About
Our People
Howard C. Serkin
Principal & Chairman
Howard C. Serkin received his B.S. in engineering from Georgia Tech in 1967. Upon graduation, he served a four year tour of active duty as a lieutenant in the U. S. Navy assigned to nuclear submarines and deep submergence rescue and salvage projects. He also earned his M.S. in engineering and in 1974 received his M.B.A. in finance from Harvard Business School. He has pursued post-graduate studies at Oxford University, Cambridge University, and the London School of Economics.
Mr. Serkin served in various senior management positions with The Charter Company between 1974 and 1986. Charter was a NYSE conglomerate with revenues in excess of $5 billion and operations in insurance, energy, and communications. Prior to April 1984, he was executive vice president of Charter’s Insurance Division. In April 1984, Charter filed Chapter 11 and Charter’s Board asked him to leave the insurance operation which was to be sold and assume the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer of the parent company. In this capacity, he arranged over $400 million of new financing and assisted in the development of the plan of reorganization. Charter successfully emerged from bankruptcy in early 1987 and he began a one-year assignment as the first executive-in-residence and visiting professor at the University of North Florida’s College of Business Administration.
In August 1988, Mr. Serkin completed the acquisition and recapitalization of Environmental Recovery Group and currently serves as its financial adviser and a major shareholder. Environmental Recovery Group is a privately owned environmental remediation company serving the southeastern U. S. market. In July 1991, Koger Properties’ Board asked him to assume the positions of executive vice president and director. Koger Properties was a NYSE listed developer, owner, and manager of over 13 million square feet of suburban office buildings and parks located throughout the southeast. In September 1991, Koger filed Chapter 11 and Mr. Serkin directed the development of Koger’s plan of reorganization. Koger successfully emerged from bankruptcy in December 1993.
In January 1994, Mr. Serkin became a principal with Business Valuation, Inc. and Heritage Capital Group, Inc. Business Valuation provides financial consulting and valuation services to privately held business enterprises. Heritage Capital Group provides merger and acquisition advisory, consulting and intermediary services to privately held middle market companies. In December 1994, Pic N’ Save’s Board asked him to assume the part-time position of director of Special Projects and to assist the company in evaluating its strategic alternatives. Pic N’ Save was a privately owned regional discount merchandiser with revenues in excess of $300 million. In February 1995, Pic N’ Save filed Chapter 11 and he assisted in the development of the plan of reorganization. Pic N’ Save emerged from bankruptcy in February 1996.
Mr. Serkin resumed his full time duties as a principal and senior adviser to Business Valuation and Heritage Capital Group in early 1996. In addition to his teaching and lecturing experiences as the executive-in-residence and a visiting professor at the University of North Florida’s College of Business Administration, he lectures extensively on a number of financial topics including corporate turnarounds, mergers and acquisitions, business valuations, financial restructurings, and bankruptcy. He currently serves as an executive professor at the University of North Florida’s College of Business Administration and has lectured at Jacksonville University’s College of Business Administration and the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore, India.
Mr. Serkin served on the Board of Directors of the American National Bank and the advisory boards of the Auchter Company and Baita International. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of I-Dent International. He is a member of the Financial Executives Institute, the Association for Corporate Growth, and an honorary member of Beta Gamma Sigma.
Mr. Serkin serves in leadership positions in a number of civic organizations. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Museum of Science and History, Arts Assembly of Jacksonville (Cultural Council), Leadership Jacksonville, Youth Leadership Jacksonville, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Mental Health Resource Center, Junior Achievement, United Way and Associated Marine Institute. He has served on the Mimi and Lee Adams Environmental Advisory Board, University of North Florida Business Advisory Council, Governor’s Economic Advisory Council, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Community Council, Sheriff’s Advisory Council and First Coast Venture Capital Group. He serves on the Jacksonville Marine Institute Board of Directors, Florida Community College of Jacksonville Open Campus Advisory Board, University of North Florida Foundation Board of Trustees, Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art Board of Trustees, and is co-chairman of the Economic Development Committee of the new Downtown Jacksonville Master Plan.
Contact Howard C. Serkin at Heritage Capital Group, Inc.
Phone: 904-354-9600
E-mail: hcapgroup@aol.com