Joseph Italiano
League City
Summary
Transformational chief financial officer with a proven track record in driving growth and increasing enterprise value within manufacturing and industrial sectors. Expertise in leading acquisition integrations and recapitalizations, successfully managing sales processes across multiple sites. Delivers operational finance leadership with a strong emphasis on hands-on execution in complex environments.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Independent Consultant
Independent Consultant
League City
04.2024 - Current
- Developed 100-day plans and collaborated with functional leaders across sales, marketing, and operations to assess objective achievement.
- Specialized in on-site interim CFO services and pre-acquisition diligence for manufacturing and distribution evaluations.
- Identified synergies and established implementation timelines to enhance operational efficiency.
- Advised clients on business strategy and implemented operational improvements based on findings.
- Conducted market research to uncover industry trends and growth opportunities.
Chief Financial Officer
Greenbridge (PolyChem LLC)
04.2021 - 03.2024
- Oversaw execution of spin-off for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling business, establishing Evergreen Plastics in 2021.
- Acted as CFO for Evergreen and Greenbridge through July 2022, supporting two CEOs and managing audits of 2021 financial statements for both companies post-spin-off.
- Completed two acquisitions in PET recycling business (certain facilities of Carbon Lite Industries and UltrePet LLC) following spin off of Evergreen Plastics.
- Completed integration of four acquisitions completed in 2019, 2020 and 2021 in Canada, Italy, Croatia and Mexico into Greenbridge's financial reporting and budgeting process.
- Led preparation of Greenbridge for sale in 2023, coordinating with investment bankers on quality of earnings reports, tax diligence, and legal documentation, and engaging with potential acquirers during second half of 2023 despite unsuccessful negotiations.
Chief Mergers and Acquisitions and Integration Officer
Ferraro Foods (Portfolio Co of Kainos Capital)
Piscataway
06.2020 - 04.2021
- Conducted due diligence, reviewed legal agreements, identified synergy opportunities, performed valuation analysis, and negotiated agreements with target companies to facilitate successful transactions.
- Executed five acquisitions and streamlined integration into company's information systems to enhance operational efficiency.
- Secured future growth by executing agreements for 2 additional acquisitions and completing due diligence on 2 additional targets prior to resignation after sale of company to new investment firm.
- The benefits of rapid execution and realization of synergies provided accelerated EBITDA growth and attractiveness for future investors bidding in the auction process for the sale of the Company.
- Ferraro Foods LLC was the largest supplier of Italian Specialty foods and restaurant supplies for customers from Maine to Miami, Florida.
Chief Financial Officer
Ferraro Foods (Portfolio Co of Kainos Capital)
Piscataway
03.2019 - 06.2020
- Organized and commercialized financial and operating processes as CFO six months post-acquisition by large private equity firm.
- Executed acquisition of large competitor in New England, enhancing company's growth prospects in northeastern corridor.
- Completed all purchase accounting and valuation work to establish beginning balance sheet values that were left unaddressed following the initial sale of Ferraro Foods by the founder to the new Private Equity owners in 2018.
- Developed and implemented new KPIs for weekly management meetings to drive performance tracking.
- Completed initial and follow-up audits with Big 4 Accounting firms with zero adjustments to Management Reported financial statements.
Chief Financial Officer
Gateway Packaging Company, LLC (Portfolio Co of Sawmill Capital)
Nashville
08.2015 - 02.2019
- Completed acquisition of customer and market competitor in January 2017, accelerating integration to restore market pricing discipline and achieve manufacturing synergies within 60 days post-closing.
- Guided financial performance to achieve EBITDA of 21.8% in 2018, the third consecutive year of improvement.
- Reduced overall total debt to EBITDA from 4.1X (December 2015) to 1.8X (December 2017).
- Implemented cultural turnaround of manufacturing and sales organization, focusing on sales growth and productivity improvements while controlling manufacturing and overhead costs.
- Coordinated sale process for company, overseeing Q of E analysis, market studies, investment banking offering documents, data room development, and legal documentation.
- Private Equity backed flexible packaging company with three manufacturing facilities focusing on growing Pet Care market reaching #1 position in North American market in this specialty segment.
Chief Financial Officer
Bell Inc.
Sioux Falls
11.2012 - 06.2015
- Guided an improvement in 2014 Net Income by 18.5% with a corresponding 4.75X increase in free cash flow.
- Managed P&L and cost structure, achieving 9.5% net income improvement in 2013 despite 3% sales decline.
- Improved cash generation 20% and reduced short term debt within 60 days of assuming role.
- Refinanced term debt to reduce monthly interest costs and provide additional debt capacity to fund expansion plans for 2014.
- Led operational improvement team that generated cost savings of $750K for the fiscal year 2013 by driving preventive maintenance programs and equipment improvement investments.
- Implemented ERP system within six months and upgraded system in 2014, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Largest independent folding carton company in the U.S. with revenue of $140 Million projected for 2015 from $78 Million in 2012.
Interim CFO
Milton Industries Inc.
02.2012 - 12.2012
- Onboarded company for new PE owner (Crimson Investments) by establishing financial reporting and controls, installing operational KPIs, and facilitating transition to Asian offshore facility.
