We Are ...Lifestyle Enhanced Luxury

Southern Comfort has been the premier brand name in the minds of lifestyle enhanced luxury auto mavens around the globe for over 30 years now. Our lifestyle-enhanced luxury offerings combined with our company-wide obsession with world class design, unmatched quality, and innovative creature comfort solutions have always inspired the highest standard by which all other custom vehicles are measured. But get ready.... because we are about to raise the standard even higher.

Drawing upon our rich and storied history, and capitalizing on the devoted relationships we have forged with our customers and our dealer distribution partners throughout the years; we remain truly passionate about designing and developing lifestyle enhanced luxury vehicles which continually inspire our worldwide community of drivers and help them take ownership of their own life's journey. The truth is that our customers have highly refined and discerning tastes. They seek out the best of everything, and expect the utmost in quality from all their purchases at every level - especially as it relates to major purchases like their luxury vehicles. And it is with that in mind that we at MCM Custom Vehicles seek to custom craft all of the vehicles which bear our MCX and Southern Comfort brands to exceed those expectations at every possible turn.

We want to help our customers get wherever their road may lead them, and arrive there in style... in a vehicle that successfully translates and uniquely communicates their own individualism and personal aspirations. Simply stated: Here at MCM Custom Vehicles / Southern Comfort we are all about helping people drive their passion and live life to the fullest - That's why we always say "Work Stronger. Play Harder. Live Better ...in Southern Comfort."

Our People

Rod McSweeney, Chief Executive Officer - rodm4812@gmail.com

Rod started in the business in 1979 as a hobby. Rod had a passion for hot-rod cars and learned to custom paint in high school. After rebuilding a used van for personal use, a friend at a used car dealership asked Rod to build one for him. He sold it immediately and ordered 75 more that year. Rod's destiny was set. Over the next 29 years Rod grew the business to $50 million in annual revenues, having over 100,000 vehicles on the road. Building on this rich heritage Rod is still championing the cause of cutting edge design and vehicle specialization and continues to develop innovative solutions for customer's unique transportation needs. On any given day (or night) Rod may still be found in his own personal design lab and workshop at MCM Custom Vehicles, LLC inspiring his "dream team" of engineers in the development of the next generation of signature lifestyle enhanced luxury vehicles. Rod is married to his high school sweetheart and lifelong love, Robin McSweeney; and is honored to see his sons Matt and Michael now thriving in their own right as they carry his vision into the future. He has served on the Board of Directors of Reality Radio, Conversion Vehicle Marketing Association, General Motors - Manufacturers "Right Size" Committee, Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, Cathedral of the Cross and Parkway Christian Fellowship.

Matt McSweeney, President - mattm@mcmvehicles.com

From his earliest days, Matt inherited his father's contagious passion and enthusiasm for custom vehicles. Since the age of 6 Matt has been closely involved in the Family Business. In 1996, Matt began his professional career with Southern Comfort in the Quality Control department. In 2000, Matt assumed the responsibility as the Manager of the Retail Accessories division of Southern Comfort. These two leadership positions ultimately set the foundation of Matt's focus on creating sales growth and ensuring a quality product. In 2003 Matt set out to start new Dealer relationships in the Southeast, USA. Shortly thereafter Matt became the leading salesman for the US Market, and remained in this position year after year constantly raising the bar and inspiring the rest of the sales force to aim higher. In 2006 Matt took the leadership position as the Sales Manager, managing 35 salesmen, selling in 49 states. In 2009, Matt became the President of MCM Custom Vehicles, LLC. Matt's day-to-day responsibilities include sales management, chassis inventory control, internal process control development, interdepartmental communications and strategically managing to budgeted targets. While Matt certainly appreciates his success at the helm of the family business and gives God ALL the glory for His hand of blessing; he is most grateful and his truest passions in life are devoted to his wife, Suzy, and their daughter Moriah.

Michael McSweeney, Chief Financial Officer - michaelm@mcmvehicles.com

Michael is currently serving as the CFO of MCM Custom Vehicles. His responsibilities include operating and capital budgeting, reporting, internal performance tracking and accounting. Michael also works in conjunction with the business development team in assessing new growth opportunities. Prior to joining the Company in 2009, Michael was an Analyst at G51 Capital Management; a seed stage venture capital firm. There he was responsible for leading due diligence efforts and working with portfolio companies to refine their launch strategies. Michael has completed the Executive Education in Emerging Markets at Harvard Business School, holds an MBA from Baylor University and a degree in Finance from Middle Tennessee State University.

Mike Clough, Operations Manager - mclough9877@gmail.com

Mike joined the Company in 2007. Prior to joining the Company, Mike was an entrepreneur himself, leading a successful flooring Company. At MCM Vehicles, Mike was initially responsible for management of the Plastic Thermoforming segment of the operation. Shortly thereafter, Mike assumed the responsibility of Plant Manager for the entire operation. Mike's responsibilities at MCM Vehicles include production scheduling, materials planning, managing operating efficiencies, logistics and payroll functions.

