Executive Leadership Business Growth Strategy Operations

JAMES AINSWORTH

913-***-**** – ***************@*****.*** – Greater Kansas City Area

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-ainsworth-1016a511/

TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP ROI OPTMIZATION OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Senior Executive, Insightful Strategist & Change Agent who provides the steady leadership and business acumen needed to position companies for scalable growth, product and service quality, forward-thinking innovation, customer satisfaction, efficiency, and cash flow increases. Highly skilled in putting the right people, infrastructure, processes, metrics, expectations, and relationships in place. Able to respond decisively to drive positive transformation within fluid environments of rapid change, complexity, and ambiguity.

Trusted Partner to executive colleagues in quickly sizing up organizations, asking the right questions, creating order from chaos, anticipating future trends, pinpointing areas for improvement, building consensus, and solving critical problems. Able to discern whether the best interests of the company are served by continuing, course-correcting, or disengaging from key initiatives.

Accessible Leader who draws upon an open-door policy in building, developing, and mentoring teams of inspired performers. Quickly establishes relationships of trust across all organizational levels. Creates cultures where collaboration, creativity, new ideas, and personal development are encouraged while accountability, work ethic, and continuous improvement are expected.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Executive Leadership P&L/General Management Startups, and Scaling for Growth

Operational/Service Excellence Market/Business Development Logistics/Supply Chain Third-Party Relationships

Transformation & Change Management M&A Due Diligence Post-Merger Transition/Integration Negotiations

Process Design/Implementation Lean Methodologies Resource Optimization/Controls Asset Management/Utilization

Cross-Functional Performance Hiring/Recruitment Mentoring/Coaching Government/Legislative Affairs

SELECT ACHIEVEMENTS

Led national team in attaining industry-high 98% product availability metric for business providing 100K+ deliveries annually. Devised, developed, and implemented balanced asset management strategy adopted by other major competitors. One of a select few leaders (among 4K+ employees companywide) to receive Chairman’s Leadership Award for continuous contribution.

Delivered $800K (31%) savings in 2 years as a member of the executive leadership team that directed the strategic relocation of division from Texas to Kansas headquarters. Consolidated operations, recruited talent, and led integration with corporate setting.

Earned a reputation as a driver of operational excellence as industry continued to contract. Achieved 26% cash flow increase in 1 year (2017) by identifying efficiencies, driving lean initiatives, and instituting a culture of continuous improvement.

Quickly addressed employee retention challenges within critical transportation/logistics division. Developed new revenue streams that expanded seasonal business into year-round operation, achieving <20% turnover vs. 100%+ industry average.

Successfully guided divisions through leadership transitions, M&A transactions/integration, corporate reorganizations, and strategic initiatives with visibility at the board level. Member of due diligence teams supporting business development plans.

Represented company as government/legislative liaison, advocating for company’s best interests on Capitol Hill, with state and local officials, and with trade associations. Elected to serve as Vice Chair of company’s Industrial Relations Oversight Committee.

Scope of leadership accountability spans management of P&L (up to $38M), multidimensional teams (up to 200 employees), third-party partners (up to 100 relationships concurrently), and distribution of 1B+ gallons of product annually.

LEADERSHIP PROGRESSION

FERRELL NORTH AMERICA (FNA)

(division of Ferrellgas, a publicly traded limited energy partnership recognized as nation’s second-largest propane provider)

Vice President, Transportation, Overland Park, KS, October 2010 – December 2017

Promoted to provide executive leadership for U.S. operation while participating in key strategic initiatives including M&A due diligence, government/legislative affairs, design/execution of corporate growth roadmaps, and lean models. Managed $38M P&L, 200-member national workforce, annual resupply of 1B+ gallons of propane, and fleet of 200+ transports and terminals. Member of senior executive team. Reported to Senior Vice President of business unit.

FERRELL NORTH AMERICA (FNA)

Vice President, Transportation, cont.

•As company continued to face market fluctuations in core segment, sustained strategic focus on new business opportunities and relationships that ensured optimal ROI on asset base, employee retention, steady cash flow, and market leadership.

•After previously structuring and utilizing a balanced asset model that drew upon the benefits company-owned transports, independent contractors, and third-party carriers, formally developed concept into a corporate strategy that ensured asset availability/scale despite capital constraints while also mitigating risk in a seasonal product/service environment.

•Identified and advanced opportunities to drive lean principles across the division, increasing cash flow from $7.7M to $9.8M.

•Leveraged knowledge of the industry and vertical markets to generate new revenue opportunities and economies of scale.

•Partnered with supply chain team to ensure product availability, on-time delivery, and protection of service-focused reputation.

•Worked with analysts in structuring freight models for 20 markets, producing profit-focused weighted average rates.

•Appointed to join corporate/business development teams providing due diligence on target businesses as company escalated M&A activity within select market segments (e.g., midstream). Led integration of newly acquired operations.

•As Vice Chair of Industrial Relations Oversight Committee, participated in industry advocacy efforts, met with local/state/federal government officials, and represented company’s interests. Member of National Tank Truck Carriers Association.

•http://www.lpgasmagazine.com/a-look-back-on-last-winter-with-ferrell-north-americas-vp-of-transportation/

Director, Transportation, Overland Park, KS, October 2005 – October 2010

Following corporate decision to relocate Transportation Division to Kansas corporate headquarters, co-lead integration efforts. Rebuilt team and took on Vice President-level accountability for P&L, workforce, and fleet supporting annual delivery of 1B+ gallons of propane.

Delivered successful transition of operation to Kansas within aggressive 4-month timeline.

Quickly addressed driver turnover challenges. Built trust by demonstrating commitment to continued expansion of seasonal demand into a year-round business. Achieved one of the best retention rates in the industry.

Maintained focus on balanced asset model, allowing division to flex with changing needs of the organization. Ensured team’s extensive evaluation/qualification of new carrier partners in alignment with company/industry safety and reliability standards.

Successfully integrated newly acquired operations into FNA infrastructure with short notice, protecting company’s reputation for uninterrupted supply (e.g., management of all long-haul logistics for Blue Rhino, a 2004 acquisition).

Nominated for and honored with Chairman’s Leadership Award, the highest corporate recognition companywide.

http://www.bulktransporter.com/tank-fleets/ferrell-north-america-rolls-tough-durable-trucks

Manager, Logistics, Houston, TX, Month 1999 – October 2005

As company reorganized into East/West regions, promoted to manage transport scheduling and delivery of 400M gallons of propane to 350 company retail locations as well as Blue Rhino distribution centers across the eastern U.S. Managed 7 Senior Area Project Coordinators, demand planning, and fleet of 45+ transports.

•Leveraged driver knowledge and reputation for outstanding service to develop presence in vertical markets, including agriculture and construction. Businesses began asking for drivers by name. Growth was pivotal in addressing seasonality of business.

•Led successful integration of Blue Rhino acquisition into region. Identified opportunities to support internal and retail logistics, a strategy which led to consolidation of operations and significant cost savings.

•Improved asset utilization, growing net cash flow from $80K to $600K in 5 years.

Additional:

FERRELL NORTH AMERICA, Senior Area Project Coordinator, Houston, TX

ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR, Branch Manager, Houston, TX

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

B.A., Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Member, Board of Directors – Secretary/Treasurer (appointed by Governor), Kansas Propane Education Research Council; Member, Membership Services Committee, National Propane Gas Association; Member, National Tank Truck Carriers Association

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