Charles H. Cooper
Managing Partner

Charles Cooper
Charles Cooper has spent over 30 years as a business owner, a CEO and as an executive consultant managing business transition and interim management. His formula during this time has been to evaluate market and industry trends, identify new opportunities and act decisively on the new strategies. As a chief executive and turnaround specialist, he has successfully relocated manufacturing facilities, negotiated favorable financial alliances between corporations and lenders, and implemented best practices in finance, marketing, manufacturing and technology. Most recently serving as chief operating officer of a marketing material distribution company in Elkhart, Indiana, he has been primarily responsible for a complete assessment of the manufacturing and financial operations. He has been able to identify inefficiencies and define the appropriate plans of action to position the company to add 2-5% to the bottom line.

Prior to that he was brought in to relocate and reorganize the financials for a food processing division of a Fortune 100 company. Concurrently, he served as interim Chief Executive Officer for a wiring harness company. Having been brought in by the board of directors, after the abrupt resignation of the company’s CEO, he was able to change the direction of this company that had substantial loses in the previous year and guided them to profitability within 90 days.

During the early 2000’s Charles worked on several projects involving a diverse group of clients: He secured mezzanine financing for an Automotive Tool & Die company, which was on the block to be liquidated. This effort resulted in saving all jobs. He reorganized the administrative, accounting and personnel functions of a boutique cabinet manufacturer. Following this project he designed and implemented a manufacturing schedule system for a furniture manufacturer.

Charles received his B.S. from Ball State University. He has also completed his Six Sigma Certification. Charles has been active in local groups such as; Lions International, Elkhart Concert Club, The Music Village of South Bend.

Chris McEvoy
   
Chris McEvoy helps struggling companies improve profitability and cash flow. After receiving his MBA from Indiana University, Chris started his career at General Motors. He then formed a software company that grew to be the leading provider in its niche, financed by an SBA loan and angel and venture capital investments. The Company grew to 350 consultants with a worldwide clientele, and was purchased by a multi-national financial concern.

Through his experience in consulting with over 500 companies, Chris developed a proprietary process that identifies ways to change to the business model that will improve profits and cash flow, predict when the changes will take effect, and communicate the results to stakeholders. Chris brings a holistic approach to the job: as a former business owner, he has been through periods of economic distress and can help a company look across all business disciplines for ways to propel a company forward.

Donald Kratz
Don Kratz has been licensed to practice law in the state of Indiana since 1980. In a career that has spanned over 30 years, Don spent the first 22 years in corporate counsel and executive positions where he developed expertise in several areas of the law in energy, environment, health and safety in the workplace, and tax policy matters at the federal and state government levels. Don has also represented corporate employers in international business negotiations in the Pacific Rim, South America, Russia, West Africa, Canada and Mexico.

During the past 10 years, Don has held a number of general management positions for businesses ranging in size from $600,000 in revenues to over $25 million. This experience has provided Don with insight to the challenges faced by small and mid-sized businesses and the experience to handle transactional matters including commercial contracts, business structures, real estate agreements, collections, and employment law matters including terminations, executive compensation, non-compete and separation agreements as well as environmental and safety compliance issues.

Don’s business experience, coupled with his life long interest and passion for the law provided the opportunity to forge those interests and talents into a new law practice. In August, 2008, Don and his friend of 30 years and former law school classmate, Bill Keown, formed a new practice, Keown and Kratz, LLC, concentrating on legal issues affecting small and mid-size businesses.

Don Kratz received his undergraduate degree from Ball State University and his law degree from Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis. He is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, the Indianapolis Bar Association and the Hamilton County Bar Association. Don and his wife Patsi live in Fishers, Indiana. They have a grown son, David, living in Omaha, Nebraska.