2. Ben is a Senior Partner with The Howatt Group, a Charlotte area consulting firm providing contract CFO, corporate finance, operations, and accounting work on a cost-effective basis for small to mid-size companies (SMB’s). He has worked with 100+ SMB’s on projects encompassing financial reporting, financial statement clean-up, loan amendments and renegotiation, raising capital, business profitability, strategic and growth planning, budgeting, forecasts, mergers & acquisitions, valuation, and special projects. Ben began his career with First Union National Bank (now Wachovia). He was a Vice President in the Debt Finance Group, where he underwrote, negotiated, and managed multi-million dollar debt facilities associated with middle-market companies, private equity groups, and lender syndicates. Previously, he assisted with the bank’s corporate development (mergers and acquisitions) as a Due Diligence Coordinator. Prior to that time, he held positions in financial and business analysis and served as an area controller for regional markets within the bank. Ben received his MS in Economics/Finance Concentration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a BBA in accounting from the University of North Florida, and a degree in communications from the University of Florida. He is a licensed CPA in North Carolina, and has extensive training and experience in business valuation. Ben has written articles for the Charlotte Business Journal, and has taught continuing education on behalf of the NC Association of CPAs, Lorman Education Services, and the North Carolina Banker’s Association/Small Business Administration (SBA) co-sponsored Lender’s Conference. His current and past involvement with various civic and professional organizations include the North Carolina Association of CPAs, North Mecklenburg Rotary, Arts & Science Council, Charlotte Chamber, National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, SCORE, the Financial Executives Networking Group, and the US National Whitewater Center. Ben Howatt, CPA Senior Partner [email_address] 704.377.1992 (office) Consultant Biography