Innovative and responsible financial leadership is critical to any successful business. Whether the goal is to grow exponentially or achieve stable profitability, this core function needs to be handled with intelligence, skill, and unwavering commitment. Steve has honed his ability to drive change, improve profitability, and ensure long-term financial health for businesses.
He founded CFO.University in 2017 to deliver practical, convenient and performance enhancing professional development opportunities to CFOs and their direct reports after running KRM Business Solutions from 2004-2016. KRM was built to help Pacific Northwest business leaders to develop the knowledge, processes, systems, and tools they need for success.
Steve began his professional career with Cargill and moved into leadership roles, including the Senior Financial Officer of Cargill’s Global Energy business. In 1999 he became the Chief Financial Officer of ConAgra Malt, that was the global leader in the barley malting industry.
An Augsburg University, Minneapolis, graduate, Steve was awarded a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. He is active in the community, as Executive Director of the Southwest Washington Executive Manufacturer’s Forum and Tandem Ride Coordinator for the Washington State School for the Blind.
Steve and his wife Pat live in Vancouver, Washington. They have 3 children and 4 grandchildren (as of the latest census).
Known as a collaborative consultant, Dave serves client companies of all sizes and industries in the area of valuation advisory. Working closely with business owners, CFOs, Controllers, CEOs and their trusted advisers, Dave strives to build relationships that add value for the long term.
Dave has conducted valuations of the securities and intangible assets of public and private companies for various purposes including M&A, financial reporting, stock-based compensation, exit strategy, and strategic planning. Among the many types of intellectual property and intangible assets that Dave has valued are human capital assets (people!).
Dave believes that people really are an organization’s most valuable asset and is the author of two best-selling books, The NEW ROI: Return on Individuals and The NEW ROI: Return on Individuals- Going Behind the Numbers, which explore the impact that people have on the value of a business.
It’s an axiom in business that “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.” Business performance, business valuation - it’s all managed by the numbers. While Dave has spent a great deal of time ‘inside’ the numbers, he has learned that the real stories and lessons-learned occur ‘behind the numbers.’ Dave hosts a talk show called Behind The Numbers where he and his guests discuss what matters most in business.
© 2024 CFO.University, All Rights Reserved