Jade's Principals have extensive business experience in senior management positions.  The deep experience of the Jade Principals has confirmed the wisdom that the solutions to the most difficult issues are often very close to home.  Specifically, we believe that most successful organizations have many of the answers they are seeking, but they lie untapped in the minds of those who operate the business.  We believe there is significant value in gaining the perspectives of those closest to the relevant business issues, and our approach to problem resolution relies heavily on investigative interviewing.  While the specific area applications vary from business to business, the descriptions below follow a common pattern, utilizing our vast experience in identifying the key organizational issues relative to our six areas of consulting services.

DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIC PLANS

The importance of developing and implementing a good long-term strategic plan cannot be underestimated in today's competitive business environment.  If Jade is engaged to develop a  strategic plan for a client (and it has been), Jade Principals will interview a selected number of the client's employees at appropriate levels to determine their perspectives as to the strengths and weaknesses of the client and will solicit each of their views as to what needs to be done to advance the client's business.  Jade will then analyze this input data, evaluate it and develop a proposed plan with detail action steps to move the client's business forward in a structured way.  This proposed plan will be reviewed with the client's senior management team to get their comments and their "buy in" to a final plan for the client to implement. 

MANAGEMENT REORGANIZATION

Jade benefits from the experience of Paul Mooney who has had significant experience in this area.  During his eleven years at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel as CFO, he has worked through a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, a Proxy Contest, and a Takeover, as well as several Management Changes.  In most cases, severely troubled companies need experienced managers who have "been thru the mill" in reorganizations.  Jade is prepared to undertake the leadership role at a troubled company on an interim basis, advise and assist its restructuring on both a financial and operational basis and assist in recruiting a new management team.

OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS

As the economic conditions cause companies to reassess virtually all aspects of their operations, astute management will discover operational and structural inefficiencies that are negatively impacting the bottom line.  Jade's extensive experience in advising small and medium-sized companies in ways to enhance revenue, improve efficiencies in process, eliminate unnecessary costs and restructure existing financial arrangements is available to assist its clients.  Jade Principals will work with existing management to gain an understanding of the key operational issues and identify those approaches for change with the greatest potential benefit to the organization.  This work is carried out through interviews with key employees and analyses of markets, customers, pricing structures and expenses.  Once action steps leading to improvements are agreed to, Jade can assist in the implementation and monitoring of the changes being made, if the client so desires.  

IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL MERGERS AND ACQUISITON OPPORTUNITIES

Aggressive, growing businesses often take the acquisition and merger route in enhancing their business.  The efforts by Jade in this aea begin with a detailed discussion with the client's senior officials about what they are looking for in terms of line of business, size, location, etc.  Durng these discussions, the client advises us of any specific prospects in which they have an interest.  Upon completion of the interview phase, we will perform research to identify other prospects which fit the client's criteria.  We will obtain and summarize public information about the identified prospects and make an initial contact with them to attempt to arouse preliminary interest in a possible meeting and deal.  At the initial meeting we will provide the prospect with some background information about the client's firm and business.  Our work in the first phase will conclude with a report about the prospects.  Once a prospect has agreed, and should the client desire, Jade Principals can move on to a second phase in whichi we are deeply involved in the due diligence process.     

SALES AND MARKETING

Obviously, a top flight sales and marketing operation is a key aspect of any successful business.  Jade's consulting efforts in this area are focused on one or more of three areas.  First, we develop short and long-term sales and marketing plans covering the areas of pricing, advertising and promotion, products and/or services, distribution and personnel utilization.  These plans are then combined with  a proposed implementation plan and submitted to the client.  A second sales and marketing project that Jade can perform is a competitive analysis of the client's competition in terms of their pricing, product or service and distribution strategies.  This analysis usually brings to light many of the client's own strengths and weaknesses which can be improved or, in the case of weaknesses, eliminated.  The third area is sales management training.  A good sales operation begins with interviewing and hiring qualified sales personnel and progresses to training and keeping top performers who consistently exceed sales quotas.  After an analysis, Jade will recommend to its client a process for learning and implementing sales management skills, including coaching and motivating, sales forecasting and planning, sales measurements, territory development and appropriate compensation programs.

INTERIM MANAGEMENT & LIQUIDATION OF SMALLER COMPANIES

Jade Principals have experiene in developing and implementing liquidation plans directed at maximizing proceeds from the liquidation process.  Included in such plans are areas such as developing raw material and work-in-process build out programs, developing employee severance plans, controlling expenses, arranging for sales of inventories, machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures and land and buildings and, finally, arranging for the final accounting and required legal actions.  Jade has recently completed a very successful liquidation for a client which produced a financial result well in excess of the owner's initial estimates.  In addition, the liquidation process was completed in an expeditious manner, with a minimum of involvement by the client.