You are on page 1of 3

JOHN R.

STEELE
102 Shorewood Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46385
630-484-8940
jsad5374@westpost.net
_________________________________________________________________________
BUSINESS & FINANCE EXECUTIVE
Dynamic and highly adaptable financial leader with strong communication, interpe
rsonal, analytical and business partner skills. 20+ years of experience in achi
eving strategic and financial objectives in challenging environments and diverse
organizations: family-owned & public; start-up & Fortune 500; domestic & inter
national. Arranged and restructured financings, built high-performance cross-fu
nctional teams and negotiated major deals. Board experience as Member and Chair
man. Conversant in German.
Areas of expertise include:
* Debt Issuance in Bank and Capital Markets
* Employee Benefits & Administration
* Corporate Governance
* Consumer Credit
* Organizational Restructuring
* Acquisitions & Divestitures
* Capital Structure & Corporate Finance
* International Business

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
* Bank funding consisted of diverse loans from 19 banks. Revamped capital stru
cture with a combined $2.2 billion term, revolving, liquidity and trade finance
loan program. Resulted in lower borrowing costs, standardized loan terms, impro
ved liquidity and eliminated inter-creditor conflicts.
* National bank subsidiary burdened by sub-prime loan portfolio. Negotiated st
atutory sale of assets and liquidation and replaced with third party credit prov
ider. Established operating focus on core businesses, dramatically reduced capi
tal needs and preserved customer financing availability.
* Sporadic asset sales as financing tool. Designed and implemented $3.5 billio
n systematic and diversified financing program in the public, private and money
markets. Resulted in improved investor and rating agency transparency, tapped m
ost efficient pockets of funding, lowered borrowing costs and smoothed earnings
and balance sheet swings.
_________________________________________________________________________
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Independent Consultant 2008 - Present
Financial and business consulting and contract work.

FAMILY EXPRESS CORPORATION, Valparaiso, Indiana 2007 - 2008


Family-owned, $300 million revenue convenience store chain.
SVP Finance & Administration: Responsible for finance, accounting, IT, facilit
ies, human resources, legal, tax, risk and shareholder issues. Also active in s
tore operations, logistics and marketing.
* Developed short and medium term forecasting: Improved liquidity and operation
al focus.
* Strengthened legal structure: Protected corporate and shareholder interests.
* Drove business expansion: Acquired two stores and one warehouse.
* Established marketing measurements: Enhanced effectiveness of sales promotion
s.
* Improved store performance metrics: Reduced cash/inventory shrink and out-of-
stocks.

SECURE SERVICES CORPORATION, Elmhurst, Illinois 2005 -


2007
Technology healthcare start-up company marketing smart cards for information, id
entification and transaction assurance.
CFO & Principal
* Developed all aspects of start-up business model, including products, target a
pplications and strategic alliances.
* Established corporate structure for board and shareholder governance, capital
structure, initial capitalization and employee benefits and incentives.

SPIEGEL, INC., Downers Grove, Illinois 1993 - 2004


A publicly traded, German family-controlled $3+ billion revenue retailer plus a
$3.5 billion asset credit card bank.
SVP Finance & Treasurer, Board Member (2003 - 2004), Reported to CEO
Bank Board Member (2002 - 2003) and Chairman (2003)
Treasurer (1993 - 1995); Vice President and Treasurer (1995 - 2003), Reported to
CFO
Accomplishments included:
* Revamped capital structure and funding of multi-divisional retail and consumer
credit businesses; total credit commitments exceeded $4 billion placed with ban
ks and institutional investors. Resulted in increased liquidity, diversified fu
nding, lowered borrowing costs, minimized inter-creditor and multiple-borrower c
onflicts, and strengthened the company's standing with investors and creditors d
espite high financial leverage and erratic earnings performance.
* Strengthened Spiegel's business model through corporate strategic analysis and
restructuring initiatives including follow-on equity offering, going private, s
ubsidiary IPO, acquisitions and divestitures.
* Provided board leadership including business performance tracking, capital str
ucture, strategic direction, restructuring, management performance, corporate go
vernance and regulatory issues, and decision making processes complicated by dif
ferences in foreign cultures and business practices.
* Lead role to replace in-house private label credit operation with a third part
y provider. Determined best cultural and business fit between retail subsidiari
es and outside credit provider. Smooth transition ensured viability of the busi
ness and sustained operations due to the subsidiaries' heavy reliance on a credi
t offer.
* Leadership role in bankruptcy restructuring. Protected liquidity by implement
ing $450 million post petition credit facility at filing date and subsequently s
yndicated to larger investor group.
CAREER NOTE: Earlier professional background includes: Deutsche Bank Corporate
Finance Director; Bank of America Vice President; and Continental Illinois Bank
Second Vice President.
_________________________________________________________________________

EDUCATION
MBA in Finance Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
BA in Political Science and German Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
International Studies: Hamburg University, Hamburg, Germany
Harlaxton Manor, Grantham, England

You might also like