Meet the Team

• Mr. Cullen is the Founder and CEO of Steeplechase Advisors LLC. He is a nationally recognized leader in the US middle market restructuring industry with 30+ years of experience leading companies and financial institutions in restructurings and business reorganizations in formal and informal legal proceedings. He has served in the role of Board Advisor, CEO, CRO and Investment Banker and has led and completed over 250+ restructuring, refinancing and reorganization processes in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia for companies encountering operational and financial challenges. He is a subject matter expert and has testified as an expert witness in multiple federal and district courts throughout the United States on restructurings and sale processes. He has been federally court appointed and approved by federal bank regulators to lead and manage multiple financial institutions through reorganizations and recapitalizations while under formal federal bank enforcement actions.
• Clients include financial institutions, public companies, privately held, equity sponsored and family- owned businesses in multiple industry sectors including retail, manufacturing, consumer products, real estate, agriculture, and financial services.
• Mr. Cullen is a member of the TMA, a recognized speaker and presenter, and has served on multiple continuing education panels, to the financial and legal community.
• He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and is a dual US and EU Citizen.

Mike has more than 25 years of experience working with consumer, retail, manufacturing, e-commerce, and technology clients in asset disposition, asset-based lending, investment banking, performance improvement,
operational turnaround, and restructuring. Mike has held leadership roles with various ABL groups at Fleet/Bank of America, Wells Fargo Foothill/Capital Finance, Citizens Bank, and BMO. Mike most recently served as a Managing Director for Huron Consulting Group's Business Advisory practice. He began his career in asset disposition work with The Ozer Group, acquired by Gordon Brothers in 2005. Mike is based in Boston, MA.

Mike helps develop capital raising, growth, and turnaround strategies for organizations, specializing in the retail and consumer sector. He has worked with companies in a variety of life cycle stages to improve sales performance, drive gross margins, reduce expenses, optimize capital structures, and enhance liquidity.

Representative Client Engagements:

• Acted as Chief Restructuring Officer for a privately held middle market footwear DTC/retailer, providing cost savings recommendations, cash flow analytics, store rationalization, and capital raising solutions.
• Led a project team's efforts to improve financial performance through streamlining communication between multiple company divisions, enhancing financial modeling and cash flow forecasting, and providing interim financial management services.
• Led the financing for the acquisition/merger by a private equity firm of two large, distressed bedding, pillow, and textile manufacturers, marketers, and wholesalers.
• Facilitated the refinancing and led the transaction of a private equity firm's acquisition of a vintage-style licensed sports apparel wholesaler, direct-to-consumer (DTC) seller, and retailer. The company was later sold to a large strategic buyer.
• Structured and co-led the financing of a distressed grocery retailer to facilitate the sale of company-owned store locations to franchisees.
• Led the financing and facilitated the negotiation of terms related to the sale of a middle-market equestrian-focused retailer and cataloger to a private equity firm.
• Facilitated the negotiation of forbearance terms of a large software company with stakeholders, including a private equity firm and a syndicate of lenders. The company ultimately survived and was sold to a large strategic buyer.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business and an MBA from Boston College's Carrol School of Management. He is licensed with FINRA, Series 7 (expired), 79 and 63. Mike is a member of the TMA Northeast, SFNet, and ACG and past panelist at various industry conferences.

• David has 34 years of public and private company finance and operating experience with extensive expertise in retail and ecommerce businesses, investment banking, manufacturing operations, agriculture, private equity and debt underwriting. Mr. Pearce was CFO for 5 companies over 22 years.
• He has worked extensively in the alternative energy, food manufacturing and multi-channel retailing of consumer products including home electronics, wine, equestrian products and plant products.
• Mr. Pearce has provided executive management and turnaround services for companies including a $600 MM food manufacturer, SaaS software developer, metal foundry, cattle feedlot, power plant maintenance provider, gift e-commerce business, oil drilling contractor, corn farming operation, home electronics retailer and furniture manufacturer.
• He was CFO of Dover Saddlery for 7 years, a public company, and served as chairman of its Audit Committee. He served as Chairman of the Board and Audit Committee for Kensington Funds, a mutual fund family with $2 billion in AUM.
• David holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Brown University and an MBA from the Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley as a Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Member.

• Eddie joined Steeplechase in 2019 and has worked with over 75 clients during his tenure. He specializes in building and maintaining 13-week cash flow and 3-statement financial models for middle market companies in the Manufacturing, Retail & Consumer Products, Real Estate and Agriculture industries. His work supports corporate restructurings in both out-of-court and court-supervised settings. He has significant experience in corporate carve-outs, debt refinancings, Receiverships and Assignment for Benefit of Creditors.

• Prior to Steeplechase, Eddie was a Certified Public Accountant at PwC and adjunct professor of accounting and finance in Boston, MA. He has leveraged this background at Steeplechase through interim management roles as an interim Controller and CFO during certain client engagements.

