Our Team
Thomas J. Beane CMC, CIRA
President
Thomas J. Beane has more than 20 years of broad-based business experience, including more than a decade of turnaround and crisis management consulting. He is experienced in financial and operating issues and is extremely skilled at identifying and implementing practical solutions in critical situations.
Before joining Beane Associates, Inc., Tom worked in management positions for NCR and AT&T. At AT&T, he transformed a marginally profitable $23 million business unit into one of the most profitable units in the company. His responsibilities included profit and loss, departmental budgets, strategic planning, employee development and contract negotiations.
Tom earned a B.S. in Economics from the University of Delaware and his M.B.A. from Rollins College. He was elected in 1997 as a Certified Management Consultant by the Institute of Management Consultants USA. He is a member of the Turnaround Management Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the Associate of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors.
His assignments with Beane Associates, Inc. include:
- CRO in the restructuring of a $15 million turbine blade manufacturer.
- Representing the debtor as crisis manager in the restructuring of a $60 million health-care provider.
- Representing the secured creditor in the orderly wind-down of a multi-state $400 million textile manufacturer.
Millard D. Brown
Managing Director – Atlanta, Georgia
Millard D. Brown has more than 30 years experience developing and implementing crisis and change management for public and private companies. He is a strategic thinker with a passion for creating and implementing positive change.
Before joining Beane Associates, Inc., Mill served as an interim CEO or as turnaround consultant while assisting various financially distressed companies owned by an investment trust. He has been CEO of a national electronics distributor and a manager at both General Electric Corp. and Hercules Inc. A Vietnam veteran, he also served in the Army Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
Mill earned a M.S. in Industrial Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a B.S. in Industrial Distribution from Clarkson University. Mill is an active member of the Turnaround Management Association and the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, Inc.
His assignments with Beane Associates, Inc. include:
- Representing the debtor in the stabilization, turnaround and restructuring of a $70 million textile company.
- Representing the secured creditor in the orderly wind-down of a $250 million multistate scrap recycling company.
- Representing the secured creditor in the restructuring of a $300 million aluminum smelter and aerospace parts manufacturer.
Christopher J. Beane
Director
Christopher J. Beane has more than 15 years of experience in numerous industries, including manufacturing, marketing, distribution, printing and consumer products. He was a manager with Armstrong World Industries, helping develop two multimillion-dollar distributorships in the New York City market, and a national account manager at Printpak, Inc. Chris was responsible for production/press scheduling, raw material purchases and logistics for 6 paper mills throughout the United States.
Chris earned a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Delaware and an M.B.A. from West Chester University. He is a member of the Turnaround Management Association and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
His assignments with Beane Associates, Inc. include:
- Representing the secured creditor in the orderly wind-down of a $40 million retail chain.
- Representing the secured creditor in the orderly wind-down of a $40 million tool and die company.
- Acting as advisor to the secured creditor in the collateral assessment of a $10 million manufacturer of sporting goods equipment.
Christopher H. Todd CPA, CFE
Director
Christopher H. Todd has 20 years of accounting and crisis management consulting experience. He specializes in financial and organizational restructurings with economically distressed entities. He has experience in diverse industries, including construction, manufacturing, technology, not-for-profits and retail.
Prior to joining Beane Associates, Inc., Chris was vice president of finance for an international software developer and audit manager for a public accounting firm.
Chris earned a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Delaware. He is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner and a member of the Turnaround Management Association.
His assignments with Beane Associates, Inc. include:
- Acting as Interim CFO for a $70 million textile manufacturer.
- Representing the secured creditor in the orderly wind-down of a $12 million children’s clothing manufacturer and retail chain.
- Acting as advisor to the secured creditor in the collateral assessment of a $90 million importer of children’s furniture.
James E. Pater
Director
James E. Pater has more than 25 years of experience in restructuring secured and unsecured debt, as well as the private placement of senior and subordinated debt. As a former bank workout officer, he brings valuable insight into the turnaround and workout process. His ability to quickly evaluate capital structures and the financing needs of financially distressed companies has been the foundation of his unique ability to work with both senior management and counsel in developing, negotiating and implementing restructuring solutions. He has completed numerous financial restructurings for companies both in and out of Chapter 11.
Before joining Beane Associates, Inc., Jim worked for PNC Bank N.A. as a corporate lending and special assets officer. As leader of a six-member lending team, he was responsible for a $250 million loan portfolio in addition to personally managing a portfolio of $60 million.
Jim earned a B.A. in Business Administration and Economics from Grove City College. He is a member of the Turnaround Management Association and the Commercial Finance Association.
His assignments with Beane Associates, Inc. include:
- Assisting a $70 million textile manufacturer in the refinance of a $15 million senior credit facility.
- Arranging a $10 million senior credit facility for a $45 million defense contractor.
- Negotiating a $6 million turnaround financing facility for a $15 million commercial lighting manufacturer.
