Biography

Ralph C. Hockman, CPA, MBA, Principal

Ralph Hockman is a seasoned financial executive with thirty-five years experience in finance, operations, and sales/marketing. He has helped companies achieve sustained growth, profitability, and increased shareholder value. Ralph’s experience leading the financial function includes public and privately owned and large and small companies ranging in size from $5 million to $4 billion in sales.

In 2003 Ralph became SR Vice President of Finance (CFO) for New Standard Corporation, a privately held manufacturer.  He was responsible for all financial, administrative, IT, and human resources activities and to provide general business advice/insight in other functional areas.  Ralph led the acquisition of a “Brownfield” manufacturing site including negotiated economic incentives worth $1.3 million.  He was a key member of a team which negotiated long-term supply agreements with two key customers worth $215 and $43 million in sales,  respectively.  Ralph assisted the CEO and President in the establishment of an advisory board and to recruit and develop a senior management team to enable ownership transition.  He also recruited, coached and mentored the company’s Controller who was appointed CFO beginning 2008.  

In the mid 90’s Ralph became Vice President of Finance/Administration for Tate Access Floors, Inc., a privately owned manufacturer.  He was responsible for the accounting, tax, administration and IT functions.  Within the first year Ralph was appointed Vice President and General Manager of Operations where he added functional responsibility for all aspects of operations to his previous responsibilities.  During Ralph’s tenure with Tate, he managed acquisitions of Tate’s largest competitor and a UK based licensee.  He also managed the resource plan to double capacity within three years, from less than $100 million to $200 million annually, which included a $25 million capital plan and increasing employment from 300 to 900 associates.  Under Ralph’s management, productivity improved by 20% from 68% to over 80%, plant capacity increased from 110,000 to 220,000 units per week, R.O.C. improved from 14.1% to 42.7% and the company was named as one of “Pennsylvania’s Best 100 Places to Work”.  In early 2001 the company completed a successful sale to The Kingspan Group, PLC, a publicly held building products company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.  Ralph was named Vice President of Sales & Marketing; a position he held until 2003.

In the early 90’s Ralph became Vice President of Finance for Courtney Industries, Inc.  Ralph developed the financial resource for this $5 million company, taking it from a checkbook accounting to a simple integrated financial system.  He assisted the CEO in the negotiation, due diligence, and after the sale integration activities in the company’s acquistion by GEO Specialty Chemicals.

In the late 80’s as controller for the Modular Division of The Ryland Group, Ralph managed the integration a $75 million internal manufacturing operation with the $75 million Modular Division. During the early  80’s Ralph was Regional Audit Manager, Assistant Controller, and Plant Controller at a number of Bethlehem Steel Corporation facilities.  As Plant Controller, Sparrows Point Plant, Ralph had financial responsibilities for over $400 million capital plan as the corporation significantly invested in modernizing it’s key east coast plant.

In the mid 70’s, Ralph Hockman, a CPA with Ernst & Whinney assisted numerous clients in the manufacturing, retail and banking sectors.  As Controller and Assistant Treasurer at Lehigh Structural Steel Company, a previous client, Ralph was responsible to manage the accounting and treasury functions.

Ralph Hockman is a Certified Public Accountant and is a graduate of Drexel University with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance.