Robert E. Kurdziel
*********@*****.***
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