Chris Gauvin, VP
CFO, Dream Manager
Chris is a finance executive with a broad range of expertise in accounting, finance, information systems, and strategy. His passion lies in tailoring financial solutions to help small and medium size companies plan and manage for growth. Chris excels at clarifying strategic vision and distilling big picture goals to create scalable processes. Chris is a transformational leader who thinks strategically about the finance function and growth with an entrepreneurial mindset. He strives to cultivate strong relationships built on reliability, common understanding and accountability.
FINANCIAL PLANNING: Developed financial and staff planning models for a service company scaling from $1M to $15M over 15 months. Automated A/P function for a fast-growing healthcare business with realized savings of$2m in the first year and $10m cost avoidance.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS: Lead buy-side acquisition diligence of $225m entity from inception to post-acquisition integration. Managed more than 250 business valuation and due diligence transactions with values ranging from $250K to $30m.
STRATEGY: Spearheaded the 3-year strategic planning process for a newly formed $1B private entity group, which grew more than 15% in the following year. Developed strategic proposals leading to more than 20% in organic 2-year growth creation.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Partnered with a local entrepreneur to scale an existing business from $9m to over $30m within 18 months. Evaluated and drove negotiations for more 6 strategic joint ventures resulting in average top line growth of 20%.
ACCOUNTING & OTHER: Maintains an active understanding of technical accounting concepts including revenue recognition. Completed more than 30 public and private company audits. Valued financial instruments such as swaps, options and intangible assets for transaction and financial reporting purposes.
Performed integrated business modeling to assist management with a public-company’s debt restructuring of approximately $900m.
Relevant Experience
Divisional CFO within SOX responsibility for a $200m P&L VP of Finance with a successful healthcare startup Director of M&A with $1.5B public entity
Director of Finance and Strategy
Education and Community
Master of Accounting – The University of Austin at Texas
Bachelor of Business Administration – Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Chris currently serves as a board member with the local school board and is active within his community. Chris has been a leader in various organizations including Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts of America, CFA Society of Dallas Fort Worth. In his spare time, Chris enjoys training for marathons and coaching sports for his two children. Chris and his family lived in Dallas for more than 15 years before a recent opportunity took them to Baton Rouge, LA. Chris and his family lead an active church life and enjoy participating in local events.