How FocusCFO Helped One Consulting Firm Go from Crisis to Acquisition

“I needed someone to jump in and do the work. I didn’t have time to teach. Lori jumped in and was the best thing that happened to me. I would have never been able to be acquired if she wasn’t with me.”

– Ashleigh Kirsten, Founder & CEO, AK Consultants & Healthcare (now part of Griffin Resources)

The Situation

Ashleigh Kirsten built AK Consultants & Healthcare into the nation's premier full-service growth management company for post-acute care businesses — growing her client portfolio by 300% and assembling a team of over 70 contractors. Then, in December 2023, she suddenly lost her CFO. She needed an immediate replacement with deep healthcare finance experience who could jump in without hand-holding. A same-day inquiry to FocusCFO led to a call the next morning with Area President Jim Collins and fractional CFO Lori Rothel, who had 20+ years of financial leadership in complex healthcare organizations.

What We Did

Working at pace with a fast-moving CEO, their FocusCFO CFO:

• Cleaned up the books and closed out the company's fiscal year under urgent circumstances
• Built a pro forma and business development plan to guide the path forward
• Provided strategic financial guidance as Kirsten pursued investors and banking relationships
• Delivered executive-level coaching that helped Kirsten make high-stakes decisions with less emotion and more clarity
• Increased her engagement hours as additional leadership gaps emerged mid-engagement
• Supported the due diligence and transition process leading to a successful acquisition by Griffin Resources

The Result

AK Consultants achieved a successful acquisition in 2024. Kirsten credits Rothel not only with stabilizing the business but with elevating her as a CEO.

"She took me to a new level as a CEO. She helped me extract the emotions from some very tough decisions, and I was able to think more shrewdly. She became my right hand, and she gave me the sound advice and support I needed when I needed it."

— Ashleigh Kirsten, Founder & CEO, AK Consultants & Healthcare