Morrie Aaron
President & Senior Managing Director

Morrie Aaron is the founder and president of MCA Financial Group, Ltd. He is nationally recognized and highly regarded as an expert in the business advisory industry with over 25 years of experience in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Formation, Restructuring and Interim crisis management. Morrie has consulted to companies with revenues ranging from $5 million to $1 billion across a broad range of industries, including real estate, manufacturing, retail, technology, and distribution. Morrie has successfully negotiated business and asset sale transactions, debt restructuring transactions, and reorganizations.

Prior to founding MCA Financial Group, Morrie served as an executive officer of two public companies in the roles of chief financial officer, treasurer, and operations manager. He spent 10 years with Arthur Andersen in New York and Phoenix, where he specialized in turnaround consulting, corporate finance / M&A, and accounting.

Morrie graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Accounting and received an M.B.A. in Management and Finance from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He lectured at the Wharton School and The Pennsylvania State University on business turnarounds, and he was an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School of Business at Arizona State University, where he taught a course on business turnarounds.
Morrie was a director of an Arizona-based public company and serves on the boards of non-for-profit organizations. He was a Certified Turnaround Professional by the Turnaround Management Association, and he is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of New York.

Morrie graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Accounting and received an M.B.A. in Management and Finance from Columbia University. He lectured at the Wharton School and The Pennsylvania State University on business turnarounds, and he was an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School of Business at Arizona State University, where he taught a course on business turnarounds.

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Keith Bierman
Senior Managing Director

Keith Bierman is a Senior Managing Director with MCA Financial Group. Keith has extensive experience in representing both debtors and creditors in the areas of business turnarounds, financial restructurings, Chapter 11 business reorganizations, divestures, mergers and acquisitions, business valuations, financial management, and performance improvement. He works closely and diligently with boards of directors and executive management to formulate reorganization plans and implement turnaround plans, including organization changes, sales strategies, change of capital structure, capital raising, negotiation with key vendors, customers and other parties, working with legal counsel both in an out of court. Keith has served as a court appointed receiver, trustee, or special master in numerous cases across many industries. He frequently acts as an expert witness in complex litigation matters. Keith advises on numerous other matters, such as valuation, damages analysis, product strategy, sales of assets, mergers and acquisitions, and due diligence matters. Keith’s industry experience is broad and includes aviation, aerospace and defense, mining, manufacturing, retail, homebuilding, construction, real estate, financial services, commercial lending, and information technology.

Prior to joining MCA Financial Group, Keith served as the Controller for Homebid, a real estate technology services provider, where he managed all aspects of the finance and accounting department. Keith also worked at KPMG, LLP, in the Assurance and Business Advisory Practice, where he managed all aspects of audits and consulting engagements for private and public companies in various industries.

Keith graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Accounting He is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Arizona and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

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Stacie Witten
Senior Managing Director

Stacie Witten is a Senior Managing Director with MCA Financial Group. Stacie has over 18 years of experience in finance and accounting. She has significant experience in the areas of business analysis, accounting operations, cash management, and financial systems, including establishing and managing complex financial systems. She works closely with clients to identify operational strengths and weaknesses, to develop plans to improve cash flow, and to execute changes that lead to greater profitability. She has consulted in a broad range of industries, including healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, real estate, mortgage lending, restaurant, and other service industries. Stacie has most recently been involved in receivership and forensic accounting engagements, managing the financial operations for a continuing-care retirement community, and advising on financial restructuring, forecasting, and refinance activities for troubled companies.

Prior to joining MCA Financial Group, Stacie served as the V.P. of Financial Systems of Employee Solutions, Inc., a publicly traded company with revenues of $900 million, where she oversaw all facets of accounting operations and financial systems including participation in mergers and acquisitions. Prior to Employee Solutions, Stacie held corporate controller positions for private companies in both the restaurant and the import/distribution industries. In these positions she managed all aspects of the financial and accounting operations, including developing banking and auditor relationships, financial forecasting, and redesigning financial systems.

