TBS 2-67 Cruisebook_Updated_7Jan23

told them I was here to attend the School at my expense,
and I did not intend to put up with any draft
evading ‘hippies” and war protesters blocking my path
or rights to attend. Unbeknownst, that short encounter
was part of the local Chicago newscast that evening. In
later reflection, I was proud to have taken that stand.
Upon graduation in June 1971, the economy was weak
and exciting job offers were relatively few. I sought to
go into the Financial field, so I took a starting path
with Ernst & Ernst CPA on their audit staff. After 1 year
transferred into their Consulting Services unit working
on financial engagements for major corporations.
After two years, I joined Cresap, McCormick & Paget
an International General Management Consulting firm
in late 1974, one of the top four behind Booz Allen, AT
Kearney, and McKinsey. I was hired into Cresap’s Operations
Practice area and for 4 yrs worked engagements
with major corporations and across multiple business
lines (railroads, major oil companies, airlines, computer,
agricultural equipment and telecommunications
firms (ARAMCO, United Airlines, Region Seven Intercontinental
Railroads, Control Data Corp, Fiat-Allis
Farming Equipment, etc.). I travelled extensively domestically,
and abroad (within Europe, Saudi Arabia &
Middle East, North Africa, Canada, and Caribbean). In
1978 I was recruited by a headhunter for Tiger International
(of the Flying Tigers legacy) for their Heavy
Equipment & Services Division as VP-Finance & Administration.
This business provided finance and operating
leases of purchased heavy equipment to clients outside
the US, for refinery expansion/upgrades in Mexico,
Aruba, Venezuela, massive infrastructure projects in
the Saudi Arabia, the construction of the Hong Kong
Third Platoon
subway system, large coal mining operations in South
America, etc.
Such clients included Fluor, Bechtel, major oil & mining
companies, and global contractors. In 1981, I joined
a privately-owned business, Bosler Supply Group, specializing
in Industrial Supplies (a hardware & tools
supplier to large and medium industrial firms). Competitors
were McMaster-Carr, and W.W.Grainger. My
title initially was Corporate Controller and then Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer. I led the firm’s acquisition
merger efforts of a competitor raising the annual
business volume from $25 million to $80 million, after
which I resigned (1985) out of concerns for excessive
stress.
In 1986 I joined a privately held $30 million/yr. color
separation/graphics firm as a consultant to the Chairman
on organic growth matters of operations, finance,
and cost control. Soon I was involved in growing the
company externally by selective mergers and acquisitions
of private companies. My responsibilities involved
strategic planning, target identification,
opening initial contacts, conducting negotiations, leading
due-diligence prior to closing, and ongoing operational
management counsel to the Chairman. As a
senior executive (VP-Corporate Development) over
28yrs until my retirement in late 2014, we closed on
approx. 40+ acquisitions, achieving global presence
with branding services and package design operations
within all continents, raising annual volume to approx.
$600 million.
A final task before retirement was assisting the family
owners in the successful sale of their business to another
major global competitor within the consumer
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