Meet Dan Migacz, CFO at A.M. Woodland Outdoor Design
Get to know Dan, a new member of EFBC!
A.M. Woodland Outdoor Design / Lotz Custom Carpentry, Inc.
Founded: 2009
Location: Mundelein, IL / Salem, WI
Tell us about your career leading up to where you are now:
I studied accounting in undergrad (IWU) and grad school (ISU). Once I graduated, I went to work at a public accounting firm, McGladrey (now RSM US) and passed my CPA exams. After a couple of years there, however, I knew that I didn’t want to stay in public accounting. I transitioned over to Cardinal Health and was there for a short time. I moved on to a private equity firm called Sherman Residential, where I was the Controller for five years. That was a fantastic role, and I learned a lot about deal making, acquisitions, and running large multi-family properties. And now, for the past six years, I finally came to work with my brother!
What do you like most about what you do?
As the CFO, I work a lot with numbers. I wouldn’t necessarily say numbers are my favorite thing, but I definitely have a knack for them. I just really enjoy getting to spend every day with my best friends. I work directly with my brother and other family members and then our business partners have basically become family. And it’s just great to be able to get to do what we do, while also being able to spend every day together. When it comes to problem solving, it is exciting that we are the ones problem solving, and collectively coming together to make a decision. But of course, there’s pros and cons to that, because the full responsibility of the decision making does fall on us as well.
How did you hear about the EFBC?
So, I’ve known Marcus Newman (EFBC Membership Director and Strategic Partner) for several years now. He does our company group insurance benefits. We were talking about some health insurance items and he brought it up. He asked us if we had ever heard about EFBC and mentioned that it would benefit our business and that it would be really good for us. A week or so later I reached out to him and expressed that I was interested in heard more and he sent me over some information and the website and said that if I wanted to know more to get in contact with Liz Fidanovski (EFBC Executive Director) and have her come out and sit down with you guys and explain what EFBC Is all about.
Why did you join, and what do you hope to gain from your membership?
I would say it was a combination of two things. The first is the programs. Liz described the programs EFBC hosts, and I was excited at the opportunity to not only participate but my brother, our partners, and our key employees. Whether it’s an HR roundtable, a finance roundtable or different programs that we can send our employees to. We are always interested in continuing learning opportunities and staying up to date on current policies and best practices. In addition to that, the second and for me, personally, the biggest draw were the peer groups, or forums. I was excited to have a group, that meets regularly who have been through a lot of the same things I am going through. I was excited for the shared experiences with a group of businesspeople who are on the same level to gain insight but to also share my own experiences in a safe, confidential environment on both personal and professional lives. It was just exciting to have regular sit downs and have a good, honest conversation with a group of people that actually care about me. In other groups I have participated in, the interpersonal experiences varied drastically, and this just feels on a different level from that. Our business partner, at the moment, is busy with his family but I have been sharing with my brother who will hopefully be joining soon.
Join us in welcoming Dan to the EFBC community.