MICHAEL SEMANCO:
 
MICHAEL SEMANCO




 
 
 
 
 
President and COO, Hennessey Capital, LLC in Huntington Woods. Hennessey Capital provides working capital and business coaching to small- and mid-sized businesses. Semanco has more than 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. Previously, he held sales and credit positions at Crestmark Bank. Semanco began his career with a Detroit-based credit union and local commercial bank while attending college. He serves on the Detroit Regional Chamber Small Business Advisory Council and the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership Small Business Committee. He is a board member of Crime Stoppers, a regional organization committed to creating safer communities. He is a director of the Commercial Finance Association and a member of the Association for Corporate Growth, Turnaround Management Association, Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Michigan Bankers Association. He is also a member of Automation Alley and active on its finance committee. Semanco volunteers with FAAN (Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Network) Walk, the Salvation Army’s Bed & Bread Club, and Coats for Kids. He received his bachelor of business administration in finance and MS in finance from Walsh College, where he serves as a trustee, a member of the president’s advisory council, and board member of the alumni association. His company is a corporate sponsor of Walsh’s Business Leadership Institute.


WHERE BORN: "Detroit."

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: "My immediate family because my wife is the one who kind of pushed me into my role at Hennessey Capital and into an entrepreneurial-type venture. And, my extended business family – Hennessey is a family-run business and all of Frank Hennessey’s kids are involved and I’m the non-family member."

LAST BOOK READ: "I’m almost done with 5 Essentials for a Winning Life by Chris Carmichael. Carmichael was the trainer to Lance Armstrong. It’s a combination of trying to balance personal health, personal life, and family commitments with business goals and ambitions."

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: "Driven, willing to learn anything, passionate about business, focused on making a difference."

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: "For the future, our business – asset-based lending and factoring – is very competitive and becoming a commodity like banking. I believe the companies that are willing to step outside of the traditional box and come up with creative services to help the small-business community will have an advantage in the future. We’re trying to look outside the norm and create new products and opportunities."

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: "My Motorola Q to keep me connected, and my MP3 player when I’m doing everything else."

FAVORITE PLACE: "Two of them. One is a golf course on a warm day, and the vacation spot is Disney with my kids."

FAVORITE HOBBIES: "Anything athletic – racquetball, golf, weight training."

FAVORITE FOOD: "Pizza and chocolate."

MY HIDDEN TALENT: "I played competitive racquetball in the past and I’ve won three state titles."

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: "As a role model and good teacher to my kids, as a compassionate leader to my team at Hennessey Capital, and as a business leader who chooses to make a difference in the community."

Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2014, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.