Strategic Advisory

You are running a real business. Revenue is coming in. People are on payroll. Customers are counting on you.

But the decisions have gotten bigger. Hiring. Pricing. Debt. A new location. An offer to sell. A partner who is drifting. A number that will not move.

There is no one in your building to think it through with. Your spouse is tired of hearing about it. Your accountant answers the question you asked, not the one you should have asked. Your peers are competitors.

You do not need a full-time CFO. You do not need a six-figure consulting engagement. You need someone who has already run the play.

A structured monthly relationship with an experienced operator whose only job is to help you make better decisions.

• A 90-minute monthly working session — on the business, not in it. Agenda-driven and documented.
• Between-meeting access — text, email, or a call when a real decision hits your desk. No hourly meter.
• A monthly dashboard review — the three to five numbers that actually run your business.
• Total confidentiality — nothing said in the room leaves the room.

$2,000 per month. Month-to-month. No setup fees. Cancel with 30 days' notice.

We are direct about the boundary because it protects both of us.

• Not accounting, tax, or bookkeeping.
• Not project delivery or implementation work.
• Not a coaching program with a curriculum.
• Not a broker relationship — MC&A accepts no referral fees or kickbacks from any vendor, bank, or capital source. The advice is independent because the economics are independent.

Mark Cernese built his career at the intersection of finance, operations, and leadership.

He served as CEO and, previously, CFO of TWG Security, an Emmaus, PA enterprise security technology firm, where he led the company to seven consecutive years on Lehigh Valley Business' Fastest Growing Companies list and three consecutive years on the Inc. 5000.

Earlier in his career he was Portfolio Manager and COO of ATA Financial Group, and he founded and operated his own residential and commercial mortgage company.

He is the founder and Principal of Mark Cernese & Associates, a Pennsylvania-registered investment advisory and consulting practice serving families and businesses throughout the region.

Mark holds a Master of Science in International Banking & Finance from the University of Salford, a graduate certification in Corporate Financial Analysis from the University of Melbourne, and Series 7 and Series 66 securities licenses. He has been recognized as one of Lehigh Valley Business' Forty Under 40 and as a CFO of the Year finalist.

The Owner's Council is a fit if most of these are true:

• Your business is doing roughly $500K to $5M in annual revenue.
• You are the owner and the operator.
• You are past the startup scramble but not yet at the size where a full-time CFO or COO makes sense.
• You want a straight answer, not a sales pitch.
• You are based in the Lehigh Valley or run a business here.

How is this different from a fractional CFO?

A fractional CFO does the work — models, close, reporting, board packages. The Owner's Council does not do the work. It helps you decide what work to do, what numbers to trust, and what moves to make. If you need a fractional CFO, MC&A offers that separately under a different retainer.

What if I need something built — a model, a deck, a plan?

The Council is advisory only. If a project comes up, we scope it separately or refer it out. That separation keeps the retainer honest.

How quickly do you respond between meetings?

Same business day for anything time-sensitive. Within 24 hours otherwise. If it is a real decision, we get on the phone.

Do you sign an NDA?

Yes. Confidentiality is default.

Can I upgrade later?

Yes. The Council is the entry point into MC&A. Clients who need deeper finance or AI advisory work move into the firm's higher retainer tiers.

A 30-minute intro call. No cost, no pitch deck. If it is a fit, we will both know. Call or text 481-951-3318.