SMP Library    

A Hands On Approach.   Mergers & Acquisitions, The Dealmaker's Journal, SourceMedia, Inc. Executing a turnaround is no easy task. John M. Collard of Strategic Management Partners, Inc. spells out the guidelines to get an under-performing company up to speed. As important to cash infusion for working capital needs is to make certain that cash won't be diverted to past commitments.

You Must Build Company Value Before You Can Value It   8a Magazine Dedicated to advancing the SBA Set-Aside Program. Providing a knowledgebase of articles written by experts in business. Valuing a company is the easy part; creating that value in the first place so you can measure it is a more formidable task. Process of Recovery requires Leadership, Strategy, Quality Management Team, New Business Development, Sound Capital Structure, Implement Processes, and Nuture Resources.

Fixer-Uppers: Rebuilding Company Value To Prepare For Sale   Private Company Director Directors & Boards Valuing a company is the easy part; creating that value in the first place so you can measure it is a more formidable task. Bring Leasdership, Set Strategy, Build Management Team, New Business Development, Sound Capital Structure, Implement Processes, and Nuture Resources.

Investing in Underperforming Companies A Rx for Renewed Health and Asset Recovery   Buyouts Magazine. Featured Cover Article. The newsletter for management buyouts, leveraged acquisitions and special situations. Investing in underperforming companies can be profitable if you know what to look for and how to execute. The fundamental premise is to get a company that is turnable, know how to fix the problems, be able to not spend money on past sins, obtain at the right price, manage the turnaround and sell at increased value.

Building Value In Companies To Prepare Them For Sale: Investing In Distresses Opportunities   Bankruptcy and Restructuring Expert Guide Corporate Live Wire Valuing a company is easy. Creating that value in the first place is a more formidable task. Bring a Tranferable Skillset: Leasdership, Set Strategy, Build Management Team, Business Development, Sound Capital Structure, Implement Processes, and Nuture Resources.

Fixer-Uppers: Rebuilding Company Value To Prepare For Sale
Global Banking & Finance Review

Rebuilding a company's value to prepare it for sale:
Part 1: Finding a viable fixer-upper investment
Part 2: The process of recovery
Smart CEO Magazine

Mining Value From Distressed Companies:
Building Properties In Which Future Buyers Want To Invest
Journal Of Corporate Renewal Magazine

Fixer-Uppers: Creating Pre-Sale Company Value
New Jersey Lawyer, In Re: Special Mergers & Acquisitions Supplement

You Can't Measure A Company's Value Until You First Build It
Baltimore Business Journal, Mergers & Acquisitions

Restart and Improve Profits In Your Company

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10 Ways to Improve Profits in Your Company. Restart Your Business After Covid-19 Shutdowns   8a Magazine Restarting companies after Coronavirus shelter-in-place, stay-at-home orders is a formidable task, but can be done. This requires a change in thinking. Take new products to existing customers. Take what you do best to new markets.

10 Ways to Restart and Improve Company Profits   Small Business Today Magazine Restarting companies after Coronavirus shutdown orders is a formidable task. This requires a change in thinking. Take new products to existing customers. Take existing products to new customers in new markets.

Benefits of Outside Directors

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Why Hire Outside Directors When Private Companies Don't Have To? Change! Break the Status Quo. Rejuvenate.   Journal of Private Equity Outside directors bring an independent perspective, develop strategic thinking and planning, use their experience, and objectivity, provide their Rolodex of contacts, find capital, and guide transaction activity. Companies committed to going through significant business change need guidance, regardless of their size. Hire that outside director. They bring about change. Full Test Version   at JPE

Hiring Outside Directors When Private Companies Don't Have To: They Bring Change.   Board Leadership Magazine Board Leadership is dedicated to Innovative Approaches to Governance. In this article, John discusses the ins and outs of bringing in outside directors to help guide decision-making and bring fresh perspective.

Why Hire Outside Directors When Private Companies Don't Have To? They Bring Change.   8a Magazine Dedicated to advancing the US Small Business Administration Set-Aside Program. Providing education, joint venture and partner opportunities, and a knowledgebase of articles written by experts in business. You need these guys ... to increase cash flow, provide valuable guidance, contacts, and credibility. Hire that outside director.

Outside Directors Offer Valuable Guidance, Contacts   Baltimore Business Journal The Baltimore Business Journal is a publication of American Business Journals for business leaders and professionals. Turnaround management expert John Collard discusses adding outside directors to a private company's board to offer valuable guidance, contacts, and benefits.

Six Ways Outside Directors Impact Business Growth   Private Company Director Directors & Boards With a board of directors, your company immediately gains legitimacy, and a panel with expertise that you probably don't have in-house. Outside directors bring an independent perspective, strategic thinking & planning, experience & objectivity, contacts, capital infusion, and transactions.

You Need These Folks --
Six Ways Outside Directors Impact Business Growth
ABF Journal

6 Ways Outside Directors Benefit Business Growth
You Need These Guys
President&CEO Magazine

Benefits of Working With Outside Directors
InterimExecs Network Journal

Outside directors can save troubled companies
(and they're helpful for everyone else too)
Smart CEO Magazine

Value Creation Model To Build Value

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Value Creation Model Built to Sell   Shareholder Value Magazine Featured Article A primer on how to build a value creation model aimed at achieving the kind of steady growth that attracts investors and future buyers of the business itself. The key business attributes and how to create the most value in them are spelled out.

If You Build It ... Value Creation Model Shows Buyers Your Company's Worth   ABF Journal, Turnaround Corner The magazine for the commercial finance professional. Determining Value is more art form than science. True value can only be established at the time of a transaction, where a willing buyer tenders payment and a willing seller accepts it in exchange. Valuing a company is the easy part; creating that value in the first place so you can measure it is a more formidable task. A Value Creation Model can build worth into your company.

Value Creation Model: Built To Sell   Turnaround Management Journal Turnaround Management Society publication. Valuing a company is the easy part, however creating that value in the first place, so that you can measure it is a much more formidable task. TMJ

Compete to Win.
Build a Business Development Organization That Will Improve Your Win Ratio

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Compete to Win. Build a Business Development Organization That Will Improve Your Win Ratio   8a Magazine Dedicated to advancing the US Small Business Administration Set-Aside Program. Providing education, joint venture and partner opportunities, and a knowledgebase of articles written by experts in business. Concentrate on building a business development organization that will bring in competitive new business. Bid to win, then manage to profitability and cash flow.

Investing in Underperforming Distressed Troubled Companies

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Looking For The Exit: An Approach To Investing in Underperforming Companies   Dow Jones Bankruptcy Review Dow Jones & Company Newsletters Covering Key Issues and Events in Distressed Situations. One of a series of opinion columns by leading bankruptcy participants. Professionals guiding investors or looking to invest in underperforming companies themselves should be aware of what to look for and how to execute.

'Distressed Investing' Can Yield Healthy Returns for Savvy Backers   Baltimore Business Journal Mergers & Acquisitions Special Edition -- Piecing The Deals Together The first special publication devoted to Mergers & Acquisitions, BBJ set out to go behind the deals that had the business community buzzing. BBJ solicited articles from the personalities behind the art of the deal in Greater Baltimore. John M. Collard, Chairman, Strategic Management Partners, Inc. writes "Corporate renewal is a process. It involves using a set of skills to rejuvenate a company to the state where it can be sold."

Mining 'the Gold' in Troubled Companies   ABF Journal Magazine, Turnaround Corner The magazine for the commercial finance professional. Investing in underperformers has become a more acceptable practice. It can be very profitable if you know what to look for, how to execute, as many buyout firms are finding out. While simply stated, yet tricky to implement, there is a rewarding process to provide results.

Executive Leadership to Enhance Value

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All Leaders Are Not Created Equal: To Save the Company -- Change the Leadership Style   Director's Monthly , Turnarounds National Association of Corporate Directors. Crisis and transition demand change -- the first true step toward recovery. Leadership styles and methods change when in a crisis or turnaround situation. Here we contrast the styles.

All Leaders Are Not Created Equal To save to company -- change the leadership style   Commercial Law Bulletin Featured Cover Article "When it rains, it pours" may be cliched, but when applied to a troubled company, one can be sure that 'Murphy is shaking the clouds.' Leadership styles differ between stable growing companies and those that are in trouble; look at contrasting styles.

All Leaders Are Not Created Equal: To Save the Company -- Change the Leadership Style   Turnaround Management Journal Turnaround Management Society. Sponsor for the Certified International Turnaround Manager (CITM) program. Supports the International Turnaround Management Standard (ITMS). Turnarounds demand change -- Leadership styles and methods change when in a crisis or turnaround situation. TMJ

Benefits of Interim Management

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Bring Them On Board: Benefits of Interim Management C-Level Executives Can Make the Difference   InterimCEO News The InterimCEO News is a publication of InterimCEO/InterimCFO Network. InterimCEO is the worldwide network of interim, contract, and project executives. InterimCEO Network Articles-of-Interest written by John Collard on their library

Quick Leadership & Benefits of Interim Managers C-Level Executives Can Make the Difference   ABF Journal The ABF Journal is a publication of Xander Media Group. For the commercial finance professional. From speedy deployment, to highly qualified resources, to delivery of objectives, interim managers can be the effective answer.

Phases and Actions in the Turnaround Process

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Managing Turnarounds Requires Clear Thinking, Quick Action, and a Plan Phases and Actions to Accelerate the Recovery Process.   RMA Journal Risk Management Association, serving the Financial Services and Commercial Bankers Industry. There is a complex process to turn around troubled companies, which when followed, can produce results for all stakeholders and returns for investors.

Managing Turnarounds in Times of Crisis Phases and Actions To Accelerate the Recovery Process   Directorship Magazine National Assiciation of Corporate Directors Directorship is published by the NACD and each monthly edition is received by over 8,000 directors of public and privately held companies. Founded in 1977, the role of this association is to enhance the governance and performance of business entities.

Reviving troubled companies:
Phases and actions in the turnaround process
Smart CEO Magazine

Managing Turnarounds: Phases and Actions in the Turnaround Process
White Paper by John M. Collard

Working With Turnaround Professionals To Preserve Value

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Work With Turnaround Professionals to Preserve Value   Lending and Risk Management News The Risk Management Association, formerly Robert Morris Associates; the official association representing the commercial bankers across the United States. Working with turnaround professionals to improve and preserve value. An overview of the process provides food for thought.

Recover & Preserve Value: Working Successfully With Turnaround Professionals Part 1, When is Specialist needed, how to hire Part 2, How Specialist operates, why firms hesitate hiring   ABF Journal, Turnaround Corner, Magazine for commercial finance professional. We discuss when a specialist is needed, how to diagnose company trouble, how to hire and select a turnaround specialist, how the specialist operates and forges an agreement, and sheds light on why some businesses are leary of using these specialists.

Part 1

Part 2

Turnaround Specialists Can Stave Off Financial Ruin   Baltimore Business Journal Banking & Finance Special Edition The turnaround specialist should work himself out of a job to be most effective. A company's financial problems often result from mismanagement. When existing management who lead the company into trouble, doesn't have the skills to deal with crisis, a turnaround specialist may be needed. John M. Collard, Chairman, Strategic Management Partners, Inc. writes "The specialist offers a new set of eyes, skills and understanding of troubled situations to independently evaluate a company's circumstances. Turnaround Specialists add value." American City Business Journals syndicated this article to 42 cities nationwide.

Working With Turnaround Professionals to Preserve Value
An Overview of the Profession
TMA Directory of Members and Services

Working with Turnaround Professionals
Commercial Loan Monitor
Turnaround Pros: Who Are These Guys? An interview with John M. Collard

Businesses in Distress:
Is Your Company a Candidate for Failure? (part 1)
Turnaround Financing for Distressed Companies (part 2)
Select, Engage, and Work With Turnaround Specialists to Preserve Value
Journal of Working Capital Management

Exit Strategies For Practice Owners: Cash Out Alternatives

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Exit Strategies For Practice Owners: You Built A Successful Practice, Now Consider Cash Out Alternatives   Becker's Hospital Review When the reality that "you are the business" sets in, you face a delemma when you want to pack it in and leave. You can sell your single-shingle practice, build a formidable going concern through merger/acquisition to attract attention from private equity or special interest buyers or expand into developing a medical facility to leverage a real estate investment.

Selling Your Medical Practice? You'll Need an Exit Strategy   Physician Leadership Journal Looking to pursue other ventures or retire? There are alternatives for you to reap the spoils of your life's work and investment.

Defense Conversion — Strategies for Federal Government Contractors

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A Director's Guide to Defense Conversion: How to Avoid Minefields in the Marketplace   Director's Monthly , Strategy Briefs National Association of Corporate Directors. Defense contractors can convert to commercial and international markets, but doing business is not the same the world over.

Defense Conversion, Myth or Mystery?   The Military Engineer Magazine A magazine for the engineering management professional. Transition between markets, from and to commercial, international and federal, is complex business and must be handled by professionals who have been there before.

How to Restructure a Defense Contractor   Successful Restructurings Turnaround Corner. Inside the Country's Top Turnaround Firms. John Collard On: How To Restructure A Defense Contractor. From defense contractor and part of 'Star Wars' to commercial integrator working to improve the environment. A case study yielding six-fold growth.

