Nextstep Business Solutions is a business consulting firm focusing on helping you develop and execute the strategic initiatives that will turn your vision for your business into reality.
Mark Brown, Strategic Initiatives Consultant & President
Summary:
Since founding NextStep in 1997, Mark Brown has, helped business leaders in a range of industries, including software, technology, professional services, manufacturing and retail, improve their profitability and increase their cash flow. 
Mark has track record of developing business strategies, identifying strategic initiatives to accomplish strategy, managing strategic initiatives and designing streamline systems and processes that strengthen the organizations' strategy execution.
He has a broad functional background, including finance, IT, sales, marketing and HR.
Selected Process Improvements:
- Developed and implemented the use of QuickBase project management templates for a software company which reduced the time for their major software installations from 1-2 years to 2-4 months;
- Developed MyBizPath™, a comprehensive business planning and management software system which makes it easier for small business owners to start, grow and sell their businesses;
- Developed price quote models for a manufacturing company, which improved the bid pricing so that the company won more contracts that would be profitable and not win contracts which would be unprofitable.
Selected Business Turnarounds:
- As CFO, guided Aavid Thermal Technologies, Inc. from near bankruptcy to profitability and financial strength. Part of the senior team that grew it from a private, financially strapped, $37 million manufacturing company to a publicly traded, financially healthy, $100+ million international manufacturing and software company;
- As Interim CFO, led the turnaround of an $18 million software company, from the verge of bankruptcy to profitability and financial health.
Selected Acquisitions and Divestitures:
- Led the negotiation of the acquisition of a $5 million manufacturing division of a major corporation for Aavid;;
- Sold off a $50 thousand software unit for a software company, which was a distraction to their core business;
- Performed the financial due diligence for the successful acquisition of a $20 million software company.
Background:
Prior to being self employed, Mark was the Chief Financial Officer of Aavid Thermal Technologies, a $100+ million, publically traded, international manufacturing and software company which designs, manufactures, and markets thermal management products for various applications.
Prior to Aavid Thermal Technologies, he was a controller for ABA Industries, an $18 million manufacturing company. He started his career as a consultant in the consulting division of Arthur Andersen, which is now Accenture.
He holds a B.A. in Accounting and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Marketing from the University of South Florida.
Professional Organizations and Associations:
Cary Toastmasters, Member and Past President,
Advanced Communicator, Bronze
Financial Executives Networking Group
Member
Founder of the Raleigh Chapter