PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
A versatile, results oriented financial executive with more than 25 years of combined experience in leading organizations and orchestrating financial strategies. Viewed as an approachable, confident, and self-directed individual who is persistent, determined and flexible. Solid and documented skills in the art of business with an emphasis in finance, accounting, administration and development. Industry experience includes Hotels, Restaurants, & Casinos.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ICOSOL, LLC – Memphis, Tennessee 2002-2004
Managing Member
Formed Icosol, LLC (Innovative Composite Solutions) to acquire the exclusive right to manufacture structural components from recycled plastic. The initial plant will manufacture railroad cross ties.
Forming the company included:
• Developing the Business Plan.
• Negotiating an exclusive license agreement for manufacturing composite products.
• Staffing key management positions.
• Analyzing alternative plant locations and working with economic development officials to maximize financial incentives.
• Developing Financial Forecast and ROI models for the business plan.
• Performing extensive due diligence.
• Marketing the project to investors.
JCC HOLDING COMPANY - New Orleans, Louisiana 1997 - 2001
President
Responsible for successfully completing a Plan of Reorganization, forming JCC Holding Company, and restructuring the debt, state taxes, city payments, and operating restrictions to create financial stability. JCC was the publicly traded entity that owned the New Orleans land based casino. JCC was acquired by Harrah’s Entertainment.
• Negotiated the terms and conditions among the State of Louisiana, City of New Orleans, Bondholder’s Committee, Banks, Unsecured Creditors, and Owners to allow the entity to emerge from a three years bankruptcy.
• Developed a budget for completing the 750,000 square feet land based casino; created a construction process and opened the land based casino on time and on budget in a very difficult political and restrictive environment.
• Created a Master Plan for developing an entertainment complex on three city blocks plus 125,000 square feet of space on the casino second floor and obtained preliminary approval from the City of New Orleans to move forward.
• Developed and successfully implemented a strategy for restructuring the company after seventeen months of operations. Accomplishing this included lobbying the Louisiana Legislature and obtaining a $40-50 Million per year state tax reduction, negotiating with the mayor and city council for a $5 Million per year reduction in city payments, eliminating $500 Million of debt through a second plan of reorganization, reducing the amounts paid to Harrah Entertainment under the management contract and obtaining a lifting of operating restrictions from the Louisiana Restaurant Association and the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Motel Association.
• Turned public support for second plan of reorganization from a negative to a positive over a six-month period through an intensive well-organized public relations campaign.
TPI ENTERPRISES, INC. - Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 1991 - 1997
Executive Vice President, CFO, Board Member
Responsible for leading the accounting, treasury, risk management, investor relations, human resources, planning and information technology functions of this publicly traded, largest franchise of Shoney’s and Captain D’s restaurants; operating 250 units in 11 states with $300 Million in revenues.
• Developed, recommended, and implemented a strategic plan that resulted in the stock price doubling within 12 months and the cost of capital declining by 400 basis points.
• Provided leadership, organization, and management to the risk management functions resulting in a mod rate reduction from 2.8 to 1.1 in three years and savings of approximately $10 Million.
• Reduced corporate overhead from $28.7 Million in 1992 to $21.3 Million in 1995.
• Relocated the company to Palm Beach Gardens from Memphis with minimal customer support disruption while fostering a new emphasis on customer service and corporate values.
• Sold substantially all of the assets of TPI Enterprises to Shoney’s Inc. and liquidated the holding company through a tax-free reorganization.
THE PROMUS COMPANIES - Memphis, Tennessee 1990 - 1991
Vice President, Treasurer and Controller
HOLIDAY CORPORATION - Memphis, Tennessee 1977 - 1990
Vice President and Treasurer (1987-1990)
Assistant Treasurer (1985-1986)
Director Corporate Financial Analysis (1983-1985)
Various Planning and Analysis Positions (1977-1983)
FIRST TENNESSEE BANK - Memphis, Tennessee 1972 - 1976
Trust Tax Officer
EDUCATION
Certified Public Accountant
B.B.A. Accounting, 1972, University of Mississippi - Oxford, MS
Executive Development Program 1985, Holiday Inns, Inc.
COMMUNITY
New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
United Way Board of Trustees
New Orleans Business Council
New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute
University of Mississippi Business Advisory Council |
