Senior Executives

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
jhecktman@hilcotrading.com

Jeffrey B. Hecktman is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hilco Trading, LLC, one of the most active and successful asset repositioning firms in North America and Europe. Jeffrey founded Hilco in 1987 to conduct business asset liquidations. Today, under his guidance, The Hilco Organization has expanded its services to include asset appraisals, acquisition and disposition services, specialized debt and equity financing, investment banking and retail consulting. Over the course of his career, Jeffrey has structured and directed hundreds of transactions valued in the billions of dollars.

Jeffrey received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Arizona in 1975. He also completed a course of study in international business through George Washington University, attending the Nijenrode International School of Business, Breukelen, The Netherlands. Jeffrey is an active member of the National Retail Federation, the Commercial Finance Association, the Turnaround Management Association and the American Bankruptcy Institute.

President and Chief Operating Officer, Hilco Trading
President and Chief Executive Officer, Hilco Merchant Resources
mkeefe@hilcotrading.com

In May, 2008, Mike was named President and COO of Hilco Trading LLC. He will oversee the business relationships between Hilco Trading and five operating units. They are: Merchant Resources, including Hilco UK, Real Estate, Appraisal Services, Industrial and SD Retail Consulting. Mike will continue as CEO of Hilco Merchant Resources.

Mike has been with Hilco since 2000. In that relatively short period, has succeeded in building Hilco Merchant Resources into an industry leader. Mike is respected for his leadership abilities and ethics. He has spent his entire career in the asset disposition industry and has been instrumental in managing many of the country's largest store closing programs. Over the past 19 years, Mike has developed an unique expertise covering virtually every type of retail business and the broadest range of inventory categories and store formats. Mike has also been instrumental in developing, perfecting and executing many of today's most innovative asset disposition practices and tools.

Chief Financial Officer
jchen@hilcotrading.com

John has nearly 30 years of business finance and operations experience in both industrial and consumer businesses. He came to Hilco from Tang Industries, Inc., a $1 billion+, privately held, multi-divisional company primarily focused on metals-related manufacturing and distribution. During his 20 years with Tang, John served 14 years as Chief Financial Officer with financial and strategic oversight of over 30 business units. He also served as President of a $400 million Tier One automotive supplier of suspension, structural and impact systems to most of the major OEMs in North America, and as President of an office furniture manufacturing division.

Previously, John was with PepsiCo, Inc. Over an eight year period, he served as Director Strategic Planning and Development for Frito-Lay, where he developed a strategic plan that led to a restructuring and significant real growth after a period of slowing growth. John also led the acquisition and integration of Smartfoods, the first Frito acquisition in 20 years. Earlier, John had been with Pepsi-Cola International where he authored Pepsi-Cola International's strategy plan to develop China. With approval of the plan, John was sent to Hong Kong as part of Pepsi's China Development team. During his tenure Pepsi successfully negotiated and started up two plants in Shenzhen and Guangzhou as well as built the internal infrastructure that led to rapid development of the Pepsi franchise in China. He began his career at PepsiCo headquarters in Purchase, New York.

John received his MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School (Beta Gamma Sigma) and his BA (with honors) in Political Science from Swarthmore College.

Executive Vice President
esiskin@hilcotrading.com

Ed's focus is to further build Hilco’s investment banking operations and work closely with various Hilco operating units to expand their activities both domestically and internationally.

Ed brings 30 years of experience in investment banking and corporate finance to Hilco. Most recently, he was a founding principal at Crystal Financial and Crystal Capital, which sourced, structured and managed more than $1 billion of high yield debt transactions. Prior thereto, he founded Back Bay Capital and served as President.

Ed's career in corporate finance began when he joined Bankers Trust in 1980, where he became a Managing Director focused on raising capital for middle market companies. He then moved to the Red Apple Group, a $1 billion private company based in New York, where as head of corporate development he was responsible for acquisitions and start-up ventures, including a charter airline. In 1993, Ed joined specialty finance company, GBFC, Inc., as Chief Operating Officer. The company was acquired in 1996 by BankBoston, N.A., which was purchased in 2004 by Bank of America and Ed was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer at Bank of America Retail Finance Group.

Ed is on the Board of Trustees of the Turnaround Management Association, as well as an active member of the Commercial Finance Association. Ed received a B.A. in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany and an M.B.A. in Finance and International Business from the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration.

General Counsel and Executive Vice President
ekaup@hilcotrading.com

A seasoned transactional attorney, Eric Kaup specializes in distressed asset acquisition and disposition strategies. He has documented and closed over one hundred transactions, representing an aggregate asset valuation approaching $1 billion.

Eric joined Hilco in 2004 as Assistant General Counsel and Vice President. In 2007, he was named General Counsel and Executive Vice President. In January, 2010, he was appointed interim CEO of Hilco Consumer Capital. Prior to joining Hilco, Eric was with the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, working primarily in Skadden's restructuring group. While there, Eric worked on some of the nation's then largest chapter 11 filings, including Safety-Kleen Corporation, Outboard Marine Corporation, Polaroid Corporation, and National Steel Corporation, developing an expertise in asset sales in the context of chapter 11 proceedings. Eric is a graduate of Yale University and The Ohio State University Moritz School of Law.

Executive Vice President
bnortman@hilcotrading.com

Ben is respected as an expert in structuring complex asset acquisition and disposition transactions. He serves three roles within Hilco, as Executive Vice President of Hilco Merchant Resources, a world leader in retail asset disposition and operational services, as Managing Director of Hilco Consumer Capital, a leading consumer products brand management firm, and as Executive Vice President of Hilco Trading, the holding company for the entire Hilco platform.

In his roles with Hilco Merchant Resources and Hilco Trading, Ben helps companies, their lenders and professional advisors structure transactions to maximize returns on inventory, machinery and equipment, real estate and accounts receivable. Since 1996, Ben has managed some of the largest asset disposition transactions in North America Since 2006, he has also worked with Hilco Consumer Capital to acquire and develop licensing strategies for numerous iconic brand names, including Sharper Image, Tommy Armour Golf, Bombay Company, Linens ‘N Things and Polaroid.

Prior to joining Hilco, Ben was a Chicago bankruptcy and creditors’ rights attorney at the prominent law firms, Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue and Holleb & Coff.

Senior Executive Vice President
msmiley@hilcotrading.com

Mark has nearly forty years of retail, distribution and financial services experience. He has been the Chief Financial Officer of several high-growth retailers and distribution companies in consolidating industries. Mark has significant experience in developing and managing financial, information systems and human resource functions. More recently, he led the business development and merger and acquisition activities for several firms. Mark began his career with Deloitte & Touche in 1976 and was admitted to the partnership in 1986. He graduated from Ohio University in 1976 and received his MBA from Ohio State University in 1980.

Executive Vice President, Special Situations
jmalfitano@hilcotrading.com

For more than a decade, Joe has been structuring complex asset acquisition and disposition transactions involving stressed, distressed and insolvent companies, both in-court and out-of-court. Over the years, Joe has developed the expertise needed to quickly assess a situation, formulate a comprehensive set of strategic alternatives, and work to quickly implement the solution best positioned to maximize short- and long-term stakeholder value.

In his role as EVP, Special Situations, Joe is primarily responsible for sourcing and structuring distressed and non-distressed transactions that involve the investment of capital by Hilco. While the majority of transactions are underpinned by either retail inventory, industrial machinery and equipment or real estate, or combinations thereof, Joe is also active in sourcing and structuring opportunities that touch upon every asset class and involve services offered by all of Hilco’s business units.

Joe joined Hilco in 2007 as the Deputy General Counsel. In that role, he was instrumental in documenting and closing over one hundred transactions representing an aggregate asset valuation in excess of $1 billion. Prior thereto, Joe was a member of the Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring practice of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, one of Delaware's most prominent bankruptcy and corporate restructuring law firms. Among the many companies that benefitted from Joe’s restructuring expertise at Young Conaway are Alterra Healthcare Corporation, Big V Supermarkets, Inc., Budget Rent-a-Car, Polaroid, Inc. (Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors), Smart Papers, LLC, The Institute for Cancer Prevention, The Top-Flite Golf Company, Inc. and Worldtex, Inc.

Joe is a graduate of State University of New York, College at Buffalo and earned his law degree from Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law.

Assistant General Counsel and Vice President
ifredericks@hilcotrading.com 

As Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Ian is responsible for negotiating and documenting transactions between Hilco's holding company, our various business units and transaction counterparties. Ian comes to Hilco from Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom, where he served in the Corporate Restructuring practice group.

Ian brings a wealth of experience in multiple industry sectors, including automotive, airline, agricultural, banking, energy, financial service, manufacturing, real estate, retail, technology, and temporary staffing. He has represented sellers, purchasers, debtors, hedge funds, private equity funds, and lenders in connection with complex distressed and non-distressed transactions, commercial and corporate litigation, in-court and out-of-court restructurings and multi-jurisdictional transactions. In particular, Ian was one of two principal attorneys responsible for managing the liquidation of Circuit City Stores, Inc. and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries, including more than $1.1 billion of inventory and approximately $500 million of other assets.

Earlier, Ian was with Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor where he represented debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, statutory committees, indenture trustees, purchasers, chapter 11 trustees, and other parties in connection with complex bankruptcy proceedings, out-of-court restructurings and other transactions. Ian also served with a United States Bankruptcy Judge in the Bankruptcy Court in Philadelphia, PA, as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia.

A Cum Laude graduate of Temple University Law School in May, 2003, Ian also attended St. John's University School of Law where he received an LL.M post-graduate degree in Bankruptcy law. He received a BA degree from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA.

Chief Marketing Officer
gepstein@hilcotrading.com

Gary Epstein joined Hilco in July of 2012. He is responsible for the company’s overall marketing strategy, branding, market research and communications. He will guide Hilco’s operating companies with their specific marketing initiatives.

Gary has a diversified background in corporate, institutional and consumer marketing experience serving for over 25 years as an advertising agency, media company and client marketing executive. Recently, Gary served as a CEO for Abundant Ventures, providing management leadership for The Owned Agency, a digital content and media company. Prior to this role, Gary was the CEO and CMO of ReachMD LLC, a medical education company with a multi-channel media network including a 24/7 Sirius-XM satellite radio station. In 2004, Gary served at the American Medical Association as Chief Marketing Officer and a member of its Executive Committee. In this role he was responsible launching an extensive new branding program to help enhance the AMA's reputation. Prior to joining the AMA, Gary’s marketing career was spent in the advertising agency space at some of the country’s top firms including J Walter Thompson and Euro RSCG Worldwide. At Euro RSCG, he served in several critical roles most notably as the CEO of the North American agency.

In 2000, the American Advertising Federation inducted Gary into its “Hall of Achievement,” honoring outstanding marketing professionals. He was also named as one of Chicago's “40 under 40” top business leaders.

Gary currently serves on the board of the University of Michigan’s School of Organizational Studies. He was recently named to the Board of the Jewish Child and Family Services and has been actively involved with the Off the Street Club of Chicago; Gallery 37; The AMA Foundation; The Jewish United Fund; and other charitable institutions.

Senior Advisor
adratt@hilcotrading.com

After spending nearly 10 years in several leadership roles at Hilco, Arnie now represents the company as Senior Advisor. He joined Hilco in 2003 as Executive Vice President responsible for development, structuring and execution of transactions, particularly when they originated with turnaround and restructuring firms and their clients. In 2005, Arnie was named President of Hilco Appraisal Services. Subsequently, he was named Chairman of Hilco Appraisal and became the liaison between Hilco’s holding company and several operating units, including Appraisal and Hilco Industrial.

Arnie's background includes extensive experience in the business advisory, turnaround and reorganization field. He co-founded The Dratt-Campbell Company in 1991 to provide on-site turnaround assistance and debt restructuring services. While with Dratt-Campbell, Arnie and his staff managed more than 250 engagements in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Prior thereto, Arnie was Executive Vice President and Managing Director of a national crisis management firm.

Arnie is a graduate of The Harvard Law School (1969) and Amherst College (1966) (Sciences Politiques, Paris, France 1965). He is a member of the Founders' Council of the Governing Board of The Commercial Finance Association Education Foundation, and a frequent lecturer before business, legal and banking groups. He has published a number of articles on the workout process, including "Turnaround or Merry Go Round: When One Brass Ring Isn't Enough," and "Gone With The Schwinn." He has taught a class at Northwestern Law School on Workouts and Restructurings.

