Professionals

Lawrence Perkins, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SierraConstellation Partners (SCP), has more than 25 years of management consulting and advisory experience with companies undergoing transition. Lawrence has led complicated projects for numerous companies as an interim leader, financial advisor, and strategic partner.

Lawrence has served in a variety of senior-level positions, including Interim CEO/President, Chief Restructuring Officer, Board of Directors Member, Financial Advisor, and Strategic Consultant to numerous middle-market companies and is particularly skilled at assisting clients through bet-the-company situations.

Prior to founding SCP, Lawrence was a Senior Managing Director and regional leader of a national consulting firm where he was responsible for business development, marketing, staffing, and general management of the firm’s western region. Lawrence joined the firm in 2010 when it acquired El Molino Advisors, a company he founded in January 2007 and led as the CEO.

Lawrence began his career in the strategic consulting group of Arthur Andersen after graduating from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. He is currently on the board of several non-profits and multiple corporate boards and is a member of the Young Presidents Organization.

Lawrence is the author of the Amazon bestseller Don’t Be A Stranger, where he explores the secrets of strategic relationship building. He provides personal advice on how to create luck in business by offering techniques that can ultimately help readers develop their own enriching community.

In 2023, Lawrence received the Global M&A Network’s Top 100 Restructuring Professionals’ “Distinction in Dealmaking” Award, while SCP received their coveted Boutique Turnaround Consulting Firm of the Year Award as well.

Additionally, Lawrence has led deal teams that have been recognized by top-tiered industry organizations, including:

Global M&A Network’s 15^th Annual Turnaround Atlas Award, Chapter 11 Restructuring of the Year for NewAge, 2023
The M&A Advisor’s 17^th Annual Turnaround Award for the Sec. 363 Sale of The One in Bel Air, 2023
Global M&A Network’s 14^th Annual Turnaround Atlas Awards, Private Equity Acq Deal of the Year for Metco Landscape, 2022
The 15th Annual M&A Advisor’s Turnaround Award under the category of ‘Information Technology Deal of the Year’ for Wave Computing, 2021
The M&A Advisor’s 15^th Annual Turnaround Award, Information Technology Deal of the Year for Wave Computing, Inc., 2021
The M&A Advisor’s 12^th Annual Turnaround Distressed M&A Deal of the Year for the Chapter 11 Sale of Katy Industries, 2017

Served as CRO to a publicly traded multi-level marketing company focused on the health and wellness industry. Was responsible for stabilizing operations, addressing a number of pending government investigations, and preserving liquidity to assess strategic alternatives. Led the divestiture and monetization of a non-core operation and worked with an international investment bank to run a successful sale process via Chapter 11, allowing the company to continue as a going concern .
Served as CRO to a publicly traded pharmaceutical company focused on testosterone replacement therapy. The company faced liquidity issues following a slow product launch hindered by the COVID pandemic. Worked with the company to preserve cash and facilitate a successful sale process led by an international investment bank.
CRO team lead for Wave Computing, Inc. Chapter 11 reorganization. Debtor is a Silicon Valley-based fabless semiconductor and AI technology company that owns MIPS IP core technology. Successfully orchestrated a plan of reorganization that provided liquidity for new product growth while satisfying allowed creditor claims.
Financial advisor to a contemporary fashion brand in $150 million recapitalization and out-of-court restructuring. Developed and implemented cash management solution to allow Company to negotiate forbearance with existing senior secured lender and manage through liquidity shortfall.
Served as financial advisor to an international manufacturer/designer of apparel under several different brands that sold through wholesale, company retail stores, and a proprietary e-commerce platform. Worked to maximize working capital and provide adequate runway to guide a private out-of-court restructuring and inject capital into the Company to further execute the turnaround plan.
Served as interim CEO and CRO to a publicly traded industrial products company with operations throughout the United States. Was responsible for stabilizing operations, identifying strategic alternatives, and ultimately executing the restructuring of the Company. Successfully identified the ultimate buyer and helped negotiate and structure the transaction with the assistance of an international investment bank.
Served as interim management to a venture-backed solar system designer and installer. Worked with the board and CEO to support the successful transaction to a strategic competitor through an out-of-court restructuring.
Served as CRO to a consumer product manufacturing company, where he was responsible for operating the business through the restructuring that ultimately yielded a return to investors 300% greater than originally anticipated through the sale of the business.
Served as CRO to a chain of skilled nursing facilities throughout California that successfully divested its operations to strategic buyers through a second restructuring after it was determined that the first restructuring of the Company was not plausible.
Served as financial advisor to a $120 million privately held telecom provider, where he managed day-to-day operations and augmented management through the sale process.

