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Silver Fox Advisors History Corner - March 2026

Silver Fox Advisor's History Corner

The Silver Fox Advisor organization is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, and over the course of the 2026 calendar year we will be sharing with you some of our history and memories in our Monthly Newsletter. Each month we will feature a brief write—up on some of the more historical highpoints of the past 40 years in this “Silver Fox Advisors’ History Corner”. We hope you find this information of interest, and you will probably know or have heard of some of the individual Silver Fox Advisors who made the organization what it is today.

One of the Silver Fox Advisors’ Signature Programs is its CEO Roundtable Program. The CEO Roundtable concept got started under the leadership of Silver Fox Advisors Tom Gillis and Monte Pendleton and was originally known as the President Club. Later the name was changed to the CEO Roundtable Program and under the leadership of Silver Fox Advisor William J. Spitz the CEO Roundtable Program was joint-ventured with one of the Silver Fox Advisor’s outreach partners. Although this joint venture partnership was successful, the program was rolled back under the exclusive offerings of the Silver Fox Advisors.

Today, Silver Fox Advisor Michel Prive Chairs the CEO Roundtable Program, and there are more than 20 CEO Roundtables that meet regularly (usually monthly) around the city. There is no charge to be a member of these Roundtables. The only requirements are that members be the owner(s) of the business, the business has been in operation for three years or more, the business has at least three employees and the business’ annual revenues are at least $750,000. 

In addition, the Silver Fox Advisors know that many non-profit charitable organizations have some of the same business-related issues that the for-profit business segment, has so the Silver Fox Advisors has Roundtables for non-profit entities. 

Most small businesses do not have a board of directors that the business owner is responsible to or that they can present issues and plans to for input, guidance, and direction, so these Roundtables can serve as the vehicle for a small business owner to present ideas and plans in a safe environment and seek input from their peer business owners.

Further, these Roundtables are a great forum for small business owners to exchange hot business topic information and discuss the “what to do” and “what not to do” in running a small business. 

If this sounds likes something that you would like to participate in, please visit the Silver Fox Advisor’s website and click on the CEO Roundtable icon to learn more or sign-up to become a Roundtable member. 

Silver Fox Advisors are proven business leaders who advise, coach, consult, and mentor business leaders, CEO Roundtables, and entrepreneurship programs.

Silver Fox Advisors have been sharing their knowledge, experience, skills, and wisdom since 1986. For more information, visit: www.silverfox.org

Leadership Training - February Leadership Situation

THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING/MENTORING CORNER

In the August 2025 Newsletter we started a series called “The Leadership/Mentoring Corner” in which we posed a thought-provoking situation for you to think about and put yourself into asking yourself – “What are your next steps”. Below is the situation that was in the February 2026 Newsletter.

FEBRUARY LEADERSHIP SITUATION

Fred owns a machine shop which he started 30 years ago. The Company does $7.5 million a year in revenues. Fred has a Mechanical Engineering degree from Texas A & M. He also is a degreed metallurgist. Fred never had any interest in financial matters; in fact, he has never even balanced a checkbook. Fred has always relied on others to run the business office and accounting departments. 

Fred also doesn’t think the business is large enough to have degreed finance or accounting specialists on staff; thus, the business' accounting department is staffed with one bookkeeper, who has been with the Company since it started and a couple of individuals with high school educations who have been with the Company for 20 years.

One day, the bookkeeper lets Fred know she is leaving the Company, effective immediately, to move to Florida to be with her aging parents who need health-care assistance. Neither of the accounting department employees are interested in moving toa leadership role, nor do they have the capabilities to do so. Fred decides to seek someone with an accounting degree from a temp agency to replace the individual who is leaving.

After about 90 days the temporary accounting department head comes to Fred and discloses a number of issues in the accounting department that are being and have been done incorrectly for years, and the Company has not been as profitable as past financial statements have reported. Further, revenues have been off the past year. Sales have dropped to $5.0 million, and cash flow is very tight; several suppliers have closed down their open accounts and placed the Company on a cash basis. Further, several customers have stretched out paying the Company, and there are a number of accounts receivable over 90 days past due.

What should Fred’s next steps be?

Please provide us a brief write-up of what Fred’s next steps? Send your write-up to Lynn Rosado at [email protected]

In our March 2026 Newsletter, a team of Silver Fox Advisors will provide responses to what he or she would have recommended to Fred that he should do based on the situation detailed above.

If you need assistance in becoming a better leader, I recommend you start by contacting the Silver Fox Advisors. Silver Fox Advisors are former or present business owners themselves, and they have leadership experience in running a business, and in some cases several businesses, and have dealt with unforeseen and unplanned situations throughout their careers. We encourage you to visit our website at www.silverfox.org to select a Silver Fox Advisor and also to learn more about the Silver Fox Advisors, as well as our great programs and community outreach endeavors.