Experience

• 

  Focus Group Holdings

  • Chicago, Illinois

  • Chairman of the Board

    • Jan 1982 - Present
    • Chicago, Illinois

    Substantial M & A activities. Currently acting CFO and treasurer for a natural gas aggregator with sales of $97 Million and a net profit of $3.0 million, duties include overseeing a $12.0 million bond offering a $10 million investment portfolio, mentoring accounting personnel, and preparation for annual certified audit. Structured, negotiated, and completed financing for a client acquisition of a major US retail chain division with $200 million in gross sales, 1000 employees, and multiple locations.

• 

  Spurr

  • Financial Consultant

    • Jan 2004 - Dec 2013

    Natural Gas Aggregator and other energy related products including electricity and telecom

• 

  Intrabond Capital U.S., Inc.

  • Shareholder & CFO

    • Jan 2009 - Jun 2013

    Intrabond Capital provides proprietary tools, intellectual property, services and domain expertise to improve corporate governance performance world-wide with offices in Europe, Asia, and United States

• 

  Hamlin Harkins, Ltd

  • Consultant

    • Jan 1997 - Jun 2013

    Managed projects this management-consulting firm serving clients in the areas of strategic planning, business development, financial strategy, change management, research, corporate positioning, marketing, communications and information technology. Company serves as internal or external resource for a broad array of organizations ranging from Chrysler, General Electric, A.T. Kearney, Dow Chemical, Hitachi, J. Deere, Trimble Navigation and other Fortune 100 companies to emerging start-ups and turnaround situations. In addition, account management accomplishments include:• Guided senior executives at a $200mm business unit of a major chemical company to develop and implement a strategic business plan, which involved a series of acquisitions and dispositions. • Worked with various technology groups as project manager to design and install accounting and management information systems. The information and accounting systems designed for Chicago based Morningstar, a high-tech public company, plus an US based subsidiary a Mexican Publicly traded company. Project manager for various technology installations, including Oracle, Access 2000 and 97, Blue Print Human Resources, People Soft, Siebel, Great Plains, Decision Systems, with substantial Web Base Applications.

• 

  CA State University-East Bay

  • Hayword, CA

  • Adjunct Professor

    • May 2012 - May 2013
    • Hayword, CA

    teaching various accounting and finance classes

• 

  Berkeley YMCA

  • Berkeley, CA

  • Committee Member-investment and finance

    • Jan 2011 - Mar 2013
    • Berkeley, CA

    Involved with accounting and investment policy

• 

  Golden Gate University

  • San Francisco Bay Area

  • Adjunct Professor

    • Jan 2004 - Aug 2011
    • San Francisco Bay Area

    Taught various accounting and finance classes-graduate and under graduate classes.Developed and taught an excel financial modeling class

• 

  University of California, Berkeley

  • Berkeley, CA

  • Adjunct Professor

    • Jan 2010 - Mar 2011
    • Berkeley, CA

    Teach Intro Managerial Accounting

• 

  Goldenbleu, LLC

  • San Francisco Bay Area

  • Interim CFO

    • Jan 2007 - Jun 2007
    • San Francisco Bay Area

    Developed accounting and finance systems for this international leather good accessory company. The company designed, manufactured and distributed leather goods to various retailers, including Barneys, Macy, Lord and Taylor.

• 

  Chapparel House

  • Senior Business Manager

    • 2004 - 2005

• 

  TMAC Fund

  • Business Associate

    • 1998 - 2002

• 

  Bostrom Corporation

  • Interim Chief Executive Officer

    • Jan 1996 - Jan 1997

    Served as interim CEO of this 80-person, privately owned association management andconsulting firm, returned the company to profitability and improve employee morale. Thecompany required leadership in turnaround management, marketing, technology and strategicplanning. We arranged for a buyer.Accomplishments included: * developing and staffing a marketing department, * reducing operating expenses by 15% while increasing revenue by 10%, * managing implementation of a $1.5 million sophisticated management information andaccounting system tailored to Bostrom's industrial needs and arranging project financing, * facilitating teambuilding and employee training programs,* coordinating strategic alliances to enhance revenue streams, accessing new markets withnew products and services,* improving client relations and extending contract terms, including new clients, * Fostering improved working relationships among information systems, legal, accountingand bank professionals, and account manager for a key client who required complex ITsolutions, and turnaround expertise.

• 

  Logan and Mingle, Ltd

  • Chief Operating and Financial Officer

    • Jan 1982 - Jan 1997

    Co-founded and owned this Public Accounting firm with 8 employees and $200,000 in grossrevenues. Practice included certified financial audits, tax return preparation, includingconsolidated tax returns, accruals, financial transaction analysis and valuations, IRS andstate audit resolutions, tax E&P studies, tax return preparation, various financialprojections, and computer consulting activities. Worked with various big eight firms todesign tax and financial transaction.

• 

  Focus Group Holdings, Ltd

  • Chief Operating and Financial Officer

    • Jan 1982 - Jan 1996

    Co-founded and owned this holding company with 200+ employees and $30 million in grossrevenues. Company included five ventures with multiple facilities: Focus Leasing(financial services); WhyteCliffe Brokerage Firm, Manlift Acquisition Corp. (personnelcarrier rentals, sales, service and parts); Forklift Acquisition Corp. (forklift rentals,sales, service and parts), Tractor and Equipment Corp. (rental, sales, service and partsfor large construction equipment) and Night Vision Corporation (night viewing goggles usedin military applications). Prepared exit strategy and arranged for its sale.

• 

  Steppenwolf Theatre Company

  • Greater Chicago Area

  • Treasurer Board of Directors, Member of Board of Directors

    • 1979 - 1992
    • Greater Chicago Area

    Implemented the accounting and finance systems during the rapid growth period. The organization grew from a local neighborhood activity to a world class organization. In the initial years the budget was less than $250 thousand and grew to $5 million plus, the company built a new theater and garage, developed and produced plays internationally.

• 

  Chicago International Film Festival

  • Greater Chicago Area

  • Treasurer Board of Directors, Member of Board of Directors

    • Jan 1984 - Jun 1989
    • Greater Chicago Area

    Worked with staff and Board to manage the day to day accounting and financial activities. Worked with staff and Board to negotiated various film and operational contracts.

• 

  PwC

  • Senior Tax Manager and Financial Consultant

    • Jan 1974 - Apr 1982

    Cultivated experience in sourcing and structuring business transactionsAssumed client responsibility with both public and private companiesDeveloped extensive experience working with IRS, SEC and other governmental jurisdictionsManaged and coached five professional staff membersResearched, reviewed and wrote opinions for various tax and accounting issues.Developed solid presentation skills as regular in weekly TV show “Ask the Expert”Gained an understanding of the financial markets