Mark Christopher Email & Phone Number

Greater Milwaukee Area

Responsibilities: Management of annual budgeting and monthly forecasts, review and analysis of sales, margin and expenses; analysis of customer and supplier profitability; presentations of monthly results to managers and directors.Highlights:- Financial reporting process restructuring, including creation of financial metrics and dashboards (e.g., daily flash and customer and vendor profitability dashboard).- ROI measurement of major investment in pricing software platform through analysis and development of tracking program with Director of Pricing.- Improvements in timeliness, accuracy, and details of monthly reporting and analysis for use by executive management, including monthly comments on financial performance for the Board of Directors and for quarterly Board presentations.- Incorporation of analytics for sales funnel, lead time, and backlog to streamline forecasting process.- Development and training of sales directors in the use of an online self-service dashboard to help the quickly access sales and margin metrics of inside sales team.- Substantial reductions in annual print spending through reallocating part of print to digital in collaboration with VP of Marketing.- Freight cost reductions and resolution of freight system concerns through working with Senior Director of Pricing to identify and address problems with freight system and 3rd party logistics provider.

Responsibilities: Management of furniture division and $100M revenue budget; legal advisement to leaders and senior managers; litigation and arbitration strategy and management; evaluation and analysis of potential acquisitions, developing acquisition structure, drafting and reviewing acquisition agreement, exhibits and schedules and due diligence management.Highlights:- Reorganization of Projects by Design Division (resulting in sales growth from $70M to $100M in 5 years) included pre-sales and project management support, sales team realignment, lead generation and qualification process, and new compensation for sales reps.- Removal of company’s suspension for technical violations of contract by the NYC Board, recapturing its ability to sell.- Major contract win with U.S. Communities GPO representing multimillion-dollar sales potential through effective strategy development, cross-functional team management, and negotiations. - Creation of defense strategy and partnership with outside counsel to successfully defend company from claims (averting $10M expense) of several sales representatives.- Review and negotiation of purchasing contracts and agreements with state governments, public school districts, purchasing cooperatives, and group purchasing organizations at favorable terms to company.- Pricing development, transaction structuring, and draft and review of acquisitions agreements, exhibits, and disclosure schedules to successfully close 6 acquisitions.

Responsibilities: Strategic sales and marketing planning; growth and profitability improvement strategies; evaluation, acquisition and integration of SpaceSaver Corporation.Highlights:- Acquisition SpaceSaver Corporation (20% revenue growth to Krueger International), included pre-acquisition financial analysis, acquisition terms, schedules and exhibits, due diligence, integration, and stock purchase plan to incentivize and retain senior leaders.- SpaceSaver grew from $58M pre-acquisition to $70M in 2nd full year following acquisition with 10% reduction in expenses. - Eligible management employees of SpaceSaver participated and borrowed funds to collectively invest in the company based on design of the stock purchase program.- Leadership of cross-functional team that created innovative eCommerce and digital strategy.- Member of a new product team

Responsibilities: Legal advisement; financial reporting; banking; external auditor and risk management relationships; contracts with customers and suppliers; compliance with all applicable food laws. Member of executive team and Board of Directors.Highlights:- Efforts to increase shareholder value in anticipation of company’s sale included growth strategy, credit facility to fund CAPEX to support double-digit growth, relationships with national accounting firm, banks and external auditor, financial and tax advisement to owners).- Company experienced multimillion-dollar growth, expansion beyond the food service market to national restaurant chains, club stores, retail grocery, and convenience stores, and increases in profitability. - Corporate structure reorganization and estate plan development to enable family owners to tax-effectively transfer wealth and maximize charitable giving.- Negotiation and closure of supply agreement with HJ Heinz to manufacture TGI Fridays appetizers for the retail market.- Implementation of formal cost accounting process and activity-based costing system to achieve accurate understanding of products’ costs and ensure decisions maximized total sales and margins.- Leadership of team that established food processing facility in Chihuahua, Mexico. - Development of strong relationship with Mexican audit firm.

Masters In Management, Business

Juris Doctor, Tax Law/Taxation

Bachelor'S Degree, Accounting