After a successful 30 year career as an accounting and finance executive, John Zimmer started First Lake Advisors in Rochester, New York to help companies of all sizes achieve their strategic goals.
Whether your goal is growth and expansion, acquisition, infrastructure development or the sale of your company, First Lake Advisors has the experience and expertise to ensure that your strategic objectives are accomplished.
Our strategy is to focus on a small number of clients, so that we can intimately understand the challenges and opportunities in your business allowing us to provide customized solutions for every client.
John Zimmer
Founder and Managing Director
John is the Managing Director of First Lake Advisors LLC and has over 30 years of experience as a financial executive, including 13 years as a CFO. Over his career, John has played key leadership roles in both public and private companies and developed an expertise and in depth knowledge of:
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Bank financing
- Public equity and debt offerings
- Investor relations
- Infrastructure development
- Strategic planning
- Mentoring and coaching
During his 10 years as CFO of Transcat, Inc. (TRNS), John led the successful acquisition of 16 companies which helped Transcat to take its revenue from $60 million to $130 million, while quadrupling its operating income. John has spent most of his career in early stage or high growth companies and has a track record of supporting profitable, sustainable growth.
Throughout his career John has played a lead role in raising over $1 billion in debt and equity financing. Through these transactions, John has gained not only the technical expertise and relationships to successfully implement financing strategies, but has also developed a deep understanding of markets and various restructuring options.
In 2016, John received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rochester Business Journal and Financial Executives International, for his work in the Rochester business community and in recognition of his successful career.
In addition, John is a board member of several not-for-profit organizations in the Rochester area.