Stacie holds a B.S. in accounting from Bowling Green State University.

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Jim Ball
Senior Managing Director

Jim Ball is a Senior Managing Director with MCA Financial Group. Jim has over 30 years of experience in the Hospitality Industry. His focus is on the turnaround, operations, strategic planning and asset management of hotels, resorts, country clubs and golf courses. He has managed new construction, renovation and expansion projects as well as the acquisition and disposition of hotel assets.

Prior to joining MCA Financial Group, Jim served as Vice President and Managing Director of the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa; Vice President of The Woodlands Hospitality Group and Managing Director of The Woodlands Resort and Country Club; and General Manager for both Marriott and Wyndham Hotels. He has served as President of the local hotel association in both Austin, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona and has served on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association and the International Association of Conference Centers.

Jim graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Economics. He is a Certified Hotel Administrator.

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John Boyd
Senior Managing Director

John Boyd is a Senior Managing Director for MCA Financial Group. John focuses on providing strategic real estate advice and managed real estate services to real estate lenders and investors.

John has over 20 years of experience in real estate development and capital markets. John has managed all aspects of the real estate development process, including market research, planning, land selection, negotiation of purchase and sale of land, product development, project budget, marketing plans, lease negotiation and sale of buildings. He has been involved in the development of over $500 million in real estate developments. Additionally, John has extensive experience in structuring and negotiating real estate capital markets transactions and has produced, structured and managed nearly $1 billion of institutional debt and equity capital.

Prior to joining MCA Financial Group, John was a Senior Director of real estate development with Opus West Corporation, one of the largest commercial development companies in the US. Prior to Opus, John was the principal of Atrium Real Estate Group where he provided real estate development and capital markets consulting services. John was also Senior Vice President of finance for a multifamily development company and was a Vice President for the western region real estate group of Bank One.

John has a B.S. in Finance from Arizona State University. John is a member of the Real Estate Investment Advisory Counsel and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

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James Donley
Managing Director / Designated Broker

James Donley is a Director for MCA Financial Group and Designated Broker of MCA Brokerage Services. James has a rich background in real estate development, finance, and accounting. He is involved in both commercial and residential development. At MCA James specializes in market analysis and disposition of assets. MCA has a broad range of assets under management including, land, finished lots, multifamily, high-rise residential, retail and office space. James has managed the marketing and sales process of residential subdivisions with upwards of 6000 finished lots, office buildings, 400 residential condominiums, real estate bank notes, and projects under development.

Prior to joining MCA, James was Chief Operating Officer and Designated Broker for Lawrence & Geyser Development Corp. James was Vice-President and a member of the executive management team for Donley Service Center. James also served on the Board of Directors for Pinnacle Bank.

James has a B.S. in accounting and finance from the University of Arizona. He is licensed with the Arizona Department of Real Estate. James serves on the boards of local non-profit organizations.

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Jack Brungardt
Managing Director

Jack Brungardt is a Managing Director with MCA Financial Group. Jack specializes in litigation consulting, dispute analysis, damage analysis, financial analysis, product and customer profitability studies, operational reviews, and strategic market analysis. Jack has a strong background in business valuation and real estate appraisal, corporate finance and accounting, and cash and treasury management. Jack has worked on litigation cases involving utility companies, franchise operations, manufacturing, real estate, and other industries.

Prior to joining MCA Financial Group, Jack served as the Senior V.P. of Financial Planning & Treasurer of Employee Solutions, Inc., a national publicly traded firm with revenues of $900MM, where he oversaw all facets of financial planning, pricing and analysis as well as the cash management and treasury functions. Prior to Employee Solutions, Jack was a Manager in the Economic & Financial Consulting Division of Arthur Andersen LLP where was a Certified Public Accountant specializing in corporate recovery services and litigation support services. Jack also has worked internationally as a public auditor, for the predecessor of Ernst & Young, LLC, in Cambridge, England and he has experience with a commercial real estate valuation and appraisal firm in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jack holds a B.S. in finance and M.B.A. with an emphasis in finance and accounting from Arizona State University.