Incentive-Based Management To Get Results

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Managing Employees Through Incentive Compensation If You Want Results, Show Them The Money!   Fabricator Magazine Publication of Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International. Provides methodology to incentivize employees based on rewarding teamwork that produces results. The ultimate goal is to improve the equity value of the company. Incentives are based 50% on what employees are directly responsible for, 30% on how their performance affects other key elements of the business, and 20% on their ability to improve equity value or other elements within their control.

Viewpoint: Tips for using incentive-based management to grow your company   Baltimore Business Journal When employees see dollar signs they become more creative. Set strategic mission direction and tactical goals, then provide incentive structure that will reward when those goals are achieved.

If You Want Results ... Show Them The Money! Incentive-Based Management   8a Magazine Deddicated to advancing the US Small Business Administration Set-Aside Program. Providing education, joint venture and partner opportunities, and a knowledgebase of articles written by experts in business. Incentive-Based Management is a catalyst toward improving direction and value creation.

Show Them The Money:
A Case For Incentive-Based Management
Smart CEO Magazine

Incentive-Based Management -- Show 'em the Money
Printing Impressions Magazine

Set Strategy — Build Mission Statement for Direction

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Mission Possible: Six Questions Your Mission Statement Should Answer   BMDO Update Publication of National Technology Transfer Center, formerly the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. Publication links American Businesses with Ballistic Missile Defense Technology. Collard writes on the topic of preparing a mission statement to run a company to guide those who are experts at mission statements to run Missile Defense.

More Than Words A proper mission statement provides an understanding of future growth directions   Fabricator Magazine Official Publication of Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International. Mission Possible: What Your Mission Statement Should Say. Developing strategic direction and a mission statement by using a template with six key elements, and the importance of each. The Mission Statement should properly reflect company direction and solicite support.

Mission Possible: Key Elements To A Good Mission Planning Statement   8a Magazine Dedicated to advancing the US Small Business Administration Set-Aside Program. Providing education, joint venture and partner opportunities, and a knowledgebase of articles written by experts in business. What does your mission statement say to others? Make certain that it conveys direction and states why you are the company to choose to deliver results.

Sell To Customers In The Way They Want To Be Sold To

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Fast 50: Focus On Retention Over New Customers   Baltimore Business Journal There are only two ways to grow revenue. 1) Sell new products and services to existing customers. 2) Sell existing products and services to new customers. Most importantly is to sell to your customers in the way that they want to be sold to.

Early Warning Signs of Companies Heading For Trouble

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Deathbed Businesses: When a Business Stops Growing. It Starts Dying.   Baltimore & Washington Smart CEO Magazines Too often, companies die unnecessarily because most business leaders haven't learned to recognize the symptoms of oncoming illness in their business. The obvious signs of business trouble are rarely its root causes. John M. Collard of Strategic Management Partners, Inc. spells out some early warning signs of trouble.

Is Your Company In Trouble?   The Corporate Board Magazine The Journal of Corporate Governance, for the directors of Fortune 1000 companies. There are early warning signs to gauge corporate health, management effectiveness, and predict when a company is headed for trouble.

Steering Clear of the Brink   The Journal of Private Equity Strategies and Techniques for Venture Investing. Published Quarterly by the Institutional Investor, Inc. In looking at portfolio companies, John Collard notes that differences in leadership style can be an early warning sign of impending trouble. In addition to leadership style, he notes 10 other common signs of difficulty. at JPE

Danger Signals: Is Your Company At Risk? Early Warning Signs Pinpoint Business Troubles.   8a Magazine Dedicated to advancing the US Small Business Administration Set-Aside Program. Providing education, joint venture and partner opportunities, and a knowledgebase of articles written by experts in business. Obvious signs of business trouble are rarely its root causes. Losing money, for example, isn't the problem. Rather, losing money is the result of other problems.

Is Your Company at Risk?
Here are some early-warning signs that pinpoint business troubles.
Strategic Finance Magazine

Liquidate. Start Over.

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The time has come to liquidate your company. How can you start over?   Smart CEO Magazine Smart CEO Magazine is for for business leaders and professionals. Turnaround management expert John M. Collard presents an approach to liquidation as a strategy to starting over.

Thinking about starting over? Here is a guide to liquidation   Baltimore Business Journal Featured Cover Liquidation can either be a method to withdraw from a company or a catalyst to start over. Small business owners have alternatives.