- Produced compressed air coupler fittings, air pressure gauges, and air hoses for automotive and industrial markets, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
- Managed budgeting processes and resource allocation effectively.
- Oversaw financial reporting and compliance with regulations.
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Corporate Secretary
ICCNexergy, Inc. (now Investus Power)
01.2006 - 01.2012
- Orchestrated merger with Private Equity owned Nexergy, overseeing due diligence, financial modeling, and securing financing from banks, investment funds, and mezzanine providers.
- Led realization of $12 million of integration synergies in the 1st year after the merger through: Reduced North American manufacturing overhead: $2.8 million by migrating production from Ohio to existing Chinese facilities.
- Consolidated production from contract manufacturers to company-owned facilities, achieving $2.6 million in savings.
- Consolidated lithium cell purchasing, shutdown of Shenzhen factory and consolidation of production to Qing Xi factory: $2.2 million.
- Merged five separate operating companies into one consolidated ERP system, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Reduced S, G &A by consolidating HQ and eliminating redundant functions: $4.3 million.
- Led company's recapitalization, ten months after merger, delivering a $25 million dividend and $62 million in new financing through syndication and mezzanine debt.
- Portable power design and manufacturing Company with focus on high efficiency power supplies, lithium batteries packs with charging systems for portable electronic devices serving the consumer, medical device, computer and networking markets.
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Corporate Secretary
International Components (merged with Nexergy in 2010)
01.2006 - 01.2010
- Completed acquisition and integration of High Efficiency Power Supply Company (Elpac) with operations in the U.S. and China.
- Led financial turnaround by modifying sales strategy to increase EBITDA by 4X, reaching 15% of sales in 2010.
- Negotiated new debt facility to fund business opportunities, accelerating growth in new markets in second half of 2008.
- Recruited and trained Chinese finance and accounting staff, enhancing financial controls and establishing monthly manufacturing management reporting.
- Negotiated sale of non-performing JV in India, preserving investment and securing cash infusion for shutdown at combined cost of $2 million.
- Revenue of $120 Million prior to the sale/merger with Nexergy in 2010.
Chief Financial Officer
Allied Telesis, Inc.
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Delivered 2005 operating profit improvement of 40% on a sales increase of 5% while R&D increased by 30%.
- Stock price appreciated from 170 Yen (December 2004) to 900 Yen (January 2006), a 530% improvement.
- Developed tactical plans and financial strategy that enhanced profitability and optimized cash flow.
- Completed acquisition of ROOT Networks to accelerate development cycle-time and broaden service capabilities.
- Prepared documentation in collaboration with valuation consultants, attorneys, and financial consultants for U.S. IPO and ADR listing on New York Exchange.
- Public Japanese company with Revenue of $650 million operating throughout Southeast Asia, Japan, the Americas, Russia, and throughout the EMEA region.
Education
Executive Management Program - Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL05-2004
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Bryant University
Smithfield, RIMaster of Business Administration - Financial Management
Pace University
White Plains, NYAdvanced Professional Certificate - Corporate Finance
New York University
Purchase, NYCertificate of Advanced Graduate Study - Corporate Taxation
Pace University
New York, NYCertificate in Manufacturing Management -
Duke University
Durham, NCSkills
- Manufacturing and batch process alignment
- CFO leadership
- Multi-site operational finance
- Lean finance and FP&A
- M&A and integration execution
- Interim and transition management
- Financial modeling
- Acquisition integration
- Strategic planning
- Due diligence
- Risk assessment
- Business valuation
- Operational efficiency
- Team leadership
- Analysis and evaluation
- Cost analysis
- Operations analysis
- Business planning
Certification
- Licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Illinois, Tennessee, South Dakota, New Jersey, Texas
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Institute of Management Accountants
- AICPA Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV)
- AICPA Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
- AICPA Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)
- AICPA Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
Credentials
- MBA
- CPA
- ABV
- CMA
- CGMA
- CFF
- CFP
Accomplishments
Named one of Top 25 CFO's in Houston in 2024
Timeline
Independent Consultant
Independent Consultant
04.2024 - Current
Chief Financial Officer
Greenbridge (PolyChem LLC)
04.2021 - 03.2024
Chief Mergers and Acquisitions and Integration Officer
Ferraro Foods (Portfolio Co of Kainos Capital)
06.2020 - 04.2021
Chief Financial Officer
Ferraro Foods (Portfolio Co of Kainos Capital)
03.2019 - 06.2020
Chief Financial Officer
Gateway Packaging Company, LLC (Portfolio Co of Sawmill Capital)
08.2015 - 02.2019
Chief Financial Officer
Bell Inc.
11.2012 - 06.2015
Interim CFO
Milton Industries Inc.
02.2012 - 12.2012
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Corporate Secretary
ICCNexergy, Inc. (now Investus Power)
01.2006 - 01.2012
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Corporate Secretary
International Components (merged with Nexergy in 2010)
01.2006 - 01.2010
Chief Financial Officer
Allied Telesis, Inc.
01.2004 - 01.2006
Executive Management Program - Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Bryant University
Master of Business Administration - Financial Management
Pace University
Advanced Professional Certificate - Corporate Finance
New York University
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study - Corporate Taxation
Pace University
Certificate in Manufacturing Management -
Duke University