With a successful track record spanning over three decades in the business realm, Dean Wiltse is a highly experienced and versatile leader. His portfolio includes an extensive range of expertise from negotiating, steering turnarounds, guiding initial public offerings, and managing small to mid-cap mergers and acquisitions. His outstanding acumen in operational analysis, business planning, and preparing businesses for sale sets him apart in the industry.
Mr. Wiltse's track record demonstrates a rare ability to handle businesses of all sizes, ranging from those with modest annual revenue below $100,000 to large enterprises generating over $100 million.
In his earlier career, Mr. Wiltse distinguished himself by taking Greenfield Online (SRVY) public on NASDAQ. This marked a significant milestone by establishing the world's most extensive interrelation of global online consumer communities. As CEO, he propelled this tech startup into a globally recognized, publicly-traded consumer insight powerhouse. His tenure saw the establishment of the world's largest global E-commerce platform. Following the successful IPO, he spearheaded the acquisition of seven companies, including Ciao in Europe, acquired for $150 million. Greenfield Online was eventually bought by Microsoft for a substantial $480 million, incorporating Ciao into Bing to boost its global Ecommerce technology, revenue, and consumer awareness.
Through his leadership, Mr. Wiltse has materially impacted the financial status of numerous individuals and organizations. To date, over 10 founders and their families have become millionaires under his guidance, and his teams have generated over $780 million in market value for investors.
In recent years, Mr. Wiltse has been leveraging his industry expertise to collaborate with esteemed Private Equity firms such as TA, Unigestion, Morgan Stanley, Peak Rock Capital, PAI Partners, Open Gate Capital, CVC, Warburg Pincus, KKR, and Bain Capital. His role has been instrumental in determining acquisition strategies and pinpointing valuable targets.
Mr. Wiltse also has extensive experience in the ever-evolving world of agribusiness. From 2015 to 2018, he served as the CEO of FoodLogiQ, a leading technology company specializing in supply chain transparency and traceability solutions for the food industry. In 2022, he was hired by Mojix to spearhead its expansion into the food traceability software market. Under his direction, Mojix was a winner of the FDA Traceability Challenge, which led to significant market awareness. When the company was sold in May 2022 to Peak Rock Capital, he ran the sale process and helped secure a favorable valuation.
Mr. Wiltse's innovativeness has been recognized with accolades such as the 2018 North Carolina Tech Awards for Product Innovation and a spot on Fortune Magazine's Top 25 Most Innovative Companies list in 2004, 2005, and 2017. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences and was a keynote speaker at a University of Georgia graduation ceremony. He is also the author of "Amazing Success During Economic Crisis" and continues to share his insights as a guest speaker.
Currently, Mr. Wiltse applies his vast experience and knowledge as the owner of Sunbelt Business Brokers of Utah. His team handles a broad array of industries, with a particular focus on technology, Software as a Service (SaaS), manufacturing, marketing research, B2B services, franchise resales, and trade-related contracting businesses. With Mr. Wiltse at the helm, they successfully execute deals statewide and beyond.