Media

Awards

Served as CEO and CRO of a publicly traded, United States-based cannabis company with 29 retail stores and 6 cultivation facilities and was later appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Focused on day-to-day operations, cash flow, and rebuilding relationships with key stakeholders, vendors, and communities. Secured ~$170mm in total new financing alongside restructuring of primary senior debt facility and eliminating senior debt through M&A transaction and transforming working capital issues. Reduced in cash rent impact of $12mm+ and improved the retail EBITDA by ~$140mm annualized adjusted over six quarters.
Served as Interim CEO and Interim CFO of a $700mm revenue, 300+ store national retail chain with over 30% market share in the bridal wedding dress space. Lead the company through the transition from bankruptcy, solidifying the supply chain, and creating a re-marketed focus for the Millennial and Gen Z consumer. Stabilized the sales by restructuring the sales leadership team and implementing omnichannel policies. Achieved more than $20mm in cost savings on an annualized basis. The stabilization of the Company allowed management to raise $55mm in additional capital to fund further consumer-focused initiatives.
Served as Chairman and CEO of a publicly traded specialty retailer. Completely restructured operations including reduced SG&A by over $40mm, consolidated executive leadership, sold wholesale division, closed unprofitable Philippine factory, and maintained strong trade support for the entire period of the restructuring. Ended up selling the company to a NYC based PE Firm.
Served as interim CEO of a Los Angeles based digital media company. Developed and implemented the companies first revenue model and negotiated distribution arrangements. Company experienced 1 billion annual downloads of its content at the time of transition.
Served as CEO and CRO of a NYC based global hedge fund. Engaged to work with Founder during the peak of the credit crisis. Fund held positions from USA to sub–Saharan Africa with offices in London, Mumbai, Hong Kong and NYC.

Rebecca Waits, Chief People Officer and Talent & Culture Practice lead at SierraConstellation Partners, has over 20 years of experience in talent management, culture and engagement and training/development, as well as a vast knowledge of executive-level planning in overall employee experiences. She focuses on organizational design, talent development and driving employee engagement.

As Chief People Officer, she is focused on building a world-class culture at SCP by successfully implementing strategic and innovative people solutions. Rebecca also supports business growth and transformation through developing programs to secure retention, diversity and inclusion, professional development and training, management and leadership coaching, employee relations and compliance.

As SCP’s Talent & Culture Practice lead, Rebecca focuses on helping clients with organizational development, leadership transitions and coaching, integrations, risk and HR compliance, talent acquisition and workforce planning, and talent data intelligence. She possesses an innate ability to translate complexities and uncertainties of the ever-changing work environment into actionable insights and innovative opportunities for high growth companies and their people.

Prior to SCP, Rebecca has held various, progressive HR and leadership positions within professional services companies (PR, digital marketing and Big 5 consulting firms) which has given her the opportunity to understand different industries and sectors. Most recently Rebecca was the Chief People & Culture Officer at PMK-BNC where she oversaw the employee experience, leading all agency best practices and programs.

Additionally, Rebecca thrives on being a mentor to other women. Rebecca is a former member of the Women’s Leadership Council in Los Angeles. Formerly, she was Chair of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Interpublic Group Women’s Leadership Network which is an empowered IPG-wide organization that promotes the advancement, retention and recruitment of women. In 2017, Rebecca was on Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women of Influence list and one of Century City’s Women of Achievement.

