoomTown included M&A integration, ERP migration, sales tax nexus, and KPI tracking. He’s passionate about helping businesses grow using actionable data and loves the progressive, dynamic nature of the technology sector.

In addition to being a licensed CPA in the state of SC, Jeff earned a BA from the College of Charleston, an MBA from The Citadel, and a MACC from the University of South Carolina.

Greg Klebon

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Greg Klebon is a seasoned finance and accounting professional with extensive experience partnering with privately held, high-growth companies. His expertise spans financial planning & analysis (FP&A), financial modeling, financial reporting, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), transfer pricing, foreign currency translation, and finance and accounting transformation. Greg has a proven track record of delivering strategic financial leadership and driving operational excellence.

At TechCXO, Greg has served as Vice President of Finance and has taken on CFO responsibilities for multiple clients, helping organizations scale their financial operations and optimize performance.

Prior to joining TechCXO, Greg led the finance team at a global leader in translation services, where he played a key role in guiding the company through a 400% revenue increase and expanding its workforce from 50 to 125 employees over eight years. Before that, he held managerial and sales positions in the hospitality industry in Italy and the pharmaceutical sector.

Greg holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Miami School of Business, a Master of Accounting from Nova Southeastern University, and a Bachelor of Science in Premedicine from Penn State University. He previously held a CPA license and speaks Spanish and Italian.

Matthew Klaiber

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Matthew Klaiber is an experienced finance professional with a background in consulting and entrepreneurship. Matt started his career at EY where he performed audit and IPO services. After, Matt joined PricewaterhouseCooper’s M&A practice where he executed buy-side and sell-side diligence for public and private equity clients. Most recently, Matt operated and expanded two ventures within the Hospitality industry.

His areas of expertise include: Financial Modeling, Accounting Compliance & Methodology, Strategic Planning, M&A Diligence, Budget Development, Financial Forecasting, Pro Forma Financials, Transaction-Level Data, and QuickBooks.

Matthew has a BS in Accounting from Bob Jones University, an MBA from Emory University, and is a Licensed CPA in Georgia. Matt serves as a member of the Atlanta Symphony Associates and is an active coach in the alumni mentorship program at Emory’s Goizueta Business School.

Emmett Ferri

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Emmett Ferri is a well-rounded strategic finance leader and Fractional CFO with broad-based experience across commercial finance and accounting, along with proven expertise in M&A.

Since joining TechCXO, Emmett has served as the CFO to a number of businesses across Technology, Software (SaaS), and Services, often with a focus on helping businesses prepare for and execute on M&A and capital raises, in addition to assisting with ongoing operational and strategic needs. Emmett also provides consulting services related to transaction support, quality of earnings, financial modeling, and other finance or accounting matters.

Emmett has partnered with early & growth-stage, VC & PE-backed, and corporate businesses with a focus on the Technology, Software (SaaS), and Services across a range of verticals including AI, Cybersecurity, Healthcare, Supply Chain, Education, and more.

His background includes:

  • M&A guidance, due diligence & sell-side preparation
  • Capital raising
  • Financial planning & analysis (FP&A)
  • Financial modeling & forecasting
  • KPI development & analytics
  • Financial reporting
  • Business partnering
  • Corporate development

In addition, he has significant expertise in GAAP & technical accounting, audit support, corporate strategy, project management, and data-driven operational improvement.

Prior to joining TechCXO, Emmett held a strategic finance leadership role with Telstra Health, the leading Australian-based provider of health software (SaaS) products, where Emmett served as the head of finance for multiple business segments as well as held a leadership role in driving the M&A strategy and execution during a period of accelerated, “step change” organic and inorganic growth.

Emmett began his career spending more than 11 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers across M&A Transaction Services, Corporate Finance, and Assurance in the Carolinas market and based internationally in Sydney, Australia, where he primarily focused on supporting privately held businesses and provided advisory services on more than $10B of M&A transactions.

Emmett is a CPA and graduated with honors from the College of Charleston.

Michael Levine

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Michael Levine – The SaaS Finance and Operations Advocate

Michael Levine is a highly collaborative, technology-enabled Finance & Operations Partner at TechCXO, specializing in guiding SaaS companies through strategic cash flow improvement, securing funding, increasing profitability, and facilitating operational excellence.

With a unique blend of expertise in finance, technology, cybersecurity, business operations, and sales leadership, Michael serves as a thought leader and mentor to executives at growth-focused companies ranging from startups to global enterprises exceeding $1 billion in revenue.

Throughout his career, Michael has demonstrated a commitment to driving financial clarity and momentum, enabling SaaS companies to scale and exit with confidence. His proactive and highly responsive approach ensures that strategic initiatives are executed effectively, mirroring his dedication to business health and personal performance optimization.

Recent SaaS Engagements:

1. $9M+ ARR Supply Chain SaaS Provider: Upgraded KPI reporting metrics to enable smarter executive leadership business decisions and more effective investor conversations, led successful onboarding of senior finance team member, strengthened banking relationships, supported profitable growth, improved cash flow and upgraded cash projections, and prepared for a successful exit.

2. $1.7M ARR Enterprise Support SaaS Provider: Navigated venture debt and cap table strategies during accelerated growth from $1.2M to $1.7M in less than a year, facilitating a capital raise exceeding $1M.

3. $8M+ ARR Marketing and Site Selection SaaS Provider: Negotiated major contracts to optimize business outcomes, led internal finance function, collaborated with executive team to significantly reduce cash burn and improve profitability, optimized bank relationships and coordinated debt modification, and facilitated corporate governance initiatives and convertible debt infusion exceeding $1.3M.

4. $30M+ ARR Analytics SaaS Provider: Served as interim CFO, streamlined Board reporting, facilitated $15M capital infusion from private equity sponsor to accelerate growth, renegotiated

Mark Gagne

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Mark Gagne is a strategic operations and finance executive with 25+ years of international and multi-cultural experience.  He is a Partner in TechCXO’s Finance Practice and assists a broad range of companies in software, internet and database technologies, SaaS, FinTech, hospitality, e-commerce and services as an interim and fractional CFO.

Mark has a proven track record of increasing revenue both organically and through acquisitions while reducing costs, delivering impactful business strategies, operational turnarounds, managing P&L’s and running organizations.  He is a results-focused problem-solver with a clear understanding of the fundamentals necessary to build a business.

During his career, Mark has been a driver of the growth, profitability and shareholder value of both public and private companies in a broad range of industries.

Prior to joining TechCXO, Mark was the CFO of three public companies (CMGI; BridgeStreet Accommodations; Clarus Corporation), for which he led three public offerings. Mark was also the CFO of Availant, Mythic Entertainment, CFRA, Global Connections and Okinus, Inc. Mark has a strong operations background having held the dual role of CFO and COO at CMGI, Clarus, Global Connections and Okinus, Inc. During his career, Mark has acquired and integrated over 30 companies while consistently leveraging people, process and technology for success.

Mark is also an entrepreneur having founded three companies, the most notable of which is Cash Flow Analytics, an international SaaS provider of web-based proprietary quantitative and qualitative investment research and analysis solutions.

Mark began his career as a CPA with Arthur Andersen. Mark graduated with honors from the University of Vermont.

Dan Benetz

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Dan Benetz is TechCXO partner within the firm’s Finance Practice.  He assists start-ups and fast-growth companies as an operationally-focused CFO. He primarily focuses on firms in the Technology, Manufacturing, Life Science/Biotech and AI spaces, as well as SaaS businesses in Digital Healthcare, Digital Transformation and Education Technology. Dan spends his time in both Nashville and California.

Boards, investors and senior management teams call on Dan to apply his 25+ years experience — much of it in Silicon Valley — and skills in financial analysis and business modeling, along with his extensive commercial and operational experience in order to accelerate growth.

During his distinguished career, Dan held the following positions:

CFO, Xsolis Inc., Xsolis is a Digital Healthcare SaaS company using predictive AI to eliminate waste in the healthcare ecosystem between providers and payers. Dan helped close a significant round of private equity as well as scale up financial reporting.

CFO, The Tugboat Group. Tugboat Ventures and Tugboat Institute, a CEO-membership organization focused on building Evergreen businesses (without VC or PE funding). Dan worked on investment models, capital optimization, operational KPIs and evaluation tools to help businesses benchmark performance across various scales and industries.

CFO at NuGEN Technologies. NuGEN was a  provider of Genomics sample preparation solutions enabling scientists to access true biology in all samples.  Dan helped NuGEN expand operations internationally to serve Pharma, Diagnostic and Academic researchers worldwide. Dan worked to secure funding for the business to scale, as well as handle a significant technology replacement cycle in the Genomics market. Dan applied business analysis and modeling, go-to-market strategies, capital efficiency, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions to help the firm’s success.

Dan’s public company experience was with Affymetrix, a mid-market Life Science business where Dan worked in Corporate and International finance and contributed in various areas, including: SEC reporting, Sarbanes Oxley, financial systems, financial planning and analysis and management reporting, as well as international business and tax.  Dan began his career at Intel Finance, where he worked in various roles across corporate finance, supply chain, microprocessor pricing & competitive analysis, Intel Capital, new businesses and M&A.

