Mark Dion Email & Phone Number

Spartanburg, Sc, Us

U.S. Waffle Company, Inc. is a breakfast category private label food manufacturer for frozen waffles, pancakes, french toast and breakfast sandwiches based in Greenville, SC. The Company was formed in June 2013 and purchased the operating assets of a food manufacturer in August 2013. The Company sells its products nationally through a network of brokers to major grocery retailers and food service distributors.

Management consulting and contract services to manufacturers and distributors to improve operating results by enhancing IT Infrastructure and reporting; improving operating efficiencies utilizing lean manufacturing techniques; developing financial cost management practices to support product pricing and costing; and business start-up and strategic planning.• Project Manager for the design and implementation of a cloud based Asset Tracking system for a major fractional jet company wanting to track certified gauges and tooling used in the repair and maintenance of private jets.• Assisted a start-up food ingredient distributor in the implementation of an accounting system and related IT infrastructure for email and website hosting.• Project Manager for a 3PL eCommerce and Fulfillment company documenting their existing systems related to their procedures for; Purchase to Pay; Plan to Produce; and Order to Cash cycles. Project objective was to determine system interfaces to a number of existing systems to a new ERP package (EPICOR 9.0).• Worked with a potential investor on the strategic plan for a start-up food company. Evaluated a number of manufacturing sites working with various South Carolina County Development agencies and area brokers; securing quotes for facility upgrades and equipment. • Assisted a National Paint Sundries Distributor emerging out of bankruptcy with a number of recommendations in the upgrade of their ERP system for enhancing remote order entry (eCommerce, EDI, Salesperson App) to reduce customer service staffing. Also evaluated their top five competitors websites and eCommerce capabilities for a needs analysis to replace or enhance their existing systems. • Provided assistance and guidance to a private equity firm evaluating potential acquisitions within the food industry serving retail, food service, c-stores and dollar store channels.

Mid-market food manufacturer based in Spartanburg, SC. The Company has two flagship retail brands sold nationally; Mystic Frozen Pizza and Mama Mama's Gourmet Pizza Crusts. • Responsible for business analysis, planning, forecasting, banking covenants, risk management, strategic purchases, accounting, information technology and human resources.• Key member of the executive team which grew this business from $17 million in sales and 3.4% EBITDA margins; to over $55 million in sales within 5 years, and EBITDA margins over 14%. • Guided the management team through the due diligence and sales process with a private equity firm, which acquired the Company in March of 2005; and subsequently sold the business to another private equity firm in December of 2009, as part of their exit strategy. • Led the implementation of a new ERP system to replaced non-integrated business systems. As part of this implementation developed the chart-of-account structure; standard cost system design and resulting management reports and key metrics. The new system provided the management team with profitability measures by product line, sales channel and customer, leading to the rationalization of the customer base and pricing systems, becoming the foundation for the turnaround of the business.• Attended board meetings and worked closely with private equity partners in developing strategic plans, financing business growth, external reporting, banking and audit relationships.

Provided management consulting services to a Richmond, VA based Fire Protection Company and IT contract services to a Painesville, OH software developer.

Turn-around consulting firm serving small to medium size privately held businesses primarily engaged in manufacturing, distribution and service related industries. Responsible for analyzing a client’s financial and operational strength’s and weaknesses, including management team and key personnel to restore cash flow and profits.

Worcester, Ma, Us

P&L responsibility for two business units, Ernst Winter & Son, Inc. (EWSI) and Norton Diamond Tool Company. Both businesses produce high precision diamond and CBN tooling, which is used primarily in the automotive and aerospace industries. Tooling is generally engineered-to-order utilizing CAD/CAM and CNC lathes, grinders and wire EDM machine tools. Combined sales of over $30M with 200+ employees and manufacturing facilities in South Carolina, North Carolina and Michigan. Site responsibilities were restructured in Feb/2000 and the Michigan Plant was later closed in Sept/2000.

Worcester, Ma, Us

Managed the information systems activities for this $650M abrasives manufacturing company with an IT operating budget of $12M. Oversaw the activities of a 55 person department through functional managers, covering data center operations, system and application programmers, network technicians and telecommunications.• Key member of the Management Committee advising senior executives on IT initiatives, developments and strategies. Developed policy guidelines standardizing hardware and software purchases and negotiated national contracts with key vendors.• Guided senior management in developing B2B (The Norton Connection) E-Commerce guidelines evaluating potential vendors to establish an electronic catalog and web site. The Norton Connection has since been replaced by an Extranet, allowing industrial distributors access to business systems via the Internet. • Oversaw the development of a data warehouse which became the backbone of a sales automation initiative using Microsoft and Cognos reporting tools. System has evolved into a web-based intranet reporting system for approximately 250 sales people.

Worcester, Ma, Us

Project manager for a $7M capital project designing and implementing Mac-Pac (Business System supported by Andersen Consulting). This initiative required 7 businesses to be integrated onto a common general ledger, HR, order entry, manufacturing and distribution system. Conversion was from an IBM mainframe to midrange platforms, covering facilities located in the US, Mexico and Canada.

Responsible for the sales and manufacturing operations for this $24M aluminum rolling mill with metal service centers in Cheshire, CT; Denver, CO; and Coon Rapids, MN. • Recruited by the Board of Directors to improve the operating performance of this business.• Developed a business plan to restructure the business consistent with objectives outlined by the Company’s banker. • Installed new information systems in each location in less than 12 months. Improved the order fulfillment cycle from 3 days to 24 hours for the Minnesota service center and Erickson’s start-up operation in Colorado.• Reduced inventories by over 50% and hedged aluminum buys to minimize fluctuating metal prices.

Managed the Arcola, Specialty and Electronic Materials Divisions with annual sales of $22M with facilities in Branford, CT; Naperville, IL and Temecula, CA. • Integrated an acquisition, Solid State Stamping, into the parent company’s operations.• Utilizing JIT techniques saved over $1M annually in wages and benefits.• Met with prospective buyers and assisted with the divestiture of this business in 1991.

Gb

1985 - 1988 Manager1984 - 1985 Senior ConsultantResponsible for advising manufacturing clients on techniques and methods to improve operational and financial results. Projects included manufacturing, distribution and financial system installations; activity based cost system designs and reviews; Just-In-Time implementation and training. • One of twelve consultants selected nationally to participate in a ten-week study mission in Akashi, Japan, implementing Just-In-Time (JIT) techniques.

Us

1982 - 1983 MIS Senior Systems Analyst1980 - 1981 Industrial Engineer1978 - 1979 Manufacturing Management TraineeProgressed through a series of job promotions receiving broad exposure to industrial engineering techniques, cost accounting, materials management and information systems.

Mba, Management

Bs, Business Adm - Operations Mgmt