Senior Advisor
rkaye@hilcotrading.com

Rick brings nearly 40 years of corporate development, marketing and business management experience to Hilco. He joined the company in 2003 following a short-lived attempt at retirement, during which he consulted for Hilco. Rick began his business career on the corporate side, but struck out on his own in 1972, founding Kaye & Company, Inc. Three organizations evolved, including a strategic marketing consultancy, an advertising agency and a public relations firm. Kaye & Company grew to become one of the Chicago area's most respected business-to-business marketing services firm.

Rick attended the University of Illinois and Roosevelt University where he received a BS in Business Administration. He was awarded a Master's level certificate in financial marketing from the Bank Marketing Association through the University of Southern California. Rick has authored many trade and academic papers and articles on marketing, and has become an authority on successful techniques for marketing professional services.

Executive Vice President
Hilco Merchant Resources
acaracciolo@hilcomerchantresources.com

Anton has over 25 years of Senior Level Retail and Asset Management Expertise. Prior to joining Hilco, he was responsible for operations and client relations with a major asset management firm. He was formerly Vice President of Operations and Principal of Channel Home Centers and Vice President of Operations for Home Quarters Warehouse. Anton earned a B.S. from Seton Hall University.

Executive Vice President and Principal
Hilco Merchant Resources
clipoff@hilcomerchantresources.com

Cory specializes in structuring and implementing sophisticated asset redeployment strategies for retailers. A recognized expert in bankruptcy, corporate reorganization and restructurings. Cory was a partner in bankruptcy/commercial law at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, one of the nation's largest law firms. While at Jones Day, he participated in such major retail Chapter 11 cases as Federated Department Stores/Allied Stores Corporation, Herman's Sporting Goods, Warehouse Club and Gantos. Cory is a frequent speaker on legal, financial and bankruptcy issues. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison and earned his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law.

Chief Executive Officer
Hilco Real Estate
naaronson@hilcorealestate.com

Neil brings nearly 10 years of merger, acquisition, disposition, investment and general deal-making experience to The Hilco Organization. During his career, Neil has been instrumental in the successful completion of over $4 billion in transactions.

Prior to joining Hilco, Neil had served as Senior Vice President, Business Development, for Cendant Corporation, where he oversaw all merger, acquisition and investment activity for the Company's hotel and timeshare businesses. He also served as the Senior Vice President of Strategic Development for the corporation's Timeshare Resort Group and prior thereto as Vice President of the Strategic Development Group. Among the many well-known acquisitions, divestitures and investments in which Neil was involved were Wyndham Hotels, Budget Rent a Car, Trilegiant and Trendwest Resorts. Neil also served as an Associate Investment Banker for ING Barings, where he handled the analysis and negotiations of acquisitions, divestitures and financings for several public and private companies.

Neil received a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a Bachelor of Economics Degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

President
Hilco Real Estate
gapter@hilcorealestate.com

Greg is the President and a Principal at Hilco Real Estate. He brings 20+ years of leasehold restructuring, owned property disposition and strategic advisory experience, and is the founder/creator of Hilco’s lease mitigation practice. Prior to joining Hilco, Mr. Apter was a Senior Vice President and head of Retail Tenant Representation with Jones Lang LaSalle. In that role he was responsible for new business development as well as directing, managing and facilitating real estate related functions, such as lease portfolio restructuring, bankruptcy, market analysis, site selection, asset management, consulting, acquisition and disposition services. At Hilco, Greg has served such esteemed clients as Wal-Mart, WorldCom, Starbucks, Talbot’s, Ahold/Stop & Shop, HD Supply, Samsonite, Biomet, Bally Total Fitness, Michael’s Stores, Claim Jumper Restaurants, Bain & Company, Golden Gate Capital, Angelo, Gordon & Co., TPG and many others.

Prior to joining Jones Lang LaSalle, Greg served as General Counsel for Syndicated Equities Corporation where he managed all corporate business and legal matters, including site valuation & evaluation, negotiation of contracts, oversight of loan commitments and documents and the review of lease, zoning, title and environmental issues. In addition, Greg was one of the first to develop a syndication program to accommodate multiple individuals contemplating the purchase of investment real estate while satisfying tax-free exchange requirements of Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. His previous work experience also includes serving as President of Water Tower Bank in Chicago, where he was responsible for all commercial and consumer lending operations, business development and legal matters. Greg holds a Juris Doctor degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

Chief Executive Officer
Hilco Appraisal Services
tgreco@hilcoappraisal.com

Tom spent 15 years within GE Capital before coming to Hilco, a company he knew well during his time with GE. As President and CEO of  GE Corporate Finance Bank, London (UK), he was responsible for leveraged finance, ABL and corporate lending efforts across Europe.   Tom managed a staff of 150 employees and had $8 Billion in assets under management.   

Prior thereto, Tom was Managing Director of Real Estate – Venture Investments, the U.S. joint venture equity business for GE Real Estate. Earlier, he was Managing Director, Central Region, for GE Corporate Financial Services where he oversaw corporate lending business development and risk management activities for 18 U.S. states and all of Canada. The group closed more than 40 transactions annually generating over $3 Billion in new loan commitments within a portfolio of over 100 accounts with $4.5 Billion in commitments and $1.2 Billion in borrowings.  

Tom also served as  Senior Vice President of GE Capital Markets, where he managed a centralized structuring and sales team responsible for all domestic loan syndication activities. While with GE, Tom received his Six Sigma Black Belt in quality management. Prior to joining GE, Tom was with Chemical Bank, National Westminster Bank and JP Morgan.

He is a graduate of  Fordham University where he received his Masters in Business Administration.

President
SD Retail Consulting
akarabus@sdretail.com

Antony joins Hilco to lead the SD Retail Consulting Practice as its President and key strategic leader with a vision to take the former Senn Delaney Consulting firm into the future. Antony has a true passion for retail and has an intuitive sense of the key transformational changes that are needed for each retailer, whether strategic, organizational or process in order to "move the needle" on the creation of improved financial performance and shareholder value.

Antony has been a trusted advisor to retailers on strategic and financial performance issues for over 25 years. His work has played a pivotal role in helping dozens of chain retailers to create significant shareholder value during this time. He has worked with well- known retail chains such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Barneys, Bloomingdales, Hudson’s Bay Company, Sears Victoria’s Secret, Canadian Tire, A&P, Justice, Lane Bryant, American Eagle Outfitters, Casual Male, Petco, Petsmart, Children’s Place, KFC, Office Depot, Payless Shoes, and 7-11.

Antony began his career at Arthur Andersen in Cape Town, South Africa and moved with the firm to Toronto, Canada where he founded Karabus Management as a Canadian retail advisory firm in 1990. In 2001, Karabus Management expanded into the United States, steadily building it into one of North America's leading retail consultants. In 2008 the firm was sold to PWC where Antony served as the leader of the firm's Retail Consulting Services group until December 2011. Antony is a recognized speaker and a published author providing his thought leaders at industry forums, including the National Retail Federation, World Retail Congress, Canadian Marketing Association, and the Fashion Institute of Technology and providing content to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Stores Magazine, The Globe & Mail, National Post, Toronto Star and Women’s Wear Daily, to name a few.

For the past three years, Antony has conducted annual surveys of leading Retail CFO’s to determine key CFO priorities and areas of value creation. In November 2011, he authored an influential study of Retail CEO's that focused on key "game changers" for getting retail back into growth mode. He also conceived of, developed and executed the first comprehensive P&L Benchmark Retail Study in North America, which was in high demand by the CFO's of more than 100 major retail chains.

Chairman
SD Retail Consulting
grubin@sdretail.com

Greg is a seasoned executive in the consulting industry and has been successfully managing retail consulting projects for over 20 years.

COO
SD Retail Consulting
fefros@sdretail.com

Farla joins the SD Retail Consulting practice from Office Depot where she served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer responsible for transforming the merchandising operations of its 1,170 locations across the U.S.

