HAROLD BLAKE, JR. 4835 Haydens Walk Drive * Alpharetta, GA 30022 Phone: (404) 759-7141 hb1336d38@westpost.

net SSN: 8247 AREAS OF EXPERTISE * Financial Management * Executive Leadership * Problem Resolution * Bank Compliance * Project/Program Management * Strategic Market Research * Policy Implementation * Planning and Coordination * Communications PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY Seasoned Business Professional and experienced leader adept at evaluating organi zational context, establishing plans and programs, and maintaining accountabilit y for achieving ambitious goals and objectives. Action-oriented with experience in driving change and delivering results. Extensive financial management experie nce with superior background in supporting data-intensive projects inherent in i nternational trade and finance. Results-driven expert with a pattern of consiste ntly exceeding standards and expectations. Possess superior verbal and written c ommunication skills blended with a unique knowledge and understanding of financi al analysis, financial products, and business appraisal. Able to apply skills an d experience to any project, program, or position. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Fulton County Schools System, Pension Department 08/2008 - Present Professional Assistant III, Fulton County Board of Education Hours/week: 40 786 Cleveland Avenue, SW Atlanta, GA 30315 Pension Department Resource for one of the oldest and largest school districts i n Georgia. ADMINISTRATION: Expertly monitor and maintain accurate records for all retired a nd active personnel consisting of more than 12,000 full-time employees, includin g more than 6,800 teachers and other certified personnel working in 101 schools and 14 administrative and support buildings. Utilize school system software appl ications such as SAP, ESP, Web, and Microsoft (MS) Excel; interpret policies, en sure proper handling of sensitive and confidential data, and independently provi de effective and efficient operations throughout organization with minimal super vision. BUDGET MANAGEMENT: Expertly provide efficient and effective budget management, f orecasting, and schedule management skills along with strong interpersonal dynam ics. Collect and compile budgets, statistics, and pension data. Monitor and anal yze all opportunities to cut costs, improve efficiencies, and ensure adherence t o approved budget. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Provide exemplary customer service and anticipate needs. Promo te excellent public relations through telephone, paper, or walk-in inquiries. En sure projects meet customer requirements and satisfaction; coordinate business a nd customer relations to ensure high-quality services. Provide value-based solut ions, increase Return on Investment (ROI), and reduce customer shipping expenses . Use independent judgment to problem-solve unique situations. RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT/COMMUNICATION: Communicate effectively, both verbally an d in writing, with personnel at all levels of the organization. Encourage and fa

cilitate cooperation, pride, and trust with team members. Able to build strong p rofessional relationships within the workforce and foster effective information exchange.

McMaster Carr Supply Company 01/2006 - 04/2008 Credit Strategy Group, Risk Account Manager Hours/week: 40 6100 Fulton Industrial Blvd. Atlanta, GA 30336 Risk Account Manager for supplier to industrial and commercial facilities worldw ide, specializing in next-day delivery of Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (M RO) materials and supplies. PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Expertly conducted credit, compliance, and financial analysi s customer reviews for corporation, maintaining more than 480,000 products withi n catalog collection of mechanical, electrical, and utility hardware not usually located from a single source. PROCESS MANAGEMENT: Applied wide range of concepts, practices, regulations, poli cies, and precedents; analytical and diagnostic techniques; qualitative and quan titative techniques; and techniques for developing new or modified work methods, approaches, or procedures. Recommended customer account strategies, explained p rograms, and clarified credit limits and pay terms. Wrote account summaries and additionally served as Accounts Receivable Specialist. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Provided exemplary customer service and anticipated needs. Ens ured projects met customer requirements and satisfaction; coordinated business a nd customer relations to ensure high-quality services. Provided value-based solu tions, increased ROI, and reduced customer shipping expenses. Used independent j udgment to problem-solve unique situations. RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT/COMMUNICATION: Established and maintained effective rela tionships with co-workers, supervisors, and representatives. Communicated effect ively, both verbally and in writing, with diverse group of personnel. Developed and maintained professional relationships in order to broaden potentials for par tnerships. BlaCon Media, LLC 01/2002 - 12/2005 Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Hours/week: 40 PO Box 89192 Atlanta, GA 30312 Served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and oversaw all aspects of operations, f inancial accounting, risks, planning, and reporting for this full-service commun ications and media facility that produced live and remote broadcasts via Satelli te and the Internet. OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT/EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP: Strategically and successfully hunte d, prospected, and identified opportunities. Attended trade forums and initiated contact with senior executives, decision-makers, and business owners throughout the United States (U.S.) and proposed value-driven initiatives. Managed portfol io of leads; screened them for qualifications; identified credit and finance nee ds; and closed sales with clients, including National Collegiate Athletic Associ ation (NCAA), Associated Press (AP), Cable News Network (CNN), National Football League (NFL), and Turner Broadcasting System (TBS). FINANCIAL ANALYSIS/BUDGET MANAGEMENT: Implemented collection procedures and impr

