Finance, Accounting and Operations Executive

DARREN E. STINE

PROSPER, TEXAS *****

Hands on, Finance and Operations Executive with over 16 years experience with small to publicly traded NYSE companies developing, implementing and supporting processes within the accounting and operational systems to ensure timely reporting and information to support executive management, sales and operations to maximize positive growth. Natural Leadership directed with a Vision toward the Future, bearing a strong track record in Finance and Operations with high Integrity. Possess superior interpersonal skills capable of solving multiple and complex issues and motivating staff to peak performance.

Proven areas of expertise include:

• GAAP

• Budgeting, Forecasting & Cost Analysis

• Strategic Planning & Organizational Leadership

• Internal/External Auditing

• SOX – Documentation/Maintenance

• Internal/External Reporting

• Short/Long Term Debt Financing

• Corporate Tax

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

PRO-HEALTH, LLC., CARROLLTON, TEXAS 2008-2009

Pro-Health is a $55 MM privately held company, which specializes in farming, processing and distributing potatoes.

Chief Financial Officer – Interim

• Responsible for managing/overseeing P&L

• Developed and implemented the process to analyze and prepare reports: Budget v. Actual and Forecast v. Actual for Sales and Operations.

• Developed, implemented and maintained various KPI costing/operational reports.

• Developed and prepared a three-year operating Budget which tied to the Sales Forecast.

• Analyzed, developed and maintained various costing/sales models to determine the profitability of continuing operations, joint ventures, etc…

• Guided Human Resources to develop individual Goals and Objectives to be implemented from Senior Management down.

COUNTRY FRESH, INC., HOUSTON, TEXAS 2008

Country Fresh, Inc. is a company, which specializes in manufacturing/distribution of pre-cut produce. Country Fresh annual sales for 2007 exceeded $116MM and 2008 expected to exceed $130MM.

Controller/Director of Accounting – Interim (Hired to expedite a sell-off)

• Responsibilities included; however, are not limited to the following areas: IT, HR, A/P, A/R, Fixed Assets, Payroll, G/L, Financial Statement preparation, and developing strong Banking and Financing relationships.

• Responsible for month-end close, financial statement preparation and monthly Borrowing Base Calculations related to the LOC.

• Successfully completed within the first 90 days of employment and under budget the 2007 Annual Financial Audit and Annual Bank Audit which both resulted in clean Audits.

• Prepared ad-hoc reports consisting of Sales Reports, PPV analysis, Labor Reports, detailed Inventory Analysis, and etc., used by Management to measure results of operation.

• Developed, streamlined, implemented and maintained accounting and operational processes relating to the Sales Process, Customer Service, Logistics, Payables, Payroll, and Monthly/Quarterly Payroll and Sales Tax Filings.

Darren E. Stine Page -2

ECOPRODUCT SOLUTIONS, INC., THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS 2007 - 2008

EcoProduct Solutions is a company which manufactured CaCl2 and marketed CaCl2, Crude Tall Oil, and other specialized chemicals.

Chief Financial Officer (Hired to Discontinue Operations and sell-off profitable segments)

• Worked closely with CEO to sell off Profitable Segments of business while discontinuing operations of non-profitable segments.

• Responsible for month-end close, financial statement preparation, and monthly bank reporting related to LOC.

• Responsible for working with external auditors. Prepared all reports and documentation related to year-end audit.

• Prepared ad-hoc reports and business models used to advise ownership of cost saving strategies as well as go forward strategies.

• Prepared various analysis/reports as well as give presentations to outside private equity group.

• Worked with management to develop business strategies/projections related to ending, spinning off, and discontinuing operations.

AVENTINE RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC., PEKIN, ILLINOIS 2005 - 2007

Aventine is a leading manufacturer/marketer of fuel grade ethanol. Sales totaled approximately $1 Billion in 2005 and exceeded $1.4 Billion in 2006.