Deidre Leo, Cash Manager - deidrel@mcmvehicles.com

Deidre has been with the Company since 1996. When Deidre joined the Company, she was involved in accounting and warranty before finally taking over chassis inventory and internal sales support. In 2007 Deidre took a position at Building Specialties Company, Inc.. There she was responsible for helping to open up a new branch in Tuscaloosa, AL. In 2009 she returned to MCM Vehicles to take the Cash Management position. Deidre is responsible for invoicing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, short term cash budgeting and internal process development.

Jeffrey Hunter, Directory of Business Development - jeffreyh@mcmvehicles.com

Jeffrey is a consummate entrepreneur. With a strong track record of startup and operational success in industries as varied as property development, design contracting, concert promotion and the music publishing business; Jeffrey now joins the MCM / Southern Comfort team to help spearhead our initiatives to bolster the underlying brand value of our rich portfolio of lifestyle enhanced luxury vehicle product offerings, and to explore the development of new business opportunities which diversify our investments beyond the traditional scope of our automotive operations.

Drew Franklin, Marketing and Warranty Coordinator - dfranklin@mcmvehicles.com

Drew joined the company in 2010 after starting his career at Promotional Concepts. There his responsibilities included developing new business, enriching current business relationships and ensuring client satisfaction. Also, collecting market research data and pitching marketing ideas to clients. At MCM Vehicles Drew's role is to create and maintain the company's favorable image and reputation within and outside of the automobile industry. Drew graduated from The University of Alabama with a Public Relations degree, where he was a member of the University of Alabama Football Team.

Our Story

The McSweeney Family

The story of MCX / Southern Comfort, and its founding family, The McSweeneys, is an all-American tale of one family's life journey through triumph and tragedy... and back again.

Having originated as somewhat of a pet project in the mind and imagination... as well as the garage of it's founder, Rod McSweeney, back in 1979; Southern Comfort Conversions would eventually go on to scale the heights of success as a premier luxury automotive upfitter. At one point the company was consistently generating profits on tens of millions in annual revenues, manufacturing some of the most highly sought after vehicles on the American road, and for a brief moment it seemed that life and business simply could not get any better.

And then came the fall of 2008...

Much like the broader economy itself, during the credit crunch and economic collapse of 2008 Southern Comfort was a company on the brink. As a result of unforeseen market fluctuations and a rapidly vanishing level of commitment from a 3rd party capital investment firm and business partner who was not as accustomed to dealing with the whiplash of ups and downs in the automotive business - Southern Comfort had essentially been taken off life support and left to waste away.

All the while the McSweeney family, including Rod and his wife Robin and their two sons Matt and Michael, were faced with a fateful decision. Left with a choice to either walk away and let their company die or try to fight against all odds to breathe life back into the business they had forged at great sacrifice with their own hard work and ingenuity - Ultimately the McSweeneys realized they still believed in the business.

More importantly, they realized they still believed in the people who had worked so hard along side them for all of those years to help them build the reputation of Southern Comfort as such a trustworthy brand. When it came down to it, the McSweeneys could not bear the thought of their vision coming to such an inglorious end, or seeing so many great folks thrown out of work during the worst economy in a generation.

It was at that pivotal moment the McSweeneys decided to pool their remaining personal resources and set out to repurchase the assets of the company back from their outside investors. With this single bold move, the McSweeneys reclaimed both the heritage and the destiny of the Southern Comfort brand and began working immediately to revive the ailing business.

With renewed passion and purpose the McSweeney's have now reorganized their business as MCM Custom Vehicles, LLC and have regrouped at their original manufacturing facility in their hometown of Trussville, Alabama. Already their faith is paying off. Since their move they have managed to seize unexpected opportunities to sell their vehicles in emerging markets throughout Asia and the Middle East and even now are experiencing a resurgence of demand among their loyal customer and dealer base here in the US. The McSweeneys are greatly encouraged with this rapid re-growth of the business and are excited about the bold plans they are making for the future with the development of several top secret prototype vehicles that have the potential to completely change the game in the lifestyle enhanced luxury auto business here at home and abroad.

Having learned the lessons of the past, and weathered the worst of the recent storms in their industry with the same faith, determination, and resilience which have always characterized their values-driven approach to life and business... the McSweeneys have now restored their company to a solid financial footing. Today they are more poised than ever to seize back the reigns of leadership in the lifestyle enhanced luxury automotive industry - An industry which they originally pioneered from Rod and Robin's garage back in 1979. And as a result of all of this, a premier American luxury automotive brand is still producing top quality products right here in Trussville, Alabama... and a loyal and growing staff of the industry's best designers, craftsmen, salesmen, administrators, service reps, and all around automotive visionaries are still hard at work every day in their facilities making vehicles which continue to captivate the hearts and imaginations of drivers all over the globe.

