Real-world experience to navigate the shifting sands of Real-world experience to navigate the shifting sands of changechange

Your world has changed, and so have your business needs.Your world has changed, and so have your business needs.

Sandhill’s partners have spent years managing units of major Sandhill’s partners have spent years managing units of major companies through good times and bad.companies through good times and bad.

Our goal is to become an extension of your management Our goal is to become an extension of your management team and put the experience we’ve gained team and put the experience we’ve gained to work for youto work for you..

Our PurposeOur Purpose

Sandhill Consulting Group LLC is dedicated to Sandhill Consulting Group LLC is dedicated to working alongside management that needs to working alongside management that needs to defend or improve its operating performance defend or improve its operating performance in a difficult economy. in a difficult economy. 

Whether the situation demands objective Whether the situation demands objective

analysis, careful planning or hands-on analysis, careful planning or hands-on implementation, it’s likely that one of implementation, it’s likely that one of Sandhill’s partners has the experience to help. Sandhill’s partners has the experience to help.

What Sandhill can do for youWhat Sandhill can do for you ? ?

Sandhill’s partners can address any client Sandhill’s partners can address any client need.  However, underlying every project will need.  However, underlying every project will be a relentless search for how the company be a relentless search for how the company can reach and meet the needs of its customers can reach and meet the needs of its customers more efficiently than its competitors. more efficiently than its competitors.

We Can Help You in….We Can Help You in…. Finding efficiencies in overall company operationsFinding efficiencies in overall company operations: :

restructures and downsizing; moving functions to third parties; restructures and downsizing; moving functions to third parties; reducing product acquisition costs; better leveraging company reducing product acquisition costs; better leveraging company assets (e.g., product development); improving supply chain assets (e.g., product development); improving supply chain efficiencies; replacing manual labor with technology. efficiencies; replacing manual labor with technology.

Improving or expanding customer-facing activitiesImproving or expanding customer-facing activities such as such as sales, customer service, technical support, relationships with sales, customer service, technical support, relationships with distributors or other middlemen, merchandising, advertising distributors or other middlemen, merchandising, advertising and promotion and promotion

Finding new areas for business growthFinding new areas for business growth that make sense at the that make sense at the intersection of a well-defined market segment, relevant market intersection of a well-defined market segment, relevant market trends or disruptions, and client’s core competencies trends or disruptions, and client’s core competencies

When You Have a Special Need…..When You Have a Special Need…..

Improving human capital:  Improving human capital:  evaluation, evaluation, feedback, replacement, recruitmentfeedback, replacement, recruitment

Preparing the company for sale or investmentPreparing the company for sale or investment Losing sleep due to fear of bankruptcy or Losing sleep due to fear of bankruptcy or

other crisisother crisis..

What we Are….What we Are….

Sandhill is the team you call upon when you have a Sandhill is the team you call upon when you have a good company or good company ownership that good company or good company ownership that

needs added management talent, needs added management talent, need to better manage their cash flow, need to better manage their cash flow, without help will be headed toward “work-out”without help will be headed toward “work-out”

Sandhill can help you turn it around, protect your Sandhill can help you turn it around, protect your investment, and prepare for ultimate transitioninvestment, and prepare for ultimate transition

What We Are…What We Are…

Sandhill is the team you call upon whenSandhill is the team you call upon when Your business is poised for growth but you don’t Your business is poised for growth but you don’t

have enough talent or manpower to do it alonehave enough talent or manpower to do it alone You need to prepare for an ownership transition but You need to prepare for an ownership transition but

this activity is outside of your experience or comfort this activity is outside of your experience or comfort zonezone

You need to prepare to look for new investors or raise You need to prepare to look for new investors or raise cash for growth, but don’t know where to look or cash for growth, but don’t know where to look or how to preparehow to prepare

How Can You Use Us?How Can You Use Us?

