R. Taft Porter
Summary

Thirty+ years eclectic business and consulting experience; 15+ years senior management in Finance and Administration; Experienced in Finance, Marketing, Tax, Operations, Systems, Personnel, Business Development as well as management and planning; MBA, (Finance and Marketing); B.A. Accounting and Business Administration.

Experience

Providing accounting and tax services as well as computer consulting and training for individuals and businesses

Provided accounting, tax and consulting services as well as various unrelated other services. Preparations to launch a local telephone service company thwarted due to personal injury.

Responsible for overseeing all financial and administrative functions. Also responsible for designing and implementing new administrative, operational and reporting systems. Within four month at Electro Art, implemented new compensation policies which reduced PCB (printed circuit board) designer labor costs from 47.5% of sales to 33.3% while increasing average designer compensation by 13.6%. New compensation package was also implemented which reduced cost from 15.6% of sales to 8.2% while providing incentives to increase sales.

Co-founded Access Telecom – a reseller of long-distance telephone service – in 1994 (before deregulation.) Performed market research; developed strategic plans; pre forma statements and analytic computer models; defined operating standards and procedures; and other activities relating to creating a start-up company. Once established, performed or directed financial operations and business development functions.

Assisted physicians and dentists in the acquisition, sale, merger, partnership buy-in and dissolution of medical and dental practices. Assisted doctors in all phases of such transactions, including: Marketing practices for sale; consulting with doctors regarding their personal and financial needs; practice appraisals and financial analysis; negotiated terms for both parties; modified standard sale, lease and provider agreements; and, assisted in obtaining financing. Additional responsibilities included all office management functions including: budgeting and financial controls; development and maintenance of office and database systems; recruitment and training of professional and administrative staff; preparation and presentation of seminars and workshops for clients and prospects.

Progressive responsibilities for practice development, providing management consulting services and supervising staff in a variety of disciplines, such as: data processing, accounting, finance, general management and training. Client industries included: government entities, high technology, higher education, health care, manufacturing and distribution.

Developed long-term computer-based financial models for a multi-line insurance company. Models included development of comprehensive financial statements, such as cash flow and investment analysis. Development efforts employed common and proprietary programming languages and various quantitative techniques.

Performed internal management consulting function for top management of a leading publishing company. Research projects – completed individually and as a team leader – required cooperation with people at all levels of the company. Projects included primary and secondary market research, financial analysis, computer modeling and operations research.

Engagements & Projects

Finance Financial analysis of operations; evaluation of investment alternatives; acquisition studies; short- and long-term computer modeling; development and implementation of budgeting procedures, measures and reporting standards.

Marketing Market and marketing research and analysis; competitor analysis; strategic planning; new product development; sales force and territory analysis.

Operations Shop floor control systems; inventory control systems; performance standards and measures; systems for controlling and evaluating resource allocations; computer-based models for analyzing facility locations and use; consolidation and enhancement of internal reporting systems.

Systems Evaluation, acquisition and implementation of IT systems; user training; comprehensive manual and automated system plans and documentation.

Personnel Developed and executed training programs for all levels of personnel; developed and presented seminars and workshops; established policies and procedures; recruited and supervised professional and administrative staff.

Education