Armada Expands Strategic Cost Management-Brad Anderson Joins Established Firm, Armada Consulting, to Lead Financial Services Strategic Cost Management Practice.


Tulsa, OK (PRWEB) June 18, 2012

Scott Wise, Founder of ArmadaConsulting.com announced today that, Strategic Cost Management within Financial Services has always been at the forefront of our capabilities, we are excited to announce the addition of Brad Anderson to lead our Financial Services industry practice. Brads knowledge and extensive experience in Financial Services positions us to better serve our existing and new clients in the financial services industry.” http://ArmadaConsulting.com

Brad is already engaged in promoting Armadas thought leadership in cost management, authoring the article – A View of the Current State of Banking and Strategic Cost Management available on Armadas website.

I am excited to work with the Armada team to help expand their efforts to assist organizations make better business decisions. We feel Strategic Cost Management will be increasingly important for financial services companies and many other industries for the foreseeable future.

Prior to joining Armada, Brad was a Senior Advisor at a Global Consulting firm and executive manager at several rapidly growing financial services companies. Brad has twenty five years of industry and consulting experience in the Financial Services arena with an emphasis in retail and commercial banking.

His professional and consulting background also includes extensive experience in budgeting and forecasting, strategic planning, risk management, risk adjusted profitability analysis, balance sheet management, mergers/acquisitions and process optimization. Brad has written and spoken to numerous organizations and publications on a variety of cost management and business performance improvement topics. Brad will office in Charlotte, NC.

About Armada Consulting

Armada has assembled some of the best and brightest talent focused solely on implementing strategic cost management solutions leveraging our Acumen cost analytics software. From insight to impact, the Armada team works closely with clients to provide deeper insight and transparency into the costs of their organization, driving better decisions around cost takeout and cost control. What sets Armada apart from other management consulting firms is our constant commitment to our clients success, both personally and corporately. Across a wide array of industries and practice areas, Armada has a proven track record of delivering results to many of the premier corporations in the world.

For more information, please visit Armada Consultings newly revamped Website at http://ArmadaConsulting.com.

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Optronics Joins Lucidity, Brings Synergies to HD Vehicle Lighting Marketplace


Tulsa, OK (PRWEB) October 30, 2012

Optronics International, a leading manufacturer and supplier of HD vehicle lighting, announced that it has been acquired by Lucidity Enterprise Co., LTD. Optronics will operate as an independent business unit of the Taiwan-based lighting powerhouse, giving it direct access to Luciditys manufacturing strength, R&D capability and experience with the global vehicle lighting marketplace. The acquisition is the result of a longstanding, strategic relationship between the two organizations and represents a natural step in each companys evolution.

Lucidity is considered to be one of the worlds premiere vehicle lighting manufacturers and supports leading OEs of both powered and non-powered vehicles. The company serves a global marketplace and its products have long been sold through other U.S.-based HD lighting suppliers.

Luciditys state-of-the-art manufacturing credentials, including ISO/TS 16949, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 14064-1 and PAS 2050 designations, are complemented by its robust product design, compliance testing and R&D capacity. The company also recently acquired an Australia-based wiring and harness company.

Optronics has firmly repositioned itself and this will absolutely change the competitive hierarchy in HD lighting, said Brett Johnson, president and CEO of Optronics International. OEs will gain access to a lighting manufacturer with global sophistication, fleets will enjoy increased product availability and everyone will benefit from new, innovative technology and the industrys most competitive pricing structure.

Johnson said that Optronics has been steadily gaining market share in the HD and work truck markets, attributing much of the success to the companys customer-centered, can-do culture of listening and rapidly responding to needs with high-quality products that are realistically priced. Johnson added that with the new resources available to it, Optronics will be even more flexible and aggressive in the pursuit of new product development, tooling and speed to market.

Optronics complements Luciditys strategic objective of bringing imaginative, relevant and competitive lighting technology to the North American vehicle marketplace and the larger world, said Wayne Huang, chairman of Lucidity Enterprise Co., LTD. As a result of this investment, we expect to raise the bar, by delivering more advanced technology, more product availability and more choices to our customers.

Lucidity purchased Optronics International from Harvard Place Investments (HPI), which has owned the company since 2009. Customers and industry partners will see no change in service, accountability or how the company conducts business.

Optronics will continue to manufacture and deliver exceptional, high-quality products, while providing uninterrupted support to their distribution network and customers. Optronics will also renew its efforts to advance efficiency and innovation, with the same team of dedicated and experienced managers and staff.

Company officials from both organizations stated that the Optronics brand would continue to be a vibrant and stable fixture within the HD, trailer, RV, transit, agriculture and marine markets it currently serves and that it will expand into new markets as well. Optronics will maintain its headquarters in Tulsa Okla., manufacturing facility in Muskogee, Okla., and its distribution facility in Elkhart, Ind. The company expects to grow its physical presence in the U.S. as a result of the acquisition.

To access high-resolution images, please visit: http://www.optronicsinc.com/gallery.html

About Optronics

Founded in 1972, Optronics International is a premier worldwide manufacturer and supplier of branded industrial and commercial vehicular safety lighting products. The company specializes in interior and exterior LED, incandescent and fluorescent lighting for the marine, RV, trailer, HD and transit vehicle markets. Optronics is headquartered in Tulsa Okla., with a manufacturing facility in Muskogee, Okla., and distribution facilities in Elkhart, Ind., and Ontario, Canada.

About Lucidity Established in 1981, Lucidity Enterprise Co., Ltd. is a premier worldwide manufacturer of vehicular safety lighting products. The company designs and produces OEM lights for many North American manufacturers and also makes the most comprehensive line of aftermarket replacement lights in the industry worldwide.

Mark Adams Joins Ross & Baruzzini as Senior Systems Project Manager

St. Louis, Missouri (PRWEB) June 01, 2012

Ross & Baruzzini, a globally recognized engineering and architectural planning, design and consulting firm, has announced the appointment of Mark Adams as Senior Systems Project Manager for the Advanced Engineering Systems practice. Adams will provide technical leadership, detailed project management, and execution of the world-class systems engineering projects domestically and internationally.

Adams brings over 25 years of experience with systems design and engineering. His expertise includes design of large scale, complex airport systems, intelligent transportation systems, and critical operation facilities. Prior to his position at Ross & Baruzzini, Adams served as a Senior Systems Engineer in the Aviation Division of URS Corporation in Denver, Colorado. In this position, he provided airport systems design, consulting and project management for a variety of clients, primarily in the aviation market.

Michael E. Moore Joins Ringling College as Vice President for Advancement


Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) September 06, 2012

Ringling College of Art and Design today announced the appointment of Michael E. Moore to the position of Vice President for Advancement for Ringling College. Michael has more than 25 years of experience in organizational management and fund development. Prior to his appointment at Ringling College, Michael spent the past two and a half years on the University Relations leadership team at the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC), serving as interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Philanthropy and Constituent Engagement as well as guiding the universitys $ 300 million comprehensive campaign.

I am pleased to be joining Ringling College at this important moment in its history, stated Michael. I believe in donor-centered fundraising and am delighted that I can combine my love for art with my passion