Woodie Neiss MBA

1242 Alton Rd. #206

Miami Beach, FL 33139
(202) 247-7182
wn66e204@westpost.net
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
"Entrepreneur of the Year" award winning CFO with over twelve years experience f
ormulating and leading the financial functions of a three-time INC500 healthcare
startup. Unique blend of finance and marketing acumen. Supervised up to 10 di
rect reports with finance, human resources, information technology, and marketin
g responsibilities. Led several rounds of financing culminating in a multimillio
n dollar merger. Oversaw several IT implementations each bringing in a new level
of structure and operational understanding. Lobbied and testified in front of U
S Congress on issues regarding public health and Sarbanes-Oxley. Excels at empo
wering and motivating employees through positive reinforcement, driving new impr
ovements and corporate initiatives.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Co-Founder & CFO, FLAVORx, Inc., Bethesda, MD 1999 - 2007
Financial Management
* Directed the financial operations of a three time INC500 start up with 38,000
domestic and international customers, annual sales of $11M. Duties included: fi
nancial analysis, cost accounting, budgets, forecasting, strategic planning, cas
h management, banking and investor relations, investments, computer systems, all
accounting functions (GL, AP, AR, payroll, inventory, fixed assets and financia
l statements), human resources.
* Contributed significantly to company's expansion including contract negotiatio
ns with nation's largest retail, grocery and pharmacy chains, opening and overse
eing divisional office, re-targeted sales price points that generated increased
sales, improved efficiency in sales staff, results average 25% revenue and 124%
EBITDA growth in last four years.
* Oversaw yearly audits including managing relationship with a Big Four firm. D
ealt with revenue recognition issues and saved the company over $2M annually in
deferred revenue. Implemented a rolling due diligence process that kept records
and reports continually updated for both audit and investor/capital raising pur
poses. Reduced audit time from over four months to six weeks. Ran four rounds
of financing including final process using a prominent investment bank to sell t
he company. Total net proceeds in excess of $27M.
Computer Systems
* Ran two full scale financial application implementations including needs analy
sis, RFP, software selection, conversion and training. Negotiated entire hardwar
e/software purchase saving 15% off software and consulting services. Increased
efficiency in receivables to reduce outstanding AR from 70 to 40 days. New syst
em allowed for increased data for financial analysis, cost accounting and strate
gic planning. Overall reduced staff time by 30%.
* Developed customized reporting system to provide individual stores with perfor
mance metric, result increased sales 130% in test locations.
* Researched, selected and installed a complex communication system (phones, fax
lines, computer modems) that improved access and efficiency while reducing cost
s by 40%.
Human Resources
* Detailed understand of employment law. Created employee policies and procedur
es handbook, including "day one" procedures and exit practices. Developed intern
al vacation tracking program using Excel.
* Administered employee stock option plan, employee benefits, compensation, payr
oll, employee legal conflicts/disputes and terminations.
Marketing/Public Relations
* Wrote compelling letters that landed company on the cover of Inc. Magazine. M
edia tour culminated in an 8-minute interview with Matt Lauer on the Today Show.
Oversaw process to hire nationwide marketing firm including contract negotiatio
ns which saved the company over $500,000 in service fees.
* Developed Radio Media campaign that got the company interviewed on 7 regional
and national programs with over 10,000,000 hits. Cost to company $0.
OUTREACH
* Guest lecturer at universities around the country talking about entrepreneursh
ip.
* Developed corporate philanthropy program to benefit charities while building a
sense of worth among the employees raised over $100,000 collectively.
WORK HISTORY
Entrepreneur, Rio Vacation Condos & SherwoodSpeaks, Miami Beach 2007 - Present
Financial Applications Consultant, PeopleSoft Inc, Pleasanton, CA 1998 - 1999
Management Consultant, Ernst & Young, LLP, San Francisco, CA 1997 - 1998
Trading Floor Associate, Paine Webber, New York, NY and San Francisco, CA 1995 -
1997
EDUCATION
Advanced Certificate, Birthing of Giants, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Boston, Massachusetts, 2006
M.B.A., International Finance, Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of Inte
rnational Management, Phoenix, AZ, 1995
B.A., Political Science, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 1991
International Study, International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan, 1990
AWARDS AND HONORS
INC500 Award Recipient, Inc Magazine, 2006, 2005 & 2004
Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Entrepreneurs' Organization (YEO)
LANGUAGES & COMPUTER SKILLS
Working knowledge of Japanese, Spanish & Portuguese. Proficient in LAN, mainfram
e, and PC Network environments. Proficient in MicroSoft Windows, Vista, all Off
ice Applications, customized accounting programs (Peachtree, Quickbooks, Navisio
n, PeopleSoft and Oracle), sales database (ACT, salesforce.com) and project mana
gement software. Converted manual system to computerized spreadsheets.