Dan received his BS in Mathematics/Applied Science from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Hunter Morhous

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Hunter has over 20 years of experience developing, evaluating, and executing highly complex strategic plans for various companies, including public and private entities, large corporations, and small businesses. He has supported senior executives with initiatives related to cash flow management, capital structure optimization, financial forecasting, mergers & acquisitions, and capital raising (both equity and debt).

He provides a comprehensive organizational perspective and a results-oriented approach to tasks and projects, emphasizing stakeholder relationship management, business & financial modeling, sell-side preparation, merger & acquisition integration, financial planning & analysis, project management, and audit management & compliance.

Hunter earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting from Washington and Lee University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Strategy from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. He also serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations dedicated to healthcare and education.

Jason Scherr

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Jason Scherr has over 20 years of progressive financial and operational leadership experience with privately held, high-growth technology and service companies.

At TechCXO since early 2008, Jason has specialized in capital fundraising, sell-side preparation, strategic financial planning, and financial modeling. Jason has steered 110 debt/equity/M&A events totaling $925M for clients in the technology and services industries. Having served as interim CFO, acting CFO, or part-time CFO for 70 high-growth companies, Jason provides customized services drawing on a breadth of experience leading technology and services platforms to success fiscally and operationally.

Prior to joining TechCXO, Jason was a Co-Founder and the VP-Finance reporting directly to the CEO of a technology-enabled service company where he was responsible for all financial and accounting functions of the organization. He was a founding shareholder and led a $10 million capital raise that ignited annual revenue growth from $4 million to $25 million.

Jason also founded a software business in the golf industry that was eventually sold to Sequoia Golf Holdings (owner of Canongate golf courses), later acquired by Club Corp Golf. Jason started his career as an Analyst and eventually became Program Mgr at General Electric, where he was involved with new business development and current product growth related to major clients, including Home Depot.

Jason has a BBA degree from Goizueta Business School at Emory University, was a 2-time Team Captain of the Emory Golf Team, was an NCAA All-American in Golf, NCAA Academic All American, and is a lifetime member of MENSA.

Testimonials & Case Studies from Jason’s Clients

Successful Transactions by Jason

 

Client Portfolio: Current

Client Portfolio: Past

Chris Thomajan

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Chris Thomajan has been a CFO for over 30 years in a variety of industries, including: biotech, medtech, healthcare tech, software, digital media, Internet services and investment banking.

Chris was a founding partner of America’s Growth Capital, a boutique investment bank focused on emerging growth technology companies. He was the early-stage CFO/VP Operations for Asurion Corporation, which is a closely held, multi-billion-dollar private company. He was also the founding CFO for a pioneering Internet company, Delphi Internet Services, which was acquired by News Corporation in 1993.

Since joining TechCXO in 2007, Chris has worked with outstanding companies such as Relay Therapeutics (RLAY – IPO in 2020), Keros Therapeutics (KROS – IPO in 2020), Cyteir Therapeutics (CYT – IPO in 2021), Decibel Therapeutics (DBTX – IPO in 2021),  Mashable, Mascoma Corp., Adheron (acquired by Roche in 2015), Catabasis Pharmaceuticals (CATB – IPO in 2015), and Ektron (acquired by Accel/KKR in December 2014). Current clients include Elektrofi, Diceros Therapeutics, Medzown, Inc., QurAlis Corporation, and EnClear Therapies.

Chris has extensive experience in raising debt and equity. He has also been involved in numerous M&A transactions and has managed the operations of several start-up companies during rapid revenue growth. He received a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.

Successful Transactions by Chris

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Gary Strickland

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Gary Strickland is a seasoned financial executive focused on early-stage and venture-backed technology-related companies. Gary has significant experience in software, subscriber-based services, health IT, telecommunications, and professional services. Since joining TechCXO in 2007, Gary has been providing clients with strategic and operational financial management advisory services from capital formation to exit transactions as a part-time CFO in Boston.

After starting his career with Ernst & Young as an audit manager in the Entrepreneurial Services Group, his experiences have ranged from being the seventh employee of a start-up to taking an emerging service provider public on NASDAQ to playing a key financial role for an established NYSE technology company.

Prior to joining TechCXO, Gary was the CFO of SunGard BancWare, a $60M business unit of SunGard Data Systems, Inc., and a $4B global leader in software and processing solutions for financial services, higher education, and the public sector.

As CFO of several technology companies, Gary played an active leadership role in strategic, operational, and financial activities, raising over $150M of equity and debt financings, including taking ZipLink, a provider of wholesale Internet connectivity, public on NASDAQ in Q2 1999. Gary graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame in 1985 and received his CPA Certification in 1989.