WS Chronicle

Two of Winston-Salem’s most widely-known bankers have formed a management consultant group to provide strategic planning and advisory services to assist small businesses. F. Scott Bauer and Jeff Clark, the top-ranking executives of former-Winston-Salem based Southern Community Bank and Trust, have announced the formation of BauerClark Associates, whose mission is simply, “to help small business succeed.”

“Our passion is helping small business,” said Bauer, who founded Southern Community Bank in 1996 and served as its chief executive officer before it was acquired last year. “Our primary goal in starting Southern Community Bank was to be the best small business bank in our communities. We believe small businesses are the strength of our country. Our new firm is built on helping small business owners be the best they can be.”

BauerClark Associates will focus in strategic planning, financial analysis and forecasting, the sales process, and the importance of building an internal and external service culture. The firm’s ultimate goal is to develop a long-term strategic plan for the small business owner, identify strengths and weaknesses, and make recommendations that will strengthen the company.

Bauer and Clark, who have a combined 60 years experience in the financial industry, saw first-hand the difficulties of working through a difficult economy.