(Photo above: Andrew Hunzicker, CFOBend tackling Vicious Fish, 5.13d, Smith Rock| by Julien Havac)
Looking to seasoned, local leaders poised to mentor Central Oregon through its current economic climate of growth and change.
When Andrew Hunzicker, founder of CFOBend (and newly launched website), discusses the climate of commerce in Central Oregon, he brings a broad perspective. Having visited Terrebonne’s infamous Smith Rock as a climber since 1988, becoming a Bend vacation home owner in 2007 and a full-fledged resident in 2011, Hunzicker has seen many changes in our region and all through the eyes of a chief financial officer.
Since obtaining his CPA in 1995, and before relocating to Bend, he worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers and numerous energy companies in Oklahoma. Hunzicker has even launched a board game, Capture, through Kickstarter, which is now produced by a national game company, Game Salute.
Currently as a contractor, he explains much of his professional work is as a CFO, investor and volunteer in the Economic Development of Central Oregon’s Stable of Experts. Through a gentle southern accent he says, “Audit support, preparations for mergers and exits and startup launches are some of the needs of my clientele. For startups, they need oversight for policies and procedures in accounting and bookkeeping, established internal controls, help with capitol, building a financial model and due diligence with lenders, bankers and investors.”
RES Equine in Redmond, who won the Bend Venture Conference in 2011, Agere Pharmaceuticals (now Patheon), Nichole Michelle Home Decor Boutique, Eco Winter and Hydaway Bottle are some of the local companies Hunzicker has provided services to recently.
Hunzicker fervently cautions local business leadership to consider the relationship between the state of a company’s finance department and company value. Particularly, this can affect an exit. “Poor financials can kill deals all together,” he says. “Some people say they are never selling and thus don’t have to worry about the conditions of their financials. But almost everyone has an exit at some point. A partnership can end, an unexpected death, inheritance or merger are just a few unpredictable changes that can occur.”
He believes a company of any size can benefit from CFO services. “A company can easily be taken from a small size to a big exit with a part-time CFO. A contracted CFO is an advantage. You get many of the benefits but not the full time cost to the company.”
Comparing and contrasting commerce variables from industry in other parts of America, Hunzicker says he sees housing, private and commercial, as the biggest challenge to local industry and company culture as the main draw. Having experienced the day-to-day grind of industry in cities across the nation, Hunzicker says, “professional environments are more oriented to work life balance here.
“At an energy company, folks are working 40-60 hours a week. Locally, companies like G5 allow employees to take half days on Fridays in the summer. You would rarely see folks wearing coats and ties doing business. Even lawyers and bankers are often dressed casually. It’s okay to talk about recreation and the outdoors in the business environment here. In the Midwest talk in the office stays more focused on work or maybe sporting events. The quality of life here cannot be beaten.”
Pointing to diversity in industries he says, “Although the economy in Bend is booming at the moment, I don’t think we need to be afraid of another market collapse. Local industry is far more diverse now than it was in 2007. EDCO has established the cluster groups, from food/beverage to manufacturing and technology, Bend runs the gamut. Angel networks and conferences which fund innovation are integral to the diversity of industry as well.”
He is quick to say and advises other self starters that being a volunteer with the EDCO’s Stable of Experts and working with Jim Coonan really helped in, “getting my name out there and known for my skill set when I was first in Bend fulltime.”
Having initially been drawn to the area for rock climbing, in closing Hunzicker explains, “I have been climbing since 1978, almost 40 years. Smith ranks globally amongst the best for sport climbing. Climbers often work a project route for a long time before they cultivate the skills and knowledge to complete the route. To bolt or not to be, one of the two hardest routes in the world when first established, has been a project of mine for over two years. To keep working that climb I’ve needed to be persistent and persevere, face obstacles and never give up.”
Whether commerce or climbing, Hunzicker believes the same skills are required.
Andrew Hunzicker, CPA
405-990-4370
andrew@cfobend.com
CFOBend.com
