PRIOR EXPERIENCE:
Senior Operational/Administrative/Financial Executive with broad based experience and expertise in a manufacturing environment. Experience includes operations management, logistics and production planning, human resource, legal, purchasing, cash management, treasury, insurance, information technology, acquisitions and business strategic planning activities. Committed to a team-based management approach, with an operations orientation which recognizes the necessity of all levels in the organization contributing to the attainment of a company’s goals and objectives.
Meridian Rail Corp.
Lombard, Illinois 2002-May 2003
Meridian Rail was formed in January, 2002 through the purchase of most of the assets of the former ABC-NACO. Served as Chief Executive Officer of the company from its formation until April, then became Vice Chairman. In September, added the additional duties of President – ABC Rail Products China Investment Corp. Focus in Meridian’s first year was on the following:
- Initially, directing and coordinating the formation of the new company and communicating our story to customers and suppliers
- Developing and implementing viable operating plans for the three business units
- Direct responsibility for Meridian’s activities in China
- Providing support, assistance and counsel to the new CEO and President – Meridian Rail Products
ABC-NACO Inc.
Lombard, Illinois 1999-2002
ABC-NACO was formed by the merger, in February, 1999, of ABC Rail Products Corporation and NACO, Inc. The company was one of the world’s leading suppliers of technology advanced products to the worldwide rail industry. ABC-NACO held pre-eminent market positions in the design, engineering and manufacture of high performance freight car, locomotive and passenger suspension and coupling systems, wheels and mounted wheel sets and specialty track products. It had facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Scotland, Portugal and China. The company had sales in 2000 of $560 million and had over 4500 employees.
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
As Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the company, responsibilities included management of the human resource, legal, information technology and purchasing functions. Also responsible for the cash management portion of the treasury function including management of all cash disbursements and oversight responsibility for the corporate accounts receivable and payable activities. During the business downturn in 2001, directed and managed the corporate downsizing and consolidation activities. In addition, coordinated the logistics and production planning functions of the Rail Products Group.
NACO, Inc.
Downers Grove, Illinois 1985-1999
NACO, Inc. was formed in 1985 as the result of a management buy-out of three steel foundry operations in Illinois and Ohio. Subsequent acquisitions were made in Iowa, Texas, Canada, Scotland and Mexico. From its beginning, NACO was seriously under capitalized and lacked, for many years, adequate borrowing facilities. In spite of this, the company grew internally and through very creative acquisition transactions. Its sales increased from $40 million in 1985 to almost $350 million in 1999 at the time of the merger with ABC Rail Products. Responsibilities with NACO included:
1997 – Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
1993 – Elected to the NACO Board of Directors
1989 – Executive Vice President
1986 – Senior Vice President – Finance and Administration
1985 - Vice President, Administration and Planning
In the 1985 – 1989 period, primary responsibility was for the financial activities of the company including the last year as acting Chief Financial Officer. This was during a time when NACO did not have an outside credit facility and the day-to-day management of cash was critical to the survival of the company. Following that period, continued to manage the cash function for the company, in addition to the purchasing, human resource, information technology, production planning and logistics activities. In 1992 also assumed operating responsibility for the company’s activities in Mexico and developed two joint venture partners. This activity grew to the point that one of the ventures was acquired in 1996. Remained responsible for all of these functions through the merger.
Midland Ross Corporation
Cleveland, Ohio 1965 – 1985
The foundry group of Midland Ross had a history dating back to 1868. Joined the company upon graduation from college and held the following positions:
1984 – Vice President – Administration and Planning
1983 – General Manager – Industrial Plant Operations
1980 – Cicero and Melrose Park, Illinois Plant Manager
1978 – Cicero Plant Manager
1974 – General Operations Superintendent – Cicero, Illinois
1970 – Manager – Rail Division Production Planning
1969 – Finishing Superintendent
1968 – Plant Production Manager – Sharon, Pennsylvania
1966 – Manager, Scheduling and Customer Service Department
1965 – Sales department trainee – Cleveland, Ohio
During the first twenty years of career, experience was primarily in plant operations. Had profit and loss responsibility for plants with over 1000 employees and $75 million in annual sales. Directed a $15 million expansion project doubling the size of the Cicero facility. Extensive operations background enabled the approach to all subsequent finance, human resource, purchasing, planning and administrative positions to be made recognizing the necessary interrelationship all operating, sales and staff functions must share to achieve maximum corporate success.
EDUCATION:
University of Michigan - Bachelor of Business Administration 1965 Ann Arbor, Michigan
Case-Western Reserve University - Master of Business Administration 1968 Cleveland, Ohio