Joe Nogal

Joe Nogal is a globally experienced financial and operational leader whose career spans more than 37 years across manufacturing, food production, distribution, and professional services. He is known as a straight-talking, hands-on advisor who combines deep financial expertise with a genuine understanding of how businesses actually operate on the ground.

Joe began his career in Canada, serving as Controller at Woodhead Canada Limited before moving to the company's U.S. headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois. Over the next 16+ years at Woodhead Industries — a NASDAQ-listed manufacturer of network and electrical infrastructure products for harsh industrial environments — Joe rose to VP Treasurer/Controller. He helped guide the company through operations spanning 21 locations across 10 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific, and was a key figure during the company's $256 million acquisition by Molex.

Following Woodhead, Joe served as CFO at HELIO/GAI before joining Eli's Cheesecake Company, one of Chicago's most beloved food brands, as VP & Chief Financial Officer. There, he led the finance team through a period of significant growth — overseeing the financial operations of a bakery producing 20,000 cheesecakes and desserts daily, managing treasury, taxes, strategic planning, and human capital, and helping position the company for long-term success.

Since retiring from Eli's Cheesecake in 2021, Joe has been active as an independent business advisor and board member. He currently serves on the boards of Tiesta Tea Company and Terzo Power Systems LLC, and is a member of The Bridge Group, a team of seasoned executives who advise growth-stage businesses.

Joe holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management (EMP 27 Executive Masters Program) and a B.S. in Accounting and Business from DePaul University. He has been a member of Financial Executives International's Chicago Chapter since 2000.

Outside of business, Joe is a proud father and grandfather — a role he considers his most important. The same values that have defined his professional life — integrity, accountability, and a genuine investment in others' success — are the ones he has tried to pass down to the next generation. It's a perspective that shapes how he approaches every client relationship: with the long view in mind, and with the understanding that real trust is built over time.