Tom Behlau, Managing Partner of Tarpon Hill Capital

Tom has over 35 years of experience, with extensive operations, management, and entrepreneurial expertise in the Technology, Information Services, and Hardware/Software Industry. Tom possesses a demonstrated ability to position and deploy technology for the competitive advantage of a specific business situation, and to effectively integrate those solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner. His specific area of expertise is the ability to grow and navigate a Company from inception thru the various levels of growth, to include Sales & Marketing, Strategic Planning, Human Resource deployment, and financial stability.

In 1988, Tom founded Information Technologists, Inc (name changed to Actium Corp. in 1995), which was a Systems Integration, Hardware/Software reseller, and Training Organization. Tom served as the President/COO throughout his tenure at the Company. At the time of selling the business in 1998, revenues were at the $80 Million Dollar level, with over 400 employees and offices in 7 cities.

In 2000, Tom founded his second IT Systems Integration Company; Anexinet Corp., and functioned as its President/COO until selling his interest in the business in 2005. At the time of selling the business, revenues were at the $24 Million Dollar level, with over 100 employees and offices in 3 states.

Over the past ten years, Tom has been involved with multiple Companies (start-up, early stage, & growth phase) as both an investor and a part of the Operational Management Team. Currently, Tom was an investor & Managing Partner/Co-Founder at CRM Manager, LLC. CRM Manager is an Implementation & Integration Consulting firm specializing in the Software as a Service (SaaS) area, specifically with Salesforce.com & Google Apps. In 2010, Tom sold his interests in CRM Manager to his Partner and outside investors.
Another venture Tom is involved in Strategic BCP, which is a Business Continuity Planning product, delivered to Clients via a SaaS model, as well as involvement and investments in other Software & Service Companies, specifically in the SaaS service space concentrating on the SMB market segment.

Tom is currently a Managing Partner at Tarpon Hill Capital,  a private equity firm that invests and supports next-stage companies that develop innovative technologies for regulated industries.

 

Ralph Cetrulo, Founding Partner of CMS Source

Ralph Cetrulo is a founding partner of CMS Source, a holding company for Cetrulo & Morgan Group, The Acquisition Group and Mergence Consulting.  These companies provide accounting, business intermediary and business advisory services to individuals and small to mid-sized companies.

Ralph specializes in mergers and acquisitions, corporate divestitures, business valuations, financial forecasts and projections, debt and financing services, tax planning and personal financial planning.  He has done extensive stock option planning for high net worth individuals.  He has also partnered with attorneys to litigate tax cases before the Delaware Tax Appeals Board and the U.S. Tax Court.  His experience spans various industries including distribution, construction, service, real estate, retail, non-profits, education and medical.

Ralph began his career in 1988 as an intern with Cover and Rossiter, P.A.  Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Delaware in 1990, he joined Cover and Rossiter full-time as a staff accountant.  In 1996, he was made partner of the 20 person, three partner firm.  During his six years as partner, Cover and Rossiter grew by thirty employees and revenue increased by 130%.

In November of 2002, Ralph founded Cetrulo & Morgan Group, a public accounting firm headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.  95% of Ralph’s targeted clients followed him to the new firm.  The Company, which began with five employees, now employs 15 people and services close to 900 clients.

In an effort to expand beyond traditional accounting services, Ralph founded CMS Source as a holding company in 2005.  The Company was formed to provide business advisory and business intermediary services to small to mid-sized companies.  These services, initially marketed to existing clients, have allowed the Company to expand into new markets.

In a separate venture, Ralph partnered with a non-office call center in 2003 and in five years, through acquisitions and organic growth, grew revenues from $1.2 MM to $16+ MM.  This placed the Company on Inc.’s list of the fastest growing companies three years running, and the Philadelphia 100 six years in a row.

Ralph is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Delaware Society of CPA’s; he is a member of Special Olympics of Delaware; on the Board of INPACT America; on the Executive Board of the Delaware Workforce Investment Board; a former member of Finance Committee Member for the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce; former member of the BBB and past President of the Brandywine Country Club.

 

Ted LeBow, Principal and Owner of JRI Consulting

As a seasoned Serial Entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience operating and re-aligning entrepreneurial and private equity-owned companies as well as corporate divisions, Ted now focuses his practice solely on CEO’s and owners of small and mid-sized businesses to help them grow beyond their comfort level. He coaches them to get over, under, around or through any situation. With an affinity for “moving parts” businesses, he has personally managed the performance (both financial and product or service) and cultural transformation of seven companies. To every challenge, he brings the ability to inspire, assess, and leverage talent at every level.

Ted’s success in working with Owners and CEOs as an Execution Coach is derived from his personal experience. Having not only managed, but also personally owned all or part of three of the companies he transformed, he knows at a personal, emotional and financial level, what it’s like to have the lives of his employees in his hands—not to mention his house on the line and numerous personal paychecks in his top desk drawer. His approach to Execution Coaching is as a trusted advisor who stands next to a CEO/Owner in his or her time of need and support. Ted knows what it’s like to be lonely at the top and recognizes the value of having someone who’s willing to cry “Baloney!” or “Great Job!” without fear and with experience.

 

John Petralia, Managing Director of Bay Street Investors

Known for his unquestioned integrity and ability to build strong relationships with customers and suppliers, John Petralia founded Bay Street Investors in 1985 as a boutique investment banking firm specializing in corporate development. During his over 40 years of consulting in M&A and corporate finance, he has structured deals for Fortune 500 companies including Rohm & Haas, Ferro, Chase Bank, GE Healthcare, Novartis, as well as scores of start-ups and smaller companies. An experienced manager, he was co-founder of Activated Polishing Materials where he served as CTO, co-founder of Vintage Properties, and founder and CEO of Bay Street Advisors. The author of scores of technical and business articles, he holds a BS from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Sciences, and an MBA from Temple University.

 

Candida Seasock, Founder and President of CTS Associates, LLC

Candida Seasock is a professional mentor focusing on technology companies. Specializing in enabling client growth and management success, Ms. Seasock has developed her own award-winning approach “Growth Path to Success”. This approach is based on targeted business development, strategic marketing, fostering strong and long-term client relationships and implementing 360-degree agility into a company’s processes and operations. She has successfully assisted management teams ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to emerging growth companies.

Ms. Seasock is best known for her work in building high-value market recognition for mid-size companies. She understands how to quickly generate business opportunities, identify revenue streams, and develop marketing cycles. Everything she does is based on sound management and personal ethics principles that differentiate Ms. Seasock from other consultants. She rejects the transactional mentality in business and refrains from working with companies that do not value and respect the inherent human aspect with employees and customers. Ms. Seasock succeeds by becoming entrenched with an executive leadership team in the pursuit of excellence and continuous growth. To confirm Ms. Seasock’s approach, many of her best clients have achieved Fastest-Growing company awards in Philadelphia and South Jersey.

Prior to 2004, Ms. Seasock held positions as Partner, VP of Sales, CIO, and VP of Technology Acquisition. She has managed technology projects from evaluation through selection of software and infrastructure. She has delivered solutions for e-Commerce, CRM, and ERP in collaboration with cross functional teams. Her industry experience includes all technology segments of financial services, transportation/logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and distribution.