Black Horse Consulting & Advisory

Black Horse Consulting and Advisory provides financial, operational, restructuring, turnaround and interim management services to privately-held middle market companies and private-equity owned portfolio companies.  Strengths include: operational, organizational, sales and revenue improvement, business process optimization, customer experience management, due diligence, 13-Week Cashflow, financial modeling and contingency planning,

Partner

James Sampson Consulting

Founder and President

Burtek Enterprises Inc.

For Burtek Enterprises (a Wynnchurch Capital portfolio company) - manufacturer of highly engineered solutions for mission critical aerospace, defense and energy applications - successfully stabilized the business, built a stronger management team, resolved quality and contract concerns with major defense customers, and negotiated financial workouts with critical suppliers.

Chief Operating Officer

ASAP Industries, Inc.

ASAP Industries (then an American Capital portfolio company) provides custom machining and manufacturing services to a wide range of customers in the Oil & Gas Industry.  During my time with ASAP, I restructured and reorganized the sales, marketing, application engineering and program management organizations, producing record revenue and profitability while reducing SG&A.

Interim Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Kurz-Kasch, Inc.

Founded in 1916 in Dayton, Ohio, Kurz-Kasch (then a Monomoy Capital Partners portfolio company) is a specialty manufacturer/technology company and a leading manufacturer of highly engineered electromagnetic and engineered composite components.  Negotiated financial workout with all suppliers and two banks to ensure business viability.  Developed and implemented a revised business plan to provide financial, organizational, and commercial stability to a struggling company.  Re-engineered the manufacturing operations and re-established manufacturing performance lost during previous consolidations, reducing costs by 15%.

Chief Executive Officer

Blue Water Automotive Systems

A $195 Million USD full-service supplier of injection and blow molded interior hard trim and exterior trim plastics and tooling for OEM, Tier One and Tier Two automotive customers.  Then a KPS Capital Partners portfolio company with more than 1,400 employees, Blue Water operated seven manufacturing and product development facilities in Michigan, North Carolina and Mexico.  Blue Water filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2008.  Assumed responsibilities as President and CEO upon selection by Board of Directors, participating OEM customers (Ford, Chrysler, GM) and the U.S. Trustee amidst a contentious bankruptcy.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Responsible for all sales, engineering, program management, new product/program launches, business development and customer service activities.  Reorganized and restructured the sales, engineering and program management organizations to reduce costs while improving performance metrics as well as customer satisfaction and scorecards.  Successfully launched $20 Million USD Ford Focus Interior Trim programs, including In-Line Vehicle Sequencing, on time and within budget.  Championed and implemented dynamic enterprise-wide Product Life Management System (Arena) with configurable modules for each discipline throughout the business.

Vice President of Sales and Engineering

Cameron, Inc.

Retained by Cameron, Inc. as Managing Director of the Grove Italia operations after their acquisition of the Engineered Valves Division of Dresser, Inc.  Managed a smooth and successful transition of the business from Dresser to Cameron, Inc. while championing SAP enterprise software integration.

Interim Managing Director

Dresser, Inc. Engineered Valves Division (Grove Italia)

Two major consulting assignments during the period.  Developed competitive analysis and strategic plan for $480 Million USD engineered valve division with major brand names such as Grove Italia, Ring-O, Control Seal, Ledeen Actuation, and Tom Wheatley across 13 worldwide manufacturing operations (North America, South America, Europe Union, Asia/Pacific).  Reorganized and restructured inside sales, program management and related customer-facing organizations for flagship valve manufacturing operations ( Grove Italia, $290 Million USD revenues), residing and working in Voghera, Italy.  Successful turnaround resulted in reduced headcount, improved capacity utilization, increased revenues and bookings and the restoration of profitability.  Assumed responsibilities of Managing Director for Grove Italia operations, reporting to President of Engineered Valves Division in Houston, Texas.  Participated in activities associated with the sale of the division to competitor Cameron, Inc.

Executive Management Consultant - Change Management

Microheat, Inc.

Based in Netanya, Israel and Farmington Hills, Michigan.  Assisted Microheat in resolving new product design and manufacturing challenges with its key product (HotShot), a revolutionary, intelligent car washer fluid heating system and bringing it to market. Hired and managed initial sales and marketing organization.  Introduced HotShot product to General Motors and Chrysler, successfully securing Tier One supplier status for product with GM.

As of March 2024, I'm actively seeking leadership and turnaround opportunities (President, COO, or VP roles) on a full-time or consulting basis.

I excel in high-pressure environments, driving transformations, and achieving strategic objectives. With a track record in organizational turnarounds, financial restructuring, and successful team leadership, I bring a results-driven approach to every challenge.

My expertise extends to private equity collaborations, encompassing change management, distressed business improvement, and navigating M&A scenarios. I am also a sought-after Executive and Leadership Coach, guiding senior managers and C-Level Executives to achieve their goals.

Let's connect if you're in search of a dynamic leader who can elevate your organization and drive lasting success.

“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” - Tony Robbins


“Mr. Destiny” seems to want to be a modern-day “It’s A Wonderful Life”.  In the 1990 movie, Jim Belushi stars as Larry Burrows, unhappy and feeling powerless over his life, who meets a mysterious character named Mike (Michael Caine) who helps him experience what his life might have been like if he hadn’t struck out in a crucial championship game - what Larry long believed was the turning point in his young life.

In one brief, memorable moment in the film, Mike explains to Larry the interconnectedness of life’s decisions, their impact on future outcomes and the subtlety of destiny.

Have you ever found yourself pondering life's twists and turns, wondering how you ended up where you are? It's like standing at a crossroads, contemplating the paths taken and the ones left unexplored. 

It can be difficult to appreciate when facing that crossroads that all of us are exactly where we should be in life, all thanks to the decisions we’ve made up to that point.

You are, we all are - right now - living the life of our own choosing.  Whether you choose to believe that or not.

Whenever you might find yourself facing that crossroads, maybe feeling frustrated with where you’re standing in that moment, remember this: while we can't rewrite the past, we hold the pen to script the future. 

Armed with the wisdom of hindsight and a dash of optimism, we have the power to course-correct and steer our lives in the direction of our dreams.

So instead of dwelling on the could-haves and should-haves, let's focus on the could-bes and the maybes, the possibilities that lie ahead. Let's make choices that resonate with our hearts and hopes, that lead us closer to the life we envision for ourselves.

My message today is a simple one: let us not dwell on the roads not taken or the missteps of yesteryears. Instead, let us embrace the power of decisions - their ability to shape our destiny and carve a path to a brighter tomorrow.


#success
#decisionmaking
#destiny
﻿

James Sampson

Open video: Mr Destiny (1990) - How your decisions change your life! on youtu.be

https://youtu.be/UTZSB3LM3DQ?si=aZww4KBzSCRgHGel

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