Jonathan Ball, 46
Senior vice president and CFO
Jervis B. Webb Co., Farmington Hills
Jonathan Ball joined conveyor manufacturer Jervis B. Webb Co. in 2003 and since that time has helped the company reduce its overhead by more than one-third.
The company's revenue had fallen from $350 million during its last peak in the 1990s to about $200 million, predominantly due to automotive-industry challenges. Ball devised a two-year restructuring plan that included consolidating engineering and production capacity, and a sale and leaseback deal for the company's Farmington Hills headquarters. Ball also refinanced the company's senior debt, which allowed Jervis B. Webb to be debt-free this year.
Jervis B. Webb expects revenue this year of $250 million.
Jeff Blackman, 38
CFO
ePrize L.L.C., Pleasant Ridge
Jeff Blackman last year co-led a complete overhaul of ePrize L.L.C.'s pricing model.
EPrize, which specializes in online promotions such as sweepstakes, had charged clients a fixed fee, but found projects often grew during production. In response to this problem, Blackman separated the agency into two divisions: one for core projects that don't require extensive customization and could be charged a fixed-fee, and one for 'hand-crafted'' projects. Ball established a base fee for these projects and additional monthly fees for dedicated resources such as project managers.
The change allowed ePrize to forecast its needs and profits more accurately and to be more profitable. EPrize's revenue for 2006 was $35.9 million, up from about $29 million in 2005.
Colleen Gonyea, 37
Director of operations
The Arbor Strategy Group Inc., Ann Arbor
Since joining the Arbor Strategy Group Inc. in early 2004, Colleen Gonyea has found herself wearing more than just the financial chief's hat.
Gonyea oversaw the installation of financial planning and control programs that cut waste from the business consultancy' and revealed how profitable each project was. That helped double the company's revenues to about $6 million, said Phil Roos, president and CEO of Arbor.
But Gonyea also led recruiting efforts to bring in fresh talent and handled the logistics for Arbor's new Chicago office.
'She's the glue that holds the place together,'' Roos said.
Lenora Hardy-Foster, 49
Vice president of finance and administration
Southwest Solutions, Detroit
During the past 10 years of an almost 28-year tenure at Southwest Solutions, Lenora Hardy-Foster helped oversee two mergers that added $16 million in annual revenue to the Detroit-based nonprofit.
Southwest Solutions has annual revenue of about $18.6 million.
Hardy-Foster oversaw the development of the relationship with Bridgeway Services, a juvenile-justice service provider, and Behavioral Health Partners, a consortium of mental health partners with $140 million in annual revenue.
Hardy-Foster also coordinates the financial and administrative planning for seven real estate limited partnerships with assets of $50 million.
Her efforts have helped the nonprofit grow revenue about 15 percent for each of the past five years.
Kevin Hoppe, 53
Chairman of the board and CFO
NTH Consultants Ltd., Detroit
Kevin Hoppe transitioned to CFO at NTH Consultants Ltd. in 1999 with the goal of integrating the company's accounting, marketing, information-technology and human-resources departments into a cohesive group to cut costs and improve efficiency.
Hoppe also integrated the new group's information-technology infrastructure to help with strategic planning and annual business planning. Between 1999 and 2004, NTH climbed to No. 253 from No. 323 in national rankings for engineering firms and grew revenue by 50 percent to $39 million.
John Lydic, 61
CFO
Harley Ellis Devereaux, Southfield
In 29 years at the architectural firm Harley Ellis Devereaux, John Lydic has overseen four mergers that resulted in a westward expansion from Detroit to California.
To keep things running smoothly, Lydic developed an in-house software package to coordinate revenue calculations and budgeting, and reporting capabilities in Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside, Calif.; Chicago and Detroit.
Combined with customized, Web-based accounting software, Harley Ellis is able to minimize costs and paper jockeying across offices, while keeping everyone in the loop.
Maria Marcotte, 55
Managing partner and COO
Brogan & Partners Convergence Marketing, Birmingham
Maria Marcotte put in place a horizontal, team-based organizational structure at Brogan & Partners Convergence Marketing that helped energize employees around financial goals.
'We're a small organization,'' she said, 'so I have two titles - COO and underneath that is the CFO role. In an advertising agency, the operations aspect and financial aspect really do intersect.''
The flattened hierarchy in the 50-employee firm and Marcotte's open-door policy on the company's balance sheet helped to rally everyone around the common goal of growing Brogan & Partners in a tough economy.
The company has annual revenue of about $25 million.
Marcotte is also developing a mentoring program at the company to team senior staffers with one or two junior staffers each year.
Laura Pierce-Marutz, 35
Vice president and controller
Allegra Network L.L.C., Northville
Laura Pierce-Marutz oversees the management and accounting team of more than 600 sign and printing franchisees that operate within Allegra Network L.L.C.
Pierce-Marutz reorganized the accounting department in 1997 to streamline productivity and allow for the franchise network to grow. And, helped complete two major acquisitions: Insty Prints, a franchise with more than 211 locations in 2002; and Signs Now, a franchise with 240 locations two years later.
Allegra's revenue has grown about 100 percent to $20 million since 2000.
Cynthia Sikina, 47
COO and CFO
University Physician Group, Detroit
During the past year, Cynthia Sikina orchestrated the integration of 13 specialty medical groups into a single organization.
The unified University Physician Group was finalized Oct. 1 and includes 337 physicians and 474 staff members. Sikina coordinated the development of the business infrastructure for the new group including employee benefits, salaries and retirement programs, financial reporting procedures and all physician contracts.
Sikina is also playing a key role in extending the business infrastructure of the group to a new ambulatory care center being built in Troy in affiliation with the Dearborn-based Oakwood Healthcare System.
Karen Spaun, 42
Senior vice president and CFO
Meadowbrook Insurance Group Inc., Southfield
Karen Spaun developed a proprietary financial model for Meadowbrook Insurance Group Inc.'s strategic planning that allows the insurance company's executives to forecast three to five years out how various strategies will affect financial results.
Spaun also put in place controls to keep Meadowbrook compliant with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The controls improved the quality of information being reported and the efficiency, which helped to reduce time and expenses, and boost the company's credibility.
Meadowbrook had revenue of $318.2 million in 2006, compared with $304 million in 2005.
Denise Thal, 52
Vice president and CFO
The Henry Ford, Dearborn
Denise Thal oversaw program development, design and construction of the 70,000 square foot Benson Ford Research Center and Library, the 420-seat IMAX Theatre and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, all part of The Henry Ford, without adding significantly to payroll.
Thal also oversaw tax-exempt bond financing for the $65 million Greenfield Village renovation and developed financial and reporting models that allow divisions to accurately assess their budget status and plan new strategic projects.
Thal is leading the institution's efforts to develop a financial model that will allow for the development of entrepreneurial revenue streams.
