Stephen E. Merrick

205-***-**** *** COLTON CREST DRIVE, ALPHARETTA, GA MERRICKSE@GMAIL.C

***** **

Senior Executive

Strategist Growth Leader Motivator

Creating long-term shareholder value - driving transformation and growth -

repeatedly positioning

public and private companies in diverse industries for success in an ever-

changing global economy.

. Visionary Executive:

Strategic, results-oriented leader with 15+ years of senior executive

experience, pragmatically formulating and implementing strategies

addressing a wide range of sales, marketing, financial, and operational

issues to position companies for sustainable growth. Change architect who

thrives on diverse challenges of revitalizing stagnant performance,

expanding market reach, re-energizing customer relations and product

lines, restructuring distribution and sourcing channels, executing M&A,

and implementing technology and operational systems. Motivational leader

and mentor, natural relationship builder, and persuasive communicator both

internally and externally.

. Broad-Based Competencies:

- Executive Leadership and Team - Business and Alliance Negotiations

Development

- Strategic and Business Planning - Systems and Technology Development

- Change Management and Turnarounds - Internal and External Relationship

Management

- P&L and Budget Accountability - Mergers and Acquisitions

- Process and Performance Improvement - Equity and Debt Markets Management

. Proven Performance:

- Revitalization & Growth: Achieved 100% sales growth by overhauling

business model, product lines, marketing strategies, sourcing channels,

and operating and technology systems. (KEH)

- Acquisition Integration: As Interim President of NYSE corporation,

orchestrated seamless relocation, operational integration, and data

migration with 100% sales performance, flawless customer delivery, and

retention of all core staff. (Munsingwear)

- Business Development: Identified and expanded product lines and

implemented new division that grew to nearly 25% of sales in 3 years.

(KEH)

- Business Transformation: Converted domestic manufacturer to global

importer to maintain growth in an era of downsizing, offshoring, and

outsourcing. (Chalk Line)

Experience and Accomplishments

keh Inc., Atlanta, GA (World's largest dealer of used photographic 2000 -

products) Present

Executive Vice President & CFO

Grew sales 100% and earnings 180% by evolving traditional mail-order firm

to web-based entity via global sourcing, product line expansion, and best-

in-class operational structure, cost controls, and technology systems.

Recruited to co-lead organization to the next level by developing

strategic, operational, technological, financial, and sales and marketing

strategies to deliver profitable growth in a rapidly changing industry.

Provided strategic and hands-on leadership to successfully overcome many

obstacles, including the introduction of digital photography, declining

margins, proprietary business systems, and escalating overheads. Built

solid infrastructure for continued successful growth and transitioned

culture to one of innovation and performance excellence.

. Business System: Engaged as consultant, in 6 months tapped by absentee

owner as EVP based on sound evaluation of business system capacity. After

just weeks of analysis, concluded existing system could handle 100X growth

and tabled $1.5M proposal to rewrite system. Company continues to operate

under the business system to this day.

. Financial Performance: Doubled sales in 5 years ($12.5M to $25.0M) and

grew net earnings 180% ($750K to $2.1M) - while average selling prices

declined by 25%.

. Marketing: Transitioned company from 75% mail order to 85%+ online sales.

Reduced costly catalog mailings and introduced SEO strategies and ROI-

based Internet keyword advertising. Achieved 100% sales growth with no

increase in annual marketing budget, marginal increase in overhead

structure, and minimal financial exposure.

. Product Strategies: Vigorously expanded global equipment sourcing by 25%.

Created new revenue streams by expanding product offerings to include new

equipment sales and launching an in-house repair division - generating $6M

in new revenue at minimal cost and risk.

. Cost Control:

- Redefined the company's catalog mailing schema based on frequency and

dollar amount of historical customer orders. Achieved greater than 700%

ROI from new ROI-based web advertising model.

- Captured $100K year-over-year annual savings by negotiating shipping

discounts with UPS and FedEx and implementing a self-insurance program.

- Saved $125K yearly by renegotiating terms with manufacturers for co-op

advertising to offset catalog costs.

- Reduced rising health insurance premiums $65K by instituting partially

self-insured Section 105 benefit plan.

. Operational & Technology Improvements:

- Developed proprietary automated algorithm/purchasing min/max system that

increased inventory turns ~50% and improved overall gross margins while

maintaining constant inventory levels.

- Created incentive-based compensation structures to reward top performers

and focus employees on the company's overall goals and objectives.

- Converted proprietary business system database to MySQL and leading-edge

programming languages, including PHP, ASP.net, C+, and Java.

- Designed and managed development of 3 iterations of company website to

2.0 compliance and enhanced SEO.

ems consulting, Birmingham, AL 1993 -

2000

Independent Consultant Interim Senior

Executive

Retained to provide strategic business direction to C-Level executives,

boards of directors, and venture capitalists whose companies were

experiencing market, operational, or financial challenges. Repeatedly

recruited from strategic advisory role to interim corporate senior

executive with mandate to execute improvement plans and create value for

stakeholders. Examples of long-term engagements included:

. Munsingwear, Inc. - acquired by Supreme International Corp. (now $851M

Perry Ellis International, Inc. - NASDAQ: PERY): Brought in as advisor,

quickly transitioned to Interim President to perform due diligence, ensure

flawless migration of business system data, and orchestrate critical cross-

country relocation/integration of staff and operations following

acquisition. Retained 100% of core staff, overcoming initial reluctance to

relocate, and executed an orderly transition and integration with zero

impact on on-time deliveries and sales-order backlog.

. Bear Creek Technologies, Inc.: Engaged as Interim EVP and CFO of

undercapitalized start-up IT development and service provider for the

telecommunications industry. Identified investors and secured $4M in

venture capital funding. Negotiated credit facilities, private placements,

and divestitures. Established business systems and instituted management

reporting and accountability.

. Signal Apparel, Inc. (NYSE): Engaged as Interim Senior VP and CFO to

develop and implement a restructuring plan including the relocation of

corporate offices, staff and overhead reductions, plant closures, sale of

idle assets and properties, and transition of domestic manufacturing

offshore.

. American Marketing Works, Inc.: Reversed costly pattern of inventory

overstocking for apparel company. Automated and synchronized sales and

purchasing supply/demand model; negotiated with vendors for buyout or

cancellation of overbought positions; reduced purchase commitments 50% and

increased inventory turns 35%.

chalk line, inc., Anniston, AL ($70M professional sports licensed 1990 - 1993

apparel company)

CFO Vice President of Finance

Controller

Drove transformation from domestic apparel manufacturer to worldwide

sourcing entity. Anticipating spiraling costs of domestic manufacturing,

created and executed restructuring plan that included plant consolidation

and closures, procedural and operational changes, and launch of sourcing

relationships worldwide. Reduced breakeven sales by 40% and increased

inventory turns 50%.

ernst & young, llc, Birmingham, AL 1984 - 1990

Audit Manager Audit Senior Staff

Accountant

Promoted at a rapid pace to manage technically complex public and private

company audits and assume added responsibilities of business development,

staff recruitment, and training. One of a handful of auditors also charged

with preparing SEC 10K, 10Q, and S1 filings and corporate income tax

returns for clients in manufacturing, construction, healthcare, financial,

and oil and gas industries.

Education and Certification

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of 1984

Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) - inactive status

www.stephenmerrick.com

Contact this candidate