Founder

 
Michael Koeppel: Lakelet Advisory Group
 

Michael R. Koeppel, CTP, CPA, CITP, CFF, ABV, CGMA
Founder, Managing Director 

CREDENTIALS:

  • Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP)

  • Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV)

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

  • Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)

  • Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP)

  • Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)

  • Advanced SOC for Service Organizations Certificate

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY:

In his 30 years of experience, Mr. Koeppel has been exposed to a host of industries, but his primary focus is on technology, manufacturing and service organizations.

In 2003, he founded E-Capital-Financing (later became Lakelet Advisory Group LLC), which specializes in assisting start-ups and challenged entities to obtain financing. Today, the firm works with a host of companies in both the Los Angeles and Western New York regions. While E-Capital-Financing currently focuses on investing in start-up entities/projects, Lakelet Advisory Group LLC was introduced in 2012 to focus on challenged organizations.

Mr. Koeppel, a Managing Director and co-founder of a successful Private Equity firm (Lakelet Capital), sold his portion of the firm in 2017 to focus on Lakelet Advisory Group LLC.

In the past, Mr. Koeppel served on the Board of Directors of a public medical device company, which later led to him serving as interim COO during this public company’s turnaround efforts. He also served as interim COO and CFO for an international VoIP company required to restructure its balance sheet, obtain additional financing, and focus on its profitable core opportunities (sold non-core division). 

Mr. Koeppel also worked nearly 10 years with Citigroup Venture Capital Company, primarily focusing on two spin-out, challenged organizations. He served on the Management Committee with both entities.

The first engagement involved an international manufacturer and distributor of medical and paper products ($300 million in revenue). In his role there, he assisted in the turnaround of the company's operations and groomed it for sale. He focused daily on cash flow and working capital optimization. In 12 months, he completed the full integration of three companies into one, generating a 34% reduction in transaction and overhead costs.

In addition, he was responsible for reengineering warehouse and transportation facilities. This resulted in significant annual savings and annual net savings of 2% of gross sales in administrative costs by consolidating telecommunications services and cross training. Through his efforts, the company was sold within two years.

The second engagement involved an international manufacturer and re-manufacturer of electronics and automotive components ($980 million in revenue) Mr. Koeppel was recruited to "carve-out" processes, hire staff, implement new processes, systems, and solutions, and prepare for IPO and growth. This was accomplished and its success was based in part on implementing nine focus factories utilizing "lean manufacturing" concepts. He then developed, recruited, and trained a new team that concentrated on business processes, generating a net savings of 11%. He was also instrumental in directing key acquisitions and assisting the IPO of this entity.

Mr. Koeppel has significant international experience as well in both European and Brazilian operations. He spent three years in Brazil with PricewaterhouseCoopers on challenging technology and business situations, and has worked in 34 countries across diverse markets, further enhancing his global expertise.

In addition to his work in the financial services industry, he also served with distinction in the U.S. Army as a Medical Corpsman (E-5). 

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Chairperson New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants – Business Valuation and Litigation Support Committee (2024 - Present)

  • Vice Chairperson New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants – Business Valuation and Litigation Support Committee (2023 - 2024)

  • Director at Large for the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (Term 2021 - 2024)

  • Member of the Task Force to address Restructuring of the Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE) (2020 - 2021)

  • Expert Witness - Bankruptcy Valuations and Intangible Assets

  • Chairman for the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants – Bankruptcy and Financial Reorganizations Committee (2012-2018)

  • Committee Member for the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants - Business Valuations

  • Extensive experience with turnarounds, due diligence, business valuations, fundraising and bankruptcy

  • Worked with private equity firms and turnarounds, and in “high risk” situations.

  • Led 19 mergers and acquisitions

  • The Senior IT executive for a Fortune 500 company

  • Mentor in the Canisius College Women’s Business Development Program 



EDUCATION: 

  • B.A. in Economics (summa cum laude) from the State University College of New York at Buffalo

  • Master of Accountancy from Bowling Green State University

  • Taught Corporate Taxation and Econometrics at the State University College of New York at Buffalo

  • Worked as an instructor for optimizing technology for PricewaterhouseCoopers, US & Brazil

  • State University College of NY at Buffalo – Alumni Association



PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

  • Chairperson New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants – Business Valuation and Litigation Support Committee (2024)

  • Vice Chairperson New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants – Business Valuation and Litigation Support Committee (2023 - 2024)

  • Member of the Board of Directors – A Global Voice for Autism (2023 – 2024). To provide life-changing support in ravaged areas for children with autism and their families.

  • Director at Large for New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (Term 2021 - 2024)

  • Member of the American Society of Appraisers (2021 - Present)

  • Member of the Task Force to address Restructuring of the Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE) (2020 - Present)

  • Expert Witness - Bankruptcy Valuations and Intangible Assets

  • Chairman for the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants – Bankruptcy and Financial Reorganizations Committee

  • Committee Member for the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants - Business Valuations

  • Turnaround Management Association (2005 – Present)

  • Bankruptcy and Financial Reorganizations Committee - New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (2013 – Present)

  • Certified Information Technology Professional (2007 – Present)

  • Accredited in Business Valuation (2009 – Present)

  • Certified in Financial Forensics (2009 – Present)

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (1983 – Present)

  • New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (1987 – Present)

  • Ohio State Society of Certified Public Accountants (1983 – 2010)

  • Manufacturing Alliance Productivity Institute (MAPI) (1991 – 2000)

  • International City/County Management Association (ICMA) (2013 – Present)

  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) (2013 – Present)

  • Rochester Professional Consultants Network (2015 – 2020)

  • Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) (2016 – 2020)

  • American Society of Appraisers (2021 - Present)



CURRENT PUBLICATIONS / RECENT SPEECHES:

  • Presentation to the New York State Society of CPAs - Start-Up Valuations Options, December 2024

  • Startup Observer - “The Guide to Valuing a Start-Up Entity,” September 2024

  • The Credit Authority Business Magazine - “Use Industry Valuation Multiples at your Own Perils,” April 2024

  • Grow Money Business Podcast - “ESOP Opportunities for Business Exits,” March 2024 

  • New York Weekly - “Is AI All It’s Touted to Be?” March 2024 

  • Economic Insider - “Deciphering the True Value of Businesses,” March 2024 

  • CEO Weekly - “Beyond the Balance Sheet,” February 2024 

  • The Credit Authority Business Magazine - “White Collar Crime: Why is Our Insurance so Expensive?” February 2024

  • Valuation Podcast - “The Intricacies of Intellectual Property in Business Valuation,” February 2024 

  • Speaker for NYS Society of CPAs, Strategic Transaction Options: Pros and Cons, October 2023 

  • Valuation Podcast - “The Importance of a Second Valuation Opinion,” August 2023  

  • HR Future Magazine - "Measuring Human Capital" to be Published in 2023 in 3 parts – June, July and August Issues

  • Valuation Podcast - “Exploring ESOP and Employee-Led Buyouts,” May 2023

  • Presentation to the NYS Society of CPA – “Fraud Within Bankruptcy,” Presentation was to Joint Committees the Business Valuation & Litigation Support and Financial Restructuring & Performance Improvement, April, 2023

  • Guest Speaker for the Business Valuation/Litigation Services Annual Conference - NYS Society of CPA, Challenges of Measuring Human Capital, October 2022

  • Speaker at Assigned Counsel Program - “Financial Forensics for Defense Counsel”, April 2022.

  • Lead a discussion panel for NYS Society of CPA's with Bank Committee and the Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee on “The Proper Measurement Methodologies and Continuous Improvement Metrics for Companies with a Focus on Challenged Entities”, October, 2021

  • Guest Speaker for the Business Valuation/Litigation Services Annual Conference - NYS Society of CPA, Challenges in Valuing Distressed Entities, May 2021

  • Speaker at NYS Society of CPA's at a joint presentation for the Litigation Support & Business and Valuations Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committees - Factors in Business Valuation of Distressed/Bankrupt Entities, November 2020

  • Lead a discussion panel for NYS Society of CPA's with Bank Committee and the Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee on Challenges of Current Financing Challenges, July 2020

  • Speaker at NYS Society of CPA's on Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee: Current Bankruptcy & Restructuring Environment, June 2020

  • Speaker at NYS Society of CPA's on Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee: Current Trends and Predictions, November 2019

  • Speaker at NYS Society of CPA's on Valuation: Purpose, Methodology & Application, February 2017

  • Presentation to the NYS Society of CPA's C-Corp Committee - Bankruptcy Consulting Services, January 2017

  • Buffalo Law Journal Guest Column - Effective turnaround programs for distressed health-care systems, July 2016

  • Moderator at NYS Society of CPA's on 2016 Trends in Bankruptcy and Reorganizations, May 2016

  • Speaker at NYS Society of CPA’s on Fraud in Bankruptcies and Distressed Entities, December 2015

  • Moderator at NYS Society of CPA's committee for Bankruptcy and Reorganizations panel - The Other Side of Bankruptcy, September 2015

  • Article – A Tale of Two Turnarounds: A Look at For-Profit Vs. Government Agency Turnarounds – ICMA, April 2014

  • Keynote Speaker for the Utility Claims Management Association, April 2014. Topic: Asset Valuation – Smoke and Mirrors

  • Guest Lecturer – Master's Degree in Financial Forensics Program at Canisius College – Current Trends in Financial Forensics, 2014

  • Presentation to the NYS Society of CPA's (May Meeting) – Root Causes – Turnarounds and Restructuring, May 2014

  • Guest Lecturer – Financial Forensics State University of NY at Fredonia – Case Studies on Financial Forensics, 2014

  • Presentation to the NYS Society of CPA's (December Meeting) – Article 9 –Challenges Associated with Turnarounds, December 2014

  • Article - Article 9 - Challenges Associated with Turnarounds, December 2014