Farla has consulted with many leading retailers and consumer packaged goods companies across multiple sectors, including the Grocery, Mass Merchandise/Discount, Drug, Value, Convenience, Pet Supplies, Automotive, Office Specialty, Home furnishing and Department Store sectors. Farla has coached executives at numerous leading retailers and consumer packaged goods companies in the area of category management and assortment optimization, two areas where she has a unique depth of specialization.

Prior to joining Office Depot, Farla Efros was Senior Vice President, PwC Retail Consulting. Previously, Farla spent 10 years at The Partnering Group, where she was a Partner responsible for the development of best practices category, customer and trade promotion management working with clients such as Universal Studios, Campbell's Soup Company and Wal-Mart. Prior to that, Efros spent nine years in the consumer packaged goods industry. Farla has broad experience in merchandising and category management, having worked with many of the world's leading consumer packaged goods companies and retailers. She has developed and implemented category business strategies and tactical plans across a variety of retail sectors.

Farla is a graduate of Concordia University, where she received degrees in both Finance and Accounting. Farla has been published as a thought leader in numerous retail industry and business publications, as well as speaking at leading retail associations.

CEO
Hilco Streambank
gfried@hilcostreambank.com

Hilco Streambank's CEO Gabe Fried began liquidating intangibles in 2000 when he was retained to dispose of his employer's intangible assets. During this initial assignment he learned several valuable lessons. First of all, the market needs intangible asset disposition expertise. Secondly, the principles of sales and marketing apply in each case but cannot be effectively executed without a deep understanding of the assets. And lastly, a highly publicized auction is not always the best disposition strategy.

Over the course of the next seven years Gabe wore virtually every hat in the distressed intangibles world, including liquidator, auctioneer, investor, buyer's broker, consultant, expert witness, and appraiser. Gabe's industry experience includes automotive, consumer durables, health care, retail, franchise, apparel and footwear, chemical, telecommunications, software, and more. Prior to founding Hilco Streambank, Gabe was a managing director at XRoads Solutions Group, consultant to CONSOR and Gordon Brothers Group, and cofounder of IP Recovery.

Gabe has a Bachelor of Arts degree (with honors) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign–Urbana.

 

CEO
Hilco Innovation Partners
lknox@hilcoinnovationpartners.com

Lerry Knox has over 20 years of experience as an engineer, venture capitalist and investment banker leading national organizations that provide solutions at the complex intersection of business, technology, infrastructure, innovation and public policy. Lerry’s diverse background allows him to creatively develop unique solutions to some of the most complex engineering, business and financial challenges that many organizations are facing.

As a senior executive of The Hilco Organization, Lerry leads two important business practice areas of the firm. First, as the CEO of Hilco Innovation Partners he brings his skills to this unique asset management company that is building an active market for invention, bringing together expertise, capital, and intellectual property (IP) for investment in the next generation of infrastructure assets; agriculture, water, energy and healthcare technologies. The company is focused on developing the most efficient and dynamic venture based invention economy, by establishing a unique IP commercialization system. We do this by identifying and prioritizing IP investments with the greatest potential to advance critical infrastructure assets for the next economy.

Lerry also leads our Governmental Solutions practice area which helps governments, governmental agencies and not-for-profit organizations assess their asset value and maximize value through various asset monetization solutions.

Lerry is a former Naval Officer and nuclear engineer with the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (Naval Reactors) and a former Public Finance investment banker with Loop Capital Markets and Goldman Sachs.

Lerry is a licensed Professional Engineer and received his B.S. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, M.S. equivalency in Nuclear Engineering from the Navy’s Postgraduate Bettis Reactor Engineering School, M.B.A. from the University of Illinois and a Law degree from the University of Illinois.

Partner
Hilco Industrial
swolf@hilcoind.com

Steve is a 22 year veteran of the metalworking and woodworking machinery business. He has extensive experience in all aspects of the industry including liquidations, auctions and valuations.

Steve was a partner in Turner Industries, a metalworking machinery dealer with 50 years of operation. While with Turner, Steve served as President of the Machinery Dealers National Association (MDNA) after completing more than 14 years of service on their board of directors. He was also a trustee of the Machinery Information Services (MIS), publisher of the Locator magazine. He also has considerable e-commerce experience and was an officer and vice-president of a business-to-business internet company.

