EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Resourceful and pro-active business financial manager with experience in planning, staffing, and implementing response and resources into strategic action for opportunity and growth. Professional financial and consultative experience with intuitive and strong business relationship building skills. This “big picture” understanding allows for greater opportunity control over resources, sales reach and profit margins. Excellent contacts and entry into a vast array of global industries and market segments. Able to source and secure business from all levels of executive personnel, selling complex products and services for short and long contract cycles. Familiar with your company, your products and your account base as well as competitors. I consider myself to be an astute and innovative financial real estate entrepreneur that can add strength and flexibility to your organization quickly and efficiently.
• CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Extensive High Net Worth Family Office experience
Senior member of Drexel Task Force hired to investigate and litigate the suit filed by the FDIC and RTC against Michael Milken. The task force’s actions resulted in a $1 billion settlement.
Personally commended by Secretary of Hud, Jack Kemp, for the work I did in creating public private partnerships resulting in tax credit deals.
Started, grew and successfully ran my own financial consulting firm.
Senior key member of the FDIC “Whitewater” investigation team.
Earlier in my career I started in public accounting and gained hands on experience in working with financial institutions and wealthy private individuals. I was consistently recognized for multi-tasking talents in organization, team leadership, requirements identification and attention to detail in high pressure situations. As my experience grew I was specifically brought in to motivate, initiate and improve strategic business practices and improve accounting processes. I’ve delivered significant and measurable results and benefits for a diverse group of companies. In return, I have been continuously rewarded with new challenges and opportunities to utilize this knowledge and experience to be successful in achieving higher company growth and profitability.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Gary S. Watts
Principal (Owner) – Forensic Financial Partners LLC, Hillview Consulting LLC 1998 – Present
North Tustin, CA
• Interim CEO for troubled Developer/Syndicator of Loft properties in Southern California encompassing approximately $200M of debt.
• Working contracts with government entities, commercial and individual business clients. Contracted to run large cases for firms such as; GlassRatner, XRoads, Navigant, FMV Opinions and Kibel Green.
• Joint Ventured with major construction loan servicing firm (Granite Loan Management) to work on major FDIC engagements relating to D&O litigation, Construction Loan workouts and Verification and Validation contracts.
• Opened west coast office for major east coast consulting firm consistently billing $3M per year.
Served as CFO/Partner for high profile real estate firm and negotiated the purchase of $100M+ of real estate assets.
• Recouped $6M or 66% of losses from a financially troubled homebuilder running the operation for three years.
• Contracted to assist stalled fraud investigation for FDIC securing critical documentation in recovering a multi-million dollar payout for clients.
• Headed the investigation in the first major MBS case on behalf of the FDIC resulting in a major recovery
• Hired as Financial Advisor for High Net Worth Family office. Recreated prior financial statements, filed all tax returns, repositioned investment portfolio, coordinated all litigation support for 26 cases, oversaw settlement negotiations
Partner in Charge – West Coast Advisory Services, Marcum LLP, Accountants and Advisors June 2011 – Sept 2012
Los Angeles, CA
• Managed the defense in a high profile criminal case involving alleged major Ponzi scheme. The defense relates to major real estate valuation issues involving numerous transactions in Caribbean.
• Worked with well-known municipal accounting expert on creation of financial advisory practice for distressed municipalities.
• Worked with several distressed developers on work outs with financial institutions totaling in excess of $500 million dollars of defaulted debt.
• Worked with Managing Partner on several large Retail restructuring cases
Department Manager- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 1991 – 1998
(Resolution Trust Corporation), Irvine, CA and Washington, DC
• Initially hired to serve as a senior member of the “Drexel Task Force” with the Resolution Trust Corporation, which ultimately achieved a $1 billion settlement.
• Selected to with the SEC, FBI and Justice Department to work on high-profile criminal financial investigations involving top government officials and leading financial institutions.
• Identified and resolved undetected fraud issues, while expanding fidelity bond insurance cases from $500,000 to $100 million
Member of the Securities Working Group tasked with reviewing all major securities cases
Senior Vice President – The Dover Group LTD (HNW family office affiliate) 1985 – 1991
Philadelphia, PA
• Coordinated the creation and marketing of a unique tax credit public partnership product for the real estate affiliate of a $1 billion bank maintaining close contact with the SEC and outside counsel during the registration process.
• Monitored and tracked construction projects for a portfolio of over 100 properties
• Drove portfolio growth by 233% in only three years and established a $250 million pipeline involving public partnerships.
• Achieved ROI of up to 40% on acquisitions totaling over $200 million.
Reduced legal fees from $1 million to $150,000 annually by building and leading an in-house legal team.
EDUCATION
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
J.D. Degree
University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
B.S. Degree in Accounting
CERTIFICATION: Licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) (Inactive)