Paul S. Zielinski **** North Bell Avenue, Unit #**0 · Chicago, IL, 60645

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-zielinski-a957783/ 773-***-**** · adm33d@r.postjobfree.com

Senior Director – Performance Measurement / Operations / Finance

Diverse Corporate and Consulting Experience Spans Startups,

Multimillion/Multibillion-Dollar Companies & Nonprofit Organizations.

Academic Credentials – Harvard University / Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Collaborative, entrepreneurial leader with a 20+ year career distinguished by successes in improving the operational and financial performance of organizations. Highly adept at analyzing data and providing insights and recommendations to execute quality decisions that are fundamental to achieving goals. Skilled at evaluating and redesigning existing processes to strengthen and optimize performance. Easily relate to people across all organizational levels and inspire them to go above and beyond expectations. Known for having an upbeat attitude, energy, and style in all interactions and situations.

Career Highlights

Re-invented new performance measurement program that increased number of available buses by 50 per day, improved bus service by 11%, and reduced major delays in rail by 11% defects on rail cars by 42% or Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).

Saved CTA and taxpayers $125M+ by building costing model with scenario analysis that determined complete shutdown/replacement of CTA’s backbone rail system as more effective than partial rehabilitation or delayed construction.

Reduced absenteeism rate from 12% to 6.5% within 2 years of implementation for CTA by designing new model that included a consistent process for tracking absenteeism companywide.

Awarded $130M+ in project grants at CTA through expertise in grant finance and project justification modeling, including station renewals and signal replacement for aging rail assets. Became CTA’s “go to” grant application financial modeler.

Built financial/operational modeling tools that helped client obtain $2M in 2nd round funding, collect loan information at 50+ bank branches for $14.5B portfolio, and pinpoint dates to add new data center for Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Saved Siemens $400K+ by leading team in designing and building financial reporting/budgeting models and incorporating automated inputs from legacy systems to allow gathering and uploading data into SAP from 140+ international locations.

Summary of Skills

Performance Management & Measurement Strategic Business Planning General Operations Management

KPI Development & Tracking Financial Planning & Analysis Financial Statement Preparation

Operational & Financial Modeling Process Redesign & Improvement Budgeting, Forecasting & Cost Control

Data Analysis, Synthesis & Reporting Quality Assurance & Control Cash Flow & Valuation Analysis

Business Intelligence & Dashboard Creation Customer Experience Analysis Team Mentoring, Coaching & Leadership

Experience

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA – $1.5B in revenue, 10,500 employees) Chicago, IL · 2011 to Present

Deputy Director, Business Analytics & Performance Management (2017 – Present)

General Manager, Business Analytics & Performance Management (2013 – 2017)

Senior Project Consultant (2011 – 2013)

Record of career advancement at the 2nd largest transit agency in the U.S. Direct the Performance Management Department’s daily operations, including KPI/technology strategies, technology solutions monitoring, QA/data integrity, metrics development/tracking, project tracking and completion, workforce model development for positions (80% of workforce), and payroll. Set up, manage, and generate flash reports for performance meetings with President’s Office. Interface with all departments and mentor, coach, manage, and evaluate performance of 10-person staff. Advise on $1.5M budget.

Hired at beginning of prior administration to implement vision of CTA’s President. Honed expertise in performance management by leveraging experience in leadership, modeling, analysis, and general operations.

Instrumental in establishing Performance Management Department as new President’s most respected area by keeping it relevant after administration changes and shifting how it disseminated information and dealt with all departments and levels of the organization.

Improved CTA’s performance and moved metrics to the forefront of decision-making by moving from Excel worksheet system to new performance measurement model with data warehousing and process automation underpinned by data visualization and predictive analysis

Facilitated collecting, aggregating, and tracking absenteeism from organization level to individual employees by revamping absenteeism model to new format to align with new data warehousing, automation, and data visualization model.

Led staff into its first foray into Power BI data visualization realm by guiding them in transition of former absenteeism model to new model. Became known as absenteeism expert and expert trainer.

Captured $25M+ savings for CTA and taxpayers by rewriting escalation cause for major rail car procurement for materials’ price fluctuations to share risk with vendor.

Directed team and kept their morale high through Covid-19 pandemic/remote work without any losses in production and while achieving more goals throughout the entire period.

Walgreens, Inc.; Ounce of Prevention Fund; Veoba, Inc.; Ecker Mental Health Center Chicago, IL · 2009 to 2011

Independent Consultant

Developed clients’ sales reporting modules, startup projection model, spin-off business plan, and risk assessment processes.

Allowed Walgreens, Inc. to forecast resource allocation for growth targets of 10-25% per year by building sustainable sales/revenue reporting modules for infusion and respiratory services and equipment.

Revised audit procedures/risk assessment processes for Ounce of Prevention Fund (non-profit childhood / teen parenting advocacy organization). Documented G/L account coding, expense processing, and private payment revenue tracking.

Enabled $1M infusion of startup funding for Veoba, Inc. by developing its startup projection model for online music / online band engagement. Saved ownership 30% of equity in company by advising founders on equity distribution.

Wrote spin-off business plan for a for-profit entity coupled with Ecker Mental Health Center (nonprofit organization).

Adams Harris Chicago, IL · 2007 to 2009

Consultant / Engagement Manager

Led consulting engagements with clients, including relationship building, and served as quality control manager for deliverables. Prepared proposals, SOWs, consultant profiles, engagement letters and summaries, and marketing materials.

Ranked as #1 consultant for 2 consecutive years and became an Excel modeling expert during engagements.

Increased data accuracy to 99% and reduced order backlog by 30% for client by redesigning operational processes to drive system and procedural efficiencies and ensure data accuracy and viability for transfer to new ERP system.

Recommended new accounting, inventory and production processes for client and developed roadmap/financial templates to streamline its future acquisition integrations. Won 2nd year engagement representing 150% growth in client revenue.

McMaster-Carr Industrial Parts & Supplies Elmhurst, IL · 2004 to 2007

Manager, Internal Audit (2005 – 2007) ꟾ Staff Auditor (2004 – 2005)

Directed audit operations for leading national industrial parts and supply distributor, including audit charter development, risk assessments, audit programs, reports, and staff auditor performance reviews. Ranked as top-producing auditor.

Additional Experience:

Co-Founder / CEO – Three Legged Tacos, Inc., Chicago, IL (2016 to Present). Manage financial and operational functions of a restaurant, food truck, catering, and pop-up company (food truck was rated “6th Best in Chicago” by Time Out Magazine).

Highlights of 10+ Year Early Career:

Director of Finance & Operations/Controller – Celli Enterprises, Schiller Park, IL. Repeatedly promoted to become a member of the Executive Committee of a $25M company. Advised owner on strategy, planning, financial, and operational initiatives. Led business transition from construction material hauling to a multi-product truck dealership. Guided team in industry analysis, internal operational review, and implementation for the new business. Performed segment valuations prior to transition for sale of internal business units at increased gain on sale of $1.5M.

Education

M.B.A. – Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Majors in Finance, Management & Strategy, and Entrepreneurship

B.A., Economics – Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

2-Season Junior Varsity Captain and 2-time Letter Winner in Baseball

10-Year House, Travel, and High School Baseball Coach

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