Presentations & Programs on Building Value and Investing

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Buying and Managing Distressed Companies   Thomson Venture Economics' Buyouts Symposium Buyouts Magazine is the newsletter for management buyouts, leveraged acquisitions and special situations. A Symposium Special Panel was moderated by John M. Collard, Chairman, Strategic Management Partners, Inc. This article is excerted with permission from the panel discussion.

Competition for Good Distressed Deals Is Intense Investors Warn: Be Skeptical, Hands-On, Disciplined   The Journal of Corporate Renewal Official Publication of the Turnaround Management Association, the premier professional community dedicated to corporate renewal and turnaround management. Excerpted with permission from "Buying and Managing Distressed Companies," a panel at Thomson Venture Economics' Buyouts Symposium. The panel discussion was moderated by John M. Collard, chairman of Strategic Management Partners, Inc.

A Primer For Corporate Renewal   A Primer for Corporate Renewal Published by the Turnaround Management Association featuring pertinent articles to help turnaround practitioners, consultants, private equity investors, bankers, lenders, and lawyers. Authors include: Tom Peters, Abraham Zaleznik, Rosemary Bowes, Phyllis Gillis, Jack Butler, Richard Walters, John Collard and others.

Western Turnaround Management and Equity Investing Techniques   World Bank, Economic Development Institute A course developed for World Bank to teach the Privatization Agency, Bankruptcy Agency officials, and industry leaders the way turnaround management and investing is carried on in the western world. A 'train the trainers' course now being delivered throughout Russia, the former USSR countries, and Central Europe.

  Writing Credits        

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Select writing credits include Buyouts Magazine, Director’s Monthly, Directorship, The Corporate Board, Private Company Director, Director's & Boards, Smart CEO Magazine, InterimCEO News, InterimExecs News, Mergers & Acquisitions, Venture Capital Guide, The Journal of Private Equity, Shareholder Value Magazine, Valuation Issues Magazine, Strategic Finance Magazine, Financial Executive Magazine, Institutional Investor, Commercial Law Bulletin, New Jersey Lawyer, Successful Restructurings, Dow Jones Bankruptcy Review, ABF Journal, Printing Impressions Magazine, Print Profit Magazine, Military Engineer, BMDO Update, Manage Magazine, Contract Management Magazine, The Fabricator, Secured Lender, Lending and Risk Management News, RMA Journal, Commercial Loan Monitor, Journal of Working Capital Management, Journal of Business Strategy, Journal of Corporate Renewal, Turnaround Management Journal, Wealth & Finance Magazine, Chief Executive Magazine, Global Banking $amp; FinanceMagazine, International Business Magazine, Becker's Hospital Review, Physician Leaders Journal, among others. In addition, we have been quoted or featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Baltimore Magazine, Baltimore Sun, Warfield’s Business Record, The Daily Record, Washington and Baltimore Business Journals, Gazette of Politics & Business, Success Magazine, Bloomberg Magazine, Europe Magazine, Bankruptcy Court Decisions, International Treasurer, M & A Magazine, Turnaround & Workouts Magazine, ABF Journal, President&CEO, 8a Magazine, Corporate Live Wire, Finance Monthly, Board Leadership, and others.

  About the Firm        

Strategic Management Partners has substantial experience advising corporations and individuals on the strategic and mechanical issues of corporate development and governance, operating management and turnarounds for asset recovery, outside director leadership, and investing in and rebuilding underperforming companies. Our principal has over 35 years experience in P/L Management, Strategic Planning and Repositioning, M & A for Strategic Advantage, Finance, Investing, Raising Funds, Sales/Business Development, Building Selling and Marketing Teams, and Operational Auditing = In Public & Private companies = In healthy and crisis situations.

We work with and support the equity capital community to provide assessment studies to determine the situation, planning and strategy development to direct the company, crisis management to oversee that assets are not squandered away, workout teams that recover assets, and board level oversight to keep the client headed in the right direction.

We seek strategic alliances with private equity funds.

www.StrategicMgtPartners.com     www.StrategistLibrary.com

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We welcome constructive inquires. More information is available if required.

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  Contact Information

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John M. Collard, Chairman
Strategic Management Partners, Inc.
522 Horn Point Drive
Annapolis, Maryland [MD] 21403
Voice 410-263-9100 Facsimile 410-263-6094 E-Mail Strategist@aol.com
About the Principal       About the Expert

We serve as experts for comment or quote, please contact us at 410-263-9100

We welcome constructive inquires, please send via E-Mail to:   Strategist.

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