About Eric Howard

Eric Howard is an operating partner and finance executive with deep experience helping founder-led and private equity-backed companies scale, professionalize operations, expand EBITDA, and prepare for recapitalization or exit.

Across his career, Eric has operated at the intersection of finance, strategy, M&A, and execution. He has helped scale multi-entity platforms from $3 million to $200 million in revenue, expanded EBITDA margins through pricing discipline, cost restructuring, KPI governance, and operating cadence, and participated in more than 30 middle-market transactions across advisory, private equity, and operating roles.

Through Highland Venture Associates, Eric serves as an embedded financial operating partner to companies up to $100 million in revenue. His work includes interim CFO leadership, enterprise financial architecture, cash flow governance, acquisition execution, post-close integration planning, sponsor-grade reporting, and financial systems modernization.

Eric brings a practical operator's perspective, not just advisory experience. He has served as CEO, CXO, CFO, founder, board member, and private equity investment professional. His background includes scaling manufacturing, eCommerce, distribution, healthcare services, professional services, and real estate-related operating platforms. He has led ERP and reporting system implementations, built finance and accounting teams, managed multi-entity P&Ls, supported investor and lender reporting, and created operating infrastructure designed for growth, margin improvement, and enterprise value creation.

Eric's strength is translating complex business situations into clear financial visibility, disciplined execution, and measurable performance improvement. He helps leadership teams identify what matters, install the systems and cadence to manage it, and execute the operational and financial changes needed to create durable value.

Eric's M&A experience spans more than 30 middle-market transactions, including buy-side and sell-side advisory, private equity investing, and operator-led acquisitions. He has led deal sourcing, financial and operational due diligence, valuation and deal structuring, negotiation, financing, and post-close integration. His background includes work at Arthur Andersen LLP, The Marco Group, and Highland Venture Associates, giving him a full-cycle view of how transactions are evaluated, executed, and converted into realized value after close.