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Curriculum Vitae (C.V.)

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Ken Gerhart

14888 FM 86

Dale, Texas 78616

(Austin, TX Metro Area)

512.398.2160Landline

512.568.2420Mobile

kgerhart@cornerstonefmc.com


Work Experience:


Conducting and writing feasibility studies with strong emphasis on statistical analysis, econometric forecasting and Excel spreadsheets have been my primary work since 1982. This work has been in the context of assisting startups, business expansions, and mergers & acquisitions utilizing conventional bank financing as well as the SBA 503, SBA 504, SBA 7a and USDA Business & Industry (B&I) loan programs. As a self-starter with the scalpel-esque skills to integrate minute details into the "big picture" concept of a larger project, my background of achievement on complex assignments is unassailable.


Employment:


Managing Partner

The Cornerstone Group

www.cornerstonefmc.com

www.ccomco.com

Austin, Texas Metro Area

1990 – Present


Engaged in the preparation of complex feasibility studies in support of large transactions, including the financial (budgeting & forecasting), economic, market, technical, and management feasibility of a project. Econometric forecasting, sensitivity analysis, and other predictive modeling approaches are used to test project feasibility. One of my major projects was a $25 million needle coke factory expansion, while another was a $16.5 million hospital expansion. Other projects have included mergers & acquisitions requiring forensic accounting to ferret out inventory irregularities in the target company, turnaround situations and other rather complex assignments.


Portfolio Companies. The Cornerstone Group of Companies include the flagship entity, Cornerstone Financial Management Consultants, as well as Cornerstone Communications Company; Cornerstone Construction Company; Cornerstone Landscaping & Tree Service; Cornerstone Coin Exchange; Cornerstone Sports Management Company; Cornerstone Classic Cuisine; Cornerstone Capital Asset Company; and The Broken Tree Ranch.

Former Companies. Hockley County Diesel & Well Service, Gerhart Financial Corp. (GFC), and Cornerstone Financial Consultants, Ltd.


Vice President

Manager – Small Business Department

Chief Commercial Credit Officer

Sun Savings Bank (SSB)

Houston, Texas. 1989-1991

John Lewis, EVP – Direct Supervisor

  • Managed and staffed the Small Business Loan department of SSB, a Federal Savings Bank, primarily focused on the Houston SMSA market to deliver SBA 7a loans and investment products to the market.

  • Co-created along with a colleague, a boutique Wealth Management & Investment Division – in a strategic alliance with a national vender to service growing investment inquiries from medical doctor clients in the Texas Medical Center. Obtained Series 7 & 63 Securities Licenses.

  • Featured speaker to various groups on credit analysis in small business finance with contextual references to the SBA 7a program. Multiple bankers’ presentations.

  • Served as the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Liaison and created, implemented, and maintained the CRA program for SSB, a primary feature of which was the strategic alliance with Habitat for Humanity (HH) wherein SSB sponsored HH homes for the less fortunate.

Executive Vice President

Chief Credit Officer

Lender’s Guaranty Corporation (LGC)

Dallas, Texas. 1988-1989

Stan Corvin, President– Direct Supervisor

  • Managed and staffed the credit department of Lender’s Guaranty Corp.(LGC), a USDA consulting company that was being rolled up into a division of public company - Bent Tree Capital Corporation, primarily focused on the rural Texas market to deliver USDA Business & Industry (B&I) loan products. Exposed to the feasibility study process from qualified vendors. Limited deliverer of SBA 7a loans applications and business plans to the market.

  • Actively involved in secondary market transactions, building relationships with pooling companies throughout the country on behalf of institutional client banks and exclusive relationship with local insurance company lenders.

  • Featured speaker to various groups on credit analysis in small business finance with contextual references to the USDA B&I and SBA 7a program. Multiple bankers’ presentations.

President & CEO

Chief Credit Officer

Gerhart Financial Corp. (GFC)

Houston, Texas. 1987-1988

Reported to Board of Directors

  • Managed and staffed Gerhart Financial Corp. (GFC), an SBA consulting company, primarily focused on the greater Houston SMSA to deliver SBA 7a loan applications and business plans to the market.

  • Actively involved in secondary market transactions, building relationships with pooling companies throughout the country on behalf of client banks.

  • Featured speaker to various groups on credit analysis in small business finance with contextual references to the SBA 7a program. Multiple bankers’ presentations.


