Patrick Baert Email & Phone Number

Elkhart Indiana

• Welch is a dynamic regional corrugated packaging manufacturerBusiness Development and Acquisitions
• Achieved over 200% revenue growth ($95.0 million) over 9 years, during difficult economic periods, by directing due diligence analysis, financing, and integration of 14 acquisitions, business startups, and 2.
• Opened industry and product profitability opportunities by strategically reorganizing $25 million folding carton and plastics division into separate entities.Operational Effectiveness
• Reduced material cost 5% plus shared 50% of profits as strategic member of a joint venture with the primary commodity supplier:o Secured bank financing, economic development incentives and 475,000 square foot real.
• Negotiated over $2.0 million in state and local economic development tax abatements, grants, training programs and service incentives.
• Eliminated sales tax expense, reduced fuel costs with national freight service partnership discount, and eliminated $500,000 of third party freight cost by consolidate services:o Researched, implemented, and managed.

Plymouth Indiana

• Manufacturer of wireless communication equipment with Bain Capital as the primary owner of this highly engineered tower and distribution company.
• Coordinated planning, due diligence and disclosure requirements for sale of $80 million business in 2001.
• Served as interim General Manager during management reorganization.
• Supported Bain Capital and management’s growth objectives by implementing strategic planning, financial reporting, and annual budget.
• Significantly reduced independent audit cost and improve working capital by establishing internal process controls and regular trial balance review.
• Improved collections and reduced days sales outstanding 30% ($6.0 Million of added free cash flow) by designing and implementing automated cash matching program.

Farmington Hills, MI And Buchanan, MI

• Wheel End Brake Division - Manufacturer of automotive braking systems in various locations in the United States for the $5.0 Billlion Division and the Industrial Automation Division located in Buchanan MI
• Managed financial and planning for $375 Million automotive manufacturer of brake components.
• Reorganized $1.2 billion United States brake operations as key member of confidential team providing executive management with strategic plan.
• Implemented financial reporting, business metrics, and historical comparisons for division management that complied with German commercial code.
• Grew distribution market segment that improved delivery performance lead times 65% by implementing automated forecast and scheduling system.
• Coordinated implementation of automatic billing and freight rating system.

Stamford, CT, Mishawaka, IN And Sarasota, FL

• Coordinated Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization disclosure statement.
• Planned and negotiated $54 million debt financing for initial startup of major product line expansion.
• Facilitated merger of four plastics divisions into $130 million manufacturing subsidiary, centralizing accounting and information systems departments while improving financial reporting, implementing new information.

Niles, MI

• Key member of leveraged buyout management team.
• Enhanced management’s product cost and margin understanding by establishing operational reporting for highly engineered product lines.

Education record

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Accounting