Doug Jones Featured in RTD – Decision Maker
New position: Director, fractional CFO and controller services for Fahrenheit Finance, a consulting firm, part of the Fahrenheit Group, that delivers
high quality consulting and project support services, staffing and executive search services and the opportunity for growth companies to utilize experts like Doug on a less than full time basis to gain the experience of a CFO for a fraction of the cost.
Previous position: partner, B2B CFO Partners LLC
Birthplace: Morristown, N.J.
Education: bachelor’s degree, College of William and Mary; MBA, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Career: started with General Electric Co.’s financial management program; moved to AM International, serving as manager of international financial operations; Myron Group, treasurer and chief financial officer; East Coast Oil Corp. in Richmond, senior vice president and chief financial officer; Keystone Builders Resource Group, executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Best career move: “Leaving the Fortune 500 world for smaller privately held companies, where it is possible to have a more direct and more immediate impact.”
Career goals: “To continue to help small- and mid-sized businesses move up to the next level.”
The best advice he ever received: “If something sounds too good to be true … it probably is.”
The most difficult situation faced on the job: “Living through the many months between letter of intent and closing on the sale of a business. We were trying to keep the deal together and keep the business running for much longer than anticipated. Each week seemed like a month.”
Career tip for students: “No matter what career you intend to pursue, learn something about accounting and finance. At some point, you will be dealing with budgets, taxes, debt and investments.”
What motivates him? “Getting things done. Making things better. Helping people do things they did not think they were capable of doing.”
Business role models: “Rich Lindner, at the Myron Group, who took a chance by selecting me to succeed him as treasurer/CFO even though I was only 29 years old. Tom Allen, chairman of East Coast Oil Corp., who proved that it is possible to run a successful business while still being a genuinely nice guy.”
Family: wife, Barbara Leary Jones; daughter, Anna.
Pastimes: playing drums; jazz music, especially from the 1950s; college basketball.
The most memorable book: “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey.
Favorite restaurant: Acacia Mid-town in Richmond; Owens’ Restaurant in Nags Head, N.C.
Ideal vacation: “Relaxation on the Outer Banks.”