Rebecca is originally from Georgia where she studied art at Reinhardt College. Rebecca contributes to the community by volunteering and pro bono work at various non-profit organizations in and around Los Angeles. Rebecca also sits on the Advisory Board for the University of California Riverside’s Design Thinking Executive Program. Rebecca currently resides in Florida.

Served as CRO of GDC Technics, a Fort Worth aerospace company focused on complex interior modifications and connectivity solutions for wide-body aircraft. SCP helped the client navigate a contentious bankruptcy process during which it completed an expedited transition into two new lines of business, settled a major lawsuit with a former contract counterparty, and sourced exit financing from a sponsor-backed customer that supported its post-emergence business plan.
Served as Interim Management for a Dallas-based distributor of fuel and lubricants. The client faced significant pressure from fluctuating commodity prices, customer concentration in oilfield service clients, and a thinly-staffed central management team. SCP improved reporting and internal controls, led communications and negotiations with the client’s main vendor and asset-based lender, and assisted the sourcing and onboarding of a permanent CFO.
Served on a SCP team that was the CRO for a Silicon Valley-based digital medicine company. In addition to customary bankruptcy-related matters, oversaw an extensive IP sale and technology transfer process to a former strategic partner.
Served as Chairman of the Board of a major chauffeured transportation portfolio company. Took an operational role in efforts related to the transition from an independent operator to employee business model and related litigation in several jurisdictions, as well as a comprehensive strategic and SG&A overhaul resulting in significant EBITDA improvement.
Served as Board member and worked with investment professionals and portfolio company management team to prepare a healthcare DME company for sale under an expedited time frame and intensely competitive industry environment. Managed multi-party negotiations with the Seller’s stakeholder group and a foreign strategic buyer. The sale resulted in significant value realization in the face of rapidly deteriorating subsector dynamics.
As Chairman of a development stage medical device company, led team that overhauled the finance function as well as provided operational guidance for its commercialization efforts. Led negotiation for distribution agreement with, and ultimate sale to, a major medical device company.

Financial advisor to the board of Embark Technology, Inc, a publicly traded autonomous trucking software company sold to Applied Intuition.
Financial advisor to board and CEO team leader for IT services and solutions provider based in Canada and US.
Financial advisor to board of a data center and fiber to the home outsourced service provider.
Financial advisor to board and Trustee to Debtor in Chapter 11 of publicly traded bio-pharma company, Zosano Pharma Inc.
Financial advisor in sale of private equity backed healthcare AI driven SaaS provider JVION to health analytics company, Lightbeam.
Financial advisor to Weldmac, a steel fabrication company, in its successful sale to TriMas (NASDAQ: TRS).
CRO team leader for business services company, Metco, in accelerated private sale process.
CRO team leader for Wave Computing, Inc. Chapter 11 reorganization. Debtor is a Silicon Valley based fabless semiconductor and AI technology company that owns MIPS IP core technology. Successfully orchestrated a plan of reorganization that provided liquidity for new product growth, while satisfying allowed creditor claims.
As interim CFO at a private B-corporation, improved liquidity through refinancing and the securitization of $40 million capital lease financings funded by a consortium of family offices and non-bank lenders.
Served as interim CFO at renewable energy company during refinancing and entry into foreign market. Bill led the expansion of the finance and accounting departments and successfully structured and raised corporate capital and off-balance-sheet project financing.
Financial advisor to rebar fabrication and construction company.
Financial advisor to stakeholders in a discount grocery store chain.
Financial advisor to board of a data center and fiber to the home outsourced service provider.
Represented debtor in restructuring of $2 billion multinational manufacturing company with headquarters in China.
Prior member of general partnership managing $360 million portfolio of private equity investments in technology companies.

Philip Kaestle is a Managing Director at SierraConstellation Partners, where he provides financial and operational advisory services to companies in transition. He has experience with balance sheet restructurings, interim executive management, operational turnarounds, identifying strategic opportunities, debt and equity capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, financial modeling and forecasting. Philip has worked in a variety of industries, including aerospace, apparel, automotive, distribution, entertainment, food and beverage, healthcare, industrial services, manufacturing, marketing, media, real estate, restaurants, retail and software.

