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Memorial Day – Honoring our Military Fallen Heroes and First Responders

May 23, 2025 by Steven R. Gerbsman

On this Memorial Day weekend we honor our Fallen Heroes who Serve and Protect.

Along with our Military who have served in war time, we have First Responders who have fallen in 9/11, Fires, Natural Disasters, etc.

As a Director of the Kentfield Fire District, I look to Honor those First Responders, Fire-Police-EMT-Doctors-Nurses, etc. along with our miliary.

On 9/11 our son called from Israel at 6:10 am our time and told us about what was happening in NYC.  Along with the rest of the country and world, we watched in horror as the Twin Towers fell.  To this day, I still remember and see the image of those brave Fire Fighters climbing the steps of the World Trade Center.   The looks on their faces told the whole story.  They knew they were walking into Harms Way, yet like all those committed to Serve and Protect, they proceeded onward.

As a Director of KFD, I see the bravery, commitment, concern for the individual in our Firehouse, like all Firehouses.  Like the men and woman of 9/11, the First Responders entered Harms Way with the recent California and National Wild Fires Disasters over the past years.  

As a former Officer in the US Army and Director of KFD, I always make it a point to say “thank you for your service” when I see these brave men and woman.

So on this day, I say “thank you” and ask all of you to remember and never forget what they do.

With Respect, With Honor for them 

Steven R. Gerbsman

Director Kentfield Fire District

Please see Firefighter’s Prayer below and you will understand who they are


   Firefighter’s Prayer

When I am called to duty, God wherever flames may rage,

give me strength to save a life, whatever be its age.

Help me to embrace a little child before it’s too late,

or save an older person from the horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert to hear the weakest shout,

and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,

to guard my neighbor and protect his property.

And if according to your will I have to lose my life,

bless with your protecting hand my loving family from strife. Amen

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Gerbsman Partners – “Identifying the early warning signs and maximizing value of under-performing and distressed portfolio companies” Steven R. Gerbsman Presentation at Stanford University

May 6, 2025 by Steven R. Gerbsman

Good afternoon

After 50 years in business the adage of ‘the more things change the more they remain the same” is still true. The same business disciplines for cash, financials, leadership, knowing how to communicate and having “ethics and integrity” continue to be the basic discipline for success.

As a “Mentor” at Stanford University’s annual MBA competitions, I have tried to instill in entrepreneurs, who are the hope for our future the knowledge I have gained over the years. Please see below a talk I delivered at the Stanford Tech Ventures Program on “why companies succeed and why companies fail”.

Identifying the early warning signs and maximizing value of under-performing and distressed portfolio companies

Stanford Tech Ventures Program

Stanford Tech Ventures Program

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Gerbsman Partners – “Successful Crisis CEO/Management Stabilization of Private Equity HR Technology Platform Company”

February 10, 2025 by Steven R. Gerbsman

Gerbsman Partners is pleased to announce the successful completion of a CEO/Crisis Management assignment for the stabilization of a Private Equity HR Technology Platform Company.

Due to management and potential operational issues, the Board of Directors made the strategic decision to retain Gerbsman Partners to assist in the stabilization of the company.

Gerbsman Partners – led by Steven R. Gerbsman, Principal and Kenneth Hardesty (CEO in Residence)– provided CEO/Crisis Management at the company and Ken Hardesty assumed the role of CEO, at the company in Boston, for a 60 day period.  The challenge was that two previous CEO’s resigned from the company due to conflicts with the founder, who was still in an operational mode and there were communications and leadership issues with the employee’s and its main customers.   The company was/is very profitable and represented a significant growth opportunity for the Private Equity group and investors.

Specifically, Gerbsman Partners provided leadership with:

1.  “Hands on, CEO/Crisis Management at the company”.

2.  “Stabilized the key employee’s and the Founder, who had resigned”.

3. “ Assisted the Private Equity group in interviewing and hiring a new CEO”.

4. “Identified and stabilized key issues with the company’s primary customer”

5. “Most importantly, met and exceed the business plan for the two month periord”

6. “and Assisted in a smooth transition with the new CEO”

About Gerbsman Partners

Gerbsman Partners focuses on maximizing enterprise value for stakeholders and shareholders in underperforming, undercapitalized and undervalued companies and their intellectual properties. Since 2001, Gerbsman Partners has successfully maximized the values of 122 companies in a wide and diverse spectrum of industries, ranging from technology, medical device/life science, digital marketing to cyber security, to name only a few.*

In the process, GP has successfully restructured/terminated over $810 million of real estate executory contracts and equipment lease/sub-debt obligations, and has assisted in over $2.3 billion of financings, restructurings and M&A transactions.*

Gerbsman Partners has offices and strategic alliances in San Francisco, Orange County, Boston, New York, Washington DC, McLean, VA, Europe and Israel.

*For further information on Gerbsman Partners expertise and industry experience, please request our company profile here

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February 2025 – sharing Lauren A. Rothman’s updated website- Lauren is my daughter-in-law and a “Fashionista”

February 7, 2025 by Steven R. Gerbsman

Good afternoon

I’m thrilled to share the updated website for my daughter-in-law’s company, http://www.styleauteur.com! It now highlights her work as a keynote speaker, along with a clip of her in action on stage, as well as her coaching and consulting services for companies and organizations.

Her focus is on empowering individuals through personal branding and the power of nonverbal communication – helping leaders and teams show up with confidence, presence, and impact. Whether through a keynote, workshop, or coaching session, Lauren loves working with organizations to elevate how their people present themselves and step into leadership.

I’m also excited to share that she is writing her second book, Style is a Superpower®️, which will focus on empowering readers with the courage to be unstoppable. It’s a natural extension of her work, blending personal style with the mindset and confidence needed to own any room.

If interested, I would recommend for you to take a look at her site, and of course, if any opportunities come to mind where she might be a great fit, I know she would welcome the chance to connect. Please see Lauren’s contact information below

Best,

Steve

Lauren A. Rothman

Stylist | Author | Speaker

202.631.8878

https://www.styleauteur.com/

@styleauteur

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He was a”Master of the Universe once” – my good friend Ron Coelyn has passed

January 14, 2025 by Steven R. Gerbsman

Ron was a dear friend of over 50 years.  He passed away this week from Parkinson’s disease.

Ron and I were “Masters of the Universe” in the 1970’s.  We were both put in CFO and CEO positions to stabilize, restructure and turnaound a $250 million Data Services Division.  Little did we know that this would be our first experiences as Crisis/Turnaround Managers.  Ron was a great partner; focused, smart and had high ethics and integrity.  We were a very successful team.

Over the years Ron and I worked together many times.  He was a Turnaround CEO for a number of Life Science companies, where I worked with him on capital raising and debt financing and after that he began his career as an international Executive Search CEO, where he assisted the private equity and venture capital community.

Ron and his wife Lynn moved to Texas about 15 years ago to raise and jump horses.  Although from Chicago, he became a Texan and loved Dallas.

Ron had this great smile – see below.  

Ron and I talked once a week and it always put a smile on my face when he called and said “The Gerbs”, 

His wife, Lynn, has been a saint taking care of Ron.  She put off Chemo to take care of him at home.  Lynn our condolences from our family.

Be at peace my friend, you are with “GOD” now.

With respect, with love for a friend and with admiration for the person.

Respectfully – “The Gerbs” and the Gerbsman family.

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