Sales Manager

Thomas J. Ruden, MBA, CFP®

**** ***** **** *****, ** Box 36 Grayling, MI 49738 989-***-****

***.*****@*****.***

TECHNICAL WRITER

SUMMARY

More than 15 years of successful technical writing, marketing, and product development experience.

Championed numerous marketing and product development initiatives – most involved creating new sales

opportunities for magnesium products from alternate materials and designs. I have created and

successfully presented numerous business cases (technical, financial and marketing) demonstrating the

benefits of mechanical systems and products designed for greater efficiency. I have also enjoyed the

opportunity to have authored more than 100 technical papers, trade articles, sales literature, brochures,

advertisements, press releases, presentations, and market research studies.

EDUCATION

M.B.A. – International Business

University of Detroit

B.S. – Mechanical Engineering

Lawrence Technological University

Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP®)

CFP Board of Standards, Inc. #145099

EXPERIENCE

Financial Planner / Tomlyn Advisors, LLC – Grayling, MI October 2011 – Present

Founder of a Fee-Only, Investment Advisory and Wealth Management firm.

• Authored and published 22 articles in local newspapers and monthly newsletters on Senior Financial

Planning and Elder Care topics.

• Developed and presented 12 Adult Learner seminars at a local college on key financial planning and

investing topics. Established an interactive curriculum and content for all seminars. Students ranged

from high school age to retirees.

• Delivered the first-ever Investment Policy Statement for a local Community College Foundation.

• Created and gave seven presentations on Charitable / Planned Giving for various audiences.

Wealth Coach / MKD Wealth Coaches – Auburn Hills, MI July 2011 – October 2011

Recruited by a $240 million investment advisory firm to manage a new business unit to serve the middle-

class market. The business unit was designed to manage $115 million of investment assets for 150

households.

• Developed the firms’ first-ever Privacy Policy and marketing literature for retirement plan options.

• Generated a multi-page questionnaire to capture client data for financial planning purposes.

• Developed the presentation; “How a Foundation and Investment Manager Can Work Together.”

• Completed and presented the results of comparing the benefits of five financial planning software

packages.

Financial Advisor / Edward D. Jones, LLP – Houghton Lake, MI June 2009 – July 2011

Commission-Based, full service brokerage firm registered with FINRA. Recruited to head up the

Houghton Lake office having $11.1 million of investment assets for 135 accounts.

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• Increased investment assets from $11.1 to $15.2 million within two years.

• Added more than 120 accounts within two years – from 135 to 255.

• Orchestrated more than 20 seminars designed for individual investors and business owners.

Director, Global Business Development / Quay Magnesium, Ltd. – Sydney Australia

March 2006 – February 2008

Successfully completed a two year contract – responsible for all sales, marketing and the distribution

network for a $60 million startup magnesium alloy plant. With the plant based in Nanjing, China the firm

sold magnesium alloys to the global magnesium diecasting market throughout Asia, Europe and North

America. Lead and managed an international team of 12 individuals – located in Australia, China,

Germany, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

• Created Brochures and multiple marketing pieces and websites (Mandarin and English).

• Developed the organization chart and corresponding business processes.

• Wrote job descriptions (English) for Chinese personnel and designed numerous business forms.

• Championed market research and provided supplier development support to purchasing.

• Developed contracts, forms and language to be in compliance with international sales laws.

• Designed ingot products and packaging schemes for shipments to clients in various countries.

• Solicited more than $10 million from sophisticated investors and hedge fund managers.

Market Development Manager / Lunt Manufacturing Co., Inc. – Schaumburg, IL

January 2003 – February 2006

Created sales opportunities via marketing efforts and product development of magnesium applications for

an industry-leading, $130 million diecasting company. Increase sales by more than $16 million by

developing magnesium applications for automotive, electronic, power-tool and sporting goods markets.

• Created magnesium alloy and competitive material datasheets, and design guidelines.

• Initiated and promoted six technical papers on how to develop magnesium components.

• Developed case studies (literature and website) showcasing the firms’ products to customers.

• Promoted the firms’ capabilities at customer, SAE, USCAR, and industry-specific meetings.

• Spearheaded the first-ever expert panel meeting of “Magnesium Subject Matter Experts” at the

annual SAE International Exposition. Experts from Australia, Canada, China, Germany and USA.

• Authored and marketed the article; “Prototyping Strategies for Magnesium Die Castings.”

• Actively trained customers, sales engineers and manufacturer representatives about the benefits,

capabilities and properties of magnesium alloys.

TECHNICAL WRITING + eLEARNER TOOLS

Proficient with the following software;

• Adobe Acrobat / Articulate Presenter / MS Office (2010): Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio,

Word / SmartDraw / TechSmith Snagit

Familiar with the following;

• Adobe Captivate, Illustrator, FrameMaker, RoboHelp / SoftChalk

• MadCap Flare / TechSmith Camtasia / WordPress

MEMBERSHIPS

• Financial Planning Association (FPA)

• SAE International

• Society for Technical Communication (STC)

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