STRATEGY AND PLANNING - Illustrative Accomplishments

Strategic Planning
Managed strategic planning projects for several Fortune 500 manufacturing and retail clients. Engagements included strategic alignment, critical success factor identification, performance measure definition, strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats analysis, resource scheduling, cost estimating and business case development. Result: Using facilitated group work sessions and other planning techniques, usual planning cycles were reduced from months to weeks, the quality of the plans improved and greater consensus was achieved.

Strategic Planning
Partnered with the CEO and management team in the strategic planning processes of a $200 million business. Over the course of four months, determined the driving force (Customer Intimacy) and the top five Key Initiatives for the business. This was tied into the Operational planning level and reviewed over a two-year period to ensure alignment of strategy with day-to-day operations. Result: Grew market share of the business from 15% to 35%.

Strategy and Planning
In Fall 2001, directed the efforts to refocus the business of a very early stage online, science education company. This required a complete rewrite of the business plan and creation of new financial projections, as well as construction of a new chart of accounts. Worked with the accountants and legal team to revalue the company and begin a new and larger round ($1million to $2million) of private equity financing. Result: Positioned the company for a greater potential for success.

Business Planning, Corporate and Financial Infrastructure
In the late fall and early winter of 2001-2002, created the corporate and financial infrastructure of a start-up biotechnology company. Worked with the founder and chief scientist to create a business plan and model in order to launch a business based on the founder’s proprietary knowledge and science. Result: Financial statements have been prepared. A private placement memorandum was drafted and is currently being used to raise $700,000 in convertible preferred equity with angels and venture capitalists.

Internet Planning
Led management team of a $200 million metal fabricator and distributor in defining plans and requirements for new website. Project included interviewing and facilitating meetings with executives and department managers; gaining consensus on the website’s scope, functions and look-and-feel. Result: A working prototype of website that included all design decisions was created several days after the project’s initiation and evolved throughout the project. This approach ensured a clear understanding by all participants.

New Planning Approach
Created a new planning approach for a four plant, nuclear power business unit of a $7 billion utility. Every business function had a collection of informally developed process aids and needed formalized, NRC-compliant automated support. The new planning approach grouped the needed functionality into mini-applications that were assembled into broader “releases”. This approach allowed each project to be smaller with lower risk, faster implementation cycles that allowed each business unit to get and absorb some of its needed functionality quickly. Result: The new approach reduced maintenance cost, training, development time and increased quality, modularity, team communication, collaboration and business benefits. The plan was actively used to implement systems at four nuclear plants successfully and achieved Nuclear Regulatory Commission compliance.

Strategic Planning Method Review
Managed the review of the method used for strategic planning by a top-ten electric utility. Project included a detail assessment of management practices, operational efficiencies and planning procedures. Key areas reviewed procedures, timing, level of employees assigned to the process and organization structure, culture and inter-unit dynamics. Result: Included a comprehensive set of recommendations to improve the strategic planning process of the company and keep the plan updated throughout the year.

Strategic Planning
Led management team of a division of an international agricultural products company in defining a five year profit growth plan. Facilitated video conference planning sessions with managers from three continents; assisted in development of operational, financial, and technology plans; defined criteria for success; assisted in monitoring progress for initial 6 months of changes. Result: Costs were reduced in areas where global standardization could be implemented. Sales were increased due to improved use of technology and cross fertilization of ideas.

New Implementation Approach
Facilitated the incorporation of a change management plan into a strategic planning process, for a healthcare technology department. Provided guidance in areas of communications, reward systems, and leadership. Facilitated management planning sessions and coached leaders in managing transition. Result: Improved success in implementation of the strategy.

Strategic Business and Operational Planning
Headed up strategic planning and market research efforts of a global 14,000-person $800 Million Architectural-Engineering-Construction company involved in water resources management, power generation projects, oil-processing facilities, and industrial complexes. Identified key issues, developed recommendations on needed personnel and organizational changes as well as the best future use of company resources. Developed three-year plan document that drove development of one-year operational plan for company. Result: Allowed company to gradually transition away from its strong niche in large base-load nuclear power plants to alternative high-tech forms of power generation, more existing plant maintenance programs (vs. new builds), and rate-payers incentive-based utility conservation programs.

Business Strategy and Planning for Internal Start Up
Started up and led new 15-person division within an existing 110-person company that provided contract manufacturing services to emerging high-tech electronics and instrumentation firms - a market growing roughly 20% per year but still a highly competitive one and even more difficult to penetrate. Result: New division was able to win its first major customer with a multi-year $5.25 million contract to build 2500 fiber optic-based devices. Cornerstone account allowed company’s new division to expand into other high-tech ventures to win more non-compete volume manufacturing contracts.

Not-for-Profit
Led Board of Directors of locally-recognized manufacturers association in creating a three-year strategic plan and one-year operational plan in order to be able to compete for “mind share” with competition from other equally valid civic organizations; remaining on assignment and personally leading charge to increase membership by implementing Board-approved operational plan. Result: For first time in its 40-year history, Board is in control of what will actually happen to their organization and has developed internal controls and procedures to adjust to membership responses to its own campaign initiatives.

Business Planning & Management of Merged Companies
Using integrated business plan, led sales, marketing, and customer service organizations of two separate companies (one Florida-based with 90 employees and the other Massachusetts-based with 125 employees, both using similar process technologies but serving different industries) while they were being merged into one company in a new facility in Florida; provided interim general management for Massachusetts-based side of business during transition. Result: worked with CEO to consolidate the two companies into one viable operation, grew revenue by 35% in first year in a flat market, and positioned company for record growth for following year just before company was acquired.

Revenue Enhancement, Process Improvement, Change Management & Turnaround
Led charge for needed change at a 75-year old family-owned industry-recognized firm that had fallen into decline after death of the founder. Working with second generation-ownership to develop strategic business plans, spearheaded key initiatives to overhaul the sales process, to reduce manufacturing and engineering costs, to re-energize company esprit de corps, and to build financial planning systems needed to re-vitalize its ability to compete. Result: Revenues reversed slide from $13 million to $10 million back to $13 million and grew to $17 million along with significantly improved gross and operating margins.

Business, Financial, and Financing Planning
Facilitated creation of five year, look forward planning process for Internet-based, business-to-business software information solutions firm and related financing strategy. Result: Capitalized company for continued growth through identification of strategic financial partner.

Business, Financial and Financing Planning
Following creation of captive finance entity within wireless telecom infrastructure provider, facilitated development/enhancement of customer business and financial plans with goal of properly capitalizing customer companies for acquisition of investment capital and equipment financing as necessary. Result: Through installation of appropriate strategic planning process in numerous wireless telecom operator entities, created viable and well-financed customers for vendor.

Business, Financial and Financing Planning
As Investment Manager with several private equity/venture capital firms, assisted management organizations of prospective investee companies and existing portfolio companies with development of financially supportable and executable business case strategies. Result: Significant investment value was created and realized in numerous private investment situations.