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