Our Leadership

About: Since co-founding Aurora Management Partners in Atlanta in 2000, he has managed both turnaround and bankruptcy consulting engagements involving domestic and international operations.

As managing partner of Aurora he has helped the firm expand to Charlotte, Chicago, and Cleveland.

Previously: Worked with national accounting firms 1977-1985. Left public accounting in 1985 to manage a multi-state textile manufacturer headquartered in North Carolina. Began his turnaround career in 1997, then co-founded Aurora in 2000.

Roles: CEO, CRO, COO, chairman, federal receiver, state receiver, financial adviser and adviser to official creditors’ committees

Industry Experience: Steel fabrication and stamping, tier one and tier two automotive suppliers, tool and die manufacturers, textiles, safety equipment distribution, appliance manufacturing, agriculture, construction, food service, among other industries

Specialties: Working capital management and assessments, debt reorganization, viability assessments, asset sales and acquisitions. Bankruptcy cases in more than twenty states including California, New Hampshire, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Ohio

Education/Affiliations/Awards: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – bachelor’s in accounting; also a CPA. Received two prestigious national Turnaround of the Year Awards and several regional awards.

Home Base: Lives with his family in Charlotte, N.C.

About: Laura joined Aurora Management Partners in 2013 with more than 30 years of executive management experience in finance, strategy development, operations and sales.

Previously: Assignments ranging from entrepreneurial family-owned businesses to vertically-integrated corporations with international operations.

Roles: COO, CFO, president, board of directors in both public and privately-held companies

Industry Experience: Retail, wholesale distribution, consumer product manufacturing, technology, banking

Specialties: Financing, strategy development, sales force management, international operations, operational management, real estate leasing, information technology, Strengthening financial position with positive cash flow, operationally or through divestiture of assets for maximum value.

Education/Affiliations/Awards: Graduate of Western Michigan University, distinguished alumna of the Haworth College of Business and a CPA. National Association of Corporate Directors, AICPA, ABI and TMA. Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP).

Home Base: Michigan native; now lives in Davidson, N.C. with her family

About: Bill joined Aurora in 2020 with over 30 years of bankruptcy law experience.

Previously: Managing Partner at McCarthy, Reynolds, & Penn LLC

Roles: Represented debtors and creditors, unsecured creditors committees, mediation, and served as a Chapter 11 Trustee in a variety of cases as well as a trustee for Chapter 9 cases involving hospitals.

Industry Experience: Real-estate, textile, auto dealers, trucking companies, furniture manufacturing, milling operations, metal processors, radio stations, grocery stores, hospitals and a range of other industrial and commercial industries.

Education/Affiliations/Awards: Juris Doctor degree from the University of Mississippi. Bar and Court admissions in South Carolina, Mississippi, the Federal District Court of South Carolina, the Federal District Court of Mississippi, U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Claims Court, and U.S. Tax Court.

Home Base: Resides in Columbia, South Carolina and Oxford, Mississippi with his wife.

About: Tim joined Aurora in 2019 as Senior Managing Director leading its Midwest practice with over 30 years-experience in accounting, finance, operations, strategic planning, M & A, and crisis management.

Previously: 20 years as Managing Director with two international advisory firms serving generational family businesses, private equity, publicly traded corporations, fortune 500 companies, secured lenders, creditors, and customers.

Roles: Financial adviser (in and out of Chapter 11), CRO, CFO, COO, lead negotiator, board member / advisor, court appointed trustee, and expert witness.

Industry Experience: International manufacturing, automotive and heavy truck suppliers and OEMs, consumer products, transportation, construction, food and agriculture, mobile telecommunications, aerospace / defense, steel production and fabrication, foundries, warehouse and distribution, franchisors, high tech manufacturing and B2B services.

Specialties: Performance / cash flow / liquidity improvement, crisis management, strategic alternatives, Chapter 11 and cross border insolvency, negotiations, valuations, expert witness, secured lender representation, supply risk management.

