About Baker Smith

Baker Smith is Managing Director in BDO Advisory and has over 30 years experience in crisis management, turnaround planning and strategic advice to company owners, managers, lenders, creditors and investors.

Mr. Smith has led over 300 crisis management and turnaround teams for distressed companies ranging from $25 million to several billion in revenues, several as CEO, COO, CRO and trustee. High profile assignments have included bank group advisor for Gainey Transportation ($2 billion trucking company), bank group advisor for General Time (Westclox®, Baby Ben®), turnaround advisor to Dixon-Ticonderoga®, financial advisor for COI Foodservice ($750 million sales food distributor to Shoney’s, Ryan’s, Ruth’s Chris, Schlotzsky’s, Applebee’s, and Ted’s Montana Grill), financial advisor for OneCare (Clorox®, Bounce®, Dryel®, and Roto-Rooter® supplier to Walmart and Target), and bank group advisor for College Football Hall of Fame.

Mr. Smith’s automotive experience includes Hunjan (injection molded parts for Mercedes, Toyota and GM), CRO of Asheboro Elastics (seat belts for Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram trucks), CEO of Crown (hood liners for Ford), Blocksom (engine dunnage for Ford), and Collins Signs (signage for Toyota). Automotive finance experience includes CAR Holdings (auto lender), Vehicle Acceptance Corp (floor plan lender), and US Auto Sales (nationwide auto sales & financing). Aftermarket and service parts experience includes Warren Tire (manufacturer tires & multi-store tire retailer), Speed Clip/CarStars (manufacturer electronics, battery cables and wheel weights to Sears), Express Parts Warehouse (85 brake and A/C parts & service stores), Speed Distributors (multi-store performance), Nickels (retail performance,). Related experience includes COO of Johnston (conveyors for John Deere® farm machinery), King Kutter (manufacturer farm equipment), CRO of Roundtree Automotive (Cadillac, Chevrolet, Nissan, Kia, Dodge, Infiniti dealerships), Scenic City Mazda , Orlando Chevrolet, BMW Motorcycles of Salt Lake, Buddy Gregg Motor Homes (recreational vehicle dealerships), and Burkeen (ditching equipment).

Baker served as Transition Team Leader for the President-Elect of the United States. He is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma honor business society. Awards include Turnaround of the Year, Outstanding Contribution to the Turnaround Profession, and a turnaround Distinguished Service Award. He is board member of Secured Finance Network, past president of Association of Certified Turnaround Professionals, and past vice president of Turnaround Management Association.