Michael Baker Email & Phone Number

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

After successfully selling Contempo Tile from Private Equity (Chicago Growth Partners) to a "strategic" buyer (Crossville Inc.), I am now part of a company-owned distribution network.

Greater Salt Lake City Area

• Responsible for all operations and sales as well as financial and treasury aspects of the company.• Relocated Utah County branch (from Orem to American Fork) to exploit untapped market dynamics in that geographic area.• Worked with the Bank of Montreal and private equity sponsor to reorganize the capital structure of the company.• Report directly to board of directors.

Greater Salt Lake City Area

• Responsible for all financial, reporting and treasury aspects of six branch $45 million tile and natural stone retail distribution company.• Primary liaison with majority shareholder (a private equity group based in Chicago), the Bank of Montreal (senior debt holder) and Grant Thornton (audit/tax).• Successfully worked with BMO’s workout group / external consultants in restructuring senior debt and financial covenants due to non-compliance related to impact of recession on home building/remodeling market space. • Spearheaded cost containment and inventory reduction initiatives at all levels to right-size headcount and inventory given prevailing market conditions.• Revised sales compensation plan to better align commission with company objectives.• Realigned the company’s product offering given shift toward value-engineering of new construction.• Intimate with all accounting policies relative to business combination, valuation and intangible valuation/impairment.• Successfully concluded twelve month IRS tax audit for 2007 tax period.

Greater Salt Lake City Area

• Responsible for developing business plan, obtaining financial investors and securing equipment financing. Post-startup responsibilities included overseeing all administrative and operational functions including manufacturing, sales, marketing, customer service, human resources, accounting and financial reporting.• Quickly positioned the company to become the market leader in optical disc mastering.• The company has over sixty customers located throughout North and South America.• Synchronicity remains known for highest quality and on-time delivery performance as well as the best customer service organization in the optical disc mastering market niche.• Spearheaded ISO 9001:2000 certification for the company.• Customer certifications included Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and Disney.• Developed on-line customer order entry system to differentiate the company from its competitors and enhance customer satisfaction.• Profitably grew the company to over $6.0 million in revenue with EBITDA margins of more than 33%.• Retired more than $5.3 million in equipment debt.• Distributed more than $1.7 million in shareholder dividends.• Sold the company in June, 2007.

Greater Chicago Area

• Responsible for Modus Media’s high-growth CD-ROM business.• Spearheaded Modus Media’s entry into CD-ROM manufacturing including (i) preparation of business plans; (ii) presentations to senior management; (iii) executive search for experienced manufacturing managers; and (iv) negotiation of equipment purchases and financing.• Maintained full operations and P&L responsibility for $24 million CD manufacturing business unit.• Started up CD manufacturing greenfield operation in August, 1997; operation was profitable in its second month; capacity exceeded 30 million discs per annum.• Maintained strategic alliances with third party CD vendors to ensure consistent source of supply for Modus Media’s four turnkey facilities located throughout North America.• Responsible for all aspects of marketing for the Modus Media CD-ROM product offering.• Reported to Senior Vice President, Operations.

Greater Chicago Area

• Responsible for initiating acquisition target contact, negotiating confidentiality agreements, preparing/reviewing valuation analyses, presenting recommendations to Donnelley Senior Management (Group Presidents, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer); negotiating definitive agreements; and coordinating the due diligence process relating to acquisitions and joint ventures.• Analyzed numerous transactions across the seven different industry segments within which Donnelley participates.• Individually negotiated and closed six transactions (three of which were international) within a two year period; purchase consideration ranged from $1.0-20.0 million.• Was one of twenty senior level managers who participated in a high visibility, six-month, company-wide reengineering initiative independently led by the Boston Consulting Group. • Reported to Vice President, Corporate Development.

Greater Chicago Area

• Responsible for all financial aspects (excluding cash management) of seven autonomous business units with aggregate revenues of $100 million.• Supervised the preparation of consolidated sales and operating budgets for the business unit.• Analyzed and prepared monthly operating results for senior management.• Coordinated income statement forecasts and business unit profitability reports.• Prepared and monitored capital budgets; approved capital spending in excess of $500,000.• Reviewed acquisition and joint venture targets. • Reported to President, Information Services Group.

Greater Chicago Area

• Prepared financial analyses relating to acquisitions and joint ventures and assisted in the negotiation of definitive agreements.• Participated in the analysis, negotiation and closing of nine transactions; purchase consideration ranged from $10.0-570.0 million. Participated directly in the then largest acquisition in Donnelley history – Meredith/Burda in 1989.• Responsible for coordination of due diligence efforts.• Received “President’s Award” in 1988.• Reported to Vice President Corporate Development.

Greater Chicago Area

• Prepared and reviewed greenfield plans and expansion projects; presented detailed financial plans to senior management.• Reported to Manager, Corporate Development.

Greater Chicago Area

Planned, directed and executed international audit engagements in Europe, Asia, South America and Canada.Evaluated affiliate accounting and operating procedures and recommended internal accounting control improvements to senior management.

Greater Chicago Area

Coordinated various client services, including the annual audit requirements of several significant companies.Supervised team of up to five professionals in audits of balance sheet, income and cash flow statements.Worked with many clients from varying industries including manufacturing, government and food processing.

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Business Administration And Management, General

Bba, Accounting