Philip has served in a variety of senior-level positions including Chief Restructuring Officer, Financial Advisor, Investment Banker, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Interim President and Liquidating Trustee to numerous middle-market companies and is particularly skilled at assisting clients through challenging situations.

Prior to joining SCP, Philip was an associate vice president in OneWest Bank’s Media and Entertainment Finance Group where he was responsible for structuring, underwriting and executing new senior debt transactions and recapitalizations for media and entertainment companies. He was also a senior financial analyst in OneWest Bank’s Commercial Real Estate Group, responsible for managing and liquidating non-performing real estate assets.

Before joining OneWest Bank, Philip was an associate at Arch Bay Capital, a Southern California-based real estate investment fund. He started his career as an investment banking analyst with Imperial Capital, LLC in Los Angeles.

In 2020, Philip received the M&A Advisor’s Emerging Leader Award, which recognizes leading M&A, financial and turnaround professionals who have reached a significant level of success while still under the age of 40. In 2022, Philip was named to the Turnaround Management Association Northwest Chapter Board of Directors.

Philip holds a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Economics from Claremont McKenna College and is one of the co-leaders of the Claremont McKenna College Seattle Alumni Chapter.

Advised on numerous distressed M&A transactions in the gaming space, including casinos owned by Trump Entertainment Resorts and Icahn Enterprises. Identified secular risks and quantified cost-saving opportunities to deliver prudent, balanced advice.
Devised and implemented systems and processes to better manage cash flows for multiple companies, including one of the nation’s largest operators of golf courses and one of the nation’s largest Community Development Financial Institutions.
Financed billions of dollars of corporate loans in the capacity of commercial banker and investment banker (Korea Exchange Bank, JPMorgan) by effectively understanding and conveying the value proposition and potential risks of borrowers, which ranged from industrial companies like Goodyear to tech companies like Samsung Electronics.
Developed and negotiated the restructuring plan for a major metropolitan newspaper company, significantly streamlining operations and resulting in a win-win for both the company and its lenders. The company quickly went from annual losses of $20+ million to profitable operations, and its senior lenders eventually achieved outsized returns on their loans.
Helped to shore up liquidity at what was then the nation’s largest urgent care company by identifying and addressing collections issues that had pushed the company into insolvency. The process improvements allowed for short-term funding options to which it had previously been precluded.
Restructured several energy companies, where efforts were directed toward the cost/benefit of shut-ins and hedging strategies involving complex derivative instruments. SemGroup is an example of a restructuring where strategic changes to several business units (including cross-border entities) resulted in a successful exit from Chapter 11, in which senior lenders received new debt and equity and saw the company grow from $1.5 billion of EV to an eventual sale to Energy Transfer for $5 billion.
Investor and advisor to multiple startups in various industries, including real estate, fin tech and food services. Guided product development for a growing food services company and an autonomous trading platform. Served as a strategic advisor to an AI-driven fin tech company whose valuation has grown to over $100 million.

Christian Sorensen, a Senior Director at SierraConstellation Partners, provides operational and financial restructuring and advisory services to both underperforming companies and companies in transition. He has experience with in- and out-of-court restructurings, operational turnarounds/improvement, balance sheet restructurings, debt and equity capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and conducting financial modeling and forecasting.

Christian has experience in a variety of industry verticals, including: aerospace and defense; agriculture; automotive; business services; consumer; food and beverage; healthcare; gaming, lodging and leisure; industrial and manufacturing; media and entertainment; oil and gas; restaurants; retail; technology; and transportation and logistics.

Prior to joining SCP, Christian worked at Sun Capital Partners, an operationally-focused middle-market private equity firm that invests in companies that are operationally challenged, experiencing an industry or business transition, undergoing a corporate divestiture, or managing rapid growth, with over $9 billion of capital under management. At Sun Capital Partners, Christian focused on analyzing control equity investment and divestiture transactions, and actively worked with executive management teams to drive performance improvement of portfolio companies. Prior to Sun Capital Partners, Christian worked at the investment bank Imperial Capital, where he focused on restructuring, financing, and M&A transactions.

