CFO

JAMES L. SCHALL, CPA

W*** N**** Woodburne CT • Pewaukee, WI 53072 • Phone: 262-***-**** • ************@***.***

FINANCE & OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE

Strategic Analysis & Planning • Cash Flow Management • Cost Control • Forecasting • Budgeting Banking Relationships • Business Process Improvement • Financial Team Leadership • M&A • Turn-around Experience • Sales & Marketing • Project Management

Manufacturing • Wholesale & Distribution • Retail • Real Estate Development

• Entrepreneurial business leader, counselor and mentor – improved operating margins by hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

• Ability to enhance rate of return and productivity through strong analytical analysis and creative solution development, implementing appropriate technology advances, process improvements, personnel acquisition and training, and performance measurement.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

CFO CONSULTING SERVICES (2007 to Present) Pewaukee, WI

AVICOM, INC. (January 2007 to October 2007) Waukesha, WI

$5 million local advertising agency

CFO and VP-Operations

Recruited to help the business improve operations, profitability and productivity in order to transition from a single office ad agency to a firm with operations in multiple states.

• Agency account executives inefficient – designed methodology to free up time, improving productivity and increasing time available for servicing new and existing customers.

• Strapped for capital – re-negotiated existing credit facilities thereby enabling funding of annual growth rate of 50% and purchase of corporate office building.

• Business struggling financially and continually short of cash – refinanced corporate debt producing interest savings of $125,000 annually.

• Upgraded network and financial software systems.

ALBY MATERIALS, INC. (April 2005 to August 2006) Waterford, WI

$15 million regional ready-mix concrete manufacturer (Business sold)

Chief Financial Officer

Recruited to turn around and expand struggling business operations in highly competitive industry, while helping direct the focus of a driven and creative entrepreneur. Despite many cost-saving initiatives the business continued to decline due to the erosion of the residential construction economy. Responsible for finance and accounting, sales, marketing, information technology and human resources activities.

• Price cutting in highly competitive industry required new ways to reduce expenses – formed a trucking company subsidiary scheduled to save more than $250,000 per year in sales tax payments. Business was sold before implementation.

• Highly competitive marketplace – developed a zone pricing strategy maintaining profitability while capturing greater market share.

• Runaway insurance costs in southeastern Wisconsin necessitated new ways of looking at program offerings – renegotiated P&C and health insurance agreements saving $200,000 in the first year.

• Upgraded plant automated mix software and equipment; upgraded network and financial software systems.

THIRTEEN SQUARED, LLC (2000 to 2004) Pewaukee, WI

Start-up publishing business

CEO & CFO

Senior executive and owner with full responsibility for P&L and day-to-day management activities, with a focus on raising capital, establishing financial systems and controls, selecting/negotiating suppliers, sales and business development. Received Award of Excellence from the Printing Industry of Wisconsin.

THE LANG COMPANIES (August 1988 to September 1999) Delafield, WI

$60 million manufacturer, distributor and retailer of consumer gift products; residential and commercial real estate developer

CFO (initially Controller and COO)

Recruited to turn company around by designing and implementing the appropriate systems and controls and resolving cash flow issues. Directed finance and accounting, HR, IT, customer service, and other operational areas including warehousing and distribution. Direct reports included a staff of 9 accounting professionals and 4 department heads.

• Business losing money – financial and operational leadership guided turn around and rapid growth from $5M to $60+ million in annual sales while moving pre-tax loss to net income of 15%.

• Required expanded facilities – successfully developed $35+ million of commercial real estate.

• Upgraded communication equipment; upgraded network and ERP software systems.

• Produced consistently favorable arrangements on loans, acquisitions, insurance, benefits, equipment purchases, professional services, customer sales agreements, and real estate transactions.

• Raised millions in financing and credit facilities in both favorable and challenging economic climates.

Twelve years of prior public accounting experience.

President of a start-up cellular telephone company (1989-1994). Led management team that built out system and subsequently negotiated an $18 million merger with publicly traded cellular telephone company.

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATION

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – WHITEWATER, Whitewater, WI

Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting

Certified Public Accountant

Member: American and Wisconsin Institutes of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and (WICPA)

Proficient in a variety of hardware and ERP software systems

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