Experience

One Home Health Agency, Ltd.

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• President & Chief Financial Officer

  • May 2022 - May 2023

  Downers Grove, Illinois, United States One Home Health is a full-service, Medicare-certified home health care company operating across twenty counties in Illinois and Indiana. OHH provides comprehensive, personalized care to thousands of patients for hundreds of physicians each year through our registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and home health aides.



Cloud5 Communications

• United States
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Interim Chief Financial Officer

  • 2021 - 2022

  Chicago, Illinois, United States Mid-sized privately-owned (Oaktree Capital) telecommunications company providing telephony and internet solutions to the hotel industry, and provider of omni-channel customer call centers. Locations in the US (Chicago, Massachusetts, Missouri), and Canada (New Brunswick, Toronto). Role included assisting in the integration of recently-acquired MTS Communications. Interim Chief Financial Officer Finance and accounting leader, including treasury, FP&A, audit, credit and collections… Show more Mid-sized privately-owned (Oaktree Capital) telecommunications company providing telephony and internet solutions to the hotel industry, and provider of omni-channel customer call centers. Locations in the US (Chicago, Massachusetts, Missouri), and Canada (New Brunswick, Toronto). Role included assisting in the integration of recently-acquired MTS Communications. Interim Chief Financial Officer Finance and accounting leader, including treasury, FP&A, audit, credit and collections, budgeting, regulatory affairs, and risk management. Show less



Hickory Farms, LLC

• United States
• Retail
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Chief Financial Officer

  • 2021 - 2021

  Chicago, Illinois, United States Since 1951, Hickory Farms LLC has been a leading retailer of food gifts and specialty foods available online, in catalogs, and in leading mass merchants, supermarkets, and a variety of seasonal retail shopping locations in the U.S. and Canada. As CFO, I am the finance and accounting leader, including treasury, FP&A, audit, credit and collections, budgeting, and risk management, with direct oversight of Human Resources. Worked on acquisition and integration of Wicked Good Cupcakes.



SureFit Home Decor

• Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary (Housewares | Manufacturing | Private Equity)

  • 2019 - 2020

  Wheeling, IL Mid-sized private-equity-owned (Centre Lane Partners) designer and seller of furnishings and home decor items for retailers, consumers and hotels. Products include patented Hookless shower curtains, mattress protectors, pillows, and textiles. Recruited here to assist in financial restructuring and operational turnaround. Company in midst of integrating multiple businesses and ERP systems across 4 facilities in 3 countries (US, Canada, UK), and preparing for exit. Chief Financial Officer,… Show more Mid-sized private-equity-owned (Centre Lane Partners) designer and seller of furnishings and home decor items for retailers, consumers and hotels. Products include patented Hookless shower curtains, mattress protectors, pillows, and textiles. Recruited here to assist in financial restructuring and operational turnaround. Company in midst of integrating multiple businesses and ERP systems across 4 facilities in 3 countries (US, Canada, UK), and preparing for exit. Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary - Finance and accounting leader, including treasury, FP&A, audit, credit and collections, budgeting, legal , and risk management. Critical attention to managing cash and liquidity position. Show less



Home Products International - North America, Inc.

• United States
• Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CFO, Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary (Housewares | Manufacturing | Plastics | Steel)

  • 2009 - 2019

  Greater Chicago Area Private-equity-owned designer and manufacturer of branded and private label storage, organizational and garment care products; hold leading market position with largest retailers; distribution in 50,000+ retail doors. We purchase significant quantities of steel and polypropylene. Lead finance and accounting, including treasury, FP&A, audit, credit and collections, legal, IT, risk management, and real estate. As Corporate Secretary, manage corporate affairs and Board relations. Report to… Show more Private-equity-owned designer and manufacturer of branded and private label storage, organizational and garment care products; hold leading market position with largest retailers; distribution in 50,000+ retail doors. We purchase significant quantities of steel and polypropylene. Lead finance and accounting, including treasury, FP&A, audit, credit and collections, legal, IT, risk management, and real estate. As Corporate Secretary, manage corporate affairs and Board relations. Report to the CEO. • Key member of executive team; led multi-year financial turnaround, taking Company from break-even to EBITDA>$10 MM, while increasing capital investments five-fold, and reducing bank debt by 25%. • Led successful recapitalization of balance sheet with refinanced bank lines and debt-for-equity swap; increased borrowing capacity at lower costs with single covenant and self-syndicated bank group; conversion of $25 MM secured debt into preferred equity. • Renegotiated all material leases, reducing annual spend by $1+ MM. • Improved trade relations; doubled unsecured trade credit; released 95% of trade letters of credit; improved working capital terms. • Presented anti-dumping cases at Court of International Trade winning unanimous decisions with multi-million dollar financial recovery. • Led upgrades to ERP software platform – on time, on budget. Introduced web-based reporting to guide strategic/tactical decisions, allowing real-time visibility to sales, margins, inventory and other key metrics; introduced electronic quoting system for business development. • As Corporate Secretary, interface with Board of Directors, providing visibility and insights into finances, forecasts, budgets, investments, corporate structures, legal matters, and strategic initiatives. • Provide inputs into HR matters; evaluation of benefits plans and workers comp. Lead annual assessment and renewals of insurance. Head Investment Committee. • Member - Creditors' Committee for Shopko bankruptcy (2019). Show less



