Raleigh, NC –October 18, 2007- Family Business Institute, the leading source of expertise in family and closely-held business, is proud to announce the hiring of Rick Jefcoat as a Senior Consultant. Jefcoat will manage FBI’s Performance Roundtable Program; an industry specific peer review program for CEOs.

Jefcoat has expertise in many areas including turnaround consulting, strategic planning, best practices, accounting and control systems, information systems, continuous improvement, QA, mergers and acquisitions, retail operations, lean manufacturing, financial planning, and more. Throughout his career Jefcoat has positioned companies to be profitable as well as marketable. Recently, Jefcoat purchased a distressed manufacturing firm and ultimately consummated the sale of the company to an emerging defense business.

As the Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations for UPC, Inc., Jefcoat increased the annual sales revenue from $250,000 to over $18 million, whereupon he engineered the sale of the company for 12 times EBITDA. Jefcoat was formerly employed with KPMG in several roles: CPA, auditor, consultant, and senior manager. While with KPMG, Rick consulted with well known companies like General Dynamics, Bell Helicopter, Louisiana Bancshares, Sysco Corporation, Louisiana Land & Exploration, Texaco, Tidewater Marine, Federal Home Loan Bank Board, and the Resolution Trust Corporation.

“Rick’s knowledge of fundamental business management as well as finance and operations make him a perfect Roundtable consultant,” said Wayne Rivers President of Family Business Institute. “Rick will bring a unique approach to family business issues in the Roundtable groups that will prove valuable to all members.”