Graham Harper Consulting LLC

What We Do

The Graham Harper Consulting practice can be delineated into two primary functions: capital markets and consulting services. The capital market segment is focused on capital raises, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity (PE), traditional lending programs, and leveraged buyout (LBO) transactions. Over the years we have successfully consummated transactions across all the aforementioned categories. Business advisory services are provided to clients nationwide in a variety of professions and industries. We focus here on improving business efficiency and strategic innovation by developing and implementing successful solutions. We have advised numerous medical technology and device companies on sales, growth, and strategic initiatives. Our advice is always direct and honest, and produces tangible results that creates value for the underlying businesses. Another aspect of our consulting practice is the preparation and review of business plans. Through our affiliated company, Biz Plan Review, we are equipped to quickly understand the relevant drivers of a business and communicate those ideas effectively to potential investors.

Consulting Services

In addition to capital raising endeavors, Graham Harper Consulting provides consulting and advisory services in a number of capacities. Our consultants average more than 20 years of experience in financial services and consulting. During that time, they have been involved in dozens of transactions worth more than $200 million. Our experience encompasses a host of industries: medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotech, Internet/e-commerce, financial services, consumer products and services, specialty retail, automotive technologies, productivity and education software, entertainment software, enterprise software, manufacturing and specialty manufacturing. Below is a list of some of the areas in which Graham Harper Consulting is able to add value.

Strategic and Operational Planning Services:

• Review firm's goals and objectives
• Evaluate product categories and opportunities
• Analyze internal and online operations
• Assess overall strengths and weaknesses
• Evaluate organizational structure (as necessary)
• Streamline product fulfillment
• Sales and marketing strategy and analysis
• Advertising strategy and analysis
• Business plan creation and evolution
• Personnel planning and recruitment (as necessary)
• Strategic introductions with influential contacts (as necessary)

Financial Management Services:

• Assist and review annual budget
• Review financial statements in concert with firm’s goals and objectives
• Identify and implement measures to increase profitability and enhance ROA
• Review cash flow management
• Evaluate operating and performance indicators
• Pricing analysis
• Variance analysis (as necessary)
• Optimize cash management, Treasury function (as necessary)
• Capital structure optimization (as necessary)

Biographies

Jacob A. Schlaeger, President & Managing Partner

Mr. Schlaeger is the President and Founder of Graham Harper Consulting, LLC, a Minneapolis-based practice focused on capital markets, business efficiency, and strategic planning. Prior to founding Graham Harper, he spent more than 15 years working for Merrill Lynch, Dougherty Capital Markets, MJSK, and J.G. Kinnard Capital Markets as an investment banking executive and institutional sales vice president.

As a consultant, Mr. Schlaeger has acted as both an in house and as a consulting C-level executive for several companies, including a commodities brokerage firm, a cardiology cloud-based software company, and several apparel companies. He has advised numerous other medical technology and device companies on sales, growth, and strategic initiatives.

In addition to the Graham Harper practice, Mr. Schlaeger serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Berens & Miller Law Firm, a 30-year old complex litigation firm with clients that include the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), Prudential Insurance, and United Healthcare. In this role, he performs economic analysis for various clients.

Mr. Schlaeger lives in Minneapolis, where he is an avid golfer, automobile enthusiast, and a proud father of 7-year old twins.

Paul D. Kaump, CFA, Partner

Mr. Kaump is a Partner of Graham Harper Consulting, as well as the President and Managing Partner of Biz Plan Review. He has more than 24 years of investment and financial experience, including: 6 years of experience within the defined benefit marketing arm of American Express Asset Management Group; 10 years as a sell-side equity analyst; 6 years as a portfolio manager overseeing assets of $800 million; and experience as a Senior Treasury Analyst within Best Buy.

During his tenure as a sell-side equity analyst, Mr. Kaump followed a myriad of industries including: banks and thrifts, consumer products, entertainment software, specialty retail, and technology software and services. In 2002, he was recognized as the #1 Earnings Estimator in North America for Software by NASDAQ/Starmine; he was ranked #3 in 2003. His tenure as a senior equity analyst was spent at Dain, Rauscher, Wessels; Dougherty & Company LLC; Lantern Investments; and Northland Securities. Most recently, he was a portfolio manager at Merrill Lynch, overseeing the investment and direction of more than $800 million in assets.

Mr. Kaump received a B.S. in Economics from the University of Minnesota, and an M.B.A. (Finance) from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. In addition, he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and holds multiple securities licenses.

Barbara P. Berens, Partner of Berens & Miller, P.A.

Ms. Berens, a long time SuperLawyer and AV Preeminent rated attorney, has owned the Berens & Miller law firm since 2008. She advises clients and handles litigation involving complex business and commercial matters, including reinsurance, regulatory matters involving securities or insurance, intellectual property, insurance coverage matters, commercial insurance, antitrust, RICO, equipment leasing, federal and state securities laws, all aspects of employment law, executive compensation, business torts, shareholder disputes, shareholder derivative lawsuits, the purchase and sale of assets or companies, internal investigations, mergers, banking, directors’ and officers’ liability, corporate governance, condemnations, real estate transactions, and the licensing, protection, and sale of intellectual property.

Ms. Berens graduated magna cum laude and Order of the Coif from the University of Minnesota Law School. After graduation, Ms. Berens clerked for the Honorable David Doty, now Senior Judge of the U.S. District Court of Minnesota. In 1993, she was appointed as a special master in the antitrust litigation between the NFL and its players.

Her representative clients include The NFL Players Association (NFLPA), the NHL Players Association, the NBA Players Association, Homeownership Preservation Foundation, VantageScore Solutions, Flint Hills Resources, Microsoft, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Prudential Financial, Inc., R.B.C. Dain Rauscher, McDonalds, FDIC, AT&T, the UnitedHealth Group Special Litigation Committee (stock options) and the Regis Corporation Special Litigation Committee (alleged excessive executive compensation).

Ms. Berens has also been an adjunct professor, teaching Practice and Professionalism at the University of Minnesota Law School.