Jeff Gillesse

Partner; Managing Director

Jeff Gillesse is the founder and Managing Director of Level Ten. He has over 34 years of experience in public accounting, executive management, corporate restructuring and turnaround, litigation support, management consulting, business valuations, and operations management in several industries and as a court-appointed receiver.

Jeff is a Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP) and also a CPA and earned his B.S. in accounting from Ferris State University. His focus is on developing and implementing business recovery strategies, restructuring, stakeholder value optimization, strategic planning, and other professional services.

Jeff is a member of the Turnaround Management Association, Thomson Reuters Westlaw Roundtable Group of expert witnesses, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Prior Experience

Jeff has held many positions during his professional career including: Director of DW Associates LLC, where he served as restructure and turnaround specialist and court-appointed receiver; Chief Restructuring Officer of Clarion Technologies, a publicly-held plastic injection molding concern; COO and CFO of Bliss Clearing Niagara, Inc., a heavy machine tool manufacturer; as well as several other CEO and CFO corporate positions.

Jeff’s earlier career experience included senior manager and partner candidate positions with BDO USA LLP in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he had national roles in consulting, healthcare, construction and statistical auditing.

His experience also includes ownership of distressed manufacturing and value-added enterprises, where his entrepreneurial and consulting skills were further developed in real world conditions. His operations skills are further enhanced by his previously acquired mechanical aptitude, where he achieved certification and demonstrated competency in several areas of automotive, machinery, marine, heavy equipment operation and aviation manufacture and repair.

Career Highlights

Successfully managed a four-entity group of manufacturing companies in West Michigan as court-appointed receiver, reversing the trend of substantial losses and collateral deterioration into healthy positive cash flow and enterprise value; the group was ultimately sold to a private equity group who retained all employment and is investing in new growth.

Chief Restructuring Officer role in an insolvent publicly held plastic injection molder, enabling the company, which experienced a string of substantial losses to work out of a contemptuous relationship with its senior lender. The company is still in operation.

Significant and active role in the successful recovery of a heavy machine tool manufacturer in West Michigan acquired by its senior lender in a 363 acquisition.

Implemented a successful recovery strategy for a sawmill operation and hardwood lumber manufacturer.

Achieved partner candidacy with a large national CPA firm with competencies in several practice specialty areas.

 

Core Competencies

• Visionary Leadership

• Operations Management

• Mergers & Acquisitions

• Financial Management & Control

• Turnaround Management

• Strategic Business Planning

• Bankruptcy & Receiverships

• Litigation Support

• Collective Bargaining

• Lean Manufacturing

• Strong Mechanical Aptitude

• Capital Formation & Financing

• Due Diligence Reviews

• Business Valuations

• Automotive Industry

• Continuous Improvement

• Construction Contractors