Robert E. Kurdziel

abhrax@r.postjobfree.com

404-***-**** - Mobile 2419 St. Croix Circle, NE

770-***-**** - Home Marietta, GA 30062-6528

Objective: Experienced financial management professional seeks responsible position with

innovative and goal oriented organization.

Key Abilities: Finance & Accounting Management • Effective Contract Negotiation &

Management • Diplomatic Client Relations • Operations Management • Personnel

Recruitment, Training & Development • Problem Resolution • Application Systems Utilization •

Counseling / Consulting • Financial & Strategic Planning • Business Development •

Insurance / Risk Management

Strengths:

• Innovative team leader; current on business, market trends, best practices across industries

• Solid knowledge of GAAP and application of principles to operating procedures

• Energetic, positive, results focus with aggressive and strategic goal orientation

• Keen sense of financial strategy, blending of financial & organizational talent

• Proficient in entire Microsoft Office Suite & QuickBooks, Act, Quicken

• Proven communication and persuasion skills coupled with a positive team attitude

• Creative, thorough online research skills

Professional Accomplishments & Experience

CPA Candidate - Preparing for CPA Examination Present

Kurdziel & Associates - Atlanta, GA Founded 1985 - Present

Financial & Management Consulting Firm, New Businesses Development

Management consulting firm with expertise in review and improvement of financial controls,

internal operations, accounting system use and training, technical product development,

standards and procedures, marketing programs, sales and strategic and business planning.

Provide consulting services to small businesses, system vendors, insurance companies and

national and local brokers as well as major corporations and national associations. Developed

and published professional standards, conducting operations and financial audits for all members

of national association.

Consulting Engagements

• Hartford Insurance Group retained to create and implement an internal consulting firm (Business

Management Group BMG) to assist their agents with operational, information systems integration, business

planning, mergers & acquisitions, growth funding, personnel evaluation and development. Established

consulting standards and procedures, engagement processes, and reporting structure. Recruited and

trained consultants, developed client analysis and communication methods, secured new clients.

Conducted engagements nationally. BMG continues to this day to serve Hartford agents.

• Crump Companies (now "James" Insurance Brokers) retained K&A to determine the utilization level

of corporate-wide information systems and the step-by-step processes employed in each office. Findings

indicated a measurable difference in procedures, profitability (quantified a 11% variance and significant

control issues) and professional liability exposure. Crump Co. directed K&A to develop national standards

and procedures across all lines of insurance and financial systems. Crump moved upon completion of

standards with significant increase in process efficiency (lower cost per transaction and control over

professional liability exposure) and corporate reporting accuracy.

• Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA) & Crum & Forster Insurance (C&F) -

Based upon the successful Crump Companies project, K&A commissioned to create

manual ("E&O Risk Management" - A Procedural Guide for the Independent

Agent) documenting standards and procedure that can apply to all independent

insurance agents nationwide, which was endorsed by the IIAA/Crum & Foster Insurance and

mandated for use by agencies (30,000+) under their professional liability program.

• Developed "Agency E&O Loss Control Audit Program" to audit agent and broker adherence to

standard procedures. IIAA / C&F mandated a review of existing structure, procedures, and financial

controls of all insured member agencies. K&A designed audit methodology, reporting and

recommendations and conducted agency audits for IIAA agencies across the country including national

multi-location client engagements over the 10 year program.

• Present seminars and educational workshops addressing professional liability, business planning,

market research & program development, sales and financial and operations management for local, state

and national professional events and conferences.

New Business Unit Development

Firm conducts research, market studies, develops and manages innovative businesses across

a variety of industries. K & A acts as incubator providing initial startup financing, management and

operating resources.

Beam Wireless, LLC - Marietta, GA

Private Community Broadband Internet Services

Beam Wireless provides secure ubiquitous broadband wireless service to new

residential communities offering cost effective service and a platform for internal

communication, addition of new services and revenue generation.

