Management Company
Resume:
DEAN K. MATT
NAPERVILLE, IL 60565 E-MAIL: *************@***.***
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Impactful, strategic and cross-functional operations and corporate finance leader. Top Tier MBA. CPA.
A CEO’s “right-hand man.”
CAREER SUMMARY
AFN, LLC (AKA ADVANTAGE FREIGHT NETWORK; DEERFIELD AND NILES, IL) 5/07 – 3/09
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Responsible for all departments in this top-tier, high growth 3PL and Freight Brokerage.
(Reported to Owners)
• Leadership: Managed up to 13 direct reports in all functions (Sales, Operations, Finance, Legal, IT, HR) leading
to top-line revenue growth of 35% during my tenure during dismal industry economic conditions.
• Knowledge Transfer: Implemented professional and consistent management reporting / KPIs enabling 25%
headcount reduction through more informed and timely decision making at lower levels in the organization.
• Opportunity Development: Architected the pursuit of new business in all industry segments including 3PL
Managed Transportation, Warehousing, Less-Than-Truckload, Intermodal, and traditional Truckload freight.
Analyzed partnering and exit-strategy opportunities for the owners.
MUCHODEANAERO, INC. (NAPERVILLE, IL) 8/01 – 5/07
PRESIDENT Professional services firm specializing in finance, operations and strategic planning. Select engagements:
PRIVATELY HELD COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT LEASING COMPANY (CHICAGO, IL) INTERIM SVP – FINANCE (1/06 – 5/07)
Reported to President/Owner of this $100 million enterprise with over $1 billion in commercial aircraft assets.
• Developed and managed highly-leveraged, non-recourse project financing structures for a $1 billion commercial aircraft
portfolio; facilitated move of financial and accounting operations to West Coast; Identified and achieved $800 thousand in
hard dollar savings; Significantly improved investor relations.
• Advised president on personal wealth matters including tax planning, trusts/asset protection, and investments/diversification.
FORTUNE 50 ENERGY COMPANY (WARRENVILLE, IL) FINANCE AND OPERATIONS CONSULTANT (3/05 - 12/05)
Reported to President of the $2 billion Remediation Management Unit of this multi-billion global energy company.
• Led and facilitated SOX compliance efforts for unit with over 100 employees.
FORTUNE 500 ENERGY COMPANY. (NAPERVILLE, IL) FINANCE AND OPERATIONS CONSULTANT (4/04 - 3/05)
Reported to CFO of this $300 million subsidiary of $3 billion regional utility company.
• Key role in successful integration (operational and financial) of three recently acquired service companies.
PRIVATELY HELD INTERNATIONAL FOOD SERVICE COMPANY (CHICAGO, IL) ACTING VP – CONTROLLER AND REGION COO (8/2001 -
3/2004)
Reported to President of this $160 million, multi-site international airline catering and meal solutions manufacturing company
•Leadership, Strategy and Policy Setting: As member of five-person Senior Leadership Team, implemented strategy and key
decisions enabling this 2,000 employee company to not only survive the impact of the events of 9/11, but to erase a $7 million
operating loss and achieve profitability during a period of dire airline industry economics and uncertainty.
• Multi-Site/Function Responsibility: Responsible for P&L and all accounting, finance, purchasing,
information technology functions; Region COO for four West Coast Units ($50 million revenue; 500 employees);
implemented rigor, discipline, and consistency in policies and procedures for multi-site (13 units), international structure.
Managed 22 direct reports including 4 General Managers, 10 Unit Controllers, 8 corporate accounting, purchasing and IT
positions.
•Board of Directors: Attended and presented updates at Board Meetings; primary contact for France and China JV partners.
POCKETCARD, INC. (GURNEE, IL) 12/99 - 8/01
VICE-PRESIDENT, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROLLER Executive leadership position in this e-commerce
Internet start-up. (Reported to President and COO)
• Financing; Leadership: Achieved $15 million venture capital financing; defacto CFO; member of Executive
Team.
• Cost Savings; Infrastructure Development: As lead negotiator for the company, achieved over $5 million in cost
savings / cost avoidance in a scarce resource environment. Managed all significant vendor, third party professional,
investor and Board of Directors relationships.
CONAGRA, INC. (DOWNERS GROVE/GENEVA, IL) 3/97 - 12/99
DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Acquisitions and strategic planning responsibilities in $3 and $13 billion business
units of $25 billion global food giant. (Reported to Business Unit CFO)
DEAN K. MATT PAGE 2
CONAGRA, INC. (CONTINUED)
• Acquisitions: Led overall acquisition process including target identification, valuation, negotiation and subsequent
initial integration efforts of international and domestic acquisitions. Prepared acquisition analysis presentations for
Capital Committee and Board of Directors leading to acquisition of 4 companies with revenues in excess of $200
million. Achieved consensus amongst all stakeholders in acquisition decision.
• Strategic Planning: Led strategic planning process for over 10 independent operating companies (ranging from
$50 million to $3 billion). Advised business unit Presidents and their senior management teams on wide-range of
issues including: restructuring, competitor analysis, e-commerce, supply-chain management, SKU proliferation, and
plant rationalization initiatives. Managed annual strategic planning off-site meeting for top 100 managers.
• Cost Savings: Developed business unit’s recommendations for Operation Overdrive, a comprehensive, company-
wide FY99 restructuring initiative which led to Board of Director approval of a one-time $400 million write-off
(FY2000), $80 million increase in annual Profit Before Tax, and closure of five major plants.
WIZDOM CONTROLS, INC. AND WIZDOM SYSTEMS, INC. (NAPERVILLE, IL) 2/94 - 12/96
SR. VP, TREASURER, AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (concurrent) CEO’s “right-hand man” for these market leading
high-tech software companies specializing in factory automation and business process re-engineering/strategic business
consulting applications sharing common ownership. (Reported to Chairman/CEO)
• Value Creation: Developed and executed a successful shareholder value maximization strategy. Increased
shareholder value by over 500% in two years. Strategy included re-engineering the capital structure by spinning off
Wizdom Controls and raising $2 million in private equity culminating in successful sale to a Fortune 100 company.
UNITED WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. (MANHATTAN AND GREENWICH, CT) 1/91 - 12/93
VP - CONTROLLER Executive leadership position in this acquisitions-oriented start-up that grew to $450+ million
publicly held environmental services company (IPO 1992; NASDAQ; sold for $2.5 billion in 1997 to Waste Management,
Inc.). (Reported to Chairman/CEO and CFO)
Third executive on board this start-up. Broad, multifunctional accounting and finance responsibility in all facets of
building this company from start-up status inception through IPO including acquisitions, capital raising, MIS
management, operations, staff selection and development, as well as customary controllership duties. Member of
executive management team. Responsibilities/duties much broader than title. “Hyper-growth” environment:
• Value Creation: Developed and implemented acquisition, financial/operational reporting, and all accounting, finance,
and administration infrastructure enabling this start-up to create $1.5 billion in shareholder value.
• Financing: Achieved two successful financings ($25 million Private Placement: 10/91; $50 million IPO: 12/92).
• Acquisitions: Identified, valued, negotiated and integrated (finance and operations) over 20 acquisitions in variety of
deal structures: stock-for-stock, asset, pooling-of-interests, and earn-outs.
• Infrastructure Development: Implemented decentralized policies and procedures to manage and facilitate hyper-
growth; managed corporate and field staff of over 50 controllers and division accounting personnel.
FIRST CHICAGO CORPORATION (CHICAGO, IL) 1/89 - 12/90
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT/MANAGER, FINANCIAL INFORMATION SERVICES Led credit analysis team for this $250 billion
major money center bank holding company. (Reported to EVP)
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC. (CHICAGO-AREA AND DALLAS, TX) 6/82 - 12/88
REGION CIO (88); SR. BUSINESS ANALYST (86 - 87); DIVISION CONTROLLER (82 – 85) Various finance, accounting, and
operations positions for acquisitive, hyper-growth $7 billion international environmental services leader.
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO GRADUATE (BOOTH) SCHOOL OF BUSINESS: MBA - Finance
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN: BS - Accountancy
PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT; MEMBER: AICPA, ILLINOIS CPA SOCIETY
CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, COMMERCIAL PILOT, INSTRUMENT RATING
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