The Wranglers
Jim Stewart
Jim is a fifth generation Texan and Dallas native. He is a serial entrepreneur and network builder. He speaks to a wide variety of groups and associations interested in interim management as a solution to management “gap” issues and to executives interested in interim management as a career option. Jim founded Executive Smarts (www.executivesmarts.com) in 2004 to meet the increasing demand for interim managers around the world. More about Jim and the Executive Smarts’ team at this link.
Jim’s experience includes serving as CEO for durable goods manufacturing companies in the automotive, appliance, and building products industries. He has led multiple acquisition, integration and divestiture teams. He has provided leadership in International business development, built and operated manufacturing plants, managed ventures and business relationships across wide geography.
Through his involvement with CEO Netweavers, Stewart Group Associates and other endeavors to give back to the community, Jim has established an impressive network of qualified executives around the world.
Jim is a graduate of Texas A&M University and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Management Program.
Christian T. Blackwell
Chris is a creative international business executive with extensive experience in both large multinationals and entrepreneurial ventures. He has conducted business in over 40 countries, and he speaks 4 languages. He is particularly interested in emerging markets, political risk and macroeconomic analysis.
Currently Chris is Managing Director at Opus Faveo Innovation Development (www.opus-faveo.com) focusing on strategy development and transactional assistance for international companies. He divides his time between Boston and Dallas.
He has been a senior international executive with GTE/Verizon, an investment banker with Deutsche Bank, and a founder, CEO and CFO of several start-ups. Chris’s industry experience includes energy, telecommunications, technology, financial services, natural resources, education and infrastructure. His transactional experience as a sponsor, banker and investor includes M&A, privatizations, project financings, and private and public market corporate financings in debt and equity, most of which were cross-border in nature, involving both developed and emerging market countries. He has led transactions of well over $1 billion in size.
Chris has a BA in political science and international affairs from Rice University and an MBA in international finance from Thunderbird. He earned both degrees by age 21.
Chris is a native Texan; he grew up in the shadows of Pancho Villa, John Wesley Hardin, Dallas Stoudenmire and Billy the Kid. He is married with two children. You can read more about him here.
