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.• Revised and strengthened the accounting controls and cash management controls of all three companies. Implemented a “Positive Pay” program with the bank to insure all payments are secure.• Implemented procedures to improve accounts receivable collections and cash management leading to approximately 80% of the receivables being collected on-time each month.• Responsible for Process Improvement within the companies.• Responsible for design and implementation of a Gainshare Bonus Program which provides bonuses to employees for efficiency improvements in production. This has resulted in average efficiency improvement of 10% or greater.• Responsible for Sales Process Improvements. Organized a weekly sales meeting, sales reporting metrics, targets and tools, including the commission program. Since this new structured approach was adompted in 2009 sales revenue has increased by nearly 3 times. • Oversee the effort related to training credits (Illinois EDGE Tax Credits) and energy efficiency credits available from various government and utility sponsored programs.

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 include:• 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 generated a revenue increase of 20% annually.• Improved efficiency in operations by over 20% in a three year period• Improved the organizational culture resulting in turnover dropping from 10% per year to 3% per year

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 management team. Accomplishments include:• 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 and negotiation.• 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