David Swanson
Roseville,CA
Summary
Senior Financial Executive Serial Entrepreneur Capital Markets Strategist Proven leader in founding and scaling three Silicon Valley start-ups to successful exits with Fortune 1000 acquirers. Deep expertise in strategic planning, investor relations, and capital markets — including debt, equity, and private equity financing. Trusted advisor to executive teams, driving growth, operational excellence, and high-impact partnerships across transformative tech and high-growth industries.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
COO / Director of Finance
AgTech Engineering
- Current
- Led all financial, operational, and administrative functions for a start-up specializing in the engineering, design, manufacturing, and turnkey installation of advanced food processing equipment. Oversaw corporate accounting, tax compliance, and financial reporting, while developing comprehensive policies and systems for job costing, MRP, BOM, purchasing, inventory control, invoicing, and customer site installations.
- Directed proposal and contract approvals to ensure profitability, finalized complex cost structures, and validated mechanical and CAD drawings for accuracy. Managed lease agreements, wire transfers, and logistics including shipping, customs, and client inspections. Scheduled installation and commissioning activities, while providing strategic oversight across finance, risk, HR, and facilities — including budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning.
- Equipment Manufacturer
Chief Financial Officer
Litec, Inc.
01.1999 - 01.2005
- Recruited to acquire strategic partner for M&A opportunity for a provider of contract manufacturing design services serving the semiconductor, medical, and telecomm industries. Partnered with executive teams for primary day-to-day planning, implementing, managing, and controlling financial-related activities. Collaborated with key decision makers in strategic planning, proposals, pricing, and negotiations. Led staff of up to 100 with 15 direct reports.
- Coordinated the preparation of all financial documents. Restructured and upgraded internal systems. Revised business plan and strategic sales and marketing plans to facilitate sale to private equity firm. Developed and implemented transition plan involving sales, marketing, HR, operations, and manufacturing departments. Created strategic business plan for new entity. Facilitated resolution of all due diligence issues with Big 4 accounting firm.
- Secured an acquisition partner, purchasing corporation for $20M+.
- Cultivated sales growth from $9.5M to $25M and EBITDA increases from 10.36% to 17.63% with subsequent annual EBITDA increases of 20%; devised 3-year strategic plan.
- Doubled equipment sales to high tech OEMs over 3 consecutive years to $30M, annually.
- Completed ISO 9002 certification and recertification.
- Developed rapid prototyping department.
- Newark, CA (Acquired of the Hillman Group)
Chief Financial Officer
EMS (Santa Clara) and RSP (Fremont)
01.1998 - 01.1999
- Responsible for the financial and operational merger of two $50 million contract manufacturers.
- Merged 100,000 sq. ft. EMS manufacturing facility in Santa Clara to larger RSP facility in Fremont (including all manufacturing equipment, brakes, dies, welders, CNC machines, 100+employees, all IT, HR, Manufacturing and Accounting Departments), additional consolidation of some manufacturing cells into Monterrey, Mexico.
- Completed final close and consolidated all financial statements , P & L, balance sheets, finalized tax returns with CPA, collected all open A/R, finished payments on A/P, blended all open invoices and payables with all accumulated cash into new entity, concluded all payroll issues and all state and federal withholding.
- Performed complete and comprehensive on site inventory of everything in EMS facility with Deloitte & Touche.
- Finalized all legal issues with City and County of Santa Clara and landlord.
- Prepared all new financial documents for possible IPO. IPO did not take place.
- New entity EM Solutions was acquired by Sanmina in the summer of 2001 for $110 million.
Chief Financial Officer
Next Generation Services
01.1992 - 01.1998
- Directed start-up and ongoing financial operations for a retail seller of software solution products. Developed strategic sales and marketing plans to focus new revenue opportunities and secure contracts with top Fortune 500 software companies. Prepared and conducted sales and marketing presentations that captured new Fortune 500 customers, nationwide. Accountability for up to 150 employees with a leadership team of 3.
- Established financial processes and procedures involving accounting, inventory, payroll, HR, staff training, sales, expense budgeting, and forecasting. Oversaw financial reporting and established performance benchmarks. Directed auditing, processing, handling, and redistribution of products within the retail supply chain. Managed 3-year income statement, managed balance sheet, and generated cash flow projections. Secured Microsoft Resellers License. Collaborated with CPA for state and federal tax filings.
- Developed a remanufacturing and resource recovery process that established a secondary market for end of life and overstock software products. Converted substantial annual Expense into Revenue center for Novell Software Corporation.
- Created first ever software industry revenue sharing plan for RMA processing that returned $1M+ to primary stakeholder within first year of implementation.
- Grew start-up business plan to $15M within 3 years through the strategic acquisition of major software customers, worldwide.
- San Jose (Acquired by Zomax Optical Media)
Education
Bachelor of Science - Undergraduate Studies
University of Minnesota
Bachelor of Science - Business Finance
San Jose State University
Certified - Multiple Disciplines
CPA Institute
Skills
- Capital Procurement
- Increasing Shareholder Value
- Due Diligence
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Financial Projections
- Auditing
- Tax Management
- Corporate Governance
- Banking Relationships / Financing
- Business Growth and Expansion
- Developing Business Plans
- Implementation of Corporate Strategy
Accomplishments
- Founded and successfully exited three Silicon Valley start-ups, each acquired by Fortune 1000 corporations — demonstrating a proven ability to identify market gaps, scale operations, and deliver high-value outcomes.
- Spearheaded revenue expansion for an industrial equipment manufacturer from $9.5M to $25M, while driving EBITDA margin improvement from 10.36% to 17.63%. Sustained momentum with subsequent annual EBITDA increases exceeding 20%.
- Led the financial and operational merger of two $50M contract manufacturing firms, aligning systems, teams, and strategic goals to unlock synergies and accelerate post-merger performance.
- Conceived and implemented the software industry's first revenue-sharing model for RMA processing in partnership with Novell — generating over $1M in returns within the first year and setting a precedent for collaborative monetization.
- Brokered the industry’s first Microsoft RMA license agreement, establishing a new standard for software returns and licensing protocols across the tech sector.
Timeline
Chief Financial Officer
Litec, Inc.
01.1999 - 01.2005
Chief Financial Officer
EMS (Santa Clara) and RSP (Fremont)
01.1998 - 01.1999
Chief Financial Officer
Next Generation Services
01.1992 - 01.1998
COO / Director of Finance
AgTech Engineering
- Current
Bachelor of Science - Business Finance
San Jose State University
Certified - Multiple Disciplines
CPA Institute
Bachelor of Science - Undergraduate Studies
University of Minnesota