I have formed a consulting company to help businesses of all sizes and stages achieve profitable growth. My vision is to share my 30+ years of management experience, 20 of those in senior executive positions in the dairy industry, with companies interested in enhancing their strategic and financial planning skills, organizational effectiveness , or leadership. I am also available to provide CEO/CFO mentoring services as well as on site training in "Finance 101" and "Dairy 101".

Provided guidance in business and financial planning to 50+ start-up, emerging, and mature Wisconsin dairy processors.

Have taught three different courses at Lakeland College, Probability and Statistics (3 semesters), MBA Corporate Finance (2 semesters), MBA Financial Decision Making (3 semesters).

Alto Dairy Cooperative was the 19th largest dairy cooperative in the U.S. Owned by 500 dairy farmers. Annual sales in FY2007 $386 million. Major products included Italian and American style cheeses and whey products. One of the top 5 mozzarella manufacturers in the U.S. Alto was known for producing high quality products and for excellent customer service. Operated two manufacturing facilities, including the largest cheese plant east of the Mississippi River. Responsible for all day-to-day operations. Reported to elected Board of Directors. Hired in a turnaround capacity. Major accomplishments included:Onboarded new senior lender shortly after hire date.Developed new reporting sytems to assess product line profitability. Implemented budgeting and strategic planning processes.Drove implementation completion of ERP system.Executed development of value-added culture, including introduction of new branded products.Implemented capital budgeting process based on return on investment.Made tough cost reduction decisions and maintained bank credit line during difficult commodity price environment.Enhanced risk management program to provide reduce impact of volatile commodity prices to producers and customers.Implemented regular communication program with members, employees, customers and haulers.Testified at USDA hearing on Make Allowances.Divested veal feed business to shed a unprofitable non-core operation and generate cash.Initiated and led process to add external capital to the business, which ultimately resulted in the offer from Saputo Cheese USA to purchase the assets of the business at more than double market value. Approval rate from membership was 98%. Members received full equity payouts plus a significant premium.

Was the 2nd largest manufacturer of cream cheese in the U.S. It was the leader in the private label segment of the industry with an 82% market share. Annual sales in 2001 were $185 million. Major customers included 36 of the top 50 supermarket chains, Wal-Mart, SYSCO, and Einsteins. It was a professionally managed, family-owned company. Served as a member of the four person Management Committee, including President and veteran executives formerly with Frito-Lay and General Foods. Responsible for all financial activities, including financial planning, analysis, reporting and controls, banking and treasury, taxes, risk management and financial aspects of employee benefits. Major accomplishments included:Provided financial and strategic direction to company, enabling its growth from $75 million in net sales in 1988 to $185 million in 2001. Developed bank financing relationship to support company growth, including funding packages for two new plants. Consistently praised by bankers for quality and openness of ongoing communications.Maintained company's strategic planning process, which according to the company's outside advisers, rivaled those found in many Fortune 500 companies. Originated product formulation concept that increased effective capacity and deferred a new plant decision for two years. Annual savings exceeded $2 million.Point person for all aspects of company sale to Schreiber Foods, from drafting of sales memorandum through integration. Also managed divestiture of blue cheese business to ConAgra in 2000.Maintained company focus and direction despite a difficult relationship among the company's three family shareholders.

Held position of VP Finance, following promotions from Mgr. Financial Analysis and Controller.Primarily responsible for Strategic and Financial Planning as well as liaison to corporate accounting staff.Responsible for establishing reporting and control systems in this new subsidiary.Frequent strategy and budget presentations to parent's CEO and Board of Directors.Executive Assistant to Group-Vice-President, Anheuser-Busch Companies (1981)Staff position coordinating activities of this direct report to August Busch III.Exposed to new business development activities in snack foods, soft drinks and wine as well as Corporate R&D.Responsible for recruiting and directing new MBA's for the Executive Training Program.

Performed M&A analyses for various potential food and beverage candidates. Provided economic inputs for various company planning models, including long-term beer volume forecast. Performed numerous economic analyses, such as the impact of higher drinking ages on beer consumption and price elasticity studies.

Maintained programming and inputs for company's multi-year financial forecast model.Performed various quantitative analyses to support capital expenditure including requests for new brewery and new business investments.

Performed project work for various departments and subsidiaries to gain exposure to the company.Completed and presented analyses related to beer, theme park entertainment and beverage can businesses.