KERN GILLETTE

Kern Gillette is founder and managing member of Gillette Northwest, LLC.  In addition to nearly a decade as an advisor to distressed situations he has 30 years experience as an operator, over half of that as a C- Suite executive, CFO and CEO.

 

Before forming Gillette Northwest, Mr. Gillette was Senior Director with Alvarez & Marsal North American Commercial Restructuring practice. Prior to A&M, Kern was Principal with Scouler & Company, where he served distressed companies, lenders and creditors across the country. 

 

Mr. Gillette has a strong track record of successfully representing constituencies in the restructuring and bankruptcy process, as well as expertise in complex analysis, strategy development and leading entities through difficult transitions.  His work has spanned a variety of industries, including: food processing, multi-unit retail including restaurants, technology, manufacturing, franchise, retail and wholesale distribution, seafood catching and processing, lumber and specialty building products, financial and professional services, aerospace,

real estate and construction,  and alternative energy.

 

He has direct experience with a wide variety of capital structures including family owned, private equity, ESOP, public, and cooperative.

 

Mr. Gillette served as Engagement Lead Financial Advisor for Hot Dog on a Stick, a quick service food retailer; Beall Corp., a tank and trailer designer and manufacturer; and Qualteq, Inc., a direct mail marketer.  Recently he represented lenders interests in a large vertically integrated seafood company transaction, monitoring operational performance and cash management for many months prior to the sale of the entity. Among his many previous engagements, he was Financial Advisor to Contessa Premium Foods, Inc., a frozen foods packaging and distribution company, and Universal Building Products, Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of concrete forms and accessories.

 

Mr. Gillette has wide and deep experience as an operator. Positions include President and CEO of Cinnabon, Molbak’s and Graces Kitchen. He was CFO of Reese Brothers, Cinnabon, Grace’s Kitchen, and Olympic Boat Centers. As President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Cinnabon, Inc., the national food retailer and franchisor, Mr. Gillette designed and executed a successful turnaround.  As Chief Executive Officer of Molbak’s, a regional specialty retailer, he executed a successful creditor composition plan and led the company through reorganization.  As Chief Financial Officer of Olympic Boat Centers, he guided the company through the bankruptcy process.  Mr. Gillette also served as Vice President of Finance and Administration at Brown and Cole, a $300 million grocery retailer, where he was responsible for accounting, cash management, risk management, information technology, loss prevention and facility management.

 

Mr. Gillette earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Washington and an MBA from Eastern Washington University.  He is also a Certified Public Accountant.