BIO

Robert Friedman is a CFO, Board Director and internal consultant with a broad background combining strategy with operational and financial management to drive significant growth in construction and manufacturing. His expertise includes modernizing infrastructures and systems to align sales, operations and accounting functions to increase top line revenue, reduce cost, create accountability and elevate performance to financial best-in-class.

A business architect and collaborative leader, Robert goes beyond traditional accounting and finance lanes, digging into every aspect of the business, to identify strengths and risks and make them more profitable.

With strong public accounting background in construction, manufacturing, wholesale distribution, professional services and real estate, Robert has a unique ability to analyze data to uncover and remove obstacles in order to achieve significant growth in revenue and EBITDA margins.

Robert served on the Board of Directors of BAMCO, Inc., a employee owned, green-material, construction and manufacturing company from January 2019 to May 2023. Where he advised on strategy, business transformation, board development, ESOP formation, governance, growing business and increasing shareholder value.

Robert also served as the CFO of BAMCO for over 20 years through July 2022 as a critical member of the executive team that significantly increased revenue and EBITDA. He led the company in a transaction to sell 100% of the equity to an ESOP Trust, retaining all employees, preserving the company’s legacy, retaining the jobs of all employees with a gradual management transition, while providing value added retirement benefits to loyal and dedicated employee owners. Robert established the Board of Directors structure, processes and governance model. He also transformed operations and increased gross margin profit from 17% to 30%, significantly outperforming the industry averages.

He is a skilled executive and former outside CFO to closely held and family-owned businesses and has advised on building financial strategies, establishing disciplined processes, leading M&A efforts and implementing sophisticated financial, tax and estate planning techniques to increase wealth.

Previously, Robert played a critical role at large privately held companies and accounting firms including Coopers & Lybrand (now PWC) and JH Cohn (now Cohn Resnick), conducting audits, tax planning and financial reporting and leading special projects like restructuring internal accounting and financial reporting functions and modernizing operational systems.

Robert is a member of the Private Directors Association (PDA), holds an ESOP Governance certification and is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner.

He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Miami.

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