Director of Internal Controls and Compliance (Hired to assist the company to go through an IPO)

• Developed and implemented SEC Reporting Processes, which included researching, developing and preparing, initial 8-K’s, 10-Q’s and 10-K filings.

• Prepared financial components of Registration Statements related to S-4 Primary Debt Offering, S-1 Private Equity offering and S-1 IPO.

• Analyzed, interpreted and applied GAAP (i.e. FAS 123(R), FAS 133, FIN 47, etc…)

• Developed, implemented and maintained Sarbanes-Oxley documentation including narratives, flowcharts and risk control matrices.

• Analyzed and developed scoping documentation identifying significant accounts, key controls and risks.

• Developed, implemented and performed on-going test plans and walkthroughs.

Director of External Reporting and Internal Controls

• Key leader in developing, implementing, and managing the Internal Control/External Reporting Departments.

• Worked directly with CFO and Senior Management Team to complete Debt and Private Equity Offerings and IPO.

• Worked closely with Corporate Controller reviewing and facilitating quarterly reviews and annual audits.

JPO MANAGEMENT, INC., FRISCO, TEXAS. 2004 - 2005

JPO Management is a company that manages a chain of retail photography studios (Glamour Shots). Sales totaled approximately $50 million in 2004.

Chief Financial Officer

• Managed, mentored and trained 10 direct reports, while overseeing 850 employees.

• Key leader in implementing tax strategies, resulting in saving the company and investors from paying excess taxes.

• Complete oversight of the Finance Department.

• Prepared and filed all federal and multi-state (filed in 22 states) tax returns.

• Prepared monthly, quarterly and annual Consolidated Financial Statements for over 50 locations in accordance with GAAP.

• Developed, implemented and maintained corporate policies and procedures according to GAAP.

• Managed and maintained the financial close process for over 50 independent locations.

Darren E. Stine Page -3

Chief Financial Officer- (cont’d)

• Worked closely with outside bankers, investors and other executives in order to maintain the financial stability and initiated growth plans for the business.

• Worked with outside investment group to determine ROI and expansion and/or build out funding, which resulted in their percentage of ownership affecting future cash distributions.

• Worked with the CEO to expand business approximately 70% over the course of a year. Went from 30 stores to over 50 stores within a year, which included 10 acquisitions.

STINE & ASSOCIATES, INC., MCKINNEY, TEXAS/ALMA, ARKANSAS 1998 - 2004

Stine & Associates was a local tax and accounting firm with over 1000 clients (approximately 30% Corporate and 70% Individual), which provided tax, consulting, and risk management services.

Managing General Partner

Client base consisted of individuals to corporations such as Trucking Companies, Convenience Stores, Professional Photographers, Daycares, Speech/Occupational/Physical Therapy providers, Restaurants, Pharmacies, Retail/Wholesale Furniture Stores, Small Manufacturing companies, Retail store, etc…

Duties performed on behalf of business clients consisted of; however, were not limited to:

• Payroll – processing payroll, completing and filing payroll quarterly and annual payroll reports.

• Sales and Use Tax – preparation, filing and reconciling.

• A/P – processing of Accounts Payable along with researching vendor issues.

• A/R – collections and account research for slow paying and delinquent accounts. Worked with collecting and researched billing issues from local businesses to government entities (such as Medicaid).

• Tax Filings – 1120, 1120-S, 1065, 990, 5500, 1040, Schedule C, etc…

• IRS representation – Represented clients regarding tax issues.

• Oversight of the monthly close process, which consisted of cut-off, accrual entries, financial statements, and bank reporting.

• Special projects – Business valuations, fraud investigation, projections, budgets, cash management, cash forecasting, etc…

ERNST & YOUNG, LLP, DALLAS, TX. 1997 - 1998

EMS Manager

NINE WEST GROUP, ST. LOUIS, MO. 1995 - 1997

Internal Audit

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS 1992 – 1995

Senior Auditor/Senior Consultant

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts Accounting with a minor in MIS University of Illinois

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