mike lorence

Deliver CEO level conferences on the subject of exit planning, mergers & acquisitions, macroeconomics, private equity, and leveraged buyouts.

Education finance business with a proprietary system that finds, qualifies, and wins free money for graduate students.

Speciality personal care product business that produced customizable bath products pre-scented with a unique fragrance created by the client. Startup was partially funded by the Batten Institute Incubator at the University of Virginia in concert with initial venture funding. Partner now lives in Bermuda.

* Personally received the individual Navy League Leadership Award from a pool of 25,000 Armed Forces personnel stationed in the Pacific. * Selected as best organization out of 3,000 person workforce at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. * Managed $458MM in real property capital and accompanying civilian contract work relating to design, construction, and maintenance. * Served as Program Manager for largest permanent reorganization of Marine Corps' Pacific Headquarters in 60 years. Executed 20 construction and renovation projects affecting 450 flag and general officers and associated staff personnel.

Magnolia Buyout Partners is an ultra targeted niche private equity shop specializing in buyouts of mature, service businesses owned by first generation founders with gross annual sales between $1MM to $50MM (EBITDA $0.1MM - $5MM).

Dr. Mike specializes in delivering powerful, meaty, valuable talks on the subject of how to hire and manage super star sales people. His doctorate dissertation, which features cutting edge research on the science of hiring people (i.e. talent acquisition), is thhe most widely downloaded doctorate dissertation in the world on this topic. Dr. Mike routinely speaks in front of audiences of 300 to 3,000. He has shared the stage with Coach Steve Spurrier, former Head Coach of the Washington Redskins and Florida Gators, Dan Kennedy - America's foremost small business marketing expert, and Samantha DeBianchi, star of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing show.

Growth consulting practice that teaches owners of lower middle market firms (annual sales $1mm-$50MM) how to rapidly scale their businesses for the sole purpose of a lucrative, profitable liquidity event (i.e. exit, full or partial sale, etc). Personally taught, instructed, and influenced over 40,000 small business owners in the U.S. through webinars, published books, and articles. Selected by Voice America Radio to host syndicated radio talk show entitled Major Business. After a nationwide search, personally selected by Vetrepreneur Magazine to be the featured columnist on marketing, sales, and operational improvement strategies. Conceived, planned, and developed a strategic alliance with the U.S. Veterans Business Corporation; a Federal Corporation of the US Congress. Led multiple one on one consulting engagements with lower middle market CEOs on marketing and sales strategies, Lean Six Sigma process improvements, employee leadership, and financial leadership that resulted in an average 200% increase in lead flow in clients’ businesses.

* Professional speaker and writer in the following areas: * Corporate turnarounds and rescues * Executive leadership * Sales and selling systems * Direct response marketing and organic growth * Theory of Constraints and continuous improvement * Talent acquisition and management * Published freelance writing experience: * Vetrepreneur Magazine (monthly readership of 85,000) * Point Innovation Magazine (monthly readership of 35,000) * Journal of Corporate Renewal (monthly readership of 65,000)

* Planned and managed deployments, training, and movement of a 1,000 Marine battalion and $175MM in equipment to multiple areas in the Pacific Rim. * Selected over fifteen peers to serve as U.S. liaison to develop joint force training programs with host nation forces in South Korea, Thailand, and Japan. * Created an inventive training program that increased unit readiness from 65% to 90%. * Implemented the new Marine Corps Martial Arts program resulting in 75% unit proficiency.

Commanded Company of 300 Marines and Sailors and responsible for $25MM of associated weaponry and equipment. Ranked in the top 1% of peers resulting in selection as Company Commander while still a twenty-four year old First Lieutenant. Conceived, planned, and implemented a Company deployment readiness program for early stages of Operation Enduring Freedom. Increased combat readiness 35% through weapons proficiency. Deployed in support of Operation Boomerang, a Humanitarian Aid operation to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Australia, and mainland Japan. Developed strategic training initiatives with host countries resulting in continued bilateral training exercises with the US Government.

* Commanded Platoon of 30 Marines with associated equipment and weaponry. Responsible for all unit Pacific Rim deployments, training, logistics, and welfare of Marines. * Selected over eight peers to serve on the Commanding General's staff for a joint Asian training exercise resulting in a personal citation from the Commanding General for superior performance. * Commanded Platoon during high profile, joint Korean training mission including a show of force exercise at the Demilitarized Zone in North Korea. * Led Platoon through joint deployments with the Japanese Forces in mainland Japan, Royal Thai Marines in various regions of Thailand, and U. S. Forces at the Jungle Warfare Center in Okinawa, Japan.

* Teach Executive MBA courses relating to entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, and talent acquisition * Teach upper level undergraduate elective course in Entrepreneurial Finance * Provide 'real life' practical project work for students in the private equity space

Dissertation title: The Impact Of Systematically Hiring Top Talent: A Study of Topgrading As A Rigorous Employee Selection Bundle Research explored how to hire and manage top talent through the use of Topgrading, and the impact of Topgrading on the firm's ability to create value. Partnered with Dr. Brad Smart, author/founder/CEO of Topgrading and inventor of Jack Welch's famous A Player/B Player/C Player hiring and promotion system. Youngest person ever admitted to this Georgia State University program.

Activities and Societies: As VMI’s Executive Officer (ranked #2 of 1200 cadets during senior year), I led the student effort of female integration, made media appearances on national news coverage, and managed the cadet leadership staff to include all training, operations planning, and logistics needs for the entire VMI Corps of Cadets.