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Chief Operating Officer

Location:
Washington, DC, 20009
Posted:
July 04, 2025

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Resume:

ERIC HOWELL, MS, MBA, CFA +1-917-***-**** ****@**********.*** Washington, DC 20009 LinkedIn

Executive, financial, and operations leader with strategic vision and mission-driven focus positioned to accelerate business growth, deliver operating efficiency, optimize operating budget and capital structure, and strengthen investor/donor relations. LEADERSHIP OVERVIEW

Multifaceted leadership background intersects operations, finance, business strategy, P&L management, and compliance in USA, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and East Asia. Fluent in Russian and Spanish; conversant in Ukrainian.

• Business Scope: Accomplished Board of Directors and C-suite/executive team member at global development organizations and government contractors.

• Financial Acumen: Deep experience in all aspects of finance—from experience as CFO of international development US government contractor to working at a bulge-bracket investment bank and start-up hedge fund to founding an investment fund with holdings in pharmacies in Russia that produced 90% Return on Equity.

• Project Management: Privatization projects in Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan as deputy/Chief of Party for IFC include high-level government consulting, public awareness campaigns, and press relations with management and technical expertise. EXECUTIVE STRENGTHS

• Finance Strategy: CEO/BOD/executive advisor on capital structure and budget optimization. Assisted in growing Chemonics' value 85% over 7 years, realizing 100% employee ownership with leveraged transaction. Negotiated 3 lines of credit each worth $65M+, and arranged successful offering of $200M+ in subordinated notes and warrants.

• Strategic Business Planning: Guide strategic planning initiatives and shared decision making to build on strengths for long-term growth—promoting meaningful change and assessing strategic opportunities through a well-honed competitive and risk lens.

• Operations Management: Expert in analyzing health of organization management procedures, instituting controls and process improvements, and formulating operational solutions to strengthen efficiencies and business performance. Led effort that facilitated Chemonics achieving ISO-9001 certification and clean corporate audits—reducing company's risk profile.

• Direct Team Leadership: Credited for unleashing potential in others through training and coaching while promoting a culture of ownership, accountability, and collaboration grounded in transparency and intellectual honesty. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Resonance Washington, DC

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer 2023-2025 Developed and implemented strategies to achieve operational excellence. Oversaw all enterprise operations and Finance & Accounting, Information Technology, and Contracts and Compliance functions. Ensured all departments work effectively and managed executive-level day-to-day operations of the company. Managed banking relationships. Engaged with Private Equity firms on exit strategy for founders. THE URBAN INSTITUTE Washington, DC

Senior Vice President for Finance, Operations, Business Strategy, and Treasurer 2022-2023 Responsible for operational performance and financial management strategy of research-oriented think tank. Drove process improvements to achieve efficiencies. Oversaw Finance & Accounting, HR, Technology & Data, and Grants & Contracts divisions. SAVE THE CHILDREN US Washington, DC

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) 2020 – 2022 Ensured success of $900M international non-governmental organization (NGO) across 50 countries and 8 US states with profit, operations, and strategic focus to drive process improvements, and bolster performance both top down and bottom up with oversight of HR, IT, Risk Management, and Project Management Office, as well as General Counsel, Strategy and Transformation, Internal Audit, and Global Safety and Security (6 senior-level direct reports). Scope included budgets, policies, practices, systems, and KPIs.

• Led strategic business planning and implementation, including setting annual priorities and synchronizing organizational business cycles to achieve Agency goals. Designed and implemented methods to measure performance against strategic goals.

• Oversaw PMO in implementing ~25 transformation projects designed to make the organization more efficient and effective. Successfully completed 11 transformation projects during tenure. ERIC HOWELL, MS, MBA, CFA +1-917-***-**** ****@**********.*** Page 2 of 4 CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL INC. Washington, DC (HQ) Managing Director International Development Professional Training Hub 2018 – 2020 Provide vision, leadership, management, and support for technical content development for knowledge sharing and learning hub for global workforce of 5,000+ employees. Led 12-member team in overseeing curriculum and instruction, design and production, learning technology, user experience and adoption, and operations.