Federal Signal Corporation

• United States
• Machinery Manufacturing
• 400 - 500 Employee

• President, Federal Signal Credit Corp (Publicly-traded | Manufacturing | Municipal | Leasing)

  • 2005 - 2008

  Oak Brook, IL $1 Billion, NYSE-listed global manufacturer of safety/security products (E-One fire engines, Elgin sweepers, Vactor sewer cleaning, Federal Signal warning systems). Also provided long-term lease financing to customers; secured floor plan financing to dealers. Member of the Financial Leadership Team; reported to CFO. Key accomplishments: • Implemented strategic growth initiatives which doubled number of participating dealers and tripled assets outstanding in 2 years. Materially… Show more $1 Billion, NYSE-listed global manufacturer of safety/security products (E-One fire engines, Elgin sweepers, Vactor sewer cleaning, Federal Signal warning systems). Also provided long-term lease financing to customers; secured floor plan financing to dealers. Member of the Financial Leadership Team; reported to CFO. Key accomplishments: • Implemented strategic growth initiatives which doubled number of participating dealers and tripled assets outstanding in 2 years. Materially improved subsidiary profitability, exceeding targets for profits and business growth. • Revised all supporting legal documentation, improving the quality of security interests. • Implemented/managed a new software platform project – on time, on budget. • Initiated field audit program of dealers’ inventory, improving collections and credit quality. • Strategic decision made in 2008 to divest all financing businesses. I led the divestiture efforts, selling businesses for net gain in series of sales: prepared offering memos, identified buyers, negotiated terms, structured deals.

• Vice President - Federal Signal Leasing

  • 2004 - 2008

  Reported to Treasurer, then CFO, with full P&L responsibility. Responsible for strategic direction/operation of $100+ MM captive finance company, providing lease financing to municipalities/fire departments to purchase FedSig products. • Exhibited cross-functional aptitude, working across multiple divisions to achieve goals. Leveraged dealer network to increase volume/profits; improved market penetration rate from 11% of domestic sales to 17%, through the introduction of new sales… Show more Reported to Treasurer, then CFO, with full P&L responsibility. Responsible for strategic direction/operation of $100+ MM captive finance company, providing lease financing to municipalities/fire departments to purchase FedSig products. • Exhibited cross-functional aptitude, working across multiple divisions to achieve goals. Leveraged dealer network to increase volume/profits; improved market penetration rate from 11% of domestic sales to 17%, through the introduction of new sales tools/literature, and new financing programs. • Managed credit/collections; held write-offs to less than 0.10% of assets • Negotiated/maintained compliance for complex $100MM asset-backed financing; reduced cost of funds by more than 100 bp, diversified source of funds, tapped long-term fixed rate market • Developed/maintained Sarbanes-Oxley compliance • Strategic initiatives to reduce costs and improve financial controls resulted in ROE of 18+% • Managed run-off of discontinued line of business

• Consultant

  • 2002 - 2004

  Oak Brook, Illinois, United States



Culligan International

• United States
• Consumer Goods
• 700 & Above Employee

• General Manager / Subsidiary President

  • 2000 - 2002

  Eagan, Minnesota, United States General Manager of Culligan Store Solutions - a company acquired by Culligan Water. Business owned and leased water treatment equipment and water vending machines to more than 2,000 grocers. Responsible for integrating the business into Culligan, executing a financial and operational turnaround, and developing a successful growth strategy. Managed more than 200 employees with manufacturing operations in the US and Mexico and sales operations in US, Canada and Mexico.

• Director Corporate Development (Private Equity | M&A | High-growth | Roll-up)

  • 1997 - 2000

  Northbrook, Illinois, United States Director of Corporate Development led the corporation's efforts in making acquisitions and investments. Responsible for identifying prospective target companies, evaluating strategic fit, directing due diligence, negotiating with owners, setting a purchase price, and assuring completion of transactions.



Industrial Bank of Japan

• Banking
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President

  • 1990 - 1997

  Vice President of Commercial Lending division - based in Chicago and in Shanghai (China). Managed a $4 billion loan portfolio of large corporate credits. Responsible for relationship management, business development, and credit analysis. Critical strengths in highly-leveraged, complex structurings of multi-bank syndicated deals. Sat on creditor committees for distressed credits; negotiated successful recovery of all exposure. In China, was responsible for managing lending… Show more Vice President of Commercial Lending division - based in Chicago and in Shanghai (China). Managed a $4 billion loan portfolio of large corporate credits. Responsible for relationship management, business development, and credit analysis. Critical strengths in highly-leveraged, complex structurings of multi-bank syndicated deals. Sat on creditor committees for distressed credits; negotiated successful recovery of all exposure. In China, was responsible for managing lending relationships for all non-Japanese clients doing business in China. First third-country national to serve an expatriate assignment in bank's history. Show less



First Chicago Bank & Trust

• United States
• Banking
• 1 - 100 Employee

• AVP

  • 1984 - 1990