Education/Affiliations/Awards: Bachelors of Business (Accounting) Western Illinois University, Certified Turnaround Professional, Registered CPA (Illinois), member of TMA, CFA, ABI, past member of AICPA, ILCPA CFMA.

Home Base: Tim and his family reside in Sugar Grove, IL.

About: Greg joined Aurora in March of 2016 with a background in financial services. Greg has spent a decade in the financial services industries, inclusive of his time with Aurora.

Previously: Audit Senior at Deloitte & Touche in Atlanta, Ga working in the consumer products and real estate practices. Greg worked with clients in financial services, natural resources, and consumer discretionaries. Greg also served clients also in the technology space in the early stages of cloud computing.

Roles: Greg’s experience includes crisis management consulting not limited to, debtor side due diligence, financial advisory, and business management in various stages of bankruptcy, restructuring, and liquidation. Greg has worked as a Deputy Federal Receiver, Debtor and Creditor side roles in both Chapter 11/7 bankruptcies and has also held roles as Director of Financial Reporting, Interim CFO, Controller, and Financial Advisor.

Industry Experience: Industry experience includes Oil & Gas, both in production and oilfield services roles, life sciences, timber, home products, and consumer discretionaries with gross revenues between $5 Million and $400 Million.

Specialties: Crisis management inclusive of both financial and operational advisory, Liquidity and Cash Flow Management, Financial Forecasting, Court Reporting, Due Diligence, Business Advisory Services, SEC Reporting, and Federal Receiverships.

Education/Affiliations/Awards: Greg received his Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Clemson University and a Master’s degree in Accounting from Wake Forest University. Greg is an active member of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), and the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG). He has also achieved the Certified Turnaround Analyst (CTA) designation through the TMA.

Home Base: Greg lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, Christi, and two dogs. Greg also spends considerable time in Denver, Colorado throughout the year.

What has your experience with Aurora been like since joining?
Fast paced. In a role where the difference between action today and tomorrow can mean making payroll, we have to agile. This is one of the reasons I love working in turnarounds. There is never a dull moment.

What do you like most about Aurora?
I like the ability to make tangible changes for the benefit of stakeholders of the businesses with whom we are engaged. I find it particularly fulfilling when I can bring a thought process to a client that will allow achievement of their goals through a different lens than they have considered in the past and use that collaboration to achieve goals.

How did you get involved within this Industry?
I grew in a furniture/hosiery town during the changes brought about by the implementation of NAFTA. I watched a number of businesses and families, including my own, go through the turmoil brought about by the loss of their livelihood. I feel that it is my obligation to help those with similar experiences to navigate the struggles of distressed businesses.

For someone starting out in the industry, what advice would you give? While it is important to maintain a playbook, never assume that any work will follow an exact process. The key to a successful turnaround is navigating the seemingly endless variables that come on a daily basis.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work? Having grown up a ski racer, Greg is still an avid skier, and has chased powder conditions across the world. He also enjoys golfing, bird hunting, and spending time with his wife and dogs. Greg is also an avid reader, particularly of World War II historical accounts.

About: Joined Aurora in August 2017

Previously: Manager at a Big 4 accounting firm, 7 years of client service experience, and has served both private and public companies within the real estate, financial services, manufacturing, technology, and not-for-profit industries.

Roles: Professional experience includes financial management and operational advisory services to both public and private companies through their out-of-court restructurings, bankruptcy contingency planning and reorganizations, interim management engagements, and federal receivership processes.  Positions held include CFO, Director of Financial Reporting/Controller, Consultant/Financial Advisor.

Industry Experience: Industry experience includes automotive, aluminum and copper, life sciences, oil and gas, and restaurant and hospitality whose gross annual revenues ranged from $10 million to $1 billion.

