Owner and Partner
Email: bsilhacek@turningpointmgmt.com
Office: 612.349.2745
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 in 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 has 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 with group revenues exceeding $150MM. He was on the Board of Directors of those companies and served as President of Woodland Insurance Company.
In 1998 Bob became CEO, President and Board secretary of Progress Casting Group, the largest operating company of the group with revenues of $75 million and 550 employees. As CEO and President of Progress, Bob led initiatives to secure new customers, increase profitability, automate production, diversify the customer base, and expand the companys facilities to a new green field location in New Hampton, IA. Mr. Silhacek 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. 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 and recently was awarded the “Transaction of the Year in 2014 for Mansfield Casting in Ohio. These awards were presented by the Upper Midwest Turnaround Management Association.
Bob developed his strong work ethic growing up on a dairy and hog farm in Northeast Iowa and paid his way through college. He worked at home on the farm in the summer during college before heading out to the professional world, getting married and along with his spouse Marsha, raising 4 children.
Experience
- Senior Audit Manager Ernst & Young focus manufacturing, distribution, financial services.
- CFO of Management Company 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 Woodland Insurance Company
- CEO, President and Board member of Progress Casting Group 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
- Board of Directors Acrometal Management Group, ATek Companies, Woodland Investments LLC and related affiliates.
- Founding partner and owner, Turning Point Management Advisors
- Led turnarounds of a number of manufacturing, distribution and service companies over the past 7 years and providing M&A advisory services.
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
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)
- Total Quality Training 2004
- Six Sigma, Yellow Belt 2006
- Company of the Year 2007 for Progress Casting Group 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
Professional Activities
- Partner and Founding Owner of Turning Point Management Advisors LLC 2009-Present
- Board of Directors of Equipoise Corporation d/b/a Boyer Trucks, Minneapolis, MN 2013-Present
- Chair, Equipoise Corporation 2013-Present
- Officer and Board member, Centerline Tank and Trailer, Long Prairie, MN 2012-Present
- Partner and Founding Owner of Ross Holdings 2008-Present
- President, CEO and Board of Progress Casting Group 1998-2007
- Board of Directors Acrometal Management Group, ATek Companies, Woodland Investments LLC and related affiliates.
- Board of Directors President and Board Member of Woodland Insurance Company 1994-1997
- Member of TMA (Turnaround Management Association)
- Member of AICPA
- Member NTDA (National Trailers Dealers Association)
- Member of the Harley Davidson Advisory Council 2001-2005
- Manufacturing Minnesota Council 2002-2004
