MSA’s Experience-Based Advisory Team

Robert L. Turner, III

Mr. Turner has served since 2011 the chief executive officer of Smart Profitability Solutions, LLC, dba smart Safety Gulf Coast, a firm providing comprehensive workforce safety programs for businesses. He continues as the founder and a board member of Management Services & Associates, LLC (“MSA”). Previously, he was the chief executive officer of a large construction trade services firm serving California homebuilders in 2003–2006 before returning to the MSA practice he had founded in 2001 to provide long-term C-level corporate development, strategic, and financial solutions to CEOs and boards of middle-market firms.

Mr. Turner has relationships with wood flooring, building materials distribution, industrial construction services, and capital providers. He enjoyed a long career with Georgia-Pacific Corporation through 1998, including responsibility for the $1.8 billion specialty building products unit of the distribution business.

Bob is a frequent public speaker and author regarding the impact the 2008 recession is having on business liquidity issues. His published articles include: “Funding Working Capital in the New Economy,” NAWLA Bulletin; “Think Like a CFO: Cash is King in Today’s Economy,” California Delivery Association’s Dispatch News; “CEO as CFO – Generating Cash in Today’s Economy,” Messenger & Courier World Magazine; “CEO as Chief Cash Officer,” Courier World Magazine; “CEO as Chief Working Capital Officer,” Florida Building Materials Association eBlueprint News.

Mr. Turner's firm, MSA, has developed working capital-focused member programs for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors ("NAW"), North American Wholesale Lumber Association ("NAWLA"), Southern Building Materials Association ("SBMA"), and the Florida Building Materials Association ("FBMA").

Bob has served on several boards including the management advisory board of BeavEx, Inc. from 2006–2011 during a growth period leading to a successful capitalization event in 2011 for this nationwide transportation logistics firm. He is a graduate of Kansas State University and the Graduate School of Credit & Financial Management of NACM at Stanford University.

Speaking Engagements:

  • Sheet Metal Air Conditioning National Association (aka SMACNA), “Improving bottom line profitability with workforce safety”, Myrtle Beach 2017
  • NAWLA Leadership Conference, “Funding Working Capital in the New Economy,” 2012
  • National Transportation Logistics Association, “CEO as CFO” 2009
  • National Transportation Logistics Association, “Scaling Business for Growth,” 2006”
  • National Building Materials Manufacturer’s Credit Group, With the North American Board of Trade, “Workouts and Turnarounds,” 2001
  • Private Equity Conference - Saunders, Karp, and Megrue, “Growth Company Showcase” 2003
  • National PartnerShipping Council, “Evaluating Your Supplier’s Financial Health” 2009
  • G-P Corp. Leadership Program, “Problem Solving & Project Mgmt. to Execute Strategies”
  • G-P Corp. Leadership Program, “Problem Solving & Project Management for Executives”
  • Coles School of Business at Kennesaw State University, “Entrepreneurial Career Paths”
  • Rockhurst University School of Business, “Commercial Credit as a Growth Tool”

George A. MacConnell

George MacConnell’s 30 years of business experience includes developing new companies and running large businesses. His experience with early-stage companies includes successfully introducing new business models in two different industry segments in the past three years. His large company experience includes 11 years as the operating executive responsible for the nation’s largest wholesale distributor of building products with sales of $5 billion. George led the development and implementation of a breakthrough strategy to improve productivity and customer service and position the business for long-term profitable growth. The restructuring effort reconfigured a network of 150 stand-alone sales/distribution centers into an integrated business of two state-of-the-art sales centers and 70 logistics points, which was accomplished in 2 and 1/2 years. He was selected by National Home Center News as one of “Ten People Who Made a Difference in 1996.”

A proven leader in operating both large and small P&L businesses, George was a corporate officer with Georgia-Pacific and was one of five operating officers to serve on the executive management committee. His extensive experience in operating a traditional business with stable systems in sales, marketing, purchasing, and physical distribution was augmented by leading the development and implementation of the largest and most complex business restructuring in the building products industry. Many have written about leading major change. George is one of a handful of business leaders to actually do it.

In 1999, George began assisting start-up companies with unique technologies and novel business models. He was a director and executive VP of business development for Fibermarket.com, an electronic market for recycled fiber. In 2000, George joined USBuild as the CEO.

USBuild is a supply chain and technology solution for large production homebuilders. In both start-up companies, he led the fundraising, developed and implemented go-to-market plans, as well as general business development.

George was educated at Northeastern University, where he majored in business and economics. He is a member of the university’s corporation and national council. He received advanced training at The University of Michigan in finance, strategy development, and implementation. He serves on the board of directors for John Wieland Homes.