Human Resources Management

Nicholas Berchtold

Email: abotm6@r.postjobfree.com

Address: **** ********* ****

City: Northfield

State: OH

Zip: 44067

Country: USA

Phone: 216-***-****

Skill Level: Senior

Salary Range: 200

Willing to Relocate

Primary Skills/Experience:

See Resume

Educational Background:

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Job History / Details:

Executive Profile

* Twenty-four years comprehensive Accounting, Corporate Finance/Treasury, Budgeting and Strategic Forecasting, Internal Audit and Corporate Taxation (Federal, State and International) experience.

* Fifteen years multi-national Chief Financial Officer/Controller Leadership and Strategic Financial management experience.

* Fourteen years of comprehensive manufacturing-related operational/financial management experience complimented by nine years of service-related expertise.

* Leadership roles in the execution of complex equity/debt offerings and financial re-structuring.

* Leadership positions in the negotiation and execution of corporate acquisitions, divestitures, "green-field" start-up operations, and joint-ventures.

* Hands-on Leadership roles at Publicly-listed and Private-Equity Sponsored organizations.

* Proven leadership in working capital management and cost improvement.

* Frequent interaction with Board of Directors, institutional investors and lenders, equity sponsors and investment bankers, customers and suppliers, and external auditors.

* Hands-on application of Lean Manufacturing/Six-Sigma principles and tools. -Green-belt- trained.

New Star Metals, Inc.

Burr Ridge, IL

March 2011 - October 2012

New Star Metals is a leading processor and distributor of flat-rolled steel and related metals located in the Midwest. Through its four operating divisions, the Company provides steel processing and supply chain solutions to over 1,000 customers across a broad array of end markets including automotive, heavy industrial, appliance, construction and general manufacturing. New Star`s value-added processing capabilities include slitting, blanking, shearing, electro-galvanizing, edging, oscillating and supply chain management. The business has four operating units in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Missouri and has headquarters locations in Illinois and Ohio. For the calendar period ended December 31, 2011, the Company generated revenues of $255 million.

Role: Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Period: March 2011 - September 2012

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and to the New Star Metals, Inc. Board of Directors, directed the finance, accounting, treasury and cash management, and human resources functions of the company. Primary focus on the following areas; strategic growth initiatives, cost management, acquisitions and divestitures, financial reporting, debt and equity re-structuring, and human resource policies and procedures. Managed the re-capitalization and subsequent divestiture of the Company for a total enterprise value of $222M (270% ROI).

* Coordinated the negotiation, due diligence and execution of the $157M divestiture of the Company to two separate buyers and shareholders.

* Executed the completion of a $65M external Mezzanine Debt re-capitalization.

* Initiated tax planning initiatives which resulted in $1.7M in reduced 2010 income tax liability obligations.

* Implemented standard costing systems at two operating units.

* Implemented a standardized, company-wide working capital reporting system designed to facilitate improved working capital management.

* Implemented a new Human Resource policies and procedures handbook.

* Implemented the company`s first capital appropriations justification process associated with $6M in 2010/2011 equipment expansion capital.

* Upgraded/replaced administrative staff including accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit and collections in less than six months.

Energy Focus, Inc.

Solon, OH

July 2007 - March 2011

Energy Focus is a publicly-traded global leader in the development, manufacture, and marketing of energy-efficient lighting solutions for the commercial, retail, grocery, military, museum, and pool and spa markets. The business has operating units in Ohio, California, Tennessee, Great Britain, and Mexico and is headquartered in Solon, Ohio.

Role: Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Period: July 2007 - March 2011

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and to the Energy Focus, Inc. Board of Directors, directed the finance, accounting, treasury and cash management, human resources, procurement, and information technology functions of the company. Primary focus on strategic organizational realignment and global cost reduction, acquisitions and divestitures, debt and equity financing, SEC reporting and Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, human resource policies and procedures, and information technology infrastructure development. Responsible for the career management of eleven Accounting/Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources and Purchasing professional direct/indirect reports.

* Completed the strategic negotiations and due diligence of a domestic business acquisition. ($24.0M projected 2010 revenues). Acquisition concluded on December 31, 2009.

* Responsible for the divestiture of two domestic and two international, non-strategic business units. ($15.0M 2009 revenues). German subsidiary sale concluded on December 1, 2009.

* Successfully obtained $13.9M in new capital financing through two equity transactions in March, 2008 and October, 2009.

* Negotiated $1.5M in external Mezzanine Debt financing.

* Reduced 2009 overhead expenses by approximately 30% (approximately $4.0M) from 2008 levels.

* Achieved 35% reduction in working capital in inventory turns and Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) improvements.

* Implemented a global financial reporting and consolidation system which reduced the company`s financial consolidation process time by 50% while simultaneously improving financial results accuracy.

* Upgraded/replaced 55% of the administrative staff in less than twelve months including Controller, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit and collections, general accounting, financial analysis, information technology and human resources.

* Established the first information technology -Disaster Recovery- program in the company`s history.

Wellman Products Group

Cleveland, OH

August 2000 - July 2007

Wellman Products Group is a leading worldwide supplier of highly engineered friction materials for braking systems, clutches and transmissions. These materials are used in the manufacture of military and commercial aircraft, trucks, construction equipment, farm equipment and recreational vehicles. The company maintains operations in the United States, Argentina, Canada, China, and Italy and is headquartered in Solon, Ohio.

Role: Divisional Controller

Period: August 2000 - July 2007

Reporting to Division President and Corporate Chief Financial Officer, directed the finance, information technology and inventory control functions of the company`s four U.S. facilities and three international facilities. Responsibilities included financial reporting, management reporting, budgeting and forecasting, capital appropriations, cash management, cost accounting, payroll administration, accounts payable/accounts receivable and implementation of the company`s Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Section 404 compliance program. Responsible for the career management of twenty-one Accounting/Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources and Purchasing professional direct/indirect reports.

* Financial leader of the division's manufacturing facility relocation plan from Ohio to Oklahoma. Facility relocation reduced annual operating costs by approx. $2.0 million (including $900k annual payroll savings.) Relocation project was completed in December, 2005.

* Reorganized the division's Finance organization into a shared-services structure. Achieved a 40% improvement in U.S. accounts receivable working capital. Personally negotiated over $500k in customer accounts receivable settlements with "Fortune 50" customers including Daimler-Chrysler Corporation and Allison Transmission.

* Supported Purchasing/Sourcing in negotiations of strategic materials procurement (Steels and Copper).

* Managed implementation of financial policies, procedures and operating systems at Wellman's newest international manufacturing facility located in Suzhou, Peoples Republic of China.

* Developed and implemented a standardized global financial reporting package throughout the company.

* Formulated and implemented company-wide vendor discount and new scrap management programs.

* Coordinated development of a new labor productivity and efficiency reporting system which improved operating performance by 30%.

Olympic Steel, Inc.

Cleveland, OH

August 1997 - August 2000

Olympic Steel is a leading North American steel service center specializing in the processing and distribution of carbon, coated carbon and stainless steel, flat-rolled sheet and coil and plate products. These products are acquired globally and are utilized by a diverse group of manufacturers of transportation and material handling equipment, automobiles, construction and farm machinery, storage tanks, appliances and other fabrication applications. The company operates ten facilities located throughout the United States and is headquartered in Bedford Heights, Ohio.

Role: Assistant Corporate / Divisional Controller

Period: August 1997 - August 2000

Reporting to Corporate Controller and Chief Financial Officer, directed the finance and accounting functions of two US steel service centers and two newly created joint ventures. Responsibilities included financial reporting, management reporting, budgeting and forecasting, mergers and acquisitions due diligence, capital appropriations, accounts receivable and accounts payable. Responsible for the career management of three accounting professionals.

* Managed Company's $110.0M daily corporate treasury functions including its Receivables Securitization program.

* Performed strategic financial analyses of proposed acquisitions/new business ventures. Acquisition targets ranged from $20.0M to $50.0M in annualized revenues.

* Managed legal and operational execution of two Joint Ventures located in Detroit, Michigan and Cleveland, OH. Direct responsibilities included; joint venture contract negotiations and execution, oversight of facility construction, capital appropriations, and partnership financial reporting.

* Achieved an 18-day reduction in divisional accounts receivable DSO. Personally negotiated $135k in A/R settlements.

Caliber System, Inc. (Formerly Roadway Services, Inc.)

Akron, OH

August 1988 - August 1997

Caliber system Inc. was a holding company which through its subsidiaries provided a broad range of transportation services, including national and regional general trucking, small package delivery and custom logistics services. Major subsidiaries included Roadway Express, Inc., Roadway Package System, Inc. and Roadway Global Air, Inc. In 1995 the company approved the spin-off to its shareholders of Roadway Express Inc. and was acquired by Federal Express, Inc. in November, 2000.

Role: Senior Tax Planning Analyst

Period: February 1991 - August 1997

Reporting to the Director of Taxation, accountable for the determination of all tax cash flow impacts related to proposed strategic organizational transactions including divestitures, start-ups, reorganizations and liquidations. Further, responsible for the preparation of Federal, State and local tax returns for all legal entities.

* Prepared and analyzed pro-forma financial statements for tax and cash flow implications arising from proposed organizational changes, newly acquired/formed business units and divestitures.

* Identified, researched and implemented annual recurring state tax savings of $2.0M.

* Managed the organization`s state and local government tax incentive attainment program.

Role: Internal Auditor

Period: August 1988 - February 1991

Reporting to the Director of Internal Audit, performed comprehensive operational and financial audits of Roadway Express, Inc.'s 600+ transportation/distribution centers.

* Advised and trained field management on proper implementation of new and revised corporate policies/procedures.

Information Systems Expertise

* Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Suites, Lotus 1-2-3, -Prophix- consolidation and financial reporting software, -Hyperion- consolidation and financial reporting software, "Cognos" consolidation and financial reporting software, -Comshare- consolidation and financial reporting software and -Corptax- tax compliance and planning software.

* Strong working knowledge of a variety of integrated ERP and accounting systems including MIS, Expandable, MFG Pro, Lawson, Software 2000, Solomon, Ross, MCBA "Stelplan", PCFAS and BNA.

Education

* MBA, Finance, December, 1995, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.

* BS, Finance, May, 1988, Miami University, Oxford, OH.

American Management Association, Continuing Education Courses.

Institute of Management Accountants, Continuing Education Courses and FASB Policy Updates.

Treasury Management Association, Continuing Education Courses.

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