Robert Silhacek, Owner and Partner

Robert Silhacek, Owner and Partner

Robert Silhacek, Owner and Partner

  • After holding positions as President and CEO as well as CFO positions in several successful businesses, Bob along with Mike Wise founded Turning Point Management Advisors LLC (TPMA) in 2009 to provide management consulting services to help companies turn the corner for success with an attitude of strong and decisive leadership. Bob has a passion for helping companies be successful.
  • As CEO of a large manufacturing company, Bob led initiatives to secure new customers, increase profitability, automate production, diversify the customer base, and expand the company’s facilities to a new green field location in Northeast Iowa.
  • Bob graduated from the University of Norther Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and was a senior audit manager with one of the top CPA firms. He passed the CPA exam in 1981.
  • TPMA and Bob have led numerous engagements whereby they act as true operating partners with clients helping them and their stakeholders restore value and achieve the financial results/success they desire.

Bob is an executive management consultant with over 40 years of experience in financial as well as executive leadership. Along with being the Co-Founder/Owner and Partner of Turning Point Management Advisors LLC, he was on the Board of Directors and Board Chair of a large Midwest based truck dealer as well as additional Boards of Directors.

After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA with a B.A. degree in accounting in 1980, Bob started his career as a general services staff member at McGladrey in Dubuque, IA focusing on audit, tax and write up. He passed the CPA exam in 1980 and was licensed in Iowa in 1982. Subsequently Bob worked at Ernst &Young (Minneapolis, MN) being promoted to senior audit manager. This accounting and finance education and experience has been very valuable to Bob as he progressed throughout his career.

In 1988, Bob joined a privately held group of companies as CFO of one of the operating companies. Within 5 years, he was promoted to the CFO of the management group and family office with group revenues exceeding $150MM. He was on the Board of Directors of those companies and served as President of a captive Insurance Company.

In 1998 Bob became CEO, President, and Board secretary of a large aluminum casting company the largest operating company of the group with revenues of $75 million and 550 employees. As CEO and President of that organization, Bob led initiatives to secure new customers, increase profitability, automate production, diversify the customer base, and expand the company’s facilities to a new green field location in Northeast Iowa. Mr. Silhacek planned, negotiated, financed, and ultimately directed the building of this new facility and operation in rural Iowa. With an investment of over $12M, this is still the key strategic location of that present business employing over 150 employees. In 2007 the Company was named “Company of the Year” by the Iowa Area Development Group. At that time Bob also spent 4 years on the Harley Davidson Supplier Advisory council at Harley Davidson in Milwaukee, WI.

Mr. Silhacek is a member in good standing with the Turnaround Management Association, the AICPA, has done numerous presentations to groups such as IADG (Iowa Area Development Group) on organization success and expansion, and the American Foundry Society (financial successes and benchmarking). He also served on the Board of “Manufacturing Minnesota” promoting manufacturing and manufacturing education initiatives in Minnesota.

Bob has a passion for helping companies turn the corner for success with an attitude that jobs need to be protected and clients need strong and decisive leadership. Along with his Turning Point partner, Mike Wise, Turning Point Management Advisors has been awarded “Turnaround of the Year” in 2012 for Centerline Tank and Trailer, awarded the “Transaction of the Year” in 2014 for Mansfield Casting in Ohio and “Turnaround of the Year” in 2019 for   These awards were presented by the Upper Midwest Turnaround Management Association.

Experience

  • Senior Audit Manager Ernst & Young – focus manufacturing, distribution, financial services.
  • CFO and Board Member of Privately Held Management Company and Family Office overseeing a conglomerate of privately held manufacturing and distribution companies. Includes CFO and VP Finance of family office overseeing large financial portfolio.
  • President and Board Member of a Captive Insurance Company
  • CEO, President, and Board member of a large aluminum casting Company running a 3 U.S. manufacturing locations and worldwide distribution of complex aluminum castings. Customers ranged from Harley Davidson, Polaris, Honda Motorcycles to aerospace customers including Boeing Defense, Lockheed, and Raytheon
  • Planned, negotiated, financed, and ultimately directed building this new facility and operation in rural Iowa. With an investment of over $12M, this is still the key strategic location of that present business employing over 150 employees.
  • Four-year member of the Harley Davidson Advisory Council advising Harley Davidson on supplier and supply chain opportunities and improvement
  • Partner and Founding Owner of Ross Holdings
  • Founding partner and owner, Turning Point Management Advisors LLC
  • Led turnarounds and worked as operating partner of several manufacturing, distribution, and service companies over the past 14 plus years.

Articles & Presentations

  • IADG (Iowa Area Development Group) on organization success and expansion
  • American Foundry Society (financial successes and benchmarking).
  • Manufacturing Minnesota – seminars promoting manufacturing and manufacturing education initiatives in the State of Minnesota
  • January 2021 Modern Casting entitled “The Pandemic Economy”
  • April 2021 Modern Casting entitled “Are You Maintaining Prices and Margins Relative to Costs?”
  • December 2021 Modern Casting entitled “Succession Planning – Have Your Started?”
  • March 2022 Modern Casting entitled “Are you leading a Small to Mid-sized Foundry? Are you Profitable?”

Honors & Education

  • University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls IA, BA Accounting, 1980
  • Passed Uniform CPA Exam, 1981
  • State of Iowa, licensed CPA 1982 (non-practicing, expired)
  • State of Minnesota, licensed CPA 1984 (non-practicing, expired)
  • Six Sigma, Yellow Belt 2006
  • Company of the Year 2007 by the Iowa Area Development Group
  • Turnaround of the Year 2012 for Centerline Tank and Trailer by Upper Midwest TMA
  • Transaction of the Year 2014 for Mansfield Casting in Ohio by Upper Midwest TMA
  • Turnaround of the Year 2019 for Sivyer Steel Corporation by Upper Midwest TMA

Professional Activities

  • Partner and Founding Owner of Turning Point Management Advisors LLC 2009-Present
  • Board of Directors of Large Truck Dealership, Minneapolis, MN 2013-2017; Served as Chair, 2013-2016
  • Officer and Board member, Centerline Tank and Trailer, Long Prairie, MN 2012-Present
  • Partner and Founding Owner of Ross Holdings 2008-2020
  • President, CEO and Board of large aluminum casting company 1998-2007
  • Board of Directors of a large privately held Management Company and Family Office and related affiliates.
  • Board of Directors President and Board Member of a Captive Insurance Company 1994-1997
  • Member of TMA (Turnaround Management Association) present
  • Member of AICPA present
  • Member NTDA (National Trailers Dealers Association)
  • Member of the Harley Davidson Advisory Council 2001-2005
  • Manufacturing Minnesota Council 2002-2004