Specialties: Corporate and Stakeholder Advisory, Crisis Management, Cash Flow Management, Due Diligence Advisory, Financial Reporting, Technical Accounting and SEC Services, Pre-and Post-Bankruptcy Planning, Federal Receivership

Education/Affiliations/Awards: Attended the University of Florida where he attained both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Accounting from the Fisher School of Accounting. Dossey is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and an active member of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), including TMA NextGen, and the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI). He is also a Certified Turnaround Analyst (CTA) through the TMA.

Home Base: Matt resides in Tampa, FL with his wife and dog. He splits his time between Tampa and the Atlanta office.

About: John joined Aurora in early 2019 with over 20 years of management, strategy, turnaround and restructuring experience, primarily for middle market organizations.

Previously: Prior to joining Aurora, John was a partner in a Charlotte based turnaround firm. Before that, he was President of Norelli & Company, a middle market strategy and management consulting firm. He began his career with predecessors to Wells Fargo and Bank of America, where he held professional and management positions in commercial banking, private banking and portfolio administration.

Roles: Consultant, advisor, expert witness, court appointed receiver, chief financial officer, chief restructuring officer, chief operating officer and chief executive officer for multiple firms in diverse industries. He has led and developed business initiatives for public and privately held organizations.

Industry Experience: Building materials, chemicals, contracting, consumer products, entertainment, textiles, manufacturing, machinery & equipment, electronics, trucking, professional services, financial services, environmental services, non-profits, utilities, meat processing, health care, retail, restaurants, and real estate.

Specialties: Advisory and interim management roles in transition, turnaround, workout and crisis situations. Evaluates, develops, and implements solutions to address problems and opportunities with operations, liquidity & capital constraints, financial strategy, business strategy, and corporate governance/stakeholder issues.

Education/Affiliations: John received his BA in American History from Washington & Lee University and his MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia. He has been awarded the CTP designation from the Association of Certified Turnaround Professionals, is the Past President of the Carolinas Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association and a former member of the Board for TMA International. He is also a member the Secured Finance Network, the American Bankruptcy Association, and the Association for Corporate Growth.

Home Base: Lives with his family in Charlotte, NC

About: Phil is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Turnaround Associate who joined Aurora in 2019 after building a consulting practice assisting companies with turnaround activities, financial leadership, strategic planning, process optimization and regulatory compliance.

Previously: Phil’s diverse experience includes roles in public accounting, internal audit and process improvement with privately and publicly held companies, and financial leadership with companies across industries.

Roles: CFO, Director of Finance, Audit Director, Senior Consultant and Advisor working closely with Board of Directors, Audit Committees, C-level Executives and financial management personnel.

Industry Experience: Manufacturing, construction, real estate, consumer products, retail, communications, hospitality and private clubs with annual revenues ranging from $5 million to $10 billion.

Specialties: Strategic planning and management, turnaround strategies development and implementation, enterprise risk management, operational and financial process optimization, crisis management, liquidity strategies, internal control optimization, regulatory compliance.

Education/Affiliations/Awards: University of Dayton – Bachelor of Business Administration; Certified Public Accountant; Ohio Society of CPAs; Certified Turnaround Associate- Turnaround Management Association; Treasurer – The Cleveland Yachting Club; Leadership Committee – Boy Scouts of America Troop 380; Leadership Committee – Boy Scouts of America Pack 3390; Board Member- Turnaround Management Association Northern Ohio Chapter.

Home Base: Phil and his family live in Bath, Ohio.

About: Joined Aurora in June 2017.

Previously: Assurance manager at a regional public accounting firm with 6 years of client service experience, serving both private and public companies within the financial services, manufacturing, and distribution industries.

Roles: Professional experience includes financial management and operational advisory services to companies as part of their out-of-court restructurings and reorganizations. Served on engagement teams functioning as interim management, financial adviser, and chief restructuring officer.

Industry Experience: Food and beverage, real estate, transportation, metal fabrication, consumer wholesale and distribution, and equipment sales and maintenance services.

