Professional Overview

Mr. Ponski is a Director in the financial valuation and consulting practice within Cambridge Partners & Associates, Inc. with over 25+ years experience specializing in business and intangible asset valuations. 

He has performed valuations for such purposes as fairness and solvency opinions, corporate financial reporting (ASC 805 & ASC 350-Business Combinations & Goodwill Impairment, ASC 360-Long Lived Asset Impairment, ASC 718-Stock Compensation, ASC 820-Fair Value Measurements), tax valuations (IRC 409A-Non Qualified Deferred Compensation, IRC 280G-Golden Parachute Payments, IRC §482 transfer pricing for multi-national companies), mergers & acquisitions, recapitalizations/bankruptcy, estate and gift tax planning (LLCs, FLPs), litigation and expert witness testimony, marital dissolution, and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs).  Other valuation experience includes appraisals of intellectual/intangible property (IPR&D), trade names, patents, customer lists, non-competition agreements) and complex/unique appraisals such as derivatives, exotic options, blockage studies, inventions and other assignments.

Professional Experience

·         Business appraisals since 1985, directing, managing and performing various valuation engagements

·         Director/financial valuation & consulting at Cambridge Partners & Associates since 2005

·         Previous business valuation & litigation support services at Marshall & Stevens, First Chicago, Laventhal & Horwath and other certified accounting firms encompassing 20 years

·         Prior experience specializing in general management consulting at Touche Ross (Deloitte & Touche)

·         Prior experience as asset manager at First Chicago managing investments held in trusts and estates for high worth individuals, actively managing businesses, attending shareholder meetings, negotiating the sale of businesses and actively participating in estate planning

Professional Designations & Affiliations

American Society of Appraisers (ASA)-Accredited Senior Appraiser, Business Valuation since May 1988

Business Valuation Association (BVA)-member; Board of Directors/Vice President & Secretary

(2008-10); President (2011-2012)

National Litigation Support Services Association. (NLSSA) - former member

National Trust Closely Held Business Association. (NTCHBA) - former member

Professional Memberships/Development

ASA - Principals of Valuation and Annual Business Valuation Conferences

BVA - Monthly Business Valuation luncheon presentations

NLSSA - Annual conferences on various business and litigation matters

NTCHBA - Annual Trust Closely Held Conferences

ICLE Seminars – Estate Planning

Cornerstone Bank, Networking Group: Real Estate Centric Business Valuations Presentation (2016)

Educational Background

DePaul University - Masters of Business Administration in Corporate Finance

University of Michigan - Masters in Mechanical Engineering

University of Michigan - Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Testimony Experience

Engaged in various depositions, testimony and arbitration matters in Illinois, Minnesota and North Carolina