Kent Connell Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illionois

• Orion Industries is a family of three companies in the business of functional coatings. As CFO I have the following responsibilities:
• Responsible for financial management including month-end close and consolidation of financial reports.
• Strategic planning process, budgets, monthly reporting, weekly flash key manufacturing metrics reports, daily job cost reports, financial reports to the bank
• Oversee the annual financial audit from independent accounting firm. the audit on the retirement plan, the R&D tax credit study, and inquiries from governmental entities
• Oversee all payroll and related items, employee training programs, insurance, IT, and administrative areas. Accomplishments Include:
• Streamlined payroll system through automation providing savings of approx. $30,000 annually.

Crystal Lake, IL

• Focused on financial management, sales & marketing execution, cash management practices, financial analysis and operational efficiency.Companies supported include:
• Contract CFO for Yumz Frozen Yogurt a retail frozen yogurt franchisor
• Contract CFO for Sunburst Shutters a marketer of in-home shutters and window
• Contract CFO for EMSI, a company in payroll and employment services

• Owner / President of Four (4) Snap Fitness locations located in Illinois and Utah. Responsible for start-up and operation of four franchise locations. Accomplishments include:
• Site selection, negotiation, construction, installing equipment and facilities, and start up of each location
• Achieved successful financial results and membership growth within the first year

• Responsibility for Full P&L management of the operation of 15 production sites in the U.S. and 1 in Canada with profitable operating revenues of $55M annually, over 400 employees, and 5000 customers. Accomplishments.
• Generated sales growth (without acquisition) of 25% in annual revenues over a three year period.
• Improved profitability by over 40%, the best level in at least eight years.
• Opened six new production sites in the US and Canada providing faster service to customers and expanded market penetration
• Restructured the company for profitability, shutting down two under-performing sites resulting in 2% gain in EBIT
• Led the acquisition and integration of a competitor resulting in more efficient operational performance and higher margins, 100% capture of 2 key customers, and the leading market position in a key market segment. This.

• P&L Responsibility for ESEC operations in North America overseeing an operation of $40M+ in annual revenues and over 50 people, specific responsibility for two primary Global Accounts, member of ESEC’s international.
• Produced growth in sales from $10M annually to over $40M.
• Met or exceeded profitability targets of the company generating EBIT of 10% annually.
• Improved employee morale resulting in employee turnover of less than 5% annually.
• Implemented key account management leading to $10M annually in sales from ESEC’s two largest worldwide key accounts.
• Successfully integrated the product lines, and personnel from an acquired company into our organization resulting in 25% growth in revenue and streamlined cost structure by elimination of common processes and functions.

• Concurrent to my work as General Manager of ESEC USA, I was asked by top management to work as interim General Manager of ESEC China in Shanghai, PRC. Accomplishments include:
• Set a clear direction for the company with a clear focus on major customers resulting in 10% increase in sales.
• Stabilized the organization, and improved morale resulting in less turn-over. Won clear acceptance and approval from the staff in spite of the fact I was a temporary manager and from a foreign country.
• Developed a structured management team with clear targets for improvement and growth.
• Established clear targets and responsibilities

• Responsibilities include management of all financial functions of the organization including order processing, A/R, A/P, general ledger, financial reporting, budgets, and payroll as well as commercial contract review.
• Created procedures to properly administer the activities of the organization such as expense guidelines, activity reporting, cost accounting, terms & conditions of sale, etc.
• Completed financial and operations analysis of a company to be acquired, and worked with existing management to successfully integrate it.
• Set-up inter-company contracts, which met the requirements of arms-length agreements for IRS purposes.
• Completed special assignment to correct financial reporting and revitalize the finance team in the Singapore operations.

B.S., Business Management - Marketing

Minor in Accounting and Economics

Accounting

Accounting Classes necessary to sit for the CPA exam

Executive Mba Program With Unaxis, Business Management, General

As a top executive in the company I was chosen to participate in a 1 year executive MBA program which featured two weeks in the classroom.

Semester Long Course On Global Leadership