Specialties: Financial performance / cash flow / liquidity improvement, crisis management, strategic alternative evaluation, cost accounting, profitability analysis and technical accounting.

Education/Affiliations/Awards: Attended Clemson where he attained both a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management and Master of Professional Accounting. Che is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and an active member of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), including TMA NextGen. He is also a Certified Turnaround Analyst (CTA) through the TMA.

Home Base: Che and his family reside in Charlotte, NC.

What has your experience with Aurora been like since joining?

My experience with Aurora has been both engaging and fulfilling. The wide variety of client industries and types of cases have provided multiple opportunities to develop and expand my knowledge as a turnaround professional. Additionally, working with fellow colleagues to help our clients navigate business disruptions has been an incredibly rewarding experience.

What do you like most about Aurora?

The nature of the turnaround lends itself to intense situations and difficult decisions. My colleagues at Aurora demonstrated early and often that regardless of the situation encountered while working through the multitude of challenges on each turnaround engagement, there is no right way to do the wrong thing. Maintaining integrity with our clients and their stakeholders is imperative to being successful, and it is reassuring to be surrounded by a quality group of professionals that share that same view.

How did you get involved within this Industry?

After a long stint in public accounting, an old friend presented the opportunity for a career shift into turnaround consulting. The uniqueness of the opportunity, to both expand my experience and provide value to clients as they navigate complex restructuring situations, was a key factor that lead me into the industry.

What have been some of your more important or gratifying engagements?

My most gratifying engagements have been interim management roles to companies experiencing significant disruptions in which the companies were able to continue as a going concern. There is an incredible sense of gratification that comes from working to a solution that aligns the goals of all a company’s stakeholders, and to see that business continue operations.

For someone starting out in the industry, what advice would you give?

The circumstances and situations encountered during a turnaround will be unlike any prior experience and will vary from case to case. Approach every situation with an open mind, think rationally and trust your intuition.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

In my free time, I can be found spending quality time at home with my wife, socializing with friends on the golf course, enjoying the outdoors while hunting or shooting, and cheering on my Clemson Tigers.

About: Travis joined Aurora in 2018.

Previously: He has worked in client service for over 7 years, starting within the Audit practice of a Big Four accounting firm. Travis has worked with private and public companies, with significant experience in energy, manufacturing, real estate and financial services.

Roles: Financial Advisor, Interim CFO, Controller and Deputy CRO to multiple clients in diverse industries. He has served in a variety of positions focusing on out-of-court restructuring and bankruptcy reorganization in financially distressed situations.

Industry Experience: Energy, manufacturing, precious metals, municipalities, automotive and real estate, with annual revenues ranging from $10 million to $1 billion.

Specialties: Cash flow management, financial reporting and advisory, pre- and post-bankruptcy planning, operational advisory, technical accounting and reorganizational strategy.

Education/Affiliations/Awards: Attended the University of Georgia where he attained both a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Accountancy from the Terry College of Business. Travis is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and an active member of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) in both Georgia and Alabama. He is also a Certified Turnaround Analyst (CTA) through the TMA.

Home Base: Travis resides in Atlanta, GA with his family.

What has your experience with Aurora been like since joining?

My experience with Aurora has been intriguing and challenging given the wide range of client experiences and the fast-paced nature of the industry. I have had the opportunity to work in several different industries and types of cases, and these different opportunities have built on each other as I develop my skills as a turnaround professional.

What do you like most about Aurora?

Aurora is dedicated to professionalism and quality, which makes me proud to be a part of this team. Through the variety of client situations, our leadership team has demonstrated a commitment to quality that has carried through to the entire company. Additionally, we have a strong group of like-minded consultants that have proven themselves in their careers and want to build on each other’s successes. Each member of our team has their own skillset, and through working with different groups the collaboration has helped to develop our own understandings and to provide the best solutions for our clients.

How did you get involved within this Industry?