Managing Partner

•Manage financial, operational and sales direction. Created financial models,

accounting systems and controls

• Develop marketing strategy, product design, competitive research, sales

process. Negotiated residential housing developer agreements,

implementation, and ongoing client relations

• Provide initial funding, secure strategic alliances and lead sales

• Negotiated and managed contracts with suppliers, clients, professionals

Employee Preferred, LLC - Norcross, GA

Employee, Member, Customer Programs

Employee Preferred provides employee services, insurance and work life

benefit programs for the employees of member companies of a national association of 2800+

major employers and federal agencies representing 13 million employees

Chief Operating & Financial Officer

•Develop marketing strategy, collateral material, website, publications, seminar

programs, educational materials

• Secured marketing agreement with Employee Services Management

Association (ESM) representing 2800 major employers - over 13 million

employees nationwide

•Design innovative long-term-care insurance program for federal government

agencies and Fortune 1000 companies nationwide

•Created Employee Preferred Card (health and services benefits) designed for

existing client base of over 16,000 small employer insurance company clients

nationwide, trained company sales personnel (third party sales)

Risk Management Group, Ltd. - Atlanta, GA

Insurance Program Developer & Broker

Risk Management Group was created to identify, research, develop and market

specialty personal and commercial property, casualty, life, health and long term

care insurance programs directly to employers and through third parties nationally

Chief Executive Officer

•Recruit and train staff, design marketing materials, direct sales efforts for each

program created

• Developed the following programs:

"Renters Protection Plus" - upscale apartment resident personal

insurance offered through the property manager. Secured exclusive

agreements with seven national Real Estate Investment Trusts

representing 750+ communities. Awarded Travelers Insurance Company

designation as “National #1 Agency” for volume growth & profitability for

two consecutive years. Expanded sales effort at residential locations in

four states. Achieved 60% close rate through third party sales.

Secured over 4500 accounts within 18 months

"Employee Club Protection" - Comprehensive property and liability

coverage for large employer employee recreation, sports and

entertainment, facilities and all activities on-site and off plus directors &

officers of the employee association. Secured major national employers

(e.g. Lockheed, Frito Lay, Pacific Gas & Electric)

"Preferred Choice Card" - A variety of health, counseling and legal

protection services offered to the customers of a major national retail

department store

"Home Buyers Assurance" - A combination of new homeowners

insurance and homeowners warranty offered through the builder/Developer

"ESM Long Term Care" - Comprehensive long term care coverage for

employees of companies that are members of Employee Services

Management Association. Offered to employees of federal agencies

and fortune 500 employers nationwide

"ESM Work-Life Benefits" Offering an array of work-life benefits

through ESM association member companies that including insurance,

counseling, legal assistance, discount programs, and family and self help

programs

•Jointly market RMG financial and insurance services with ADP (Automated

Data Processing) Atlanta combining payroll, HR and tax services. Exceeded

first year new account goals by 23% increasing revenue by 17%

•Consistently maintained in excess of 94 percent retention of customers with

65% of new business from referrals. Grew business to over $10 million

Agency Management Systems - Atlanta, GA 1981 - 1985

Insurance Agency Management and Client Service Systems

Developer of Insurance Agency underwriting, policy management, financial,

accounting, business planning, claims and client services systems. AMS sold systems

and hardware to leading agencies nationwide

Consulting Manager / Marketing Support & Development Liaison

Created internal management consulting and marketing support service designed to assist

insurance agency conversion from legacy systems to state of the art information systems

• Provide technical support to all major accounts in the sales cycle, onsite conversion of systems,

establishing and monitoring client benchmarks.

• Liaison for sales and product development designing financial, planning and customer service

modules. Drove product development to meet client current and future needs with documented case

studies and client surveys

• Conducted sales, marketing seminars, presentations and educational workshops for national trade

events and professional conferences

• Established internal consulting service to assist clients in strategic and operational planning

migrating from legacy systems to automated systems

Tally Industries - Norcross, GA 1980 - 1981

Holding Company / Manufacturing, Distribution, Retail Hardware

A diversified manufacturer of a wide range of proprietary and specialized products sold to

defense, industrial, and commercial markets. Its offerings include minimal steel products,

ceramic insulators, vehicle air bag components, welding equipment, electronic assemblies,

rocket propellants, insecticides, air fresheners, Westclox Seth Thomas and metal buttons

Senior Business Planning Analyst, Financial Systems Project Manager -

One Year Project

Senior consultant leading the effort to select one fully integrated accounting, financial

reporting and planning, inventory management, process control into one ERP (Enterprise

Resource Planning and control) / Financial system

• Develop requirement specifications, conducted vendor system evaluation and evaluated proposals

for a single information management solution across all corporate divisions. Recommendations accepted

and successfully implemented across all manufacturing, retail and distribution companies

• Fully consolidate reporting and just-in-time systems reducing manufacturing and inventory costs,

improved financial accuracy and reporting time by 30 days

Marsh & McLennan - Atlanta, GA 1977 - 1980

International Insurance, Benefits and Consulting Firm

The premier global professional services firm providing advice and solutions in risk,

strategy and human capital. Through market leading brands, colleagues in more than

100 countries help clients identify, plan for and respond to critical business issues and risk

Finance & Accounting Manager - Atlanta Region

Manage Atlanta region accounting and finance to include all aspects of accounting, financial

planning, investments, cash flow, budgeting and corporate reporting

• Increased cash flow investment income by a factor of ten overseeing investment locally from

corporate, monitoring cash flow activity and investments on a daily basis.

• Revamped credit and collections procedures and monitoring systems reducing over 30 days from

$5 million + to under $100,000 within a six month period

• Streamlined budgeting and planning process for Atlanta region. First in eastern region to present a

final reconciled budget to corporate with no errors

• Improved structure of accounting procedures, trained & managed staff to service a 35% increase in

transactions without additional staff. Retained 100% of staff during my tenure

Publications & Presentations

"E&O Risk Management" A Procedural Guide for the Independent Agent - Published 1984,

Endorsed Nationally by Independent Insurance Agents of America, Employers Re Insurance

Company

Presented Seminars on the following

Authored white papers and published topics:

•

articles in the following publications: E&O Risk Management

• Business Insurance - Agent Broker • Business Planning

Topics

• Credit & Collections

• Agency Management Systems

• Professional Ethics

Newsletter

• Information Systems Utilization

• Journal of Property Management

• Standards & Procedures

• Commercial Insurance News

• Developing Innovative Market

• Employee Services Management

Programs

• Post Properties Resident News

• Voluntary Benefit Programs

• Insurance Journal

Education

Georgia State University 1975 -1977 - B.S. Business Administration / Management Accounting

SUNY at Buffalo – History & Political Science 1965 - 1969

Seneca Vocational High School, Buffalo, NY – Electronics 1965

Various Insurance and Business Seminars - Property & Casualty, Life & Health License Continuing

Education Courses

Military

US Army - Honorable Discharge

Specialist 5 (E-5), Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal

Infantry School - Fort Lewis, Washington

Vietnam Service - USARV - February 1970 to April 1971

Organizations / Affiliations

Veterans Associations - Rotary International - Various Professional Organizations,

1996 Atlanta Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies Volunteer

Volunteer - Mercy Mobile Medical, Various Political Organizations

Tutor / Instructor

Tutor High School and College Students in Accounting, Finance, History,

Political Science, Civics. Conduct Professional Liability and Errors & Omissions Classes for

Insurance Professionals

Software Knowledge

Microsoft Office - Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, Publisher, Access, Act Contact Management,

QuickBooks, Quicken & Various Application / Proprietary Systems

Professional Designations - Accounting

CPA Candidate - Preparing for the CPA Examination

Contact this candidate