President & Founder

• May 2022 - Present

Hilltop Advisors is a mission-driven advisor to businesses at critical points in their journey. Our mission is to strengthen America’s entrepreneurial spirit by guiding business owners to the right ownership, capital and strategy. We deliver on this mission by focusing on three services: 1) Exit Planning / Strategic Owner Solutions 2) M&A and Capital Raising 3) Financial Consulting Hilltop Advisors is a mission-driven advisor to businesses at critical points in their journey. Our mission is to strengthen America’s entrepreneurial spirit by guiding business owners to the right ownership, capital and strategy. We deliver on this mission by focusing on three services: 1) Exit Planning / Strategic Owner Solutions 2) M&A and Capital Raising 3) Financial Consulting

Ensign, Supply Corps

• Nov 2021 - Present

I serve our Navy fleet, sailors and joint forces with the logistics support they need. I am currently attached to Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Bahrain, serving as the Assistant Administrative Officer while completing BQC-Supply School. I serve our Navy fleet, sailors and joint forces with the logistics support they need. I am currently attached to Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Bahrain, serving as the Assistant Administrative Officer while completing BQC-Supply School.

Investor

• Aug 2019 - Present

Sleep Galleria is a rapidly growing retailer / ecommerce dealer of premium-quality mattresses, massage chairs and related products. Started in 2018 by close friends, I invested in the company to help open its 2nd location and scale its ecommerce business. Sleep Galleria is a rapidly growing retailer / ecommerce dealer of premium-quality mattresses, massage chairs and related products. Started in 2018 by close friends, I invested in the company to help open its 2nd location and scale its ecommerce business.

Director

• Jun 2017 - May 2022

Genesis Capital advises middle market businesses on M&A, capital raising and other strategic transactions. I developed relationships with business owners that valued our approach, advice and guidance to accomplish their goals. I led teams to produce the analysis, process management and other support necessary to successfully close those transactions. Along the journey, I was fortunate to gain experience working with great clients, many of whom are summarized below:- Advised a manufacturer of construction / industrial equipment attachments on its sale to a private equity group.- Advised a manufacturer of packaging machinery on the sale of the company to a private equity-backed company.- Advised a manufacturer of innovative outdoor building materials on its sale to a publicly traded company.- Advised a manufacturer of aluminum fencing products on its recapitalization by a private equity group.- Advised a manufacturer of trailers on its recapitalization with a family office and employees.- Advised a VC-backed technology company in the waste industry on its acquisition of a non-core division of a publicly traded company.- Advised a publicly traded company on the acquisition of a producer of premium, all-natural pet food.- Advised Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (Nasdaq:PLKI) on its sale to Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:RBI).- Advised a non-woven materials manufacturer for janitorial and other markets on its recapitalization with a private equity group.- Advised a commercial kitchen equipment manufacturer and distributor on the sale of the businesses to the largest publicly traded company in the industry.- Advised a manufacturer of industrial equipment attachments on the sale to an international, publicly traded holding company.- Outsourced corporate development advisor to an internationally-based manufacturer of industrial and construction equipment attachments, and for an multifamily property management company.

Vice President

• Jun 2016 - Jun 2017

Vice President

• Nov 2014 - Jun 2016

Mazzone & Associates is a boutique investment bank advising middle market companies on M&A, capital raising and strategic opportunities. I evaluated businesses through financial analysis models, valuation guidance, industry research, operational and organizational analysis. I managed all the aspects of buy-side and sell-side transactions that included analysis, project management, and compelling communication. This experience included the following successfully closed transactions:- Advised a specialty chemical manufacturer on its sale to the U.S.-based division of one of the world’s largest diversified industrial companies.- Advised a specialty coffee roaster on the spin-off of its office coffee service (OCS) distribution business.- Advised a resort owner and developer on restructuring its debt.- Advised a smart water meter distribution business on its sale to the largest industrial distributor in the U.S.- Advised a financial sponsor on raising capital to acquire a specialty logistics business.- Advised an automotive aftermarket and industrial tool and equipment manufacturer on its M&A strategy and served as outsourced corporate development director.

Associate

• Sep 2012 - Nov 2014

Advisory Board Member

• Apr 2013 - May 2016

After extending Sapna Foods’ its first line of credit years earlier, Sapna’s owner / CEO (Rishi Nagrani) asked me to serve as outsourced Chief Financial Officer, which grew into an Advisory Board. We developed a financial plan to support Sapna’s strategy and grew by the business by ~18x. Among the notable achievements during this exciting run: - Created 90-day forward cash flow model to manage international supply chains. - Monthly review of general ledger, income statement and balance sheet and managed borrowing base reports for Sapna’s lender. - Recapitalized the business periodically to Increase total debt availability by over 30x initial amount, and restructured certain revolving debt to term to support long-term growth. - Provided general business and financial strategy advice to the owner/CEO. - Submitted offers for 3 acquisition targets – our disciplined approach to value and terms led to focusing on organic vs. acquisitive growth. - Produced annual business review for owner to establish a corporate financial strategy of increasing Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). - Led budgeting process for lender expectations and internal management of working capital cycle.

Vice President of Business and Corporate Development

• Aug 2011 - Sep 2012

ASD was a client at BB&T. The company was growing and I joined to lead M&A / Corporate Development efforts. That evolved to also managing the sales team and strategy projects. I loved the entrepreneurial energy of ASD (created by Bob Eskew) and working with some of the best operators (Kevin Kiziah and Mike Castiglione) I’ve ever known. This experience was highlighted by: - Led Corporate Development: developed acquisition target list of 60+ companies based on strategy development process, proactively contacted each targeted company to generate interest and managed internal evaluation process. - Resulted in 1 closed acquisition. - Managed team of 9 National Sales Consultants and created an organized go to market process that resulted in year-over-year sales and gross profit growth above expectations.

Vice President, Commercial Banking

• Jan 2006 - Aug 2011

I fortunately started my career by completing BB&T’s Leadership Development Program. I developed analytical, business development and leadership skills while working in the bank’s commercial banking division. With guidance from great managers, I was consistently ranked as a top performer. I was able to achieve and gain experience in numerous areas:- Completed Farr Associates’ Mastering Leadership Dynamics week-long course on executive leadership.- Served on the merger integration team for BB&T’s acquisition of Main Street Banks, metro Atlanta’s largest community bank at the time with over $2.4 billion in assets.- Served business / commercial markets including large & syndicated loans, “core” commercial or middle-market, commercial real estate and small businesses in various groups throughout my career. - Developed new business, underwrote the financing opportunity, and serviced the clients’ entire suite of banking needs – a full-service approach generally unique to BB&T at the time.- Financing types: term and revolving loans for various needs, CapEx/equipment leasing, mergers & acquisitions, recapitalizations, commercial real estate, asset-based lending (ABL), bond financings, letters of credit, Small Business Administration (SBA)-guaranteed, and others.- Industry & sector experience: industrial (manufacturing, distribution, and services), consumer/retail, business services, commercial real estate, technology, telecommunications, non-profit, healthcare, and many others.

Leadership Development Program Associate

• Jan 2006 - Jul 2006

Completed BB&T's Leadership Development Program.