Finding Success as an Aerospace & Defense Supplier Analyst outlooks for the Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry point to significant, continued growth as strong travel and communication demand fuel the commercial sector, and a changing military landscape feeds more defense spending. Small- and mid-sized businesses looking to enter or increase their presence in A&D as suppliers should be encouraged by this view, but they will need to act with awareness and intention to find success. Here, we recap key takeaways from our recent panel participation with A&D industry leaders and s ..read more

Looming Changes to FLSA Requirements and Noncompete Agreements – The Big Picture for Your Business Two imminent changes in employment regulations could significantly impact your business operations and compliance status. Legal objections have been filed that will impact implementation dates and possibly final form. While the final fate and ultimate form of these proposed changes are yet to be entirely determined, it is highly recommended that you take a proactive approach to assessing the depth and breadth of their potential impact on your business. Below, we break down details of the proposed ..read more

Measure Your Business in a Manner That Matters Measure twice, cut once is an adage that’s been cited for centuries. Its literal meaning is to verify the accuracy of measurements before making cuts so that time, material, and effort are not wasted. Its figurative meaning is to plan and prepare appropriately before acting. Both meanings hold absolutely important applications for business. The literal meaning emphasizes accuracy to maximize efficiency and effectiveness, while the figurative can be translated as failing to plan is planning to fail. Measurement can’t be haphazard, however. How you ..read more

Alan Docherty joins vcfo as a Consulting CFO, bringing with him more than 35 years of experience. He is a senior finance, IT, and operations executive with significant experience in strategic transformation, corporate finance, and value creation. From the CFO chair, Alan excels in managing company transformations, specifically when it comes to transactional integration, process improvement, corporate development, and ongoing optimization. His other major strength includes team building, particularly in the development of accounting and finance excellence. Alan is experienced working in public ..read more

Evolving Employee Experience Expectations in 2024 Creating an exceptional employee experience is more than a one-and-done endeavor. As people, markets, and the world around us change, so do employee expectations. Evaluating these shifts and what you need to do to not only create but sustain an optimal environment for your workforce is beneficial to your business. Here, we examine evolving employee experience expectations in 2024 and how to navigate them. Pay Transparency and Compensation Strategy Nine states and several major cities have enacted pay transparency laws to date, and many more are ..read more

Miranda Murphy is an accomplished HR partner with eight years of experience establishing business relationships and managing an array of HR responsibilities. She has expertise in HR policy development, compensation and benefits, employee relations, and compliance, as well as assessing business needs and implementing solutions. Miranda’s HR career began at CH2M Hill, handling HR, benefits, and payroll transactions. She then joined Brown and Caldwell, overseeing new employee training and small group learning for company leaders. Following this, Miranda spent two years at Integrity Locums as HR ..read more

Generative AI is Here. Are Your Policies Ready? If you’re a business owner or executive who doesn’t yet fully understand generative AI, you may be adopting a wait-and-see approach before establishing a policy regarding its use in your workplace. Generative AI, however, is not waiting around and has likely already made its way into your business in some form or another. Here, we examine what generative AI is, the benefits and risks, and considerations for creating a generative AI policy that positions the technology to work for your business, not against it. What is Generative AI? Generative AI ..read more

The Importance of HR Involvement Early in M&A Evaluation In each of the last ten years, between 18,000 and 25,000 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals have taken place in the United States. At the same time, Harvard Business Review notes that 70%-90% of all M&A deals fail. Many companies become a casualty of that latter statistic when they do not get HR sufficiently involved in the early evaluative phases of M&A activity and only engage HR at a surface level during due diligence or even after deal signature. This happens because there’s a tendency for leaders assessing M&A ..read more

vcfo introduces Merle Waterman as our inaugural Fractional Integrator, Entrepreneurial Operating System®. Merle Waterman is a Consulting CFO with more than 30 years of leadership in ecommerce, software, manufacturing, and professional services. Expert at guiding fast-growing start-ups, Merle specializes in helping companies improve their “people operating system” to build profitability. Merle often works as an Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS) integrator, stepping in to help firms execute EOS to get everyone pulling in the same direction. A people-person with an incredibly diverse indust ..read more

vcfo is proud to sponsor the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Award. A returning regional sponsor in the Gulf South program, which includes Central and South Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, this award highlights ambitious founders and leaders whose endeavors demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit, growth, purpose, and impact. “It’s exciting to be part of the nominating committee for entrepreneurs to tell their story on this best-in-class business award platform,” says Ken Doward, Managing Director for vcfo’s Austin market. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates the most accomplished b ..read more