 

Partner
Hilco Industrial
rlevy@hilcoind.com

Robert Levy is perhaps best known for his achievements as CEO of Norman Levy Associates, a worldwide auction and valuation service firm. During its five decades of growth and industry leadership, Norman Levy Associates became the largest and most respected firm of its kind, auctioning and valuing billions of dollars-worth of industrial machinery, equipment, inventory and capital assets. The company had 10 offices throughout United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Korea. As CEO, Robert Levy pioneered asset management technologies designed to increase efficiencies, maximize returns and increase return on investment for many middle market and major, multi-national corporations. Clients included Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Chrysler, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Goodyear, AT&T, Chrysler, the United States Government and BankOne.

Under the Norman Levy umbrella, Mr. Levy also founded and managed Levy/Latham Global, a company specializing in the disposition of military surplus property. Levy/Latham was the recipient of the largest privatization contract to handle remarketing of military surplus ever awarded by United States government. In March, 2000, Norman Levy Associates was acquired by DoveBid, Inc. Mr. Levy was named president of DoveBid International and a member of the DoveBid, Inc. board of directors, positions he held until March of 2004.

Chief Executive
Hilco UK Limited
pmcgowan@hilcouk.com

Paul McGowan is a founding partner of Hilco UK. Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Northern Ireland, Paul took up the post of Finance and Operations Director at Jacqmar plc in London before moving on to Leslie Fay (UK). Paul managed all aspects of finance, administration, supply chain and retail operations in these fashion businesses before becoming Chief Executive at Leslie Fay. He set up Hilco UK in 2000 in a joint venture with Hilco Trading Co. Inc. of Chicago.
 

Chief Executive Officer
Hilco Commercial Ltd.
andrew.pepper@hilcouk.com

Andrew is a Chartered Accountant and a former restructuring partner of Kroll and BDO. Over the last 20 years he has advised lenders and directors on all aspects of corporate restructuring, from leading turnaround engagements to being appointed to manage a variety of businesses. Recently investing in the MBOs of Allied Carpets, Borders and Habitat, Andrew has dealt with all aspects of large corporate acquisitions. A specialist in the ABL, retail and manufacturing sectors, Andrew led a number of advisory and investment engagements in the UK and Europe. Andrew has personally dealt with many smaller businesses, where hands-on control has been essential.

Managing Director
Hilco Appraisal Europe
chall@hilcoeurope.com

Chris leads the Hilco Appraisal team in the U.K. and Europe that assists private equity firms with pre-acquisition due diligence, facilitation of acquisitions and exits, and portfolio company performance enhancement and profit improvement.

Chris has more than 25 years of experience and involvement in merger and acquisition, insolvency and restructuring transactions, embracing skills ranging from asset valuation to asset monetization. He has been involved in some of the largest and most high profile projects in the European region and internationally.

Throughout his career, Chris has worked closely with buyout groups as well as major UK lenders (commercial and asset-based), chartered accountants, and corporate enterprises involved in corporate finance, restructuring and insolvency projects. He has diverse industry knowledge encompassing most asset classes in a variety of pan-European projects.

Chief Executive Officer
Hilco Asset Sales Canada
blyle@hilcocanada.com

Bruce has than 30 years of experience in asset valuation, auctions and liquidations in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. He has an international perspective on asset values and markets, and has conducted multi-million dollar auctions. Bruce has earned numerous credited achievements and completed studies at BCIT Vancouver. He is a USPAP certified appraiser on behalf of ASA.

Chief Executive Officer
Hilco Receivables
jstone@hilcoreceivables.com

Jay Stone returns to Hilco Receivables in Northbrook, IL as CEO. His previous tenure at Hilco as EVP and Principal from 2001 thru 2007 as well as his position as President of APEX Financial, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilco Receivables; will lend valuable expertise to the Hilco Receivables operation. Previous accomplishments include the creation and leadership of Steamboat Partners, LLC in 2007 and a position as a Major Account Manager for Van Ru Credit Corp in Chicago, IL from 1999 until 2001. While at Van Ru, Jay was responsible for bringing in clients such as Sears, First USA, and other nationally known retail, financial, and educational institutions. Prior to his work at Van Ru, Jay was the Director of Sales for Abacus Financial Management Services in Des Planes, IL from 1993 thru 1999. Jay holds a B.A. in Government from Beloit College.