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Karrilyn is a Managing Director with MCA Financial Group. She specializes in corporate accounting, financial management and restructuring solutions for clients. Karrilyn has advised both debtors and creditors in the reorganization process by providing management oversight, creditor negotiation expertise, collateral security and strategic business planning. She has assisted in the successful sale and financing transition of several operating entities, resulting in repayment of both secured and unsecured interests. She has also been involved in several asset liquidation strategies to facilitate investor capital returns. Karrilyn has provided services to clients through various receiverships and bankruptcy proceedings, litigation support, and financial consulting engagements in numerous industries including real estate development and acquisition, mortgage, agricultural, healthcare, automotive and retail distribution.

Karrilyn worked with a National public accounting firm in Phoenix, Arizona for five years then with a regional consulting firm for one year prior to joining MCA. Karrilyn has provided professional audit and accounting services to various entities in industries including financial services, retail, manufacturing and distribution, real estate, healthcare and construction. Karrilyn has been trained and designated as an Internal Control Specialist while in public accounting.

Karrilyn graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University in 1999 with a B.S. degree in accounting. Karrilyn is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Arizona. She is a member of the AICPA and Arizona Society of CPAs. For the past four years, Karrilyn has served on the board of directors for a local non-profit foundation, which raises money for various children’s charities in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

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Paul Roberts
Managing Director

Paul Roberts is a Managing Director with MCA Financial Group. Paul specializes in operational and financial restructurings, dispositions, and liquidations of underperforming or overleveraged companies to maximize stakeholder values. Paul’s financial, operational, and restructuring experience includes companies in homebuilding, real estate, manufacturing, retail, semi-conductor, equipment rental, and medical diagnostic. Paul is involved in all aspects of the restructuring process, including the development and implementation of capital structure solutions, strategic business plans, short-term turnaround and funding strategies, and guiding companies during crisis situations.

Paul has worked with numerous companies on out of court restructurings as well as Chapter 11 proceedings, including the successful restructuring and sale of national chain of imaging diagnostic centers, a Phoenix-based pool-builder, and a national retailer of subscription-based wireless services. Debt restructurings include $150 million in debt of a Phoenix-based homebuilder. Liquidations include a Phoenix-based heavy equipment rental company and a Utah-based window manufacturer.

Paul has more than 15 years of experience in corporate finance, operations management, and treasury management, having served as CFO of a $400 million (sales) privately held retailer of subscription-based wireless services, treasurer of a $2 billion (sales) private equity-backed rollup of a homebuilding materials manufacturer and supplier, and treasurer of a $1 billion (sales) publicly traded national retailer.

Paul earned a B.B.A. in finance from Texas A&M University. He is a certified cash manager.

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Ross Seibert
Managing Director

Ross Seibert is a Managing Director with MCA Financial Group. Ross is based in San Diego, California and advises MCA clients who are based or otherwise conduct business in Southern California. His experience includes all matters related to SEC and private reporting, improving operating efficiencies, implementing appropriate internal controls, budgeting, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, advising senior management and boards, and restructuring distressed companies.

Prior to joining MCA Financial Group, Ross had over 13 years of experience with Deloitte in both the Audit and Computer Assurance Services divisions managing clients in diverse industries including real estate, construction, banking, investments, software, health care, manufacturing and international. He also served for 10 years as CFO of a medical diagnostic company.

Ross has an M.B.A. in Finance from San Diego State University and a B.S. in Accounting from Indiana University. He is a California licensed Certified Public Accountant.

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Thomas Smith, III
Director

Tom Smith is a Director with MCA Financial Group, Ltd. Tom has expertise and experience in financial advisory services including corporate & real estate finance. He provides financial and operation restructuring and turnaround services to debtors, creditors and other stakeholders experiencing unfavorable situations arising from liquidity problems, over-leverage, under-performance, right-sizing or other business transition issues. Tom works closely with management to assess a company’s long-term viability and business strategy; prepare business plans; manage cash flow and working capital; negotiate asset sales; and identify sources of new capital. Tom’s industry experience includes advisory and lending services to national and local, residential and commercial developers and prominent corporate, institutional and government entities.

