Chief executive officer with national and international experience in all aspects of organization management. Expertise in positioning & brand awareness, value creation, government affairs, revenue & equity growth, international expertise, industry advocacy and web optimization.
Broad-based association professional skilled in leading governance, planning, marketing, advocacy, finance, business development and operations. Turned around under-performing organizations. Led high performance teams in building and managing associations to deliver quality products and services. Identified and built new revenue streams. Leveraged web-based technology to enhance membership value. Grew non-dues revenue by identifying and marketing high potential, tailored products that saved members money and generated revenue. Managed budgets up to $27.4M.
• Increased association net worth 925% from 2000 to 2006
• Grew insurance company premiums 365% and total equity from $1.1M to $48.8M
• Doubled membership at a time of significant industry consolidation
• Enhanced member involvement and participation by leveraging web technology
• Launched new communications and education products
• Expanded governmental advocacy and effectiveness
• Established long-term strategic plans including leadership succession strategies
• Developed research and trend analysis programs
• Established international offices
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Broad administrative skills. Versatile and innovative. Skilled at government affairs. Wins cooperation at all levels. Inspires others to top performance. Effective at dealing with the public. Knowledge of international markets. Successfully promotes new ideas. Plans major events and conferences. Verbally persuasive / compelling.
CAREER SUMMARY
President & CEO, national manufacturing trade association, 2006 to Present. Revitalized this organization following two unsuccessful merger/consolidation attempts that left the association in significant decline. Developed a new strategic direction and implemented key elements of the plan. Reorganized committee and staff structures as well as operating functions. Greatly enhanced internal operations, including a complete office renovation. Developed the blueprint for a new issues advocacy program. Enhanced external relations with allied organizations.
President, Chief Executive Officer, international logistics industry trade association, 2000 to 2006. Repositioned the association as a more broad based group. Led the organization through a financial recovery. Increased the association’s net worth 925% over five years without a dues increase. Led team of 12 direct employees and 50 outsourced personnel and independent contractors, and managed a budget of $27.4M. Provided leadership and oversight for four corporations: the association, a captive insurance company, a for-profit business services company and an education and research foundation.
Chief Executive, consulting firm, 1996 to 2000. Founded this consulting, project management and interim executive services company. Assignments included reorganizations, transitions and restructuring, primarily of not-for-profit organizations including a national electrical industry trade association, a professional medical association and an international IT organization.
Chief Operating Officer, international textile industry trade association. 1994-1996. Launched new offices in Brussels, Toronto, Osaka. Purchased a multi-million office building. Developed an internet strategy and website. Achieved record memberships and meeting attendance at division, country sector and international events. Started a business services department. Started an international safety & technical fabrics conference. Produced the largest and most financially successful convention & expo in the organizations history. Created an education and training department.
President & Chief Executive Officer, state grocery industry trade association. 1980-1994. Launched two corporations, an education foundation and an insurance agency, and served as CEO of four corporations. Negotiated a record setting contract with the USDA. Managed a budget of more than $20 million. Served as chief industry lobbyist and established the organization as the leading voice at the capitol.
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Increased association net worth 925% from 2000 to 2006. Achieved the best financial and programmatic position in 115 year history. Upon joining this international trade association, discovered the Board of Directors was unaware that the organization was nearly bankrupt. Reviewed and quantified the situation. Identified key problems and developed recovery plan. Advised the Board of Directors. Led a management team to achieve complete recovery. Thereafter produced five successive years of revenue growth and a 925% increase in the association’s net worth.
Grew insurance company premiums 365% and total equity from $1.1M to $48.8M. Organization was in desperate need of structure, discipline and strategic direction. Assumed position as president. Identified company needs and developed and implemented reorganization plan. Facilitated the transition of two critical service providers. Built a new governance structure, increased marketing and loss control (37.9% loss ratio) and established financial discipline. Increased premiums from $5.4M to $25.1M and grew membership, premium levels and the financial base.
Doubled membership at a time of significant industry consolidation. Grocery industry trade association was unfocused and lethargic. Promoted to president & CEO. Developed organization’s first strategic plan. Implemented a name change and reorganization of the Board and staff structures. Launched two new corporations and positioned four corporations to better serve members. Merged three affiliate associations. Tripled dues revenue without a dues increase. Established the organization as a leading voice at the capitol.
Enhanced member involvement and participation by leveraging web technology. This international trade association had not taken advantage of internet potential and efficiencies. Developed a web strategy and identified critical partners to assist with development and technical issues. Launched web site, member locator and weekly newsletter as initial content. Site now used to enhance communications, conduct surveys, promote programs and services, facilitate distance learning, handle online registrations, build industry image, develop information rich tool kits and provide visibility for members through the online member locator / search engine.
Launched new communications and education programs. Started trade magazine, a Buyer’s Guide & Directory and a weekly e-mail newsletter. Developed educational offerings for all levels of company personnel from executives to rank-and-file personnel. Started new conferences for executive strategies, marketing and sales, information technology, safety and risk management, finance, as well as technical conferences. Launched web based and online training programs. Developed a certified professional designation program.
Expanded governmental advocacy and effectiveness. Increased member involvement in the political process through new grassroots program. Held strategic meetings and events with members of Congress and regulatory agencies. Passed legislation of importance to the industry. Signed historic agreement with OSHA. Grew PAC contributions and influence with Congressional candidates. Collaborated with related associations to leverage political strength and effectiveness.
Established long-term strategic plans including leadership succession strategies. Developed branding strategy to position the association for growth. Organized a comprehensive strategic planning process that included membership and leadership surveys, facilitated planning sessions, data analysis, market research, competitive analysis and strategy development. Created platform to focus association resources and expand membership.
Developed research and trend analysis programs. Started an annual business outlook that provided members with market intelligence and trend analysis. Developed a biennial operating ratios study. Conducted an industry trends and practices study, an industry marketing study, several member satisfaction surveys, an industry integration study and numerous research endeavors to build competitive intelligence for the association.
Established international offices. As part of an international trade association's expansion strategy, opened offices in Brussels, Toronto and Osaka. Developed membership base. Created events and conferences. Gathered business demographics, trend data and practices. Launched tailored programs and services to address regional and global issues. Created global synergy throughout the organization.
CREDENTIALS
CAE, Certified Association Executive, American Society of Association Executives. IOM, Graduate of the Institute of Organization Management, University of Delaware. BS, Bemidji State University.
LEADERSHIP & CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
ELECTIONS
Chairman - Food Industry Association Executives; President - Midwest Society of Association Executives; Director – International Federation of Warehousing Logistics Associations; Vice President – Electrical Industry Data Exchange Association; President - Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra; President – State Council of Retail Trade Associations; Officer - State Business Network; Treasurer – State Funds Transfer System; Director - State Governmental Relations Council.
APPOINTMENTS
DHS Food & Agriculture Infrastructure Sector Advisory Group; Grocery Industry Coupon Standards Committee; Dow Brands Environmental Advisory Board; Task Force to Study Electronic Payment Systems; Convenience Store Industry Environmental Advisory Committee; Governor’s Food Safety Advisory Committee; State Health Commissioners Health Task Force; Governor’s Select Committee on Packaging and the Environment; State Labor & Industry Commissioners Workplace Violence Task Force; State Attorney General’s Food Safety Task Force; American Society of Association Executives Convention Committee and Annual Meeting Host Committee Chairman. |