Perhaps it's just because they have lived through it all together on a daily basis; sharing every aspect of the highs and lows of life in the family business - but now more than ever the McSweeneys honestly feel that they have a pretty compelling story to tell the world, and valuable business philosophy to share with others. Afterall, sometimes it's just good to be reminded that even in times like these which are characterized by a constant barrage of bad news and cynicism... their story attests that undying faith, hard work, and pioneering ingenuity still do count for something both in life and in business. Like Rod said in a recent interview with Dawn Kent from the Birmingham News, "There's a verse in the Bible that says ‘without a vision, the people perish.' We never lost the vision, and had we walked away 50 to 60 jobs would have perished. WE STILL HAVE A VISION."

Our Vision

Our Vision and Mission is to design and create lifestyle enhanced luxury vehicles which continually inspire a worldwide community of drivers to take ownership of their life's journey. We believe in utilizing every single creative, constructive, relational, and financial tool at our disposal to cultivate and share a culture and community built around the concept of "Life Affirming Empowerment". We strive at all times to empower our customers and sales partners with custom crafted automotive solutions and lifestyle enhanced luxury vehicles which are uniquely tailored to help them discover a more meaningful way to, as we like to say "Work Stronger. Play Harder. and Live Better... in Southern Comfort."

It goes without saying, but constantly merits mention here that our customers have highly refined and discerning tastes. They seek out the best of everything, and expect the utmost in quality from all their purchases at every level - especially as it relates to major purchases like their luxury vehicles. With that in mind, we at MCM Custom Vehicles seek to exceed those expectations at every possible turn. Products bearing the MCX/Southern Comfort brands are not simply engineered to meet the basic "needs" of today's sophisticated automotive consumer... But rather they are custom crafted to transcend these basic needs and go on to fill the unspoken "void" that ultimately drives the underlying purchasing decisions and habits of today's luxury consumer. Regardless of whether that void is one of passion... or inspiration... or exhilaration, etc... the truth is that each one of our exclusive lines of luxury automotive product offerings are strategically geared toward re-igniting those passions and equipping our customers with a sense of "Life Affirming Empowerment." We want to help our clients get wherever their road may lead them, and to help them arrive there in style... in a vehicle that successfully translates and uniquely communicates their own individualism and personal aspirations.

Our Values

The combined portfolio of SOUTHERN COMFORT and MCX Concepts brands will continually represent a freshly revived, company wide obsession with "Life Affirming Empowerment", and a commitment to:

>>> Unrelenting Devotion & Loyalty to our People, our Customers and our Distribution Partners.

>>> Unparalleled Design Innovation & Engineering Excellence.

>>> Uncompromising Luxury & Style.

>>> Unrivaled Quality & Performance.

>>> Unwavering Commitment to Give Back to Our Community, Showing Gratitude and Sharing Hope With the World Around Us for the God-Given Success We Have Been Afforded.

Our Advisory Board

Rick Bozzelli - President & CEO, Carter Capital Advisors
Former CFO, EBSCO International

Richard L. Bozzelli ("Rick") is an experienced and trusted organizational leader with vast experience successfully steering organizations in multiple industries through complex challenges, major transitions and corporate turnarounds. He currently provides strategic direction and Board representation to companies in the retail, manufacturing, real estate, hospitality and natural resources industries. Prior to founding Carter Capital Advisors, and for the past 23 years, Mr. Bozzelli held the position of Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of a multi-billion dollar international conglomerate with operations in more than 25 countries. As CFO, he was charged with the responsibilities of Corporate Strategy, Finance, Global M&A (closed in excess of 90 acquisitions), Risk Management, Legal, Tax and Regulatory compliance, International Treasury, Cash and FX Management and Pension Plan Investment Management. He has extensive knowledge of business operations combined with the C-Level know how of driving revenues, managing cash flow and operating expenses, and restructuring operations. His 30+ years in business has provided him vast experiences in multiple economic cycles. Mr. Bozzelli received his B.S. in Accounting from The University of Alabama in Birmingham, completed the International Tax Program at New York University and Executive in Residence Program at Birmingham Southern College, and is a C.P.A.

R. Heath Buckner - President, Buckner Holdings
Principal, Brookline Capital

As President of Buckner Barrels' parent company, Heath helps oversee all operations across our portfolio of businesses. He has been in this position since February of 2008. Prior to this, he spent several years at a boutique investment bank, advising a range of clients on mergers & acquisitions and corporate finance as well as several years in the Assurance and Advisory group of Ernst & Young, LLP. Heath has a B.S. in economics from Auburn University and an M.S. in accounting from the University of Virginia. He is a Certified Public Accountant. Heath and his wife Emily live in Springville with their son Levi and their golden retriever, Taft. He enjoys organic gardening and watching movies. He is also the Treasurer of Springville First Baptist Church.