• Improved professional training effectiveness and reach for all staff globally with online delivery utilizing LinkedIn Learning.

• Advised Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on credit facility renewal process, hedging, capital structure, and investment policy. Chief Financial and Compliance Officer Global Health and Supply Chain Office $9.5B USAID Project 2017 – 2018 Oversaw all financial and compliance matters for US Agency for International Development (USAID) $9.5B Global Health Supply Chain Procurement and Supply Management project—the largest project ever awarded by USAID—to deliver medicines and commodities to treat/prevent HIV and malaria and promote reproductive/maternal health. Managed client-counterpart relationships. Led team of 40.

• Developed financial tools for budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, including 8 cost centers and multiple funding streams.

• Created robust system to process and track supplier payments of $100M+ per month.

• Managed use of US Government-sponsored letter of credit for project expenditures.

• Prepared for and responded to audits from Office of Inspector General and other agencies. Senior Vice President Chemonics International Afghanistan Regional Business Unit $100M USAID Project Portfolio 2015 – 2017 Managed $100M portfolio of USAID projects in agriculture, democracy and governance, financial services, trade facilitation, education, and gender. Oversaw bid process and secured additional projects during tenure. Managed client relationships in Kabul and DC.

• Developed and managed annual business strategy and budget to drive quality results and growth.

• Strengthened Chemonics' contribution to technical and programming priorities by providing vision and leadership, clarifying performance expectations, and energizing culture with innovation and ownership mentality.

• Partnered with Security team to develop and manage security platform and operations in highly dynamic security environment.

• Managed operations of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion practice network. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Chemonics International 2007 – 2015 Served on 3-member C-suite and Board of Directors, providing executive leadership and heading Finance and Administration division. Advised CEO on business and financial strategy to attain development impact, client and employee satisfaction, business growth, and employee ownership. Produced high-level, detailed quantitative financial analyses to diagnose company and unit performance and inform strategic decision-making, including restructuring profit centers and support divisions. Efforts culminated in 85% increase in enterprise value over 4 years, enabling leveraged buy-out with ESOP becoming 100% owner.

• Increased company profitability by 60%, lowered financing and operating costs, and reduced exposure to external financial risk by optimizing operating budget and designing capital structure, including currency and interest rate hedging.

• Negotiated 3 sequential $65M+ senior lines of credit, including conducting road shows to attract syndicate member banks.

• For Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), provided all financial modeling, helped design deal structure, and secured financing for deal, including $200M+ subordinated note and warrant offering.

• Served as principal liaison with company's shareholders and investors on all financial matters and provided advice and support on financial-related issues to board committees and board members. Strengthened Finance and Administration controls and effectiveness, contributing to company achieving ISO-9001 certification.

• Created system for dynamic monitoring and graphical display of project-by-project, region-by-region historical/projected financial performance, used by project management units, regional profit centers, and executive management team to improve performance.

• Enhanced performance and value of diverse team of 65 people from 25+ different countries in home office by actively recruiting, hiring, and training while fostering open communication, transparency, and engagement.

• Reduced risk across 90+ field offices in 60+ developing countries with finance reviews and accounting/compliance documentation. Further reduced risk by deploying highly competent, well-trained staff to field office operations. ERIC HOWELL, MS, MBA, CFA +1-917-***-**** ****@**********.*** Page 3 of 4

• Partnered with Treasurer to produce annual corporate budget—bottom-up process involving all company projects and divisions. Oversaw and reported to Board of Directors, C-suite, and executive management team on all treasury activities. With Treasurer and Controller, improved accounting and financial reporting systems, ensuring full transparency to all staff and investors.

• Designed and conducted in-person/online training on company's financial structure and value to all staff, resulting in improving project performance and reducing receivables collections by 8 days.

• Reduced number and improved nature of auditor's annual comments by developing procedures for response to audits and reviews.

• Served as fiduciary on ESOP and 401(k) retirement plans, achieving among the lowest cost ratios of all privately held companies.

