“Building corporate strength through intelligence, experience, and innovation.”
Gene McKenzie is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience in ownership, executive leadership, corporate finance, and measured expansion. Known for his ability to lead companies through complex growth, regulatory, and operational challenges, Gene brings a rare blend of technical skill, strategic foresight, and steady leadership to every endeavor. Throughout his career, he has delivered consistent value to public companies, private enterprises, and startups.
His journey began at Ernst & Young, where he rose to the position of Senior Manager over a decade of service. There, he developed a strong technical foundation in audit, consulting, and financial strategy. Working with emerging businesses and large enterprises, Gene honed his skills in SEC compliance, strategic planning, and business modeling. His experience managing high-end retail boutiques during a leveraged buyout, even featured in the film Pretty Woman, showcased his hands-on versatility and entrepreneurial insight.
Gene continued to build his career at Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), leading business and strategic planning for its $700 million coal division. With responsibility spanning both U.S. and Australian operations, he implemented forward-thinking strategies that drove organizational clarity and financial growth. His creation of analytical tools not only improved forecasting but resulted in over $1 million in annual tax savings—demonstrating his powerful intersection of creativity and financial rigor.
From 1996 to 1999, Gene led Analytical Solutions, Inc., a business consulting firm focused on acquisition analysis and operational strategy. As President and Owner, he oversaw client engagements ranging from M&A due diligence to strategic decision modeling, giving him an intimate understanding of the mechanics behind sustainable business growth and transformation.
Gene then transitioned to International Paper, where he directed finance and information technology for Xpedx National Accounts—a $1 billion business unit. There, he introduced digital innovation through a custom-built web-based reporting system that aggregated data from 17 legacy systems. His leadership realigned finance operations and technology solutions with strategic distribution goals, while successfully managing credit for individual accounts as large as $125 million in exposure.
In 2002, Gene joined StarTek, Inc., a $230 million NYSE-listed business process outsourcing firm, as Controller, soon advancing to Executive Vice President, CFO, Secretary, and Treasurer. His tenure included the successful execution of a $150 million secondary equity offering, the implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, and the implementation of SAP software. Under his leadership, these process improvements along with a reorganization kept costs flat while revenue expanded 30%. He also brought tax work in-house, saving the company $250,000 annually.
Gene’s entrepreneurial spirit took center stage in 2005 when he founded LGM Finance, a niche consumer lending firm designed to support Credit Services Organizations (CSOs) in Texas. As CEO, he built the business from scratch into a $100 million portfolio, raising hundreds of millions in capital through bank lines, mezzanine funding, and equity. He developed the industry’s only fully integrated CSO lending and treasury model—paving the way for new levels of efficiency and compliance in the sector.
After ten years, Gene sold LGM to Integrity Funding and transitioned to a consulting role, continuing as a consultant to bring in additional business and create value-driven solutions.
Gene holds an MBA from the University of Denver and a BBA in Accounting from Abilene Christian University. Though his CPA license has expired, he was previously certified in both Texas and Colorado. Today, he remains active in strategic advisory and board-readiness circles, seeking new opportunities to apply his expertise in leadership, finance, governance, and corporate development. He is particularly intrigued by emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence—and their potential to reshape the future of finance and decision-making.
Those interested in connecting with Gene can find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gene-mckenzie/. Whether serving in an advisory capacity or offering mentorship to fellow leaders, Gene brings a spirit of collaboration and service to every professional relationship.
Character
Gene is driven by integrity, perseverance, and humility. He consistently demonstrates a “roll up your sleeves” mindset, building trusted relationships at every level of an organization.
He thrives on collaboration and takes pride in helping others succeed, whether in the boardroom or on the ground floor.
Knowledge
Gene’s deep experience across leadership, finance, compliance, and strategy provides a rare level of financial literacy and executive insight.
He’s equally comfortable in entrepreneurial startups or publicly traded enterprises and excels at translating data into strategic decisions.
Strategic
Gene is an intelligent strategist who understands both the big picture and the small levers that influence outcomes.
He has a proven record of leading businesses through growth, transformation, and innovation with exceptional foresight and planning.
Communication
Gene’s communication style is clear, concise, and confident—whether addressing Wall Street analysts or internal teams.
He understands how to tailor his message to align with each audience, making him a natural liaison across stakeholder groups.