Senior Vice President

Chief Credit Officer – Houston Branch

Independence Mortgage, Incorporated (IMI)

Houston, Texas. 1986-1987

Charlie Bell, President-Direct Supervisor

  • Managed and staffed the IMI Houston branch, an SBA Certified Small Business Lending Company (SBLC), a non-depository lending institution licensed by the SBA , primarily focused on the greater Houston SMSA to deliver SBA 7a loans to the market.

  • Exposed to secondary market transactions, building relationships with pooling companies throughout the country.

  • Featured speaker to various groups on credit analysis in small business finance with contextual references to the SBA 7a program. Multiple bankers’ presentations.

  • Summarily released from IMI for hiring an eminently qualified African-American man.


General Manager/ Executive Director

Dallas Small Business Corp.

Dallas, Texas. 1984-1986

Mike Levinson. Director of Economic Development-Direct Supervisor

  • Managed and staffed the Dallas Small Business Corporation, DSBC, an SBA Certified Development Company (CDC), primarily focused on the blighted area of south Dallas’ Oak Cliff area.

  • Executive on Loan. While employed by the City of Dallas, loaned to the CDC to provide executive leadership.

  • National Association of Development Companies (NADCO). Re-elected Region VI Board Member. 1984.

  • NADCO Regional VI Annual Meeting Coordinator. Panelist speaker for various workshops and breakout sessions. Dallas, Texas.

  • NADCO Annual Meeting: Panelist speaker to breakout workshop: Legal Protocols in Closing SBA 504 loans .

  • National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) Privatization Task Force. Tasked with privatizing the US SBA 503 Loan Program, which was then re-named the SBA 504 Loan Program. 1984. Shuttled between the Federal Financing Bank (FFB) in Washington, DC and Wall Street to help craft, write, promote and implement the privatization

  • National Association of Development Companies (NADCO). Board Member & NADCO News Editor. 1982-1985.

  • National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) Privatization Task Force. Tasked with moving the debenture sales in SBA 503 program from the Federal Financing Bank (FFB) to Wall Street. Shuttled between Washington, D.C. and New York City. Negotiated nuances and shaped the final result.

  • National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) Technical Issues (TI) Committee . Our committee focused on resolving TI in the emerging SBA 504 SOP which required particular knowledge and ability as follows:

    1. Knowledge of concepts, principles, theories and practices of financial analysis to serve as an expert in financing and in development of SOP's, procedures, and other types of formal instruction to the field.
    2. Knowledge of legislative and policy and financial program development procedures.
    3. Ability to apply qualitative and quantitative methods in order to support policy and process change recommendations, modifications, addition or removal.
    4. Ability to express thoughts clearly, logically and accurately in situations that vary in nature and require effective oral or written expressions.
    5. Knowledge of accounting and computer systems to inform and educate on technical and tracking activities for program participation and its stakeholders.

  • Adjunct faculty substitute at UT-Dallas: Credit analysis in small business finance with contextual references to the SBA 504 program.

  • Featured speaker to various groups on credit analysis in small business finance with contextual references to the SBA 504 program.


Director of Economic Development

Chief Credit Officer

Caprock Business Finance Corporation

Formerly known as:

Caprock Local Development Company

Lubbock, Texas. 1982-1984

Jerry Casstevens, Executive Director. – Direct Supervisor

  • Managed and staffed the Caprock Local Development Company, (CLDC), a U.S. SBA Certified Development Company (CDC), primarily focused on the 15-county region around the Lubbock, TX area.

  • Executive on Loan. While employed by the South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG), loaned to the CDC to provide executive leadership.

  • Featured speaker to various groups on credit analysis in small business finance with contextual references to the SBA 504 program.

  • National Association of Development Companies (NADCO). Elected Region VI Board Member. 1982. Served on the Technical Issues Committee where we were tasked with reviewing the SBA SOP, suggested changes and interfaced with SBA Central Office staff to effectuate end product.


General & Interpersonal Skills:

  • Excellent written & verbal communication skills;
  • Dynamic interpersonal skills;
  • Highly motivated and dependable;
  • Proficient project management skills
  • Proven leadership skills;
  • Sharp negotiation skills;
  • Prodigious work ethic with proven ability to multi-task;
  • Seasoned self-starter requiring minimal, if any, supervision; and,
  • Excellent written & verbal communication skills;

    §Dynamic interpersonal skills;

    §Highly motivated and dependable;

    §Proficient project management skills;

    §Proven leadership skills;

    §Sharp negotiation skills;

    § Prodigious work ethic with proven ability to multi-task; and,

    § Seasoned self-starter requiring minimal, if any, supervision;


Technical Skills:

  • Corporate Finance . My technical skills include understanding and proficient analysis of trends in financial data including Financial Statements, Ratio Analysis, Forecasting, Z-Score, and Budget & Variance Analysis.

  • Economics. Time Value of Money, Diminishing Returns, Elasticity of Supply & Demand, Opportunity Costs, and Marginal Utility are but some of the economic concepts employed routinely in my consulting work.

  • Strategic Planning. Structuring section 351 exchanges to capture the unrecognized value of latent equity in a development stage business, is of particular interest to me. The Seven – S Model, the Value Chain, Globalization, Synergy and Incrementalism are colors on the palette when painting a focused strategic plan, without which the strategy can become blurred.

  • Accounting. My understanding of the value of net operating losses (NOL) - for the right reasons - in target acquisitions that can be corrected going forward, brings a deep knowledge base to the table beyond mere technical analysis. Identifying inventory irregularities that required deploying a forensic accounting team is an example of the depth and breadth of my managerial accounting skill level.

  • Quantitative Analysis . Cash Flow, Net Present Value, Return on Investment (ROI), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), R Square, Probability and Regression Analysis are other familiar, if not well-oiled, tools in my consulting tool box.

  • Marketing. Marketing Mix, Product Life Cycle, Segmentation and Margins are key components of building a working marketing strategy. Each of these concepts is another arrow in the quiver of testing the market feasibility of a project.

  • Operations.Critical Path, Queuing Theory, Economic Order Quantity, and Flow Diagrams are some of the diagnostic protocols used to test the viability of operations. Properly deployed, these protocols fortify the process by providing a baseline for operations, while Information Technology (IT) overlays all operations. A working knowledge of these concepts fortifies my armor as a competent consultant.

Computer Skills:

My computer skills include proficiency in MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Publisher, along with Lotus 123, QuickBooks, TurboTax and TaxAct, with some exposure to Photoshop & Constant Contact. Currently seeking proficiency in Constant Contact. The Lotus experience was a precursor to Excel.


Formal Education:





  • Texas Tech University. Lubbock, Texas – MBA program (leveling/core). The functional equivalent of a BBA with a concentration in Behavioral Management, as post-grad course work. 1980-1982. Worked three jobs to earn 100% of my expenses during this period. Acquired, with other investors, an Oil Field Service Company. Levelland, Texas.

  • Texas Tech University. Lubbock, Texas –BA in Political Science. Concentration in the American Presidency & Ancient Political Theory (Plato & Aristotle) 1979. Worked summers and holidays as a construction plumber to pay 100% of expenses.
  • Klein High School. Klein, Texas. Varsity Football. Off-season Wrestler. Racquetball. Varsity Basketball Statistician. High School Diploma. May 1975.

Awards & Accomplishments.

  • Texas Tech University Dean’s List. Three consecutive semesters. 1979-1980

  • National Dean’s List. 1979-80; 1980-81.

  • Pi Sigma Alpha. National Political Science Honor Society . 1979

  • Alpha Kappa Delta. National Sociology Honor Society. 1979

  • Toastmasters International. Texas Tech Toastmasters Club . Local Lubbock Chapter during grad school. 1981.

Continuing Education, Associations, Certifications & Licenses:

  • The National Development Council. Certified Development Company Training. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1982.

  • Wharton School of Finance (University of Pennsylvania) - post graduate scholarship in Private/Public Partnerships in Real Estate Development Finance. 1983.
  • The Texas A&M University System and the Texas Industrial Development Council. Basic Industrial Development Training. College Station, Texas. 1983.
  • American Economic Development Council. Member. 1983
  • Texas Industrial Development Council. Member. 1983
  • Power Negotiating.Maximizing Outcomes without Acrimony. City of Dallas. Executive Training. 1983.
  • Passionate Persuasion.All You Can Ask, with a Straight Face . Negotiating with a soft touch. Basement Boys. Executive Training. Dallas, Texas. 1987.

  • American Bankers Association. Advanced Financial Statement Analysis. Commercial Lending program in analyzing corporate financial statements. Houston, Texas. 1989

  • Texas Department of INSURANCE LICENSING. Life Insurance Agent License. 1988.

  • Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Series 7 Stockbroker’s License. 1989. Passed exam on first try, an accomplishment only 12% of national applicants achieve.

  • Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Series 63 Security Agent License . 1989.

  • Who’s Who in Executives & Professionals. Member. 1998-1999.

  • Klein Independent School District Continuing Education Department. Excel for the Advanced User – Level III. Klein, Texas. 2007.

  • Concealed Handgun Permit. Non-Resident Commonwealth of Virginia. 2014.

  • The 10-day MBA. 4th Edition, by Stephen Silbiger. Refresher eCourse in MBA nomenclature and mechanics. A step-by-step guide to mastering the skills taught in America’s top business Schools. UPDATED SECTIONS INCLUDE: Internet and Social Marketing ● Entrepreneurships ● Research and Competitive Intelligence Gathering ● Financial Derivatives. May 2014.

  • Senior Business Analyst: Survey Suite Training, aka The Miniature MBA. Global Resources, LLC. Chicago, Ill. June 2014. Sandy Cronin, Instructor.


Publications: My life has been blessed to exercise a natural gift of writing.Collecting quotes in elementary school inspired me to begin writing my own quotes in Jr. High School. This passion led to creative writing electives in college. The following side bar is a summary of publications germane to my finance career, while an exhaustive anthology of my other publications, many of which were penned under my nome de plume, KPaul Madison can be seen here.

Speaking & Teaching Engagements: Invitations to speak began early in my career and have continued over the years, with a prominent resurgence in recent years. I am humbled by the chance to speak whenever the opportunity presents itself. A summary of some of these engagements germane to my finance career appear in the nearby side bar. An exhaustive anthology of my speaking and teaching engagements appears here.


NADCO News. National Association of Development Companies © Newsletter. Washington, DC.

· Deals Done without Interim. Ken Gerhart 1984

· Closings Contain Pitfalls & Opportunities. Ken Gerhart. 1985

Publications: My life has been blessed to exercise a natural gift of writing. Collecting quotes in elementary school inspired me to begin writing my own quotes in Jr. High School. This passion led to creative writing electives in college. The following is a summary of publications germane to my finance career. For an exhaustive anthology of my other publications, many of which were penned under my nome de plume, KPaul Madison. click here.

THE CORNERSTONE COLUMN. A regular column about the products and services of © Cornerstone Financial Management Consultants (CFMC) and other economic issues.

· Cornerstone Debuts New Website. Ken Gerhart, Managing Partner. December 18, 2012.

· Cornerstone Adds Senior Partner. Ken Gerhart, Managing Partner. July 18, 2014.

· Cornerstone Debuts Management Solutions Suite . Ken Gerhart, Managing Partner. September 25, 2014.

Reading List: As a student of the American Presidency, biography of particular interest to me. As such, much of my readings have been in that rather exclusive genre. But other biographies fill my shelves (and Kindle) as well. Some things gleaned from ”toiling in the vineyards of biographies are: 1. They translate truth into life – incarnate the truth; 2. We gain kinship with subject; 3. They stabilizes us when we have similar experiences; and, 4.Biographies enable us to gain and maintain an aerial or divine perspective on our life.” (Chuck Swindoll. Insight for Living).With a personal library in excess of 500 volumes - last inventoried in 2007, my reading list is too numerous to list exhaustively, but here are a few of my current favorites:

Daily Subscriptions:

· Devotionals at CFBC. Dr. Stephen Trammell. Executive Pastor (Lead Pastor of N. Campus). Champion Forest Baptist Church. Houston, Texas.

· The Huckabee Report. Governor Mike Huckabee. The unique take on national and world events by the witty former governor.

· Today’s Turning Point with Dr. David Jerimiah. Senior Pastor. Shadow Mountian Community Church. San Diego, CA.

· The Wall Street Journal online. A regular reader since 1982.

· Diary of a Rouge Economist . Bill Bonner. Founder, Agora Inc. 1978, one of the largest independent newsletter publishing companies in the world.

Weekly Subscriptions:

· Weekly Encouragement. From His Heart Ministries. Jeff Schreve. Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church. Texarkana, TX.

· Javelina Highlights. The official eletter of the Texas A&M University– Kingsville Javelina Nation. Fred Nuesch, editor. Coordinator of External Affairs. Texas A&M-Kingsville University. Kingsville, Texas.

Monthly Subscriptions:

· Texas Monthly. All things Texas.

· Harvard Business Review. Premiere academic business journal in America.

· Forbes Magazine. Nuts & Bolts of economic thought.

· Horse Illustrated. All about the majestic animals we love. Viva los Captain Duke & Girl Friday.

· Handyman Magazine. Strapping on my tool belt keeps me grounded in my construction roots.

· This Old House. Vintage home restoration is a worthy endeavor when time permits.

Quarterly Subscriptions:

· Bible Studies for Life. Lifeway: Biblical Solutions for Life.

· Bible Studies for Life. Leader’s Guide. Lifeway: Biblical Solutions for Life.

· Biblical Illustrator. Lifeway: Biblical Solutions for Life.

eBooks:

· The 10-day MBA. 4 th Edition. by Stephen Silbiger.

· The Medusa File: Secret Crimes and Cover-ups of the U.S. Government. by Craig Roberts

· The Man Who Killed Kennedy: The Case Against LBJ by Roger Stone.

· Nixon’s Secrets: The Rise, Fall, and Untold Truth about the President, Watergate, and the Pardon. by Roger Stone with Mike Colapietro

· Grey Mountain. A novel by John Grisham.


Civic Engagements. Colleges, Trade Groups, et al.

Lubbock, Dallas & Houston, Texas

· Rotary Club – SBA 504 Speech

· Lions Club - SBA 504 Speech

· Elks Club – SBA 504 Speech

· AMBUCS Club - SBA 504 Speech

· African American COC - SBA 504 Speech

· UTD – Small Business Credit Analysis

· Oak Cliff Civic Club - SBA 504 Speech

· Commercial Realtors Luncheon – SBA 7a

· Banker’s Luncheon – USDA B&I Program

Speaking & Teaching Engagements: Invitations to speak began early in my career and have continued over the years, with a prominent resurgence in recent years. I am humbled by the chance to speak whenever the opportunity presents itself. For an exhaustive anthology of my speaking and teaching engagements , click here.

Website Design:

Designed or co-designed from scratch several websites, creating content, editing layout and now serving as their webmaster. The following is an anthology of my website designs :


  • Co-designed website with two capable college interns, and I now maintain them:

*Graphic Design © Barbara Turner-Gerhart

Sports Bio:

My sports background includes rock climbing & rappelling, wrestling, college football, internationally competitive racquetball, table tennis, volleyball and skeet shooting. A summary of my sports bio follows:

  • Inducted into the Klein High School Wall of Honor September 2005. The Wall of Honor recognizes former KHS football players who played football at the next level, whether college or professional. The actual wall is housed in the KHS field house adjacent to Klein Memorial Stadium and the virtual rendition is located at the following link: www.cornerstonecomco.com/woh_khs/,
  • Rappelled off the Continental Divide at night with flashlights in the summer of 1974,
  • Undefeated two consecutive years wresting for off-season football training,
  • Played on back to back Texas A&I University Javelina national championship football teams that amassed a 47 - game winning streak and part of the 3Pete National Championships, 1975-76,
  • Toured Europe to introduce and test market American football there in the summer of 1976,
  • Played competitive racquetball since 1972 and many tournaments over the years,
  • AmPro Certified Racquetball Instructor,
  • As the Racquetball Pro, organized racquetball tournaments, challenge courts, and clinics at the Family Life Center at Champion Forest Baptist Church since 1997 and at L.A. Fitness – Klein, TX,
  • Played college intramural volleyball and church league volleyball for a number of years,
  • Played college pick up table tennis and church league table tennis for a number of years,
  • Annual “King of the Beach” sand volleyball tournament at Champion Forest Baptist. Church since 1991,
  • In-depth knowledge of UIL and AAU basketball – 7 years’ experience in scoring games on the junior high and high school level,
  • Inducted into the Javelina Hall of Fame in 2010 along with the undefeated 1976 National Championship team,
  • Silver Medalist in the 2010 IRF World Senior Doubles Racquetball Championships in Kingscourt, Ireland, and,
  • Skeet Shoot Facilitator at summer camp and local events.

Community Service:

  • Lifetime Board Member - Klein Football Booster Club; Chairman of the Wall of Honor Committee.
  • Past Chairman Free Enterprise Committee. Downtown Houston Rotary Club.
  • Past Chairman, Committee on Committees. Champion Forest Baptist Church. Houston, Texas.
  • New Believer’s Class. Co-Teacher. Rosanky Baptist Church. Rosanky, Texas.
  • Rosanky Car Show. Facilitator. Rosanky Baptist Church. Rosanky, Texas.
  • College & Career Bible Study Co-Teacher. Rosanky Baptist Church. Rosanky, Texas.
  • Motivational Chapel Speaker. Rosanky Christian Academy. Rosanky, Texas.

Travel:

I have coast to coast domestic travel experience. My international business and personal travel experience includes Mexico, England, Wales, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Canada, Israel, Palestinian Territories, and Jordan. My passport has been valid since 1976.


References:

Jerry Casstevens, Mike Carper, Mark Leyerle, Dr. Stephen Trammell and Dr. Doug Hodo.