In 2019, Christian won the M&A Advisor’s Annual Turnaround Award for Restructuring of the Year of between $25-$50 million for his work with the Cranberry Growers Cooperative.

In 2021, Christian received the M&A Advisor’s Emerging Leader Award, which recognizes leading M&A, financial and turnaround professionals who have reached a significant level of success while still under the age of 40.

Christian holds an Honors Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, where he graduated with Distinction.

Financial advisor and part of team that served as Chief Restructuring Officer to cooperative of cranberry growers, which successfully implemented a Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization. SCP's solutions identified and implemented operational changes to reduce costs by over 20% and improve production yields by over 10%, while providing secured lenders full recovery. The transaction also received a Turnaround Award by The M&A Advisor for restructuring of the year.
Financial advisor and part of team that served as Chief Restructuring Officer to agriculture and commodities company during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring. Executed an orderly sale of all inventory, monetized certain contract assets, and sold individual operating facilities via court-approved Section 363 asset sales to maximize recoveries.
Financial advisor to consumer packaging business with over $140 million of indebtedness following events of default. Developed and implemented cash management solution, identified operational changes to reduce working capital accounts and increase cash conversion, and provided strategic review of alternatives.
Financial advisor to diversified manufacturing company with prior year revenue of over $700 million, including developing plant idling plans and identifying and implementing operations changes to reduce quarterly cash burn by over $5.0 million, while achieving a successful refinancing.
Worked with leading global manufacturing company on key operational enhancement initiatives to generate over $30 million of EBITDA improvement, and sell non-core assets.
Led approximate $100 million acquisition of North American manufacturing company. Worked with executive management teams to identify cost savings and synergies across various departments to enhance EBITDA by approximately 50%.
Evaluated in- and out-of-court restructuring alternatives to maximize shareholder value for an aerospace company. Negotiated senior debt purchase, and subsequent stalking horse purchase agreement and credit bid in a Chapter 11 §363 asset sale.
Closed over $7.0 billion of restructuring, financing and M&A transactions.

John Halloran, a Senior Director at SierraConstellation Partners, provides interim management and operational and financial advisory services to underperforming companies and companies in transition. He leverages a growing track record at SCP and prior experience as a management consultant and private equity investor to help middle-market companies navigate through difficult business challenges. His experience includes exposure to various industries, such as pharmaceutical/biotechnology developers, consumer-facing brands, retailers, and distributors, media & entertainment providers, and information technology services and platforms.

John’s recent work at SCP has been recognized by industry awards, including:

In 2023, John was recognized by the Global M&A Network as an Americas “Rising Star Dealmaker,” which recognizes outstanding young dealmakers from the North and South American private equity, growth investing, lending, M&A and restructuring communities for their achievements in the space.
In 2023, John won the M&A Advisor’s Emerging Leader Award, which recognizes leading M&A, financial and turnaround professionals who have reached a significant level of success while still under the age of 40.
In 2023, John was recognized with colleagues by the Global M&A Network’s 15^th Annual Turnaround Atlas Awards for the SCP team’s leadership of NewAge, Inc. in the category of Chapter 11 Restructuring of the Year (sm).

John has completed relevant professional education including the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Insolvency & Restructuring Advisor (CIRA) designations.

Prior to joining SCP, John was an investor with Omaha Beach Capital. There, he supported management of private equity investment vehicles, with a focus on underwriting lower- and middle- market transactions. He began his career as a management consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton’s Strategic Innovation Group.

John holds a B.S. and M.S. degree in Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is an alumnus of Chaminade High School in Long Island, New York.

