Laurence P. Blaine

Professional Profile

Areas of Professional Expertise
Strategic Planning M & A Due Diligence Project Management Asset-based Financing Strategic Partnering Budgeting/Forecasting Lean Implementation Leader Attracting, Educating, Motivating Team Risk Management Tax-exempt financing	Working Capital Management/Hi Leverage Project-based structured financing Private Equity Placement ERP Implementations Cost Reduction Team Leader Reporting Compliance Leader Product Costing/Pricing Multi-Site, Multi-Currency Environments HR/Contracts Management Customer Equipment Financing Programs

Central Minnesota Municipal Power Agency - Blue Earth, MN

(Serving 16+ cities in the Midwest area with portfolio and contract negotiation and management of electrical power resources.)

Chief Financial Officer                                                                                                     April, 2006 - present            

Key Accomplishments:

• Team member in the complete re-writing of all Agency contracts with both members and non-members, taking into account the most recent changes in the generation and transmission markets.
• Provide complete project-oriented solutions to fit the individual portfolio goals of each member/project participant.
• Directing the issuance of $30+ million in tax-exempt financing of a share of a large transmission project in the Midwest.
  

Advanced e-Resources, LLC - Clear Lake, IA

(Closly-held company involved in the design, development, deployment and hosting of ecommerce-users' marketing presence as well as providing professional consulting services to a variety of clients across a broad range of capabilities.)

Principal Consultant                                                             August, 2005 - April, 2006 Recruited to assist the firm in immediate market-share growth and expansion of professional services offerings.

Key Accomplishments:

• By development and implementation of pricing and services strategies, increased the firm's volume more than 200% in 4 months
• Provide wide range of consulting expertise to a very broad commercial audience, ranging from strategic planning to systems implementation and tuning.
• Developed internal systems to dramatically improve professional services billing accuracy, driving accounts receivable DSO to respectable levels.
• Team leader in process improvement/simplification drive, reducing overhead costs and improving white-collar productivity dramatically.
  

Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. - Garner, IA

($90+ million manufacturer/distributor of highly configurable and engineered products for material handling and heavy equipment servicing industries)

Vice President-Finance, Secretary & Treasurer                                                            January, 1996 thru August, 2005

Recruited to clean up and turn around a foundering finance group with questionable practices and level of professionalism. Member of top management team with significant contact with BOD, helping to direct strategic planning process. Extensive daily contact with all facets of the organization, providing guidance, advice, process improvements and problem-solving talents. Directly managed corporate controller, credit manager, and IT director.

Key Accomplishments:

• Resolved all outstanding issues with quality of financial data coming from the group
• Attracted/educated/promoted quality individuals to provide necessary support for the organization
• Team Leader in ERP software selection process / Project Leader in ERP implementation
• Team Leader in cost reductions exceeding 2.5% of cost of sales
• Managed due diligence during two changes of control (merger in 1997 and private placement in 2000)
• Performed due diligence in acquisition projects for the firm
• Managed working capital in highly leveraged, venture-capital environment
• Led Lean implementation from integrated software perspective, inventing marketable software add-ons to improve throughput
• Began implementation of SOX/404 controls in anticipation of upcoming control event

Calavar Corporation - Santa Fe Springs, CA & Waco, TX

($30+ million manufacturer of configurable aerial work platforms from 16 to 210 feet in reach)

Controller                                                                                                                          June, 1991 thru December, 1995

Hired to help prepare the company to move from a high-cost structure in southern California to Texas. Leader in team charged to select and implement integrated ERP solution. Team leader in the complete restructuring of risk management services. Member of top management team with extensive daily contact with all functional areas of the organization. Reported to the President and directed IT manager and 5 accounting/finance staff.

Key Accomplishments:

• Replaced all necessary positions after relocation to provide financial support to the organization
• Focused firm on most profitable segments, allowing sales growth of more than 100% and moving from a large annual loss to significant profitability
• Dramatically reduced risk management costs while improving quality of coverage
• Project managed ERP implementation
• Implemented customer equipment financing program

Pacific Clay Products, Inc. - Corona and Alberhill, CA

($30+ million manufacturer of clay sewer pipe and high-end brick construction/decorative products)

Controller                                                                                                                           February, 1990 thru May, 1991

Contracted to migrate two physical facilities from custom-developed software packages to standardized ERP suites. Member of top management team with daily contact with all functional areas of the organization. Reported to the Presidents of the two facilities with dotted line to corporate CFO and directed IT manager and 4 accounting/finance staff.

Key Accomplishments:

• Researched, specified, planned, selected, purchased, installed and implemented the first integrated management information system in the 100+-year history of the company
• Updated the risk management package for the company, improving coverage while reducing costs
• Team member in implementation of energy co-generation project with Southern California Edison Company, improving cash flow and providing all electricity for both facilities

Philips Ultrasound, Inc. - Santa Ana, CA

($40+ million manufacturer/distributor of medical ultrasound scanning devices/services)

Director of Finance & Administration                                                                              July, 1986 thru December, 1989

Selected from over 400 applicants to streamline the accounting/finance/IT structure of the company, help change to a profit-driven culture and decentralize the sales/service staff of PUI from the Philips Medical Systems organization (which included x-ray, CT, MRI). Reported to the President and directed IT manager (with 3 staff) and 6 accounting/finance staff.

Key Accomplishments:

• Moved swiftly to streamline staff, going from 17 staff reports to 10
• Migrated company from highly-customized version of an integrated system to a standardized one
• Began the culture change to a profit-motive, moving from a significant deficit to substantial profitability
• Automated (to extent practicable) the quarterly and annual SEC filing requirements

• Master of Business Administration - Energy Resource Management, University of Denver Denver, CO

• Bachelor of Science-Accounting, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA

• Lean Training for Success, Building Management Teamwork, 6 Sigma, Risk Management, HR Management, Corporate Governance
• Compensation System Design, Project Management, Intellectual Property Management, Sales/Use Tax
• Federal/State Tax Updates, Anti-Trust Training, Conflict Management