From Friction to Financial Flexibility: Improving Operations, Cash Flow and Long-Term Options
Service businesses often lose capacity and cash through delays, rework, unclear handoffs, and slow decision-making. Join local business leaders for a practical panel discussion on how better management and better processes can unlock capacity, improve cash flow, and create stronger business options.
The discussion will also show how owners can translate improved liquidity into greater personal flexibility - building wealth outside the company, reducing financial concentration, planning for retirement or succession, and supporting family, charitable, and long-term goals.
Attendees will leave with a clearer framework for turning operational improvement into growth, resilience, and financial confidence both inside and outside the business.
Panelists include:
Mike Craig | CEO | GKW Business Solutions
Mike is an accomplished manufacturing executive with more than 40 years of hands-on manufacturing experience, including 15+ years serving in CEO/CFO leadership roles.
Throughout his career, Mike has held full responsibility for business performance, including P&L, cash flow, working capital, strategic planning, operational execution, and key customer relationships. His leadership experience spans Tier 1 Aviation/Aerospace, automotive and heavy-duty manufacturing, as well as international food service and retail markets.
Mike combines executive-level business leadership with more than 30 years of Lean Manufacturing experience, helping organizations connect operational improvement directly to financial performance, cash flow, and sustainable growth.
His experience includes the Toyota Production System, Value Stream Mapping, SMED, Kanban, Kaizen, leadership development, training, and organizational integration. Mike is known for a practical, hands-on, no-nonsense approach focused on identifying business priorities, making critical decisions, and delivering measurable results.
Ryan Pohl | Founder | Praeco Skills, LLC
Ryan Pohl has been devoted to the manufacturing industry for 25 years. He founded Praeco Skills 11 years ago, a company specializing in talent development solutions for middle to high-skilled manufacturing occupations. With his background as a journeyman machinist, shop teacher, industrial trainer, and business owner, Ryan has dedicated his career to understanding the root causes of the skills shortage and developing cutting-edge solutions to help the industry meet the challenge.
Along with his Journeyman’s card, Ryan holds an Associate degree in Manufacturing Tooling, a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Education, and a Master’s degree in Industrial Training & Development, all from Ferris State University. He is currently working on his PhD in Education and Human Development at Western Michigan University, with a focus on developing research that supports the unique learning needs of manufacturing professionals. Additionally, Ryan is the Co-Founder of Harmel Academy of the Trades, a first of its kind parochial trades academy in Grand Rapids that focuses on character development while learning skilled trades.
Aaron Ritsema, CFP® | Partner & Senior Portfolio Manager | LaFleur & Godfrey Private Wealth Management
Aaron has over 20 years of investment and financial planning experience, having previously served as a Financial Advisor at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. He is a member of the Investment Committee and is also responsible for managing and growing client relationships. Aaron obtained his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification in 2014 and helps lead our financial planning efforts.
Robert Spencer | Fractional CFO | The Phoenix Group
Bob brings over 12 years of consulting as well as an additional 15 years of financial experience as owner, CFO, controller, and analyst to his clients. Bob has provided financial and operational management including executive coaching, conducted capital raises in excess of $150M for working capital and acquisitions, managed client staffs during CFO and President replacements, and run strategic planning for growth/divestiture/ownership transitions. Prior to consulting, Bob started and ran multiple businesses as owner, served as CFO of several regional companies, and oversaw a global construction operation for a Fortune 50 company in a controller capacity.
Moderator: Drew Meyers, CFP® | Client Development Director | LaFleur & Godfrey Private Wealth Management
Drew joined LaFleur & Godfrey and supports our clients by connecting them with internal and external resources to provide comprehensive wealth management services. Drew has over a decade of experience in banking and financial services and holds an MBA from Western Michigan University.
3:30-4:00pm - Registration & Networking
4:00-4:45pm - Panel Discussion
4:45-5:00pm - Wrap Up & Thanks!
This panel discussion brought to you by:
And thanks to Construction Simplified for hosting this panel discussion.