- Representing the secured creditor in the orderly wind-down of a $6 million electroplater.
Jeffrey L. Thommes
Director
Jeffrey L. Thommes has developed strong management skills while serving in executive roles with small start-ups and large established corporations. His successes include: creation of a fire and safety company from the acquisition of three smaller businesses; managing sales and marketing for a venture-capital funded mail logistics business; managing and advising a distressed textile yarn producer through Chapter 11 proceedings; and creating a technical software company.
After starting his business career with the DuPont Co. and General Electric Corp., Jeff served three years as vice president and general manager of Kidde Fyrnetics, a fire and safety products company. He became vice president for sales and marketing of Smartmail, LLC, a startup mail logistics company, and then founded PrecisionCure, LLC, a technical software company. Before joining Beane Associates, Inc., Jeff served as interim executive vice president of American Fibers and Yarns, Inc., a distressed textile yarn producer. He reorganized the business, cut losses from $500,000 to $140,000 in four months, and guided the company through Chapter 11 to liquidation, providing secured creditors with returns that exceeded their forecasts.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Villanova University and spent a year studying management and business at Oxford University.
Kevin J. Beane
Director
Kevin J. Beane joined Beane Associates, Inc., in 2011 after more than 20 years of successful multi-disciplined experience in management, mergers and acquisitions, operations, and sales for both private and public companies in the environmental, transportation, retail and service industries.
As a key member of the management team of a start-up private waste removal corporation, Kevin’s hands-on leadership of the sales team helped make the business a regional leader within five years. Within nine years, he built the company’s annual revenues to $12 million as he worked closely not only with sales but also with the operations, credit and collections departments. His diligence was a significant factor in preparing the business for a successful sale to Waste Management, Inc., an industry leader in waste and environmental services.
At Waste Management, Kevin served as a municipal marketing manager, maintaining a portfolio with annual revenues in excess of $20 million, and closing various state and municipal agreements valued at more than $8 million annually. While increasing EBIT percentages and elevating operational standards for Waste Management, Kevin also assisted his clients in achieving environmental sustainability goals, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Kevin began his career as a territory manager with Harvey & Harvey, Inc., and advanced within the organization, eventually gaining experience in mergers and acquisitions as he helped the business grow into a regional conglomerate.
Kevin earned his B.S. in Economics from the University of Delaware and his M.B.A from Wilmington University.
George M. Rutz, CPA
Director
George M. Rutz has more than 30 years of diversified financial and management experience, working as an audit manager, controller, CFO and COO in the publishing, manufacturing, forest products and auditing industries.
George was senor vice president of TFH Publications, Inc., a $125 million manufacturing subsidiary of a public consumer products company, for eight years, and an equity partner, CFO and director at TPI Inc., an international metal fabricator. In 11 years at International Paper Corporation, a Fortune 100 forest products company, he served as internal audit director, controller and general manager. George also spent six years as a manager at KPMG, leading an acquisition due-diligence team and managing the audit of a Fortune 100 international manufacturing company.
George earned his bachelor’s degree and M.B.A. from Rutgers University.
His advisory assignments have included:
- Serving as a consultant to the principals of a wellness spa business that sought expert advice on financing and expansion.
Darren Baer
Director
Darren Baer brings over 25 years of diverse experience to his role at Beane Associates. What makes him unique is his background which blends his experience as a commercial lender and workout officer with his experience in creating and developing businesses. Darren is able to quickly assess situations and build a vision and action plan to achieve the desired outcome. He has a track record of successfully bringing together stakeholders with diverse interests to achieve a common goal.
Prior to joining Beane Associates, Darren had an extensive career in the financial services industry working for Wells Fargo, Northern Trust, and BNY Mellon. He started his career as a lender with broad experience ranging from $500,000 to $1 billion facilities ranging from revolving credit, term loans and other structured finance products in lender and lead agent roles. He later served as a troubled asset officer handling deals ranging from single lender to agented credits. Darren handled companies ranging in size from small business to upper middle market in a wide range of industries. These deals ranged from liquidations to restructurings. In his role prior to joining Beane Associates, Darren was Managing Director at BNY Mellon. He was responsible for building four businesses from start up to maturity stage. A hands on leader, he was actively involved in all aspects of the business from planning, market analysis, business requirements development, operational planning, profit and loss analysis and forecasting and strategy creation.
Darren earned a BS in Finance at The College of New Jersey. He is also an active member of the Turnaround Management Association and a volunteer for the SBA SCORE program.
Some of his assignments since joining Beane Associates include:
- Acting as CFO/CRO of a specialty chemical manufacturer.
- Assisting a non-profit in a review of their business to create a go forward plan to improve financial performance while still meeting their mission.
- Work with a blade manufacturer to sell the business or find a strategic partner.
We Can Help You Find the Answer