More than a decade as a CFO, COO, and President inside real businesses — not studying those roles, but running them, with real consequences attached to every decision.
LJ Govoni founded Split Oak Advisory Group after spending 13 years inside founder-led and private equity-backed businesses as a CFO, COO, and President — not studying those roles, but running them, with real consequences attached to every decision.
His operating career spans food manufacturing, craft beverage, and consumer packaged goods. He has led financial turnarounds, closed capital raises across the full capital stack, guided acquisitions from letter of intent through close, built finance organizations from scratch, and managed operations across multi-site production environments. He has sat in boardrooms with PE sponsors and on production floors with plant managers, and is equally fluent in both.
Before founding Split Oak, LJ served as President and co-founder of Seaboard Craft Beer Holdings, the parent company of Big Storm Brewing — one of Florida's largest regional craft brewery groups — where he oversaw multi-site operations across five taproom locations, managed distribution expansion into Texas and New Jersey, and led sustainability initiatives including becoming the first brewery in Florida to deploy carbon recapture technology.
His approach is direct, ownership-oriented, and grounded in the conviction that financial clarity is the foundation of every good business decision.
Fractional CFO and COO advisory for founder-led businesses in food, beverage, and CPG. Every engagement led by a principal who has held the seat — not studied it.
Built and operated one of Florida's largest regional craft brewery platforms across five taproom locations and multiple brand acquisitions, including Big Storm Brewing, Fat Point Brewing, and Darwin Brewing.
Led multiple capital raises across the full capital stack. Guided acquisitions from letter of intent through close, managing due diligence, valuation, and integration planning.
Built a specialty financing company serving the craft beverage industry — keg rental, equipment leasing, and non-traditional capital solutions for breweries navigating growth without traditional lending access.
Coverage spanning craft beverage, sustainability innovation, community leadership, and Florida business — from national syndicated stories to trade press and regional business journalism.
Every week, LJ publishes a working note from inside the advisory practice — the financial problems founder-led businesses actually face, and how operators solve them.
No pitch deck. No sales process. A direct conversation about what your business needs and whether Split Oak is the right fit to help get there.