Knowledge, Capital, Partnership and a Passion for Retail.
 

Senior Management


Michael Keefe
President and Chief Executive Officer
mkeefe@hilcomerchantresources.com

Michael has spent his entire career in the liquidation industry and has been instrumental in managing many of the country's largest store closing programs. Over the past 19 years, Mike has developed an unique expertise covering virtually every type of retail business and the broadest range of inventory categories and store formats. As the leader of Hilco Merchant Resources’ management team, Mike has been instrumental in developing, perfecting and executing many of today's most innovative asset disposition practices and tools.



Cory Lipoff
Executive Vice President
clipoff@hilcomerchantresources.com

Cory specializes in structuring and implementing sophisticated asset redeployment strategies for retailers. A recognized expert in bankruptcy, corporate reorganization and restructurings. Cory was a partner in bankruptcy/commercial law at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, one of the nation's largest law firms. While at Jones Day, he participated in such major retail Chapter 11 cases as Federated Department Stores/Allied Stores Corporation, Herman's Sporting Goods, Warehouse Club and Gantos. Cory is a frequent speaker on legal, financial and bankruptcy issues. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison and earned his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law.

Anton J. Caracciolo
Executive Vice President
acaracciolo@hilcomerchantresources.com

Anton has over 25 years of Senior Level Retail and Asset Management Expertise. Prior to joining Hilco, he was responsible for operations and client relations with a major asset management firm. He was formerly Vice President of Operations and Principal of Channel Home Centers and Vice President of Operations for Home Quarters Warehouse. Anton earned a B.S. from Seton Hall University.






Benjamin L. Nortman
Executive Vice President
bnortman@hilcotrading.com

Ben is a respected industry specialist in structuring complex asset disposition transactions. As a senior executive with Hilco Merchant Resources, Ben assists companies, lenders, and both financial and strategic buyers in structuring transactions to maximize returns on inventory, machinery and equipment, real estate, accounts receivable and IP.  Ben also serves as Executive Vice President of The Hilco Organization, parent comapny of HMR.

Prior to working at Hilco, Ben was a Chicago bankruptcy and creditor's rights attorney at the Chicago offices of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue as well as Holleb & Coff. Since 1996, Ben has been involved in structuring and implementing some of the largest asset disposition transactions in the country. He served as a member of the executive committee of the American Bankruptcy Institute and also served as its Vice President of Development.

Jeffrey A. Paronto
Chief Operating Officer
jparonto@hilcomerchantresources.com

Jeff is a seasoned professional retailer with over thirty years experience at Kmart Corporation.  His most recent assignments included the responsibilities of multi-store supervision as District Manager, Regional Manager and Director of Store Operations for Kmart's Southwestern Region.  Jeff's operational expertise is being used to manage and control Hilco Merchant Resources' operations, providing clients with higher recoveries on their inventory and FF&E dispositions.




John Tinsley
Chief Financial Officer
jtinsley@hilcomerchantresources.com
 
Len Berliner
Sr. Vice President, Marketing/Advertising
 
Over a 20 year period, Len has held senior management positions in Marketing and Sales Promotion for Federated Department Stores, May Department Stores and Woodward & Lothrop/John Wanamaker. A cornerstone member of our team, Len excels at planning and executing marketing strategies that maximize impact and cost efficiencies for desired results.






James Rategan
Vice President
jrategan@hilcomerchantresources.com

James develops client and partner relationships for Hilco Merchant Resources.  He works with retailers, investment bankers, private equity sponsors, hedge funds, turnaround advisors, and bankruptcy professionals to provide asset-related advisory and monetization services to retailers contemplating mergers & acquisitions, asset restructurings, divestitures, and operational enhancements. 

James is an active member of the Turnaround Management Association, Commercial Finance Association and American Bankruptcy Institute.  Prior to joining Hilco, James worked for mTeam Financial, CIBC Oppenheimer, and the Asset Management Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co.