• What is the value of a firm?
• How do we increase the value of our firm?
• What financial information does the firm need to operate?
• Why are these separate questions?
They’re not!

Finance and accounting are among the least liked and understood responsibilities within A/E firms. Nonetheless, a firm must make a profit, or go out of business. That said, all managers – from PM to Principal – need to understand certain easily-understood basic financial fundamentals in order to be able to monitor and manage their own firm. But, quite honestly, those fundamentals are not difficult to learn, and do not have to be difficult to manage.

Below are presentations I already have given for state, local and national components of AIA and ACEC:

• Strategic Planning: Know Thyself – A Case Study
• Demystifying Finance, But Learning What’s Important
• Is Firm-wide Budgeting Easy or Difficult? Yes!
• The Price of People
• When the ‘Light Bulb’ Goes On: Sharing Financial Information
• Unlock Information, Increase Firm Value
• Link Every Manager to the Value of the Firm

Background: I started in A/E as CFO of a struggling 40 person, now successful 100+ person A/E/DB firm. I now team with Principals, CFOs and Controllers of A/E firms, some facing similar challenging business situations, and provide financial, turnaround, M&A, strategic planning, and special projects support. I also am Chair of AIA Chicago’s Practice Management KC, a member of ACEC National’s Management Practices Committee, and an AIA/ACEC Peer Reviewer.

Other: Can easily travel - and enjoy traveling - nationwide.