Prior to joining MCA, Tom worked in the real estate managed assets group at JPMorgan Chase. While at JPMorgan Chase he helped successfully manage the portfolio of land / homebuilding transactions jointly underwritten by the Investment and Commercial Bank and a portfolio of local homebuilders and land bankers. Tom began his tenor at JPMorgan Chase in the Middle Market group serving clients with annual sales revenues of $10 to $500 million.

Tom graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Finance.

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Brian McHugh
Director

Brian recently joined MCA as a Director after completing a Masters in Business Administration at the University of Oregon. As a graduate student, Brian worked as a consultant to companies in the sports industry including Nike, the National Basketball Association, and the Basketball Federation of India. He has assisted companies with the formulation of internal control strategies and operating procedures surrounding the financial reporting process, and enhanced budgeting and forecasting systems to improve accuracy and relevance of information. He has performed a comprehensive analysis on the effectiveness of retail marketing elements within the Sporting Goods category, and provided suggestions for improving the return on investment for marketing expenditures in this area. Brian also crafted optimal revenue generation models and expansion plans for the launch of new professional sports leagues to capitalize on emerging opportunities for fan development, corporate partnerships, and media distribution. Brian has provided professional services to clients in various industries including professional sports, sports apparel, financial services, agriculture, government contracting, not-for-profit, education, and construction.

Prior to attending the University of Oregon, Brian spent three years in the Phoenix office of McGladery & Pullen, LLP, a national public accounting firm. At McGladery, Brian was a member of the Financial Services group and specialized in audits of community banks and mortgage brokers throughout the Southwest.

Brian graduated with an M.B.A. from the University of Oregon and received a B.S. in accounting from Northern Arizona University, where he was a member of the Men’s Basketball team and Beta Alpha Psi professional fraternity. He is currently working towards finalizing the application process for becoming a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Arizona.

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John Swedler
Director / Construction Specialist

John Swedler is a Director and Construction Specialist with MCA Real Estate Advisory Group. John specializes in construction, land development, real estate, and all issues surrounding property management. John has over 15 years of experience in construction management and in residential and commercial real estate construction and development. He brings expertise in construction management, budget preparation and review, job cost analysis, code compliance, construction contract negotiation, quality assurance, construction systems management, and operational procedures and organization. He advises on construction damages and he serves as both an independent third party quality inspector and as an independent construction process consultant. John also specializes in code compliance and municipal negotiations, including code interpretation and permit application and extension issues.

John is highly skilled in the area of operational procedures for warranty and construction defects. He establishes and implements operation systems and procedures for the entire building process, from land acquisition to the completion of vertical construction to the end of the warranty period. John is a veteran in reviewing and writing thorough and effective sub-contractor contracts and scopes of work.

John has a B.S. in accounting from the Northern Illinois University. John is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of Illinois.

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Chris Walker
Director

Chris Walker is a Director with MCA Financial Group. Chris has a heavy background in real estate lending and finance and extensive experience dealing with mortgage lenders and loan servicing companies. Chris’s primary areas of focus include real estate, retail, banking, and financial services; he specializes in asset debt restructuring, structured debt financing, private money financing, operations/strategic business management, process reengineering, and economic and financial analysis. He has more than ten years of experience in operational and strategic management consulting and capital markets finance. Chris’s industry experience includes real estate, banking and financial services, retail, restaurant, and consumer products.

Prior to MCA Financial Group, Chris spent 8 years as a Capital Markets Debt Broker, where he facilitated transactions on a myriad of commercial real estate assets. Chris also has been a Principle in several businesses serving in various functions including operations and finance.

Chris received an M.B.A. in finance from Arizona State University. He has a B.S. in business administration from the University of Kansas, where he was an NCAA-All American Tennis player. Chris is a licensed commercial mortgage broker through the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions. Chris volunteers with a non-profit organization that works with underprivileged youth, who aspire to attend college via athletic scholarship

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