Promote and implement strategic plans and goals in coordination with the Chief Executive Officer andthe Executive Leadership Team. Act as Chief Executive Officer in the absence of the CEO. Provideongoing coordination and leadership; ensuring the leadership team are working together and focusingon organization-wide initiatives. Provide strategic direction and accountability on organization-widequality, continuous improvement, and compliance goals. Oversee the finance, information technology,operations, and planning groups.Key Achievements:- Led successful organization-wide response to FOCUS 2 operation review conducted by the USOffice of Head Start Administration for Children and Families.- Developed and executed Step Forward’s the 1st Annual Men’s Elevation Conference.- Implemented organization-wide Performance Measurement and Management initiative andelevated the significance to the Strategic plan.- Successfully introduced an organization-wide Leadership Academy in response to employeerecruitment and retention challenges.- Oversaw the development and ongoing implementation of the technology strategic plan.- Advocated and led efforts to reduce general and administrative costs as a percentage of theorganization's budget by 4% through investment in technology and staff reorganization.

Business Planning, Operational Improvement, Personal Coaching, Accounting System Implementation

Derek J. Cluse, CPA is the Chief Financial Officer of the Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland (CEOGC), the largest Community Action Agency in Ohio. CEOGC is a private nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives through education, personal and professional development programs, and support services.

I Plan, direct, and coordinate procedural compliance to local, state, and federal guidelines for district funds. Supervise and train Finance Department Staff to include professional growth plans and pathways. Manage expenses through position control, budget development, and purchasing practices along with other expense management techniques. ● Reduced time to close month-end and year-end accounting records by 50% through new process control implementation.● Integral part in the project to implement 430(b) TPA transition that improved staff productivity, program compliance and it delivered service level enhancements.● Spearheaded district-wide financial analysis with a cross-functional team of specialists resulting in recommendations that would reduce expenses by $6.6 million.

Oversaw asset management, facility and construction management, risk management, as well as capital planning and budgeting. It was important to have the community involved in the school district so I engaged the community and collaborated with teams on capital project planning, technology planning, and safety.● Operated multiple food service operations for second years of operating surpluses. ● Implemented new point of sale system with biometric student identification scanners and online student account management which improved cash flow, accounting accuracy, and reduced labor costs.● Employed energy conservation measures projected to save the school district $2.7 million over a 10-year period while leveraging utility savings to finance $2.4 million in HVAC upgrades.● Collaborated to develop an $85 million education facility development plan approved by the community vote.● Coordinated fundraising, design, and construction of a $10 million athletic complex.

Managed student transportation services, human resource management, risk management, procurement management, and the implementation of a collective bargaining agreement for non-teaching staff.● Utilized performance contracting to implement the Energy Conservation Project (HB264) that enabled the school district to invest over $3.8 million to upgrade inefficient building systems without added costs.● Collaborative Participation: Chaired and worked with the Facility committee for district Board and adopted a 5-year strategic financial plan.● Coordinated change in health care insurance program for the school district that provided an approximate savings of $3 million over 5 years.

Provided financial leadership, as well as technical expertise, improve and streamline technology platforms and physical plant maintenance. Renewed credibility with institutional stakeholders that included the board of trustees, financial institutions, and accrediting agencies. ● Redesigned internal and accounting controls that facilitated timely and accurate financial reporting.● I was a key contributor in enabling the removal of probationary status with the Association of Theological Schools for the seminary. Accreditation renewed for 5 years after the expedited delivery of 3 financial audits in 12 months. ● Managed the establishment of high-efficiency boilers and lighting that had a positive return value and provide much-needed utility saving to offset debt installments

I engaged in the opening and operation of new educational facilities, providing strategic financial insight. I managed the finance department to include purchases, reports and analyses, accounting, and payroll. Collaborated with and provided financial statements and recommendations to the Board of Directors and the executive team.● In order to track and report key performance indicators, I designed and implements a system that tracked indicators and supported the success of the business planning process.● Oversaw the development and implementation of information technology as well as the communication infrastructure for the new educational facilities. ● Supported successful start-up and operations by building the accounting and financial reporting systems. Additionally, I created strategic financial plans to encourage growth and sustainability.