• Eddie holds a B.S. in Business and Economics from State University of New York, Potsdam, as well as a Master of Science in Accounting and MBA from Northeastern University's D'Amor McKim School of Business.

• Luke Strumbell specializes in financial modeling, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic advisory services. At Steeplechase, he focuses on building financial models for middle-market companies —developing detailed 13 week cash flows and three statement monthly projections—and crafts Confidential Information Memorandums to support transactions like debt refinancing, restructuring, and recapitalization.
• Between his roles at Pathfinder Companies & Pathfinder Consulting and Steeplechase, Mr. Strumbell founded LPS Consulting, where he delivered financial modeling expertise and customized PowerBI dashboards that help management teams make accurate and timely data-driven decisions.
• At Pathfinder, he led analyses for leveraged buyouts, M&A, and discounted cash flows, serving as a sell side advisor on engagements, and as Interim CFO for a portfolio company. He began his career as an Audit Senior Associate at Deloitte & Touche, analyzing complex revenue contracts and evaluating internal controls for a Fortune 10 healthcare client.
• Mr. Strumbell holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, positioning him as a valuable partner for organizations seeking data driven insights and sustainable growth strategies.

• Chad is a Financial Consultant with 20+ years of corporate experience managing liquidity budgeting, 13-week cash flow forecasting, and developing multi-year financial forecasting models of Integrated Financial Statements with Income Statements, Balance Sheets, and Cash Flow modules.  He has developed strategic financial solutions to increase profitability, cash flow, liquidity, and working capital to create liquidity to fund business growth.
• He has specific expertise in managing cash flow, liquidity and availability projections, covenant coverage, and risk analysis for cash flow and asset-based lending structures. He identifies and communicates funding requirements to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Chad has spent 13 years serving in leadership roles in the Financial Planning & Analysis functions for Ecolab and Comcast, and most recently he spent 4 years with a $200MM Private Equity backed manufacturing company of refrigeration products. Prior to these roles, he worked as an analyst for Thompson Reuters and TCF Mortgage.
• Chad holds a BS in Finance with a Minor in Business Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and is a Certified Management Accountant from the Institute of Management Accountants.

• Heather is a financial sales development leader with over 15 years of sales and leadership experience as well as 10 years in accounting. She has worked extensively with SME and both large privately owned and publicly traded companies in a broad range of industries.
• She has extensive experience in the Alternative Lending industry of Asset-Based Lending and a proven track record of driving results through strong client relationships and effective sales strategies to meet client needs.
• She started her career working in Freight Forwarding as the Director of Operations at Network FOB. That path led her into the Alternative Lending industry of Asset-Based Lending | Factoring in 2007 to Transfac Capital in Salt Lake City Utah. She continued her career of financing with companies including Bibby Financial Services (London, UK) and Mitsubishi HC Capital (Tokyo, Japan).
• Her experience includes assisting Boston Scientific in augmenting and maximizing their hiring efforts in the pharma industry, recognized in 2022 as one of the top women in Asset-based Lending, and achieving desired financing results for many companies over the years resulting in continued growth and profits. In 2019, Heather published “The Big Plan” a book on growth strategies toward success for business owners. Her knowledge and experience have helped grow profits along with solid strategies for future growth.
• Heather is a graduate of St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN with a BS in Professional Sales and Psychology minor. Ms. Rachel is a member and the current Minnesota chapter president with the Turnaround Management Association and a board member of the RMA Minnesota Chapter.

• Amy Rose is a Managing Director of Steeplechase Advisors LLC, a management consulting, restructuring, and transaction advisory firm. She is a results-driven, analytically-minded professional with 20+ years of experience implementing and managing companies.  She leverages her extensive experience and diverse skillset to evaluate strategic alternatives and options to maximize value for clients and stakeholders.
• She develops and implements specific course of action through the evaluation of business plans, financial forecasts, capital and liquidity forecast requirements, scenario analysis, and risks assessment. She is a strong people leader and balances human relations and negotiation skills to optimize critical supplier networks, creditors, and vital customers. Identifies key performance indicators, strategies and implements best practices to drive sell through, improve turns, monetize inventory and optimize workflow. Her experience managing national and private label brands through outlets including e-commerce, catalogue, and brick and mortar channels.
• She has held Interim management roles in multiple capacities to companies (CEO, COO, CRO, CMO) through transitions, reorganizations or asset divestitures. Working closely with financial institutions including private equity, hedge funds, asset-based lenders, cash flow lenders, bank syndicate groups, creditors and creditor committees representing their interests in matters and business reorganizations.
• Amy is an avid equestrian and runner. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a BS in Marketing. Member of the TMA Boston and Minnesota chapters and Worldwide Women’s Association.