Work Experience
Career at a Glance
With over 30 years in wholesale distribution, I specialize in optimizing businesses through a practical blend of proven methods and emerging technologies. Known for designing data-driven solutions for complex problems, I help organizations unlock efficiency across both operations and the human side of distribution. I act as a true strategic partner to leadership teams, customers, and shareholders—bringing real-world experience from both sides of private equity, having operated as a platform company executing acquisitions and as a business being acquired and successfully integrated into larger organizations.
April 2021 - Present
Banner Solutions
SVP of Data Science
I joined Banner Solutions through the 2021 acquisition of Herbert L. Flake as SVP of Operational Excellence, partnering with the SVP of Operations to transform outbound operations into a center of excellence and eliminate end-of-day bottlenecks. The Operational Excellence team then led a two-year network consolidation, launching a new CDC and consolidating five redundant facilities. In mid-2024, I launched a Data Science division, hiring and mentoring analysts to become true business partners for functional leaders and ensure insights drive operational and strategic decisions. In early 2026, we had created a unified data lake and layered on a large language model, giving leaders self-service analytics that turn data into actionable decisions and drive growth, efficiency, and performance.
February 2009 - April 2021
Herbert L. Flake Co. LLC
Chief Administration Officer
Served as an operating partner in the integration of multiple acquired competitors, leading enterprise modernization across the organization. Worked in close partnership with the private equity firm throughout acquisition due diligence, applying deep industry expertise, technology strategy, and process engineering to assess operational complexity, resource requirements, and integration risk—directly informing valuation, purchase structure, and integration planning. As an operator, invested time deeply learning each acquired business to understand the services and customer value that drove performance, ensuring integrations preserved what mattered most to the market and resulted in seamless transitions without loss of market share. Post-acquisition, led the implementation of ERP, CRM, WMS, and VOIP platforms, redesigning workflows to align people, process, and technology while accelerating value creation.
August 1994 - February 2009
South Shore Distribution
Controller / Web Services
I began my career in the distribution industry at South Shore Distribution, a family-owned and led business, where I had the opportunity to work closely with the founders and learn how personalization and deep industry knowledge create enterprise value. In 1997, we launched the first B2B e-commerce site in our distribution sector, giving customers access to product images and details previously only available in paper catalogs. This first-to-market initiative allowed us to capture wallet share and become the preferred distributor for many customers. By leveraging data from the website and ERP, we demonstrated that offering free freight on web orders could reduce the cost to serve, turning freight into a managed cost center while delivering measurable value to customers. This early experience shaped my approach today—professionalizing businesses by combining operational discipline with technology to build scalable, data-driven processes that drive growth and efficiency.
2019 - Present
Consulting
Evaluating Deals, Protecting Value, Driving Integration
I provide hands-on M&A and due diligence support, partnering with leadership teams and private equity sponsors to evaluate potential acquisitions. By analyzing operations, technology, financials, and integration risks, I help ensure informed decisions, preserve value, and create a clear path for seamless post-acquisition integration.
Applied Learning / Operational Mastery
I believe sustained results come from sustained learning. By continuously sharpening my understanding of operations, technology, and market dynamics, I turn knowledge into operational mastery—helping organizations make better decisions, adapt faster, and perform at a higher level over time. Below are select courses and programs I’ve completed as part of my ongoing commitment to staying current—representative, but not exhaustive.
Digitizing the Sales Process - Consortium
Texas A&M School of Industrial Distribution - 2019
As an active participant in Texas A&M’s Digitizing the Sales Process consortium and all follow-up working sessions, I gained hands-on exposure to how high-performing organizations structure, analyze, and act on sales data. That experience sharpened my ability to translate raw operational and sales data into clear process insights—helping businesses move from instinct-driven decisions to repeatable, data-backed execution.
University of Innovative Distribution
Purdue University - 2018
After seeing the tangible impact of UID on our first acquisition integration, the private equity firm encouraged me to return to deepen my skills. Through courses such as Differentiating Your Distribution Company – A Winning Strategy, Leaders Are Not Born. They Are Built!, Big Data Analytics for the Wholesale-Distributor, 7 Keys to B2B Online Marketing Success!, E-Commerce: Driving Industrial Opportunities, Troubleshooting Inventory Replenishment, and Effective Warehouse Operations, I strengthened my ability to translate strategy into actionable operations, optimize processes, and lead seamless integrations that preserve value and drive business performance.
University of Innovative Distribution
Purdue University - 2016
Attending the University of Innovative Distribution strengthened my ability to professionalize wholesale distribution businesses by pairing real-world experience with structured, industry-focused frameworks. Courses such as Finding the Balance in Branch Management: People, Product and Profitability, Online Marketing – Where’s It Going? How to Win, Managing the Account Portfolio, Branch & Operations Effectiveness for Distributors Parts 1 & 2, The Power of Focus: Strategic Planning for Distributors, and Negotiation Skills for Distributors sharpened my ability to turn complexity into repeatable processes, scalable systems, and disciplined decision-making—without disrupting what already works.
SPA Sigma Negotiations Training
2016
Through SPA’s Six Sigma pricing training, I learned to turn pricing strategy into actionable results for wholesale distribution businesses. By analyzing current practices, implementing value-based pricing, and equipping sales teams to sell on value, I’ve been able to improve margins, standardize pricing, and create repeatable processes that drive profitable growth—embedding continuous improvement into daily operations.
B2B Online
2018 - 2019
Attending B2B Online multiple years gave me practical insights to apply directly to business integrations and operations, turning strategy into action. The experience strengthened my ability to partner with eCommerce and marketing teams by providing the right data and operational context, improving decision-making, driving digital growth, and ensuring our businesses remain competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
GPUG Summit
2015 - 2016 - 2017 - 2018
As a platform company integrating multiple ERP systems into a single primary system, I attended the GPUG Summit to research and evaluate technologies that would preserve the value creation processes of acquired businesses. The experience allowed me to identify tools, workflows, and automation strategies that ensure ERP integrations enhance—not disrupt—operational efficiency, while maintaining the unique processes that drive profitability and growth across the platform.