As a CPA, I previously worked with mid to large sized companies in external audit and developed professional relationships that led me to Aurora. I decided to switch to turnaround consulting after learning more about the industry and the opportunities to gain management experience and to provide consistent value to clients through problem solving and understanding of complex restructuring situations.

What have been some of your more important or gratifying engagements?

My most gratifying engagements have been those where Aurora stepped in to run a business and fought to keep the operations intact. We were engaged in a role with many employees counting on us to keep them employed. We were able to create positive net income and keep the employees in a job. This was an incredible experience in developing management skills both relating to making the business decisions necessary to elevate financial performance and the soft skills needed to improve morale and keep operations running smoothly.

For someone starting out in the industry, what advice would you give?

The turnaround industry moves quickly, and no two cases are the same. In order to succeed, you must be prepared mentally to adapt to new circumstances and to make strong and timely decisions.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

In my free time, I enjoy helping out around the house with my wife and dog, playing golf with the guys, and traveling down to Athens to catch a UGA football game.

About: Certified Public Accountant who joined Aurora in 2020.

Previously: Manager at Deloitte, with 6 years of client service experience working in the audit and assurance practice primarily focused on manufacturing along with consumer and industrial products.

Roles: Federal Receiver, Financial Advisor, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, Audit & Assurance Manager, Turnaround Consultant.

Industry Experience: Manufacturing, consumer products, retail, and agriculture.

Specialties: Strategic planning and management, turnaround strategies development and implementation, operational and financial process optimization, crisis management, liquidity strategies, internal control optimization, regulatory compliance.

Education/Affiliations/Awards: Undergraduate and Masters degree from the University of Georgia; Certified public accountant

Home Base: Born and raised in Atlanta, where he currently resides with his wife.

What has your experience with Aurora been like since joining? Since joining Aurora in 2020, Blake has worked on engagements as Federal Receiver and Financial Advisor. As Federal Receiver of a $30+ million company, he managed day-to-day operations including everything from financial statements to procurement to the production process. As Federal Receiver on another engagement, he revamped inventory and prepared a greenhouse facility for an eight-figure sale.

What do you like most about Aurora? The culture and exposure. Aurora is built around strong leadership at the top with a work hard, play hard type atmosphere. The work is challenging, leadership-driven, and gives one the ability to interact and make decisions as part of upper management roles.

How did you get involved within this Industry? It all happened by chance! One connection led to another and the next thing I know Aurora Management Partners was in the mix. The turnaround industry was extremely appealing to me given my extensive background in the accounting and finance world.

What have been some of your more important or gratifying engagements? I would have to say Federal Receiverships where we take control of the company with the objective being stabilization, evaluation, and planning to successfully accomplish the goal at hand of either turning around the company, selling or salvaging. High level that is the goal, which leads to vast knowledge and understanding of the company, operations, and industry in general.

For someone starting out in the industry, what advice would you give? Work hard and be a sponge. Every opportunity is unique, and you never know how you can apply it to your future down the road. Absorb as much as you can and make the most of the opportunity at hand.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work? I have been known to stay up all night watching the Braves in the World Series only to catch a 6 AM flight for a client. Outside of baseball, I enjoy football and golf as well as spending time with friends and family.

About: Andrew joined Aurora in March 2022.

Previously: Consultant at Cohen & Co in Cleveland, OH, with two years of client service experience including financial and operational advisory engagements.

Roles: Andrew’s experience includes crisis management consulting roles ranging from Financial Advisor on both debtor and creditor engagements, Turnaround Consultant, and Deputy CRO.

Industry Experience: Industry experience includes manufacturing, retail, automotive, consumer products, healthcare, non-profit, franchisors, and financial services with gross revenues $5M to $2.5B.

Specialties: Liquidity & cash flow management, financial forecasting, crisis management, operational advisory, due diligence.

Education/Affiliations/Awards: Andrew attended Stanford University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics and was a member of the football team. Andrew is an active member in the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) where he is working to obtain his CTA.

Home Base: Tampa, FL

What has your experience with Aurora been like since joining? Challenging, yet rewarding. Since joining Aurora, I have been forced to step out of my comfort zone and face new challenges, learn new skills, and push my limits professionally. Outside of this, it has been great to be able to develop my professional network at a number of networking events and firm outings.

What do you like most about Aurora? What I like most about Aurora is the culture. From early on, the importance of integrity is talked about and countless times I have seen why Aurora has the reputation it does in the industry. In addition to this, the emphasis that is placed on development as a young professional has been incredible, and one that you do not find at every firm. I am proud to be a part of the team and look forward to continuing my growth as a professional at Aurora.

How did you get involved within this Industry? I started in consulting out of college, where I was able to develop the skills to transition to turnaround and restructuring. I was connected to the firm while living in Cleveland, and recently transitioned to our Tampa, FL office.

What have been some of your more important or gratifying engagements? Born and raised in the rust belt, I have really come to enjoy the manufacturing and automotive space. I have had the chance to work with several tier 1 automotive suppliers, where the relationship with OEMs poses unique and interesting challenges that you don’t come across in other industries.

For Someone starting out in the industry, what advice would you give? Every day is going to pose a new obstacle. Rely on your past experiences and skill set but be ready to adapt at a moment’s notice to a new challenge that you haven’t seen before. Trust your instincts, make confident decisions, and treat every day as a learning opportunity.

 What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work? Outside of the office, you can find me traveling with family and friends, skiing, golfing, or enjoying a day out on the boat.

About: Certified Public Accountant who joined Aurora in 2022.

Previously: Senior at Ernst and Young, with four years of experience working in assurance and financial accounting advisory services primarily focused on mergers and acquisitions.

Roles: Nick’s Experience includes crisis management consulting roles ranging from Financial Advisor on debtor engagements, Turnaround Consultant, and Deputy CRO.

Industry Experience: Industry experience includes manufacturing, retail, healthcare, non-profit, franchisors, and services.

Specialties: Technical accounting, liquidity & cash flow management, financial forecasting, crisis management, operational advisory, due diligence.

Education/Affiliations/Awards: Nick attended the University of Georgia where he attained both a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Accountancy from the Terry College of Business. Nick is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and an active member of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), where he is working to obtain his Certified Turnaround Analyst (CTA) certification.

Home Base: Atlanta, Ga

What has your experience with Aurora been like since joining? Since joining Aurora, I have had an amazing experience and opportunity to gain exposure to the wholistic picture of how companies operate financially and operationally. I have been presented the opportunity to oversee and improve the accounting and treasury processes and provide insight on areas of improvement.

What do you like most about Aurora? The culture that Aurora portrays is by far my favorite aspect of the company. From the moment I joined the firm I was treated as a valued team member and have developed great relationships with my coworkers. Additionally, I enjoy that the industry provides opportunities that are challenging and gives one the ability to interact and make decisions as part of upper management roles.

How did you get involved within this Industry? I became involved in the restructuring industry by staying connected with peers that have transitioned from public accounting into this industry. I enjoyed being involved in mergers and acquisitions but decided that I wanted to become more exposed to the day-to-day operations and management of companies, which is what the turnaround industry provides.

What have been some of your more important or gratifying engagements? My most gratifying engagement has been filling the role as interim management to a company experiencing a unique situation causing a significant disruption to operations and their financial position. This was an incredible experience because it allowed me to develop management skills relating to making the business decisions necessary to elevate financial performance.

For Someone starting out in the industry, what advice would you give? Work hard and be able to adapt to situations changing at any moment. Every engagement is going to be unique, and you must be quick on your feet to react to new information that might alter the current path being taken. Lastly, absorb as much as you can and make the most of the opportunity at hand.

 What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work? In my free time I enjoy playing golf, grilling out and being on the boat with friends and family.