Dennis N. Aust, Managing Director

Dennis Aust has more than 25 years of experience helping companies maximize value through strategic insight and financial performance. His role at CharterMast includes general management, the direction of consulting engagements, and leadership for client research in shareholder value management.

Prior to founding CharterMast Partners, Mr. Aust consulted within the technology and strategy practices at Computer Sciences Corporation. His career includes general management, consulting, teaching, and staff positions at FMC Corporation, Purdue University, and Callard, Madden & Associates, Inc.

His client roster of past consulting engagements includes Northrop Grumman, Eaton, TRW, Heller Financial, FMC, Bell Atlantic, Varity (Massey Ferguson), Campbell Soup, Amcena, TBG, BAE Systems, and Continental Corp.

Mr. Aust has published several articles covering topics in strategic analysis, consulting, financial management, innovation, and marketing. In addition to his regular contributions to The Virtual Strategist, an online strategy journal,  Mr. Aust's articles have appeared in international publications including CEO Refresher, Effective Executive, Marketing Mastermind, and "Managing Innovation in the New Millennium."

Mr. Aust has spoken at conferences of the National Association of Accountants and the American Management Association. As publisher/editor of the online journal, The Virtual Strategist (www.virtualstrategist.net), and an active member in the Strategic Management Association and University of Chicago Alumni Consulting Roundtable (chair), he maintains a network of relationships with academics, thought leaders, and executives throughout industry and consulting.

He holds an undergraduate degree in business and an MBA in management science from the University of Chicago.

Vern Broders, Director of Client Services

Vernon R. Broders has been actively involved in corporate strategy and financial management for nearly 30 years, bringing financial leadership and creativity to firms in many industries. In his role at CharterMast, Vern is responsible for practice management and business development initiatives for emerging client requirements.

Vern has most recently provided financial planning and strategic consulting for liquidity maximization to large corporations in the Midwest and consulted with large U.S. corporations and major financial services institutions in providing enhanced financial services to the corporate community. Vern served as a corporate finance director for Sara Lee Corporation in both the U.S. and Europe and began his career with the global audit and consulting firm Deloitte & Touche.

Vern’s past client roster includes The Limited, Pacific Dunlop, Blockbuster Video/Viacom, Laidlaw, Inc., Tompkins PLC, Snap-On Tools, and CNA Financial. His continuing research focus is on the role of finance in corporate strategic planning and enterprise metrics.

A University of Chicago Graduate School of Business graduate, Vern is degreed in both Finance and Marketing. He holds a CPA and is a leader of the University of Chicago Alumni Finance Roundtable.