Patrick O'KeefeChief Executive OfficerMr. O’Keefe is recognized as an expert in the fields of strategic advisory services, corporate reorganization, debt restructuring, turnaround consulting, refinancing solutions, due diligence support, valuation and litigation support. Mr. O’Keefe has been approved by the U.S. Department of Justice to act as a Chapter 11 trustee and has performed as a court-appointed receiver for numerous operating companies. For over 30 years, Mr. O’Keefe has been active as a financial consultant and turnaround advisor to under-performing businesses in various industries including, retail, construction, automotive, manufacturing, and real estate, and has successfully completed assignments in out-of-court and Chapter 11 restructurings. He is an advisor to financial institutions in complex workouts and asset recovery strategies. Mr. O’Keefe is also the CEO of Glycadia, a diabetes research company, and Founder and CEO of O’Keefe, LLC a business consulting firm.
Mr. O’Keefe is qualified in the area of litigation support services and has been accepted as an expert in federal and state court matters involving lost profits, valuation, and economic damages. He is one of a handful of experts recognized by the Institute of Business Appraisers as a business valuator accredited in litigation.
Mr. O’Keefe is a member of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA), and National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA).
Mr. O’Keefe is a past President of the Detroit Athletic Club and a past President of the Detroit Chapter of the TMA including several years of service on the International Board. He recently served on the Board of Directors for First Independence Bank, Advisory Council for M&A Advisor and is a member emeritus for the Michigan State University’s Department of Accounting and Information Systems. He is a past advisory board member of the University of Detroit Turnaround Management Program, Cleary University, and Oakland University’s Finance and Accounting Department.
Mr. O’Keefe was recently inducted into M&A Advisor’s Hall of Fame which recognizes extraordinary industry stalwarts. In December 2018, he was named the recipient of the Executive of the Year Award by The Detroit Executives Association, and received the 2018 M&A Advisor Leadership Award for his contribution to the bankruptcy and restructuring industry. Also in 2018 and 2019, Mr. O’Keefe was named Detroit 500 as one of the most influential businessmen in Detroit by DBusiness.
In 2017, he received Deal Professional of the Year by the M&A Advisor. Some of his past awards include, but are not limited to, the Outstanding Individual Contribution Award by the TMA, the Cleary Business Medal of Honor as an outstanding businessman, and the Small Business Administration’s Financial Services Champion of the Year Award presented by former Governor Jennifer Granholm.
Under Mr. O’Keefe’s direction, his firm has been recognized for three years in a row by Michigan Lawyers Weekly for the Best Litigation Consulting Services and 2019 Best Forensic Accounting Services, the M&A Advisor as Turnaround Consulting Firm of the Year, the M&A Global Network as Boutique Turnaround Consulting Firm of the Year, and was awarded Turnaround of the Year-Middle Market by the M&A Advisor and TMA. Irish America recognized Mr. O’Keefe as one of the top 100 businessmen in 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2018.Read More/Less
Peggy CumminsChief Credit OfficerPeggy Cummins has over 39 years of experience in commercial banking, with emphasis in Asset Based Lending and Workout. She began her career at Comerica Bank in Detroit, Michigan. Over her 23 years at Comerica she held lending, credit and market management positions in asset based and middle market lending. In 2005, she moved to Citizens Republic Bank (now Huntington Bank) where she spent three years as a senior vice president managing a middle market lending group; in 2008, she assumed the role of SVP Special Assets to manage a team of commercial workout bankers to assist the Bank in exiting over $1 billion of distressed commercial credits. In 2015, Peggy joined a group of former Citizens Republic Bank colleagues to create a specialty finance unit—WNB Specialty Finance, a division of Woodforest National Bank. Peggy held the position of Senior Managing Director/Senior Credit Officer and was responsible for developing policies and procedures for the specialty finance business lines (asset based lending, leveraged lending, and equipment finance), managing the underwriting process and credit approval, regulatory examinations and reporting, and workout functions of the division. The business unit grew to $550 million of loans outstanding as of 12/31/18; in February 2019 the division was sold at a gain for the Bank. Following the sale, Peggy retired from the banking industry and formed Four C’s Advisors, LLC to provide financial advisory services to banks and distressed companies. Through Four C’s Advisors, Peggy has worked on various contracts including serving as financial advisor for the court-appointed receiver of a $125M automotive supplier. Peggy’s responsibilities included preparing all cash and projection models, communication with all secured creditors, overseeing the daily accounting and finance functions undertaken by the CFO and accounting staff, identifying and reviewing progress of auctioneers, and distribution of funds to secured creditors. Other contracts have included assisting financial institutions with credit training, structuring workout strategies, reviewing credit policy/ practices/procedures of specialty finance and workout divisions, and developing underwriting practices and manuals.
Peggy is a member of the Turnaround Management Association, a member of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), and a member of the Secured Finance Network. She also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Angela Hospice, a leading not-for-profit hospice care provider serving over 2,500 patients annually in Southeast Michigan.
Peggy received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 1982 from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Management in 1993 from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor).Read More/LessKeith ChulumovichChief Operating OfficerMr. Chulumovich is an accomplished finance leader focused on strategic and operations planning, executing against financial goals, business analysis and financial reporting, process improvement, and financial services. Keith’s breadth of industry experience includes leasing, manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, and real estate. He is experienced at working for private equity and in both large public and high growth privately held companies and has expertise in international companies (UK, MX, AUS, CA), working capital management, financial analysis, strategic planning; turnaround/profitability improvement initiatives, management of operating budget and forecast planning cycles. Keith is an innovative problem-solver utilizing data analysis and business process development and standardization to optimize efficiencies and deliver cost effective solutions within complex business and reporting structures.
Prior to joining O’Keefe, Mr. Chulumovich was a Consultant with UHY Advisors where he provided transitional services including process documentation, process improvement, software integration, and staff training.
Mr. Chulumovich holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Michigan State University. He is licensed by the State of Michigan as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Mr. Chulumovich is a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) and the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI).Read More/LessChris SeablomChief Financial OfficerMs. Seablom is Chief Financial Officer and Director for O’Keefe. As CFO, she assists in strategic planning for long term goals for the firm, supports the CEO to create shareholder value, measures and monitors business performance, and manages governance, controls, and/or risks. In addition to her role as CFO, Ms. Seablom is also engaged in client assignments. As a multi-faceted professional, Ms. Seablom has great successes in litigation support cases, forensic accounting, receiverships, business valuation, corporate finance and turnaround consulting projects. Prior to joining O’Keefe, Ms. Seablom spent 23 years in the banking industry, most recently serving as Finance Manager and Vice President within a major Michigan bank. Ms. Seablom was responsible for all of the finance functions of the East Michigan region, including project management, forecasting, and profitability analysis. She directed the finance staff in developing and implementing revenue enhancement and expense reduction strategies, corporate budgets, and strategic planning initiatives.
Ms. Seablom is a member of the Detroit chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI). She currently serves as a Board Member and Treasurer of Single Parent Fuel and is a past Board Member, Vice President and Treasurer of Rochester Redskins. Ms. Seablom spends her free time volunteering for a variety of Breast Cancer charities and the Alzheimer’s Association.Read More/LessDerron SandersStrategic AdvisorWith more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience in energy, real estate and construction, Derron Sanders serves as the Founder/CEO of Sanders Management Group, Ltd. and Managing Partner of SG Energy Solutions a niche energy business that specializes in the gas-powered turbine industry. After graduating from Michigan State University, Mr. Sanders joined Johnson Controls, Controls Group, as a Sales Engineer from 1996-1999. Subsequently, Mr. Sanders joined Walbridge (a nationally-ranked construction company) where he served as Director of Business Development from 1999 – 2002.
While working full time, Mr. Sanders began his real estate career in 1997 with his initial purchase of a small two-family flat on the City of Detroit’s west side and established Sanders Group in 2000. Since then, Mr. Sanders has bought, renovated, sold, and managed over 4.5 million square feet of residential and commercial office space within the State of Michigan and has acquired and/or managed over $170 Million in multifamily apartments.
In 2010, Mr. Sanders founded SG Energy Solutions which provides field services to utility companies and turbine manufactures in the power generation industry. From professional on-site teams to unmatched digital field services tools, we offer our clients a full spectrum of solutions around the globe.
As SG’s primary visionary, Mr. Sanders oversees the internal operations of the company and is responsible for the successful implementation for all financing, construction, and marketing strategies for SG. Additionally, Mr. Sanders currently serves on the boards of First Independence Bank, the Detroit Athletic Club, and the Detroit Regional Chamber. Mr. Sanders also is a member of Alma College President’s Advisory Council. Mr. Sanders received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering degree from Michigan State University and an MBA (Finance emphasis) from Wayne State University.Read More/LessJeff SchumanDirector of Business DevelopmentJeff's affiliation with Grow Michigan follows a 40 year career in capital markets. As a life long resident of Michigan, his experience is principally comprised of 14 years of commercial middle market lending and 24 years of commercial real estate lending at Bank of America, Comerica and Huntington Bank and their respective predecessor Michigan based banks (Michigan National, LaSalle and First Merit Bank Bank). Throughout his career, responsibilities included new business development, credit underwriting, loan documentation, construction and non-construction loan portfolio administration, problem loan workouts and cross selling non-credit bank services.
In addition to commercial real estate developers and investors, principal industry exposure included automotive supply, steel service centers, ferrous and non-ferrous metal supply, meat packing, cut and sew textile manufacturing, business service program design and administration, financial services and retail sales. Jeff is also a licensed real estate broker with additional experience in residential mortgage banking and trust investment management.
Jeff is a graduate of The University of Michigan Dearborn (BBA) and The University of Michigan (MBA) and outside of work, an active 40-year member of his church. Community service has been given as a member of The University of Michigan Dearborn Business School Dean's Advisory Council and the Cranbrook Museum of Art's Advisory Committee. He is married with 4 adult children, 2 grandsons and 2 boxer dogs.Read More/Less
Mr. O’Keefe is recognized as an expert in the fields of strategic advisory services, corporate reorganization, debt restructuring, turnaround consulting, refinancing solutions, due diligence support, valuation and litigation support. Mr. O’Keefe has been approved by the U.S. Department of Justice to act as a Chapter 11 trustee and has performed as a court-appointed receiver for numerous operating companies. For over 30 years, Mr. O’Keefe has been active as a financial consultant and turnaround advisor to under-performing businesses in various industries including, retail, construction, automotive, manufacturing, and real estate, and has successfully completed assignments in out-of-court and Chapter 11 restructurings. He is an advisor to financial institutions in complex workouts and asset recovery strategies. Mr. O’Keefe is also the CEO of Glycadia, a diabetes research company, and Founder and CEO of O’Keefe, LLC a business consulting firm.
Mr. O’Keefe is a member of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA), and National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA).
Mr. O’Keefe is a past President of the Detroit Athletic Club and a past President of the Detroit Chapter of the TMA including several years of service on the International Board. He recently served on the Board of Directors for First Independence Bank, Advisory Council for M&A Advisor and is a member emeritus for the Michigan State University’s Department of Accounting and Information Systems. He is a past advisory board member of the University of Detroit Turnaround Management Program, Cleary University, and Oakland University’s Finance and Accounting Department.
Mr. O’Keefe was recently inducted into M&A Advisor’s Hall of Fame which recognizes extraordinary industry stalwarts. In December 2018, he was named the recipient of the Executive of the Year Award by The Detroit Executives Association, and received the 2018 M&A Advisor Leadership Award for his contribution to the bankruptcy and restructuring industry. Also in 2018 and 2019, Mr. O’Keefe was named Detroit 500 as one of the most influential businessmen in Detroit by DBusiness.
In 2017, he received Deal Professional of the Year by the M&A Advisor. Some of his past awards include, but are not limited to, the Outstanding Individual Contribution Award by the TMA, the Cleary Business Medal of Honor as an outstanding businessman, and the Small Business Administration’s Financial Services Champion of the Year Award presented by former Governor Jennifer Granholm.
Under Mr. O’Keefe’s direction, his firm has been recognized for three years in a row by Michigan Lawyers Weekly for the Best Litigation Consulting Services and 2019 Best Forensic Accounting Services, the M&A Advisor as Turnaround Consulting Firm of the Year, the M&A Global Network as Boutique Turnaround Consulting Firm of the Year, and was awarded Turnaround of the Year-Middle Market by the M&A Advisor and TMA. Irish America recognized Mr. O’Keefe as one of the top 100 businessmen in 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Peggy is a member of the Turnaround Management Association, a member of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), and a member of the Secured Finance Network. She also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Angela Hospice, a leading not-for-profit hospice care provider serving over 2,500 patients annually in Southeast Michigan.
Peggy received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 1982 from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Management in 1993 from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor).
Mr. Chulumovich is an accomplished finance leader focused on strategic and operations planning, executing against financial goals, business analysis and financial reporting, process improvement, and financial services. Keith’s breadth of industry experience includes leasing, manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, and real estate. He is experienced at working for private equity and in both large public and high growth privately held companies and has expertise in international companies (UK, MX, AUS, CA), working capital management, financial analysis, strategic planning; turnaround/profitability improvement initiatives, management of operating budget and forecast planning cycles. Keith is an innovative problem-solver utilizing data analysis and business process development and standardization to optimize efficiencies and deliver cost effective solutions within complex business and reporting structures.
Mr. Chulumovich holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Michigan State University. He is licensed by the State of Michigan as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Mr. Chulumovich is a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) and the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI).
Ms. Seablom is a member of the Detroit chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI). She currently serves as a Board Member and Treasurer of Single Parent Fuel and is a past Board Member, Vice President and Treasurer of Rochester Redskins. Ms. Seablom spends her free time volunteering for a variety of Breast Cancer charities and the Alzheimer’s Association.
With more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience in energy, real estate and construction, Derron Sanders serves as the Founder/CEO of Sanders Management Group, Ltd. and Managing Partner of SG Energy Solutions a niche energy business that specializes in the gas-powered turbine industry. After graduating from Michigan State University, Mr. Sanders joined Johnson Controls, Controls Group, as a Sales Engineer from 1996-1999. Subsequently, Mr. Sanders joined Walbridge (a nationally-ranked construction company) where he served as Director of Business Development from 1999 – 2002.
In 2010, Mr. Sanders founded SG Energy Solutions which provides field services to utility companies and turbine manufactures in the power generation industry. From professional on-site teams to unmatched digital field services tools, we offer our clients a full spectrum of solutions around the globe.
As SG’s primary visionary, Mr. Sanders oversees the internal operations of the company and is responsible for the successful implementation for all financing, construction, and marketing strategies for SG. Additionally, Mr. Sanders currently serves on the boards of First Independence Bank, the Detroit Athletic Club, and the Detroit Regional Chamber. Mr. Sanders also is a member of Alma College President’s Advisory Council. Mr. Sanders received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering degree from Michigan State University and an MBA (Finance emphasis) from Wayne State University.
Jeff's affiliation with Grow Michigan follows a 40 year career in capital markets. As a life long resident of Michigan, his experience is principally comprised of 14 years of commercial middle market lending and 24 years of commercial real estate lending at Bank of America, Comerica and Huntington Bank and their respective predecessor Michigan based banks (Michigan National, LaSalle and First Merit Bank Bank). Throughout his career, responsibilities included new business development, credit underwriting, loan documentation, construction and non-construction loan portfolio administration, problem loan workouts and cross selling non-credit bank services.
Jeff is a graduate of The University of Michigan Dearborn (BBA) and The University of Michigan (MBA) and outside of work, an active 40-year member of his church. Community service has been given as a member of The University of Michigan Dearborn Business School Dean's Advisory Council and the Cranbrook Museum of Art's Advisory Committee. He is married with 4 adult children, 2 grandsons and 2 boxer dogs.
