Robert Sands Email & Phone Number

Small Business Development Center, University Of Wisconsin, Madison, Wi.

The Wisconsin Business AnswerLine gives established, new and aspiring business owners access to essential business information at no cost. AnswerLine staff draw from extensive resources and their own business ownership experience to provide timely answers to business questions. They also serve as a quick source of referral to regional SBDC consultants and educational programs statewide.

Bob Sands is President & CEO of Robert G Sands & Associates, LLC, a management consulting firm, and trusted advisor, that assists business leaders and owners improve results and achieve new levels of performance. Our objective is the alignment of organizational resources (Leadership, People, Processes, Systems, and Facilities) with Strategy, creating Loyal Customers resulting in increased sales, reduced cost, and increased long tern/sustainable profits. Areas of expertise include:- Revenue, cashflow, market enhancement.- Rapid and dramatic turnarounds.- Acquisitions & mergers. - Strategic Planning- Refinancing, leveraging for expansion. - Large scale manufacturing & global supply chain management in highly seasonal environments. - Innovative new product development.- Collaborative vendor/customer creation. - International sourcing. - Quality assurnace and technical services.- Software integration (ERP) improving overall results.

505 S. Rosa Rd, Madison, Wi. 53719

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. We have been doing this for over fifty years.

A $150 million wholesale grower of ornamental plants, selling nationally to major home improvement centers, mass merchandisers, and like trade. Recruited by private equity firm to bring company out of bankruptcy, merge with a competitor, and to challenge industry business models and paradignms leading to turnaround. Team achieved turnaround in net cash flow from 2008 - 2009 from minus $7.5 mil to plus $7.4 mil. through a strategy of across-the-board cost reduction:- Reduced production cost by $37 mil/32%. - Reduced distribution cost by $11 mil/28%.- Reduced selling cost by $ 6 mil/28%.- Reduced G & A cost by $ 4 mil/29%. - Reduced employee headcount from 1500 to 850 employees. - Implemented 10% salary/wage reduction.

A $ 50 milliion wholesale grower of ornamental shrubs and roses, selling nationally to major home improvement centers, mass merchandisers, and like trade from facilities in California. - Incrased sales from $ 40 million to $ 50 million in annual sales in three years. - Implemented product profitability and consolidation initiatives to boost cash flow and bottom line by $ 5 million, and avoided $ 10 mil in capital expenditures. Achieved $ 6 million in cost reduction and avoidance. - Developed and implemented plan to to build two new operating sites, consisting of 600 acres, to support company growth and relocation. - Refnanced the company to provide needed working capital and long-term leverage to support growth and relocation. - Implemented continuous improvement process, reducing/avoiding cost in excess of $ 2 million.

A $ 60 million wholesale grower of annual and perennial floral products, selling to major home improvement centers, mass merchandisers, supermarkets, and independent garden centers on a national basis, from five strategically located facilities. - Developed strategic plan to increase sales and market share with fast-growing home improvement centers. - Increased market share with major home improvement center from 10 % to 50%, and sales from $ 6 milliion to $ 27 million.- Increased market share with second major home improvement center from 20% to 50%, and sales from $ 6 million to $ 13 million. - Significantly improved financial performance, despite a highly leveraged balance sheet. Grew sales from $ 48 million to $ 61 million (27%), and EBITDA from $ 2,5 million to $ 7.6 million (204 %) between 1998 and 2004.- Used managemet discipline, the SAP ERP system and MRP II procedures to improve cash flow and lower debt by $ 8.5 million between in 3 years. - Managed 6 million square feet of greenhouse growing operations and workforce of 300 fultime and 500 seasonal employees.

A $ 600 million enterprise, consisting of the most highly recognized companies as Harry & David and Jackson & Perkins. - Managed $ 120 million budget, directing eight VP,s and Directors, 400 fulltime and 1500 seasonal employees. - Developed and designed 500+ new proprietary products annually to support strategic marketing initiatives. - Oversaw all aspects of manufacturing, product developoment, purchasing, materials management, engineering, packaging, warehousing, quality assurance, and technical services. - Managed four manufacturing plants, two development labs, 30 production lines ranging from custom hand packaging to highly automated assembly lines. Products included horticultural, food, fruit, baked goods, candies, confections and roses; distributed worldwide through catalog marketing, retail stores, garden centers, and internet marketing. - Created world-class manufacturing, packing and warehousing centers from 1950s style facilities. - Installed advanced production techniques: led $ 4.2 million, 17,000 square feet of bakery/confectionary plant expansion.- Added production capacity to eliminate outsourcing: reengineered fruit packing to eliminate over - fulfillment. - Modernized 19-acre packing plant to support growth, reduce cost, and create better work environment. - Installed $ 4.1 million warehouse, planning, purchasing, and inventory management systems significantly improving supply chain efficiencies and effectiveness.. - Reduced cost by 29% through automation, JIT, and increased manufacturing flexibility. - Received company's 1997 Excellence Award for exemplary leadership and management. - Contributed to revenue growth from $ 150 million to $ 500 million from 1989 to 1999.- Made significant contribution to creation of retail store division, expanding company from catalog sales into 200 storefront locations.

A $ 200 million company producing and providing food and hardgood gifts and products through catalog, internet, and retail sales. Responsible for the procurement of materials and supplies valued in excess of $ 70 million on an annual basis.

A $ 100 million manufacturer of commercial and consumer ice machines and systems Director of Purchasing responsible for the procurement of materials and supplies valued in excess of $ 50 million on an annual basis.Project Manager for implementation of ERP/MRP II.

A $ 5 billion manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment. Senior Buyer responsible for the procurement of materials and supplies valued in excess of $ 200 million on an annual basis.

Mba, Business Administration

Graduated with a 3.6 GPA on a 4.0 Scale. Completed 2 year program in 1 year by doubling up on course work during summer, fall, winter.

Bs, Business, Sociologyc