Traveling Again, Dad?

Mike Lorelli’s 30-year career spans a wide range of consumer products and services, and B2B categories, with responsibilities for both domestic and international units. His years as a line-operating manager have been with Fortune 50 companies: PepsiCo and Bristol Myers Squibb. For the last 14 years, as CEO, he has led revitalizations and turnarounds for private equity firms. For example, Dr. John Rutledge, Chairman of Rutledge Capital, said: “I would invade China with Mike alone in a rubber boat.” He is currently an Operating Partner at Falconhead Capital, and Executive Chairman of the Board, Rita’s Franchise company, the nation’s leading Italian Ice and frozen custard chain.

Mike also has led CEO engagements for Riverside Company, Rutledge Capital, and Pouschine Cook Capital.

Mike’s assignments at PepsiCo included CMO for PepsiCo’s beverage sector, President of Pepsi-Cola East, a $1.5 Billion operating company, and President for Pizza Hut’s International division in which he led a “global or bust” charge, resulting in expanding the Company’s presence from 68 to 92 countries, surpassing McDonalds in country count.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Industrial Engineering from New York University, and an MBA in Marketing from NYU’s Stern Graduate School of Business. Mike is also a Director of CP Kelco. He holds an Executive Masters Professional Director Certification from The American College of Corporate Directors, and is also an NACD 2011 Masters Governance Fellow. He is also a registered speaker with Vistage International.

Lee Wachter is recognized for streamlining operations and creating technology architectures to drive profitable revenue for a wide range of consumer product, B2B and service businesses. During the past 10 years, as Founder of Interactive Ingenuity, and serving as interim CIO/COO, he has conducted due diligence, revitalized technology platforms and re-engineered operating procedures and global supply chains to successfully support profitable revenue growth and exit strategies for portfolio companies of private equity firms including: Lineage Capital, Cordova, Smart and Williams (CSW) and WAFRA Partners. Earlier in his career he served as CIO and Director with Fortune 100 companies including PepsiCo, Citibank, Diageo and Olympus.

Lee has implemented best practices and optimized supply chains and 3PL partnerships to earn 100% retail ratings which resulted in millions of dollars in savings, improved operating profits and profitable divestiture of PE portfolio companies. He also has successfully turned around IT organizations and implemented complex ERP projects,

Lee holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Marketing from Syracuse University, and an MBA from Northeastern University. He is an avid guitarist and enjoys swimming and biking.

Werner von Pein has implemented change in both public and private corporations resulting in profitable growth and increased equity. He is a highly respected and skillful operational executive with a global perspective, having led organizations in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Latin America. His large company key management roles were with P&G, Quaker Oats and Nabisco Brands. Additionally, he has restuctured and built several foreign-owned family operations in North America and is able to conduct business in several foreign languages.

Werner has broad industry experience, covering consumer products, durables, service/hospitality, leisure products, and renewable energy/biomass.

At present Werner is assisting a U.S. family multi-business operation in a turnaround and restucturing. His expertise has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and The London Financial Times.

Werner holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from The University of Rochester and an MBA from Xavier University.

M. Tatum (“Tate”) Pursell has more than 30 years of experience as a senior operating executive, board member, and financial and operational advisor to CEO’s, boards, lenders, and private equity funds.  His areas of expertise include:

• business processes and cash flow management
• restructuring and optimizing administrative, financial, and manufacturing processes
•  turning around, refinancing, and growing underperforming businesses

Tate is an operationally focused advisor to business owners and private equity funds, and their operating companies.  He advises on cash flow management, operational improvements, restructurings and board oversight, and takes an active role in implementing recommended actions.  In recent client assignments, he has acted as Chief Restructuring Officer, Interim CEO, and board member.  Each of these assignments required working successfully with board members, senior executives, financial managers, technicians, and factory employees.

As a corporate executive, he has conducted business in European, Latin American, and Asian countries, and managed acquisitions, restructurings, and industry roll-ups.  Past positions include Group President overseeing multiple plastic companies for private equity firm Saunders Karp & Megrue, Operating Partner and Group Executive of private equity firm Cortec Group, overseeing four operating companies, and CEO of three operating companies of Masco Corporation (MAS-NYSE):  Baldwin Hardware, American Metal Products (where he managed factory operations in Tennessee and Mississippi) and the Baldwin Home Accent Stores.

His education includes an MBA and BA (Biology/Chemistry) from Washington University in St. Louis, and the following certifications:  Six Sigma Certification, Lean Manufacturing (Masco Corporation), TQM Expert qualification (Thomas & Betts), Quality Champion (General Electric) and the NYSE/ISS Certificate of Board Member Education.