Back to News ReleasesShearer's Fritz Kohmann Named Crain's CFO of the Year
10/08/2009
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Brewster, Ohio: Shearer’s Foods Chief Financial Officer, Fritz Kohmann has been named Crain’s Cleveland Business’s CFO of the Year (Large Private Company). The area’s financial stewards were honored October 7, 2009, for their efforts in a year of fiscal challenges. Winning CFO’s have been leading the charge by harnessing the perfect combination of creativity, frugality and steadfastness.
Bob Shearer nominated Mr. Kohmann for this award. “As Chief Executive Officer of Shearer’s Foods, one of my closest confidants is Fritz Kohmann. Fritz demonstrates the perfect profile of a CFO with his professionalism, great moral character and high ethical standards. I have placed all of my confidence in his ability to lead Shearer’s Financial Team, and guide the company through these challenging economic times. I am honored to work with him and have the opportunity to call him a great friend.”
In September 2002, Mr. Kohmann joined Shearer’s as the company’s first Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis. Two years later he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer, where he assumed responsibility for overseeing all of the company’s financial functions. Mr. Kohmann has taken the financial leadership role in numerous growth enabling events, including: four debt refinancings/restructurings, two private equity transactions, two production facility acquisitions, numerous production line additions/expansions, one business acquisition, one business divestiture, and positioning the company to break ground on the construction of a new production facility last July. In addition, Mr. Kohmann has overseen the development and implementation of numerous initiatives in the areas of treasury management, corporate insurance, health care insurance, 401k program administration, incentive plan design, contract administration, trademark and intellectual property administration, and corporate sustainability to better manage, control and report on the company’s business risks. An independent panel of judges reviewed the nominees, taking into account the following: candidate backgrounds, how the nominee contributed to the company’s growth and or profitability; how the nominee contributed to other areas of corporate management; and how the nominee made contributions outside the company (such as social, nonprofit, family, faith-based and community involvement).
The event was sponsored by Crain’s Cleveland Business magazine, Marsh, Key Bank, KPMG, Cresco Real Estate, Crowe Horwath, IBM and CBIZ.