        *CEO and senior executive advising and coaching*CEO and senior executive advising and coaching*Project and sales management*Project and sales management*Managing Cash Flow*Managing Cash Flow*Developing “Green” solutions for your business*Developing “Green” solutions for your business*Managing product crisis moments, such as product recalls*Managing product crisis moments, such as product recalls*Product line development and sourcing*Product line development and sourcing*Drafting an inspiring/executable business plan in order*Drafting an inspiring/executable business plan in order

to acquire adequate financingto acquire adequate financing*Launching/running/managing the business with a*Launching/running/managing the business with a

"skeleton" management team"skeleton" management team*Interim CEO/CFO/COO/CMO/CRO assignments *Interim CEO/CFO/COO/CMO/CRO assignments

Business Specialty PracticesBusiness Specialty Practices

Business ServicesBusiness Services TurnAround ManagementTurnAround Management Strategic HR and RecruitingStrategic HR and Recruiting Entrepreneurial SupportEntrepreneurial Support MarketingMarketing Business Plan Development and ExecutionBusiness Plan Development and Execution Sales Force Development and ManagementSales Force Development and Management

The Entrepreneurial PracticeThe Entrepreneurial Practice

        *We can help the young company or new division put *We can help the young company or new division put together your strategic plantogether your strategic plan*We can help the lean company augment your staff to *We can help the lean company augment your staff to execute your plan…Sandhill has the skillsexecute your plan…Sandhill has the skills

*Sandhill’s consultants don’t just consult or write a *Sandhill’s consultants don’t just consult or write a plan….we will help you execute your ideas…plan….we will help you execute your ideas…

*Hands on entrepreneurs who will work with you to *Hands on entrepreneurs who will work with you to succeed in your enterprisesucceed in your enterprise

Business Services PracticeBusiness Services Practice Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Management Reverse Logistics Reverse Logistics Customer Support Customer Support Asian SourcingAsian Sourcing Consumer MarketingConsumer Marketing Direct MarketingDirect Marketing Sales Force ManagementSales Force Management QuickBooks ProAdvisor CertifiedQuickBooks ProAdvisor Certified Paralegal and Administrative SupportParalegal and Administrative Support Recruiting and HR ManagementRecruiting and HR Management

TurnAround Specialty PracticeTurnAround Specialty Practice

Sandhill’s Turn Around Practice has a focus in Sandhill’s Turn Around Practice has a focus in the “early workout” arena. A good company the “early workout” arena. A good company in the early stages of distress, or foreseeing an in the early stages of distress, or foreseeing an upcoming cash flow squeeze will benefit from upcoming cash flow squeeze will benefit from our experience in this field our experience in this field

Typical Turn Around Work ApproachTypical Turn Around Work ApproachUnderstand what business you are inUnderstand what business you are in

Market and customer assessmentMarket and customer assessment Profitability by market segmentProfitability by market segment

Assess the strengths of the Management Team to ensure success in this businessAssess the strengths of the Management Team to ensure success in this business In a true turnaround, the culture must all have a laser focusIn a true turnaround, the culture must all have a laser focus Quickly replace and upgrade where necessaryQuickly replace and upgrade where necessary

Ensure that interests of management and ownership are properly alignedEnsure that interests of management and ownership are properly aligned Equity and bonus structures are key to alignmentEquity and bonus structures are key to alignment

Make sure you understand the numbers and business controlsMake sure you understand the numbers and business controls Look at key metricsLook at key metrics

Inventory accuracy, obsolete inventory, returns and turnsInventory accuracy, obsolete inventory, returns and turnsPurchase and product cost variancesPurchase and product cost variancesCollections of AR, credit defaultsCollections of AR, credit defaults13 week cash flow and full year cash flow projection13 week cash flow and full year cash flow projection

Look at profitability by customerLook at profitability by customer Ensure plan is aligned to meet any loan covenantsEnsure plan is aligned to meet any loan covenants

Define the core business and exit those non-core businessesDefine the core business and exit those non-core businesses Management talent must be aligned with businessManagement talent must be aligned with business

Cut needless expenses and costsCut needless expenses and costs Look at overhead, SG&A, and short term leases and contractsLook at overhead, SG&A, and short term leases and contracts Review purchases of major inputs that affect COGSReview purchases of major inputs that affect COGS Look at scrap levels, waste, penalties, and customer short-pays/deductionsLook at scrap levels, waste, penalties, and customer short-pays/deductions Review contracts with outside suppliers, such as plan administrators, insurance, Review contracts with outside suppliers, such as plan administrators, insurance,

agencies, advertising, and facility and operations inputsagencies, advertising, and facility and operations inputs

Develop a business plan and implement it quickly and decisivelyDevelop a business plan and implement it quickly and decisivelyReduce financial leverage and reduce your investment in working capital, then stabilize Reduce financial leverage and reduce your investment in working capital, then stabilize

the business to prepare for future growththe business to prepare for future growth

Industry Specialty PracticesIndustry Specialty Practices

Consumer Products and MultiMedia Consumer Products and MultiMedia PublishingPublishing

PrintingPrinting Educational MediaEducational Media

Education Specialty PracticeEducation Specialty Practice

Marketing and selling to the educational and Marketing and selling to the educational and school markets is a highly specialized practice school markets is a highly specialized practice area. Sandhill Consultants bring decades of area. Sandhill Consultants bring decades of experience with companies like Scholastic, experience with companies like Scholastic, Harcourt/ Reed Elsevier, School Specialty, Harcourt/ Reed Elsevier, School Specialty, Learning Horizons and other well recognized Learning Horizons and other well recognized names in the educational field.names in the educational field.

Printing Specialty PracticePrinting Specialty Practice

Many of Sandhill’s consultants have grown up Many of Sandhill’s consultants have grown up in the printing industry. They jokingly say in the printing industry. They jokingly say “we bleed ink” to describe their passion and “we bleed ink” to describe their passion and experience in the printing industry.experience in the printing industry.

Sheetfed, Web, and roll to roll printing, with Sheetfed, Web, and roll to roll printing, with flexo graphic, digital, letterpress and every flexo graphic, digital, letterpress and every variation of printing and prepress experience variation of printing and prepress experience with leading firms in the industrywith leading firms in the industry

Consumer Products Specialty PracticeConsumer Products Specialty Practice

Publishing as an industry ranges from printed Publishing as an industry ranges from printed books and magazines, to electronic media, to books and magazines, to electronic media, to games and toys. Sandhill’s consultants games and toys. Sandhill’s consultants understand all aspects from creation and understand all aspects from creation and production to sourcing and intellectual production to sourcing and intellectual property licensing, with firms like Radica, property licensing, with firms like Radica, Mattel, Hasbro, Golden Video, Sesame Music, Mattel, Hasbro, Golden Video, Sesame Music, American Greetings and 20Q.Net American Greetings and 20Q.Net

OUR CONSULTANTSOUR CONSULTANTSBRYCE BOOTHBY JR.,

CEO, change management, Web 2.0NICHOLAS A. CLEMENTI,

CEO and Board Member for high-growth ventures, & turnarounds

DOUGLAS J. GUENDEL,Management, sales, marketing, development

SARA LOU WOLTERFinance and Accounting

ROBERT S. LIEBERMAN,CFO-level financial executive

ELISA WEBB HILLLicensing, Marketing

CHRISTINE FLEMING,Marketing and Product Development

DALE GORDONLegal and Business Development

MARIA ANDREUMarketing and Social Media

JERRY RYANIT Implementation, Operations

FAN LIUGlobal Sourcing - International shipping –

DAVID A. RUST,Business unit president, publisher, restructures & new growth ventures

TERRI STEIDLHR Management: Strategy, Talent

DAVID STEIN,CPA, financial executive,

SCOTT HUBER,Design and production specialist

CHRIS HUPPMarketing, General Management

JOHN RICEOperations, Logistics, Management

LEO WANERCFO & Restructuring Management

Plus a full network of talented executives and specialists

Let our Consultants help your business put its best face on any opportunity

American Institute of Certified Public AccountantsAmerican Institute of Certified Public Accountants

                                                          

Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Licensing Industry Merchandisers' AssociationAssociation

                                                

               Association of Educational PublishersAssociation of Educational Publishers

                                                                              

New York State Society of Certified New York State Society of Certified Public AccountantsPublic Accountants

                                                                                                

             Association of Supervisors of Curriculum Association of Supervisors of Curriculum

DevelopmentDevelopment

                                                                  

Financial Executive InternationalFinancial Executive International

                                                                        

Turnaround Management AssociationTurnaround Management Association

                                                                              

Software Information Industry Software Information Industry AssociationAssociation

                                                                            

AffiliationsAffiliations

What Makes Us UniqueWhat Makes Us Unique

We We knowknow and and respectrespect your business your business

We know how to We know how to marketmarket. We know how to . We know how to sellsell. . We know how to run an We know how to run an operationoperation. .

We know how to We know how to think bigthink big. We know how to . We know how to get the job doneget the job done..

Put us to work for you and we will help make Put us to work for you and we will help make your business a successyour business a success