ALIX JAMES

Alix began her career as a lawyer after completing her education at Yale and the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law. In 1991 she joined Nielsen-Kellerman, then a niche manufacturing company that had recently moved out of her parents’ basement. She worked in every department on her way to the leadership role - customer service, sales, marketing, logistics, product management, brand management, finance, logistics, information systems and legal. Alix also delved deep into manufacturing, becoming Lean Manufacturing certified and learning how to compete with China while building the majority of NK’s products in Pennsylvania. Seeing first-hand how NK was able to create great jobs for its growing staff yielded Alix’s current love of manufacturing and belief in the value of Lean principles in all aspects of business management.

In 2010, as CEO, Alix helped guide NK through a transition from founder ownership to private equity backing. This sale was the first of Alix’s many lessons in what makes a company valuable and appealing to buyers, as well as how to maximize results for all constituents in a transaction. Alix believes a transaction is truly only win-win if it serves the founders transitioning out, management staying on, the company’s employees and the new investors. Alix led NK through backing by three different private equity sponsors, multiple tuck-in acquisitions and multiple sell-side processes. During this time NK grew to six times its 2010 revenue and headcount while remaining profitable and thriving through good and bad economic times. Under Alix’s leadership, NK was recognized for its Lean manufacturing expertise, operational excellence, innovative product development, global exporting and e-commerce success and was also recognized as a Philly Top Workplace over ten times.

Alix's experiences leading through multiple exit transactions as well as evaluating many founder-led businesses for acquisition led her to establish her consulting practice after exiting NK. Alix is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA®) and value growth advisor, and focuses her consulting work on the following areas:

• Exit and transition planning for founder-led businesses
• Preparation for selling your business and sell-side process guidance
• Strategic growth planning
• Implementing business meeting rhythm and accountability systems to support execution
• Improving financial reporting and executive numbers literacy

Alix also serves on the board of directors of West Catholic Preparatory High School, the Philadelphia Association for Corporate Growth, the Wilmington Rowing Center and the Delaware Valley Combined Training Assoc. Alix is an avid competitor in both rowing and dressage and spends lots of time in various rowing shells or on her two horses. Lately, she and Jeff have added “rucking” together to their training regimens, enjoying the many trails in the beautiful Brandywine Valley. 

Alix began her career as a lawyer after completing her education at Yale and the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law. In 1991 she joined Nielsen-Kellerman, then a niche manufacturing company that had recently moved out of her parents’ basement. She worked in every department on her way to the leadership role - customer service, sales, marketing, logistics, product management, brand management, finance, logistics, information systems and legal. Alix also delved deep into manufacturing, becoming Lean Manufacturing certified and learning how to compete with China while building the majority of NK’s products in Pennsylvania. Seeing first-hand how NK was able to create great jobs for its growing staff yielded Alix’s current love of manufacturing and belief in the value of Lean principles in all aspects of business management.

In 2010, as CEO, Alix helped guide NK through a transition from founder ownership to private equity backing. This sale was the first of Alix’s many lessons in what makes a company valuable and appealing to buyers, as well as how to maximize results for all constituents in a transaction. Alix believes a transaction is truly only win-win if it serves the founders transitioning out, management staying on, the company’s employees and the new investors. Alix led NK through backing by three different private equity sponsors, multiple tuck-in acquisitions and multiple sell-side processes. During this time NK grew to six times its 2010 revenue and headcount while remaining profitable and thriving through good and bad economic times. Under Alix’s leadership, NK was recognized for its Lean manufacturing expertise, operational excellence, innovative product development, global exporting and e-commerce success and was also recognized as a Philly Top Workplace over ten times.

Alix's experiences leading through multiple exit transactions as well as evaluating many founder-led businesses for acquisition led her to establish her consulting practice after exiting NK. Alix is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA®) and value growth advisor, and focuses her consulting work on the following areas:

• Exit and transition planning for founder-led businesses
• Preparation for selling your business and sell-side process guidance
• Strategic growth planning
• Implementing business meeting rhythm and accountability systems to support execution
• Improving financial reporting and executive numbers literacy

Alix also serves on the board of directors of West Catholic Preparatory High School, the Philadelphia Association for Corporate Growth, the Wilmington Rowing Center and the Delaware Valley Combined Training Assoc. Alix is an avid competitor in both rowing and dressage and spends lots of time in various rowing shells or on her two horses. Lately, she and Jeff have added “rucking” together to their training regimens, enjoying the many trails in the beautiful Brandywine Valley.