Board of Director

Harvey Hohauser & Associates, LLC; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Part time

Job summary

Harvey Hohauser & Associates, LLC, a privately held family-owned manufacturer, seeks two Independent Directors to guide governance, strategy and long-term growth for multi-generational stewardship. You will contribute independent judgment, challenge assumptions, and fiduciary oversight on strategy, financial performance, risk management and leadership succession.

The Independent Director serves with the Board Chair and leadership, helping ensure alignment with ownership family values and

Qualifications

• 25+ years of progressive executive leadership experience in manufacturing, industrial, or related sectors.
• Experience as CEO/President/COO/CFO or equivalent with leadership of $150M–$500M+ revenue.
• Experience with founder-led, privately held, family-owned, multigenerational enterprises; board exposure preferred.
• Strong financial acumen, strategic thinking, and fiduciary responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent governance, strategic guidance and fiduciary stewardship for long-term value creation.
• Review and challenge management on strategy, capital investments, and major corporate actions.
• Support leadership succession planning and talent development; uphold board accountability.

Skills

Governance

Strategy development

Financial acumen

Leadership

Succession planning

Risk management

Board leadership

Private family business experience

Independent director experience

Strategic oversight

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

Our client is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer and recognized leader within the food equipment sector. The company designs, manufactures and supports highly specialized equipment solutions serving a diverse customer base across retail, food service, entertainment, and other consumer-facing channels. With a long-standing reputation for excellence in engineering, product innovation, customer service and operational reliability, the company has established a strong market position and continues to invest in technology, manufacturing capabilities, leadership development and long-term growth initiatives. Our client seeks to deliver joy through a reliable fun frozen experience.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As the organization continues its evolution and prepares for future generations of family ownership, the company is strengthening its governance structure through the addition of two Independent Directors who will contribute to the company’s long-term success, governance effectiveness, and strategic growth. This opportunity is ideal for accomplished executives who have successfully led product focused manufacturing businesses and are passionate about helping privately held companies navigate growth, drive innovation, strengthen governance, succession planning and position the enterprise for long-term multigenerational success. The Board seeks directors who will provide independent perspective, challenge conventional thinking, support management accountability, and help ensure the company remains aligned with the ownership family values, vision and long-term objectives.

The Independent Director provides governance oversight, strategic guidance, and fiduciary stewardship on behalf of the ownership group. Working collaboratively with fellow directors, ownership, the President, and executive leadership team, the Board supports long-term value creation while preserving the values and legacy of the ownership family. Directors are expected to contribute independent judgment, relevant experience, and diverse perspectives to discussions involving strategy, growth, innovation, financial performance, risk management, and leadership succession.

This position reports to the Board Chair and serves as an Independent Director of the Board of Directors (BOD).

JOB DEFINITION

The Independent Director will serve as a trusted strategic advisor and fiduciary steward, helping shape the company’s future through independent governance, forward-thinking leadership, and objective counsel that accelerate growth, drive innovation, strengthen financial performance, and ensure long-term success for generations to come.

SKILLS

• Partner with ownership and executive leadership to review, refine and oversee the execution of the company’s long-term strategic direction and growth initiatives.
• Hold the President accountable for the development, execution and achievement of the company’s rolling five-year strategic business plan and key organizational objectives.
• Ensure the Chief Financial Officer maintains accurate, transparent financial reporting and implements robust forecasting, budgeting and long-range financial planning processes.
• Review and approve major strategic initiatives, capital investments, annual operating plans and significant corporate actions; Monitor organizational performance against strategic goals, operating plans and key performance indicators.
• Ensure executive leadership maintains a culture of innovation by advancing the company’s existing product portfolio and investing in new technologies ensuring a structured innovation roadmap exists to identify emerging market opportunities, guide product development priorities, and support the commercialization of solutions that strengthen the company’s competitive position.
• Provide oversight of enterprise risk management, proprietary processes and intellectual property (IP), internal controls, legal compliance and business continuity planning.
• Support executive succession planning, leadership development and organizational talent strategies.
• Contribute independent perspectives, challenge assumptions, and provide constructive guidance on significant business decisions.
• Help preserve and strengthen the culture, values and long-term stewardship objectives of the ownership family.
• Serve as a trusted sounding board to the President on strategic, organizational and market-facing decisions.
• Conduct an annual performance evaluation of the President, assessing achievement of strategic and financial objectives, operational execution, leadership effectiveness, talent development, cultural stewardship, and progress against the company’s long-term business plan, ensuring accountability to the BOD and ownership group.
• Advise executive leadership on long-term business and product strategies, including customer priorities, product positioning, portfolio optimization, innovation initiatives, and strategic channel partnerships that strengthen the company’s competitive position and support sustainable growth.
• Provide oversight and guidance on operational performance, including manufacturing efficiency, supply chain reliability, service excellence, pricing strategy, margin improvement, and the evaluation of growth opportunities that align with the company’s capabilities, market position and long-term strategic objectives.

BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE

• 25+ years of progressive executive leadership experience within manufacturing, industrial, engineering-focused, foodservice equipment, retail, consumer products, or related industries.
• Current or former CEO, President, COO, CFO, Division President, General Manager, or comparable senior executive, with experience leading organizations generating approximately $150 million to $500 million+ in annual revenue.
• Proven success leading mature organizations with established brands, customer relationships, and market positions.
• Strong understanding of customer-focused business models, channel strategy, commercial execution, customer service, and market dynamics.
• Experience driving strategic growth, operational excellence, profitability, product innovation, and commercialization initiatives.
• Experience with international distribution, supply chain management, and organizational scaling is preferred.
• Experience in leadership succession planning, talent development, and building high-performing executive teams.
• Prior experience working with founder-led, privately held, family-owned, or multigenerational enterprises; experience serving on a BOD is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, sound business judgment, and strong financial acumen, including an understanding of margins, cost structures, capital allocation, and enterprise value creation.
• Ability to provide independent, objective, and constructive counsel while appropriately balancing support for management with accountability and governance oversight.
• Strong communication, listening, and relationship-building skills, with a collaborative approach to influencing decisions and driving outcomes.
• High integrity, discretion, fiduciary responsibility, and a commitment to ethical leadership and sound governance practices.
• Respect for family business dynamics and the unique opportunities and challenges associated with multigenerational ownership and stewardship.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree and/or relevant professional certifications are valued.