WILLIAM E.

GROW 1136 Mare Barn Lane Home: (630) 543-6053 Addison, Illinois 60101 Cell: (847) 343 -6336 wg12b658e@westpost.net SUMMARY An innovative, results-driven operations manager with comprehensive knowledge of new business development, resource planning, cost management, logistics, distri bution operations, and supply-chain management. Strengths in strategic planning, labor forecasting and scheduling, administration and budgeting, and inventory m anagement. Additional skills include start-ups, divestitures, vendor negotiation s, and employee development and recognition programs Solid analytical, problem-s olver who is known for ability to manage projects and lead teams that consistent ly improve productivity and maximize operational efficiency. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE SOVEREIGN TILE, INC -Present Leading commercial tile installation and sales organization 2005

Vice President Operations Lead project bid process and online estimating activities in pursuit of new busi ness. Develop project budgets, monitor cost and provide daily reporting to field operations. Manage all materials sourcing, procurement, and logistics functions . Coordinate project planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and project impl ementation in support of field operations. * Introduce improved bidding and operational processes facilitating first an d second year sales growth of 55% and 90% respectively. * Develop and implement enhanced project budgeting, job performance monitori ng, and measurement mechanisms yielding significantly improved operational effic iency, resource utilization and project profitability. * Design and implement numerous management systems improvements including a centralized computer network with remote access providing for daily project perf ormance updates to field management. AUDIO VISUAL SERVICES CORPORATION 2000-2005 Foremost provider of audiovisual equipment rentals, staging services, and relate d technical support services with over 600 outlets internationally. National Director Operations, Vice President Operations Directed central supply chain and logistics support operations. Negotiated and m anaged national contracts for support goods and services including transportatio n, maintenance/supplies, equipment leasing, and fleet management. Successfully m anaged $17.5 million in capital projects supporting the opening of 132 new busin ess outlets representing over $72 million in annual sales. * Managed through corporate restructuring and integration of company's individua l business units. Created, modified and adapted operations process, policies, an d procedures to apply to aggregate business. Provided uniform support services i n order to scale operations in a consistent manner. * Directed ongoing renewal and re-capitalization projects supporting existing bu siness outlets with capital spending of over $12 million annually. * Developed and implemented national repair depot that reduced equipment repair

expense by 40% yielding a $500,000 annual cost savings. * Negotiated national small parcel carrier agreement that yielded outbound trans portation savings of $350,000 and boosted business center shipping revenue by 40 % annually. * Introduced new workflow process and procedures governing the recall, refurbish ment, and redeployment of used equipment coming out of closed business outlets. Resulted in new capital avoidance of $1.2 million annually. * Negotiated national office supply agreement that standardized and streamlined the product offering to field locations, reduced annual supply expense by $275,0 00, and increased margin opportunities on resale by an average of 12%. WILLIAM E. GROW Page 2 ZONETRADER.COM 1999-20 00 An Internet-based business-to-business asset-recovery and sales organization. Vice President Operations, Operations Manager Directed production and distribution operations, including a new state-of-the-ar t computer configuration and distribution facility in the Chicago metro area. Fo rmulated strategy and completed new facility implementation. Developed operation s structure to support the launch of start up company's business plan. * Developed layout and design of new 92,000 square-foot computer configuration a nd distribution center. Managed $2 million capital project for new facility impl ementation. * Authored and instituted all operational and human resources policies and proce dures. Provided for training, and implementation of all operational processes an d procedures. * Sourced, interviewed and hired staff for new facility. Developed compensation plan and salary structure for newly created positions assuring competitive postu re. * Implemented SAP operating system to manage warehouse and configuration center operations. * Designed functionality for barcode inventory management system and completed f acility move/consolidation. CARDINAL HEALTH/ALLEGIANCE HEALTHCARE CORPORATION 1986-1999 An IPO spin-off of Baxter Healthcare in 1996 Distribution/Operations Manager, Chicago Region 1996-1999 Managed regional distribution operations activities in support of hospital and l aboratory supply businesses and the corporation's National Drop Ship Center, wit h an annual throughput of 2.7 million customer order lines and revenues of $416 million. Oversaw immediate team of 13, as well as more than 200 distribution-cen ter employees. * Directed warehouse operations of more than 1 million square feet with an inven tory of 40,000 SKUs, utilizing EDI, bar code, and RF-based warehouse control sys tems. * Drove $1.1 million in expense savings; increased productivity by 15% by develo ping and implementing key process improvements. * Developed strategy and led project team that cut costs $440,000 by integrating and consolidating the region's low-unit-of-measure/JIT operation. * Created and led a facility safety team that, over a three-year period, reduced

OSHA-recordable incidents 45%, incurred no lost-time injuries, and reduced annu al Workers' Compensation premiums by $20,000. * Prepared and managed the distribution center's annual operating budget of $12. 2 million. BAXTER HEALTHCARE, WAUKEGAN, IL Region Distribution Manager, Scientific Products Division 1994-1996 Managed the Chicago Region distribution operation that processed customer orders valued at $285 million annually. Directed immediate team of 8, as well as 120 d istribution-center employees. * Spearheaded launch of national drop ship center that resulted in over $15 mill ion in inventory savings and significantly improved cash flow. * Created and implemented a barcode, RF-based inventory management system that t racked more than 25,000 SKUs valued at $30 million; reduced inventory shortages by 35 % the first year; and significantly improved inventory control. * Provided key logistics and customer service support for the transition of inve ntory and distribution operations during the divestiture of a $400 million indus trial laboratory products business unit. * Developed function based standards and introduced employee performance measure ment system and pay for performance program that increased distribution producti vity by 12%. Area Distribution Manager, Baxter Scientific Products Division 1991-1994 Distribution Manager, Baxter V. Mueller Division 1988-1991 Assistant Distribution Manager, Baxter Scientific Products Division 1986-1988 WILLIAM E. GROW PAGE 3 NOMA INTERNATIONAL 1983-1986 Plant Manager 1984-1986 Product Manager 1983-1984 EDUCATION Loyola University, Chicago Bachelor of Business Administration, 1983