Smart Start Leadership

Seasoned strategic and tactical executive with Chief Executive Officer (CEO), President, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and corporate development experience at growth-oriented multi-unit, multi-national & franchised organizations from early-stage to $300+MM, including four private equity sponsored entities

Driver of positive change and results. Track record of creating value by taking companies to the next level and beyond as well as energizing turnaround, post-turnaround, and spin-out entities

Business experience includes primarily technology-enabled, services-oriented, and data-centric entities targeting the business-to-business market including SaaS, outsourcing / BPO, information services, professional services, IT services, back office and transaction processing, as well as product businesses with a heavy services component

Extensive international experience. Lived and worked in Europe; Served on multi-national executive teams with India and Mexico-based companies. Adapt quickly and create trust in diverse cultures, both geographic and within organizations

Closed over 30 middle-market M&A and financing transactions totaling over $2 billion in value

MBA from top 10 program

Member - Vistage International; Committed to continuous learning and personal and professional growth



Specialties: Outsourcing, BPO, B2B, B2C, software, SaaS, telecommunications, business services, IT services, Business Process Outsourcing, transaction processing, information services, technology-enabled services, growth, M&A, acquisitions, mergers, turnaround, change, operational excellence, best practices, strategy, revenue, EBITDA, corporate development, sales, marketing, culture, team building, P/L management, multi-unit, multi-state, franchising, franchise, restructuring, streamlining, working capital, cash flow, private equity, venture capital, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), President

Art Baker is currently a Chief Strategy Officer at Smart Start, a leading ignition interlock device provider. In his prior roles, he was responsible for launching new business lines such as Maven and GIG car share, developing autonomous car strategy at AAA and leading financial evaluation of new products at OnStar. Art was an investment banker at RBC Capital Markets from 2006 to 2013.

Art’s areas of expertise include strategy, M&A, operational finance, budgeting, forecasting, capital markets, negotiations and new business development. He is an active member of professional community as he teaches at Investment Banking Institute and served the board of Financial Executives International.

Art possesses a Bachelor of Science in Business from Oklahoma City University, an Ph.D. Degree in Economics from Moscow State University, Russia, and an MBA from the University of Toronto, Canada. He passed all three levels of the CFA Program.