Extensive accounting and finance experience – both as a management consultant and as a corporate executive – with experience in quickly gaining an understanding of a business and the ability to analyze the many factors that result in a clear definition of business problems and opportunities. Personal attributes include strong business acumen, excellent interpersonal skills, persuasive communication skills, roll-up-the-sleeves work ethic, and the capability to challenge the status quo.
THE PRAIRIE CONSULTING GROUP
Libertyville, Illinois
2000 – Present
Management consulting firm that provides financial and accounting solutions to companies in the manufacturing and service industries on an interim or part-time basis. Founded firm, in response to market needs, to provide companies lacking senior-level financial expertise with this critical function.
Typically serve as Chief Financial Officer and report to client’s Chief Executive Officer. Manage all corporate financial functions including corporate control, financial reporting, financial planning & analysis, tax and compliance reporting, and cash management.
Develop the proper financial management infrastructure to support the profitable expansion of operations, including and emphasizing expense management.
Provide financial modeling regarding the impact of various business scenarios as opportunities present themselves.
Create cash flow models that focus on generating and freeing up excess cash and develop controls and procedures to improve the net cash cycle.
Provide both detailed and elevated perspectives in negotiations on business opportunities, acquisition assessment and decision processes.
Manage external relationships with Commercial and Investment Banks, Institutional Shareholders and other external advisors.
Produced $150 thousand in fee billings during 2002.
MED-I-BANK, INC.
Birmingham, Michigan
1998 – 2000
Private Equity backed provider of healthcare debit cards and billing services for employee flexible spending accounts.
Vice President – Finance & Chief Financial Officer
Recruited by Board of Directors to establish financial integrity and control. Reported to the Chief Executive Officer and managed all corporate accounting and financial functions.
Developed and managed the planning and control function focusing on expense management, employee accountability, and cash management. This resulted in a 29% reduction in cash usage from 1999 to 2000 enabling the company to reduce its short-term borrowing by $1.2 million.
Created private placement offering and investor presentations. Secured two offers for additional equity of $15 and $20 million representing a 240% increase in company valuation.
Negotiated new revenue agreement with debit card issuer (Key Bank) that increased company’s share of revenue from 79 basis points to 143 basis points creating a 25% increase in total revenues.
Managed the audit process that involved interface with external advisors (Deloitte & Touche) and the Board of Directors Audit Committee.
Uncovered and reported corporate fraud to Board of Directors.
ORVAL KENT FOOD COMPANY
Wheeling, Illinois
1992 – 1998
$200 million manufacturer of refrigerated foods sold through retail, foodservice, and warehouse clubs. Member of management team that led a leveraged buyout of company from Fortune 500 parent (Pet, Inc.) in 1994 and performed a corporate turnaround.
Vice President – Strategic and Financial Planning & Analysis (1998)
Reported to the Chief Financial Officer and supported the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors in achieving continual cost reductions and operational efficiencies.
Implemented a financial management system that ensured that planning and analysis, general accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting and controls were in place and effectively utilized.
Worked with operations personnel to develop a performance metric system focused on understanding and improving the manufacturing process and related costs. This resulted in a 5% reduction in total variable costs on a mix-adjusted basis.
Corporate Controller (1994 – 1998)
Reported to the Chief Financial Officer and managed all corporate accounting functions for five manufacturing facilities (four domestic and one international).
Developed cash flow control and forecasting system to monitor availability of borrowing and improved net cash cycle from 23.3 days in 1993 to 11.9 days in 1998.
Performed due diligence and integration on successful $20 million acquisition in 1996. Assisted CFO in negotiating $34 million revolving credit and term loan facility with a commercial bank (Fleet Capital) along with $8 million private equity financing to fund acquisition.
Implemented a restructuring plan in 1997 that included the closing of a domestic manufacturing facility. This reduced fixed overhead costs by 10.5% providing $4.2 million in annual savings.
Managed the finance team that led the conversion to an ERP system (BPCS) after the company was taken private in 1994.
Assistant Corporate Controller (1992 – 1994)
Reported to the Corporate Controller and managed the consolidation and financial reporting for our $130 million division for $1.2 Billion parent (Pet, Inc.) ensuring compliance with SEC and all external reporting requirements.
Led the cross-functional team that converted to an ERP system (Control Data – Proprietary) in 1993.
Created private placement offering with Investment Bankers (Credit Suisse First Boston) to sell division in 1994.
FIELD CONTAINER COMPANY
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
1988 – 1992
Privately held $300 million manufacturer of printed packaging materials.
Division Controller (1990 – 1992)
Cost Accounting Manager (1989)
Inventory Control Manager (1988)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
KMI Executive Program, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, 2002
Team Building, Fisher DeHaan Consulting Services, 1997
Quality Training Institute, Conway Quality, Inc., 1992
EDUCATION
MBA, University of Notre Dame, 1988 (Finance and Administration)
BA, Michigan State University, 1986 (Finance) |