Chief Executive Officer
Hilco Real Estate Finance
mfiller@hilcorealestate.com

Mark Filler has been in the mortgage banking business since 1994, when he was a co-founder of Prism Financial Corporation. During his tenure at Prism, revenues grew from $1 million to $275 million; annual pretax profits grew from $100,000 to $50 million; and annual mortgage volume increased from $100 million to over $15 billion. Mr. Filler was President (and a member of the Board of Directors) when Prism completed an IPO in 1999. He was CEO when the Company was successfully sold to Royal Bank of Canada, where he served until 2001. Mr. Filler gained experience in construction and rehabilitation lending at Prism; the Company acquired a substantial lender that was 100% focused on construction lending. In 2002, Mr. Filler joined American Home Mortgage Corp.as Executive Vice President. American Home was a New York Stock Exchange Company, with a market capitalization of $1.7 billion, and the 11th largest mortgage lender in the U.S., when he left in 2006. Mr. Filler left American Home to form a new mortgage business, Prospect Mortgage Company. He was the sole founder and raised $150 million in private equity. He held senior leadership positions at Prospect for over five years (he served as CEO, Executive Chairman or President). Prospect currently originates annual mortgage volume of almost $9 billion and has a servicing portfolio of approximately $10 billion. It is one of the top four largest independent retail mortgage companies in the U.S.

Importantly, Prospect is a leader in renovation and REO financing, originating in excess of $1 billion in the residential rehabilitation space. According to HUD figures, Prospect is the number two largest renovation lender in the U.S. (after Wells Fargo). In addition, Prospect is amongst the top five lenders nationwide in Fannie Mae Homepath® (REO) and Homepath® Renovation lending. During Mr. Filler’s tenure at Prism, American Home, and Prospect, those companies successfully acquired over 30 mortgage banking firms (some having multi-state operations).

Prior to his mortgage career, Mr. Filler worked at Kirkland & Ellis, a leading national law firm, and The Equity Group, a holding company controlled by Sam Zell. Mr. Filler is a graduate of University of Michigan and Harvard Law School.

Managing Director
Hilco Enterprise Valuation Services
Hilco Corporate Finance
jfrank@hilcoevs.com

Jason comes to Hilco from the investment banking and corporate M&A world.  Most recently, he was with P&M Corporate Finance, where he was involved in both buy- and sell-side M&A transactions, principally in the life sciences and business services sectors.  Prior thereto, Jason was with AON Risk Services, where he led the research and analysis team within the company’s M&A Professional Services group.  His responsibilities included the analysis of financial and capital structures and interpretation of financial performance and constraints among Fortune 1000 companies.  Earlier, Jason was Manager of Strategic Planning for Diamond Cluster International, a leading technology consultancy.  While with Diamond, Jason helped facilitate a billion dollar transaction and subsequent integration of a European consulting firm.  Jason has also served as a senior analyst at Arthur Anderson LLP.  Jason holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business, and a BSBA from the University of Florida. He is a CPA.

President and Managing Director
Hilco Equity Partners
jtomes@hilcoequity.com

John co-founded Hilco Equity in February 2002, and is responsible for the strategic direction and investment activities of the firm. Previously, John was a founding Partner of Wynnchurch Capital, a $164 million private equity fund focused on middle market equity investments.

From 1989 to 1998, John worked in the Restructuring and Merchant Banking Groups of GE Capital and spent the last five years of his tenure as a Senior Vice President and Region Manager. While at GE Capital, John played a key role in investing more than $5 billion for acquisitions, buyouts, turnarounds, bankruptcies and growth financings.

Prior to joining GE Capital, John worked for Continental Bank and for two years at a Chicago-based specialty medical products consulting firm. John has held a number of private company board positions throughout his career and is a member of the Turnaround Management Association and The Association for Corporate Growth. He received a BA from Kenyon College and an MBA from The University of Chicago.