oved cashflow. Conducted financial analysis and developed budget formulation pla ns, policies, and schedules using a high degree of initiative and judgment to re commend changes to budget policies. Oversaw vendor accounts, including credit co ntrols and terms, and provided financial administration to ensure economic stabi lity. AUDITING/ANALYSIS: Reviewed and modified existing vendor and provider relationsh ips and operations and secured modifications and adjustments, as necessary, for optimal business function and compliance. Performed analysis and advisory servic es of accounting and budgeting programs and functions. RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT/COMMUNICATION: Developed and maintained professional rel ationships in order to broaden potentials for partnerships. Attended public even ts, including corporate presentations; developed Requests for Proposals (RFPs); and expertly managed multiple tasks simultaneously with no interruptions in orga nizational flow of data or personnel. Communicated effectively both verbally and in writing with personnel at all levels of the organization. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Expertly extracted relevant facts necessary to independently s olve basic problems. Established and maintained effective relationships with the staff and public; expertly explained technical procedures, regulations, or rule s. Used independent judgment to problem-solve unique situations. Maintained focu s on total customer satisfaction and provided customers with accurate and timely information. Committed to quality service. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - Developed successful business plan, built corporate infrastructure, and oversa w marketing and finance venture; awarded five-year contract with NCAA Bank of America Corporation 05/1994 - 06/2001 Client Manager, Vice President Hours/week: 40 Marketing Specialist, Mid-South Treasury Management Group Relationship Manager, Vice President, Specialized Sales Project Manager I, Team Leader, Transaction Services 600 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30308 Proven career history of progressively authoritative positions and superior stra tegic marketing skills of products and services for the largest bank-holding com pany in the U.S. EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT/LEADERSHIP: As Client Manager, Vice President, expertly lia ised between bank and Small Business Client Portfolio and increased portfolio pr oduct offerings from $4M to more than $10M in credit products, Treasury Manageme nt Services, savings/investment, and business checking needs. While serving as M arketing Specialist for business client assets valued at $50M-$100M, increased a nnual growth in existing and new treasury management business by more than 20% a nd led goal efforts of 10% minimum annual benchmark growth in electronic deposit s, fees, and revenue income. OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT: Consulted with portfolio customers and established market product positioning, provided market and credit analysis, and made recommendati ons according to analysis and appropriate risk management. As Team Leader in Tra nsaction Services, applied expert project management leadership skills and migra ted business units to electronic check processing, trained Project Analysts on s pecific business process and electronic commerce initiatives, and facilitated na tionwide item-processing workgroups in planning, analysis, compliance, tracking, and reporting. RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT/COMMUNICATION: Mentored Banking Center Business Speciali

sts on credit offerings and led team to new heights of professionalism. Facilita ted on-site Corporate Employer Marketing events to promote specialized sales; pr epared professional presentations and materials. Developed advanced capabilities regarding necessity to communicate with clients on varying levels, according to situation and need, including appropriate measures of inflection, active feedba ck, firmness, and resoluteness, as required. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - Awarded "Group Leader" recognition for exemplary customer service - Spearheaded nationwide technology-oriented projects from business assessment, conceptual and detail design to implementation; successfully initiated "same-day availability" of electronic local banking deposits, cash ATM deposits without d eposit slips, and check image transactions that are utilized to this day - Personally selected to serve as Project Management Trainer for seven-state reg ion - Awarded Small Business Association (SBA) Lender of the Quarter, multiple quart ers ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE: 06/1989-04/1994, United States Treasury Department (OTS), Supervisory Compliance Examiner II 09/1987-04/1989, New York Life Insurance Company, Registered Sales Agent (Prior Insurance, 6 & 63 Licenses) 05/1985-08/1987, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAA CP) National Office, South East Director, Youth and College Division 09/1981-04/1985, Wachovia Corporation, Technical Writer **** EDUCATION: MBA Executive Professionals Program, Kennesaw State University, 06/1995 Post Baccalaureate Studies, Georgia State University, 1989-1993 Bachelor of Arts, Clark Atlanta University, 06/1981 OTHER QUALIFICATIONS COMPUTER AND TECHNOLOGY SKILLS: Microsoft (MS) Project, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access; PeopleSoft; SAP; Credit Foundations; Uncovering Cash JOB-RELATED TRAINING COURSES: - Banking Diploma, American Bankers Association, 1983 AWARDS: - Awarded National Employee Appreciation Award, NAACP COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP: - Southeast Director, Youth and College Division, NAACP: Guide and mentor upward ly mobile young leaders within eight-state region PERFORMANCE AND RATING TEAM COMMENTARY: "Harold has strong attention to detail and excellent analytical skills. He would be a strong asset to any organization and I would hire him again if the opportu

nity presented itself." - Georgia A. Chisolm, Examiner in Charge, Compliance, Department of Treasury "Harold is honest and has integrity. He also has a strong work ethic. He would b e an excellent employee for a right fit position within any organization." - Barnard Woodruff, Sr. Vice President, Bank of America "Mr. Blake would be an excellent choice for positions around an organization's n eed(s) that match his skill set. He is an excellent employee who would be an ass et to any organization." - Steven M. Bacon, CEO, BlaCon Media AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Strategic marketing, bank products, identify opportunities, present value-driven sales proposals, close sales, portfolio of leads, identify finance needs, propose value-driven solutions, network of bankers, insurance bro kers, trade associations, U.S. government agencies, export credit, financial pro ducts, Point-of-Sale (POS) presentations, cold calling, tradeshows, advocating c redit proposals, bank programs, exporters, trade associations, intermediaries, w ork independently, budget and financial analysis, advise on financial status of programs, analyze effect of budgetary action, program goals and objectives, prep are analysis, financial aspects of various programs, budget forecasting. REFERENCES: AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST