MARK P PIERSON
**** ****** ***** / *******, ** **303 / 970-***-****
Email: *******@************.***
EXPERIENCE
LAKESIDE CAPITAL GROUP 2008 – 2010
Principal – Private Equity – Avon, CO
Transaction Process
• Leader for transaction sourcing efforts. Proactively met with deal intermediaries and investment bankers at
their company offices across the United States. As a result, Lakeside had found compelling businesses that met
its investment criteria and had been under Letter of Intent for many of these opportunities.
• Reviewed hundreds of businesses in the manufacturing, consumer, education, and services industries for
buyout, recapitalization, and growth equity investment opportunities.
• Leader for transaction due diligence including financial, tax, and audit. Provided research and analysis for
competition, industry dynamics, and market overview. Performed customer interviews.
• Interpreted complex financial and business data to build pro-forma financial statements and LBO/investment
models. Structured transactions using owner equity, debt, seller paper, and earn-outs.
• Created Investment Memorandums that included company and market overviews, growth opportunities,
investment thesis, competitive landscape, financial pro-formas, valuation, returns analysis, and risks.
• Supported negotiations for purchase agreements, operating agreements, and employment agreements.
• Liaison and coordinator with legal and audit advisors and potential term and mezzanine lenders.
• Led the deal due diligence, structuring, and modeling and participated in the negotiation and closing for the
successful investment in The Breakaway Group in December, 2009.
Portfolio Management
• Board of Director for Lakeside Technologies, Acting Board of Director for Petrolink, and Board Observer for
The Breakaway Group.
• Actively supported all portfolio companies with annual budgets, quarterly reforecasts, and monthly financial
reviews. In contact with management weekly to monthly.
• Supported CFO’s to secure lines of credit, assess appropriate capital structures, and address accounting issues.
• Worked with CEO’s to hire sales personnel, create compensation plans, source customers, and develop strategy.
SPYDER ACTIVE SPORTS 2005 – 2008
Corporate Finance Leader – Boulder, CO
Corporate Finance
• Provided the due diligence and investment analysis for the successful acquisition of Cloudveil, a mountain
apparel company based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Acquisition completed in February, 2008.
• Connected Spyder to the Colorado corporate development and investment community. Provided sourcing of
acquisitions and new product investment initiatives in an effort to grow Spyder via acquisition.
• Completed the financial pro-formas and valuation for investment opportunities including an outlet store,
distributor vs. agent distribution channels, and a lead sponsorship position in a new indoor ski-dome at the
Meadowlands (in NJ). Presented NPV, IRR and cash funding requirements for each investment.
• Provided acquisition analysis and valuation of competitors. Used Adjusted Present Value (APV) discounted
cash flow, EBITDA multiple, and balance sheet valuation methodologies.
Operations
• Redefined the foreign currency process for Spyder. Reduced exposure to fluctuations in the Euro from $1
million to less than $100,000 per year by adopting new derivatives.
• Led the initiative to bring back $8 million from the Swiss subsidiary through the American Jobs Creation Act.
Used funds to pay down debt and provide $4.5 million in interest savings over the life of the loan.
• Created a Canadian business entity for Spyder that reduced the Canadian duty liability by $500,000 a year.
MARK P PIERSON
7712 Spring Drive / Boulder, CO 80303 / 970-***-****
Email: *******@************.***
LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS 2003 – 2004
Finance & Operations Manager for Transport & Infrastructure (T&I) – Broomfield, CO
Corporate Finance
• Completed investment analysis for internal cost-saving business initiatives. Used market-based discount rates
based on the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and presented NPV and ROI results.
• Provided T&I resource and capacity due diligence in support of evaluating business deals and analyzing
potential mergers and acquisitions.
Operations
• Developed a resource forecasting model using productivity measurements (hour/unit/speed) to determine
headcount requirements. The model identified the gap between the budgeted headcount and the true
resources required to meet forecast and is used as the standard headcount forecasting template for T&I.
• Set up the T&I Finance & Operations website and created processes and procedures for accruals, financial
reviews, capital requests, accounts payable, and headcount transfers.
CAP GEMINI ERNST & YOUNG (CGEY) 1999 – 2002
Manager - Deals & Acquisitions Group – Chicago, IL
Corporate Finance
• Worked with client CFO’s and senior management performing due diligence of companies to understand their
true cost structures, revenue streams, hidden liabilities, profitability, financial risk, and liquidity.
• Led the financial due diligence and deal structure for a $300M technology outsourcing deal with a leading retail
company.
• Led the financial due diligence and solution efforts for a $1B international Newco for CGEY that provides all
technology services to a leading Canadian utility company. Transaction completed in 2000.
• Built financial pro-formas and valuations for Newcos, joint-ventures, and equity investments (start-ups) using
APV, WACC, VC method, comparable transactions, and multiples.
• Assisted in the presentation of Deal Reviews to the CGEY Executive Committee, highlighting issues, risks,
and making investment recommendations.
GE POWER SYSTEMS 1996 – 1997
Financial Controller - $20M Power Generation Service Region - Salt Lake City, UT
Responsible for the budgeting and forecasting for the region P&L. Generated an annual expense budget and
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sales forecast and then projected the annual balance sheet and statement of cash flows.
Co-led outstanding receivable resolution sessions. Identified actions to collect past due receivables. Assigned
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ownership of tasks to Account Managers. Reduced receivable balance by $200K.
Identified and addressed customer billing issues, spending patterns, and saving opportunities. Built strong
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customer relationships that led to record orders of $23M in 1996.
Financial Management Program (FMP) - Schenectady, NY 1993 – 1996
Completed Five Broad Ranging Rotational Assignments; Each Assignment Complemented by a Fifteen Week
Graduate Level Business Class Instructed by Senior GE Managers. Graduated with a GPA of 95% - National
Honors.
• Created a payment terms database to provide terms analysis and their effects on cash flow. Uncovered orders with
unusual payment terms and helped our Sales Team restructure and standardize future customer terms. Resulted in
improved cash flow.
• Tracked vendor compliance with Legally Earned Discount contracts. Negotiated discounts with suppliers and
collected $4M. Received Power Generation Award for outstanding performance.
MARK P PIERSON
7712 Spring Drive / Boulder, CO 80303 / 970-***-****
Email: *******@************.***
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Chicago, IL
M.B.A. - Concentrations in Finance and Entrepreneurship 1999
• GPA 3.5/4.0
• Selected as a LEAD X Facilitator
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT Burlington, VT
B.S. - Business Administration in Finance 1993
• GPA 3.7/4.0 - Graduated Magna Cum Laude
• Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Societies / Sophomore Mortar Board Award
ADDITIONAL
Tele-Skier: enjoy the resorts and visiting the 10th Mountain Division huts, Berthoud Pass, and Silverton.
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Rock Climber: prefer moderate multi-pitch trad routes often found in Eldorado Canyon, Rocky Mountain
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National Park, Yosemite, and Red Rocks.
Drummer: play a 7-piece Ludwig drumset – also a closet Rush fan.
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Volunteer: teach rock climbing through the Boulder Mountaineering School and teach at-risk kids the values of
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climbing through the non-profit organization Climbing For Life.