Financial Advisor and Deputy Chief Restructuring Officer to a commercial-stage developer of branded OTC pharmaceutical products. As a Financial Advisor, analyzed cash flow assumptions, assisted the board in evaluating strategic alternatives, and conducted out of court negotiations regarding the settlement of liabilities. As Deputy Chief Restructuring Officer, facilitated negotiations to secure a stalking horse bidder, completed a sale of the company's assets through a 363 sale, and coordinated the Chapter 11 case requirements in Delaware.
Financial Advisor and Chief Restructuring Officer Support for a national dance events producer. Completed a review of company liquidity and business plan and assisted in negotiating a capital infusion from the senior lender to bridge the company to a sale transaction after events of default. Managed the company's cash flow and implemented cash controls on behalf of CRO and Board during the sale. The company was successfully sold to a private equity buyer in an out-of-court transaction.
Chief Restructuring Officer Support for the restructuring and sale of a global, publicly traded multi-level marketer of health and wellness products. Instrumental in ensuring that the company could prepare for and meet bankruptcy case requirements despite the limited budget and timeline. Key contributor on the SCP project team in their coordination of the company's finance function during the Chapter 11 proceedings in Delaware despite significant management turnover.
Interim CEO Support to a diversified IT services and solutions provider based in Canada and US. Assisted the CEO in overseeing company operations and communications with lenders regarding the company's capital needs in connection with a potential restructuring transaction. Oversaw the cash flow forecasting and reporting process for two independent operating entities and presented regular updates on behalf of company to lender group.
Chief Restructuring Officer and Liquidating Trustee Support to a wholesale distributor of beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages where he facilitated extensive transaction diligence for its acquisition by one of the world’s largest brewing companies and assisted the Liquidating Trustee in managing the satisfaction of all company obligations during its wind down post-close.

Financial advisor to clinical-stage pharmaceutical company with $200 million of funded debt. Supported finance and accounting team with liquidity management, budget forecasts and other analyses during pre-petition sales process. Provided support to legal counsel, investment bankers and other stakeholders during negotiation of restructuring support agreement, leading to successful asset sales and orderly chapter 11 plan of liquidation. Provided testimony with respect to plan feasibility during confirmation hearing.
CRO support for multinational consumer services business. Completed four-wall and other analyses to advance marketing process. Provided support during liquidation process, including preparation of schedules/statements and other statutory reporting.
Financial advisor to pharmaceutical company in its dual-track 363 sale of pre-clinical and commercial assets. Prepared schedules/statements, monthly operating reports, liquidation and other analyses filed with the court. Worked closely with management to optimize liquidity and monitor disbursements to vendors.
CRO support for retail company and its successful sale and separation of retail and direct-to-consumer operations via chapter 11 plan of reorganization. Developed debtor-in-possession cash flow budget, providing a path to successful negotiation of plan support agreement with lenders and other stakeholders. Oversaw preparation of court-mandated reporting and liquidity management and analyses.
Investment banker to consumer products company with >$450 million of pre-petition funded debt and multi-national operations. Prepared valuation analyses for disclosure statement and worked with senior bankers to prepare court declarations and negotiated with other creditors to ensure successful debt-for-equity swap in line with restructuring support agreement.
Served as investment banker to non-debtor stakeholders in cases totaling >$20 billion of funded debt. Provided advice to official committees of unsecured creditors, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and other creditors in industries ranging from energy to media.
Aided in portfolio management of 1.1bn fund of hedge funds; providing analytics, investor communication and portfolio rebalancing/new investment recommendations.

Meet Our Seasoned Experts

Each member brings a wealth of experience and insights garnered from their tenure at these industry-leading institutions and top tier universities.

Consulting

Investment Banking

Consulting

Consulting

Investment Banking

Investment Banking

Undergrad

MBA

Undergrad

MBA

Undergrad

MBA

Lawrence Perkins

Tom Lynch

Curt Kroll

Rebecca Waits

David Bitterman

Bob Riiska

Jordan Meyers

Carl Moore

Bill Partridge

Philip Kaestle

Timothy Bossidy

Tim LeBeau

Jun Song

Jeff Showalter

William White

Christian Sorensen

Ben Smith

Roger Gorog

John Halloran

Sam Khazary

Chas Schlaack

Sean Corwen

Ahmed Shamsi

Kevin Santos

Harrison Edelman

Colin Moran

Joel Jones

Brian Masunda

Abbas Perez

Carmine Bruno

Adithya Harihara