Team Bios
Tim Shanahan
Tim founded VentureSpring, LLC in 2004 to provide corporate renewal and growth consulting to middle market businesses in a variety of industries.
Previously, Tim was Vice President of Water Tower Capital, in which capacity he provided financial consulting, including balance sheet restructuring, valuation analysis, and expert testimony for investors in distressed companies. Water Tower Capital served as the financial advisor to the Official Equity Committee in several high profile bankruptcies, including LTV Steel, Comdisco, Finova and Exide.
Prior to joining Water Tower Capital, LLC, Mr. Shanahan was Vice President, Strategic Planning at Mattel Inc. from 1999 through 2000. Mr. Shanahan led the strategic planning function for the $1.2 billion Boys and Entertainment division, and his direct reports led business development, web development, channel marketing, premiums & promotions and the $10 million direct marketing business for that division. Mr. Shanahan’s strategic planning responsibilities included management of the toy industry research and competitive intelligence functions as well as performing strategic fit and valuation analysis of acquisition candidates.
Mr. Shanahan received a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA with Distinction, both from The University of Michigan.
Stephen Kunkel
Mr. Kunkel is an experienced executive, with senior management, financial, operational and restructuring history, bringing more than thirty years of executive leadership experience across a variety of industries.
Mr. Kunkel has expertise gleaned from a distinguished career as a corporate executive, with demonstrated proficiency in successful business leadership and profitable tenures as a senior executive, including directional roles in large international corporations, extensive experience in corporate governance, financial control and reporting, and operations.
Mr. Kunkel's background includes expertise in leading proactive business restructurings and complex negotiations, profit growth, operations realignment, cost reduction efforts, and a focus on critically assessing essential issues, providing viable financial and operational options, and promoting stakeholder consensus.
Mr. Kunkel has held permanent leadership positions at large, international, publicly traded corporations, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, and has served on a number of boards of directors, including serving as Chairman and on compensation, capital budget and audit committees.
Mr. Kunkel is the author of a significant body of thought leadership, which includes published articles, white papers and conference topics on vendor relationships and negotiations, out-of-court distress resolutions, appropriate revenue forecasting during economic downturns, consignment of inventories, negotiating with constituencies, the early signs of distress, and the proper positioning of enterprises for sale.
Mr. Kunkel is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Turnaround Management Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Commercial Finance Association, various industry counsels and educational forums. He holds degrees in Mathematics and Philosophy, and has studied and promoted progressive facets of business strategy and operations internationally.