Thank you for your interest in Helfer & Associates.
KENNETH HELFER, MBA
President and Senior Managing Partner
There are several reasons why Kenny Helfer and his associates are best suited to represent a possible seller in any agency transaction. The most important reasons are due to his years of experience in financial transactions and overall track record in agency advisory. Moreover, are our relationships with all of the active agency buyers in the market, and a complete understanding of the agency market. Adding to this experience, Kenny brings in a level of personal service and ‘hand-holding’, if you will, that helps creates one of the most crucial ingredients to the whole process – trust and transparency.
After earning his BA in Economics from Yeshiva University, Kenny spent over 11 years at IDT Corporation, a New Jersey based financial, telecommunications, and media company with revenues well over $2 billion. During this time, Kenny worked his way up to Chief Investment Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. Kenny also completed his MBA at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business.
Following Kenny’s tenure at IDT Corporation he was a Co-Founder / Financier / Board Member of HopStop.com. HopStop was acquired by Apple, Inc. It went on to become the premier online and mobile transit direction and hyper-navigation app in the world.
From a quantitative standpoint, Helfer & Associates has transacted well over $200 million in deal value. For these reasons, coupled with patience, and outstanding people skills, Kenny Helfer has on edge on his competition.
Kenny spent over twenty years in Corporate Development and Mergers & Acquisitions specializing in financial services. He started his own firm in 2012 specializing and concentrating solely on independent agencies nationwide and abroad.
Kenny has a personal and specialized approach to getting the right deal done for each seller. Not all sellers are the proper fit for certain buyers. It is not just about price, but its also about finding the right structure, and culture for his client, post-acquisition. The advisor must have a certain rapport and relationship with his client to understand the client’s short term and long term goals.
Kenny also separates himself from the rest of the competition in helping relieve the stress that comes along with this type of event in someone’s professional life. Kenny spends a significant amount of time with the client well before he makes any introduction to buyers. Some clients are just more prepared psychologically to move faster than others. Each deal and each client is completely different.
Helfer & Associates will provide you with:
• Leadership
• Stability
• Direction
• Sound advice
• Comfort
• Peace of mind
All of this comes as a result of his expertise and knowledge of the agency market.
LinkedIn profile – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-helfer-8751462/
ROBIN B. HELFER, COO/CFO, CPA/MBA
Partner and Chief Operating Officer
Robin is a visionary, forward-thinking Operations and Finance Leader offering 25+ years of success in streamlining operations, reducing costs, and boosting profits, resulting in enhanced shareholder value primarily in private-sponsored and founder-legacy consumer products companies.
Robin has experience across a portfolio of operations and financial disciplines with well-known, global branded businesses. Robin was most recently the COO/CFO of Ashley Stewart, Inc., a plus size women’s apparel omni-channel retailer. She was responsible for the finance, accounting, treasury, planning, logistics, distribution, stores, legal, back-office information technology, and human resources functions of the Company through late June 2024. She executed and closed a March 2024 sale process, driving a successful exit and optimal outcome for key stakeholders.
Prior to this role, Robin was previously the CFO/COO of Casper Sleep Inc., responsible for the finance, accounting, treasury, sourcing, logistics and distribution functions, successfully completing a Debt Refinancing during her tenure.
Prior to holding this position, Robin was the COO/CFO of S’well, a reusable hydration and food storage consumer products company, sold to a strategic buyer in early 2022. Robin led finance and accounting, demand management, import and logistics, distribution, project management, sourcing, operations, customer service and legal functions at S’well.
Prior to this, Robin was the CFO of IDMWORKS, a cyber security Identity and Access Management professional services organization where she led finance and human resources.
Prior to joining IDMWORKS, Robin was the COO/CFO of Ellery Homestyles, LLC (“Ellery”), a Home Products Company, sold to a strategic buyer in late 2018. Robin led demand management, import, distribution, finance, information technology, project management and human resources functions at Ellery.
Prior to joining Ellery, Robin was the Chief Financial Officer of The Topps Company, a creator and marketer of confectionery products, sports trading cards, and digital/media products and successfully completed a Debt Refinancing during her tenure.
Prior to holding this position, she was the Vice President of Finance and Operations for the Topps Global Confectionery business, overseeing all aspects of the supply chain and financial matters worldwide. Robin played a lead role in implementing the Oracle ERP while in this position. Topps was owned by Michael Eisner and a private equity firm during her time at the Company.
Prior to joining Topps, Robin held a variety of strategic, financial, business development and operational roles at Cadbury Schweppes working on the Adams Global Confectionery business and at Unilever Best Foods.
Robin started her career in Arthur Andersen’s Audit and Business Advisory Practice as an Engagement Manager in the Consumer Products and Services division.
Robin is a CPA, has an MBA in Management from the New York University Stern School of Business, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting Summa Cum Laude from Binghamton University.
Robin is currently an external Fiduciary Board Member for Charles Komar & Sons, Inc., a global Apparel Company, and an Alumni Advisory Board Member for her alma mater, Binghamton University School of Management.
Robin’s core competencies are working for private equity backed companies in Process improvement, Supply Chain Management, P&L/Cash Management, Negotiations, Systems Integration, Strategic Planning, Forecasting, Planning & Analysis, Sales & Operations Planning, Due Diligence/Valuation, Financial and Cost Accounting, Turnarounds, Change Management, and Cross functional collaboration.
She has been a critical part of four successful liquidity events, driving value for her ownership groups, in addition to two Debt Refinancings.
Robin lives in Hallandale Beach, Florida and Englewood, New Jersey with her husband, Kenny, and has two daughters.
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-helfer-8696b23/