• Improved competitive pricing and service delivery by conducting competitive procurement for financial and other business services. Director Chemonics International Europe and Eurasia Region 2005 – 2007 Managed projects designed to increase employment, sales, and competitiveness of Albanian and Kosovar businesses, as well as help Tajik and Kyrgyz farmers understand and exercise their land rights. Oversaw Albania Small Business Credit and Assistance Program (ASBCA), Kosovo Cluster and Business Support Project (KCBS), and Central Asia Land Reform and Market Development Project.

• Jointly with Chiefs of Party, developed project work plans and budgets while ensuring compliance with USAID guidelines.

• Oversaw home office project support teams, led proposal teams, and wrote technical volumes for company's response to USAID requests for proposals (RFP) in health care, private sector development, accounting reform, and banking reform projects. OPTIMATION INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Potomac Falls, VA Director Marketing Startup Hedge Fund 2003 – 2004 Developed investment philosophy based on scientific theory and empirical observation for low-volatility, non-directional hedge fund products, deploying capital in international futures, derivatives, and equities markets. Built accounting systems, created marketing campaigns, drafted Private Placement Memorandum and other offering documents, and managed investor relations.

• Served as Officer for ethics, compliance, and anti-money laundering, working with CFTC, NFA, SEC, and other government agencies. SALOMON SMITH BARNEY New York, NY & Hong Kong

Associate Investment Banking Division 2001 – 2002 Worked in Health Care, Real Estate, Equity Capital Markets, Industrial, Media, and Technology Groups in NYC and Hong Kong.

• Identified strategic M&A opportunities, analyzed potential debt and equity, and priced equity and convertible debt offerings. INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION (IFC) Belarus & Ukraine Chief of Party Project Manager Land Privatization and Farm Reorganization Project Kiev, Ukraine 1997 – 1999 Developed and implemented transparent, legally defensible, replicable, and voluntary method for conducting reorganization of collective farms. Managed 4 regional offices with 110 staff and $2.5M annual budget. Supported newly formed small and medium enterprises.

• Implemented reorganization on 167,000 hectares, resulting in 44,000 farmers becoming landowners, 128 new private enterprises, and 401 family farms.

• Consulted to ministry-level officials and members of Parliament, leading to amendments to land, tax, and ownership legislation.

• Designed and led public awareness campaigns, including appearances in local/national/international press and mass media. Chief of Party Project Manager IFC/USAID Small Scale Privatization Project Minsk, Belarus 1996 – 1997 Developed auction mechanism to assist municipalities in selling state-owned small-scale enterprises. Educated and consulted to ministry- level officials, entrepreneurs, and government officials. Spoke on TV/radio. Directed 11 field offices with 60 staff and $1M annual budget.

• Oversaw privatization of 236 enterprises, which raised $5.3M for municipalities.

• Drafted legislation on methods for auctioning state-owned trade/retail enterprises; introduced Dutch auction mechanism. Deputy Chief of Party Kazakhstan Small Scale Privatization Project CARANA Corporation/USAID Almaty, Kazakhstan 1995 – 1996 Implemented de-monopolization and privatization of 3,000+ state-owned enterprises in all regions of Kazakhstan. ERIC HOWELL, MS, MBA, CFA +1-917-***-**** ****@**********.*** Page 4 of 4 Co-founder and President Howell & Howell Inc. Novosibirsk, Russia 1996 – 1999 Co-financed chain of pharmacies in Russia, earning 90% ROI in 2 years. Identified potential business opportunities and implemented investment decisions for the company. Consultant & Manager PwC Washington, DC 1994 – 1995 Delivered performance project for the United States Postal Service. EDUCATION CERTIFICATION

MBA Faculty Award for Academic Excellence University of Virginia, Darden Graduate School of Business Administration 2001 MS, Statistics University of Washington, Seattle 1993 BA, Mathematics, cum laude Pomona College, Claremont, CA 1991 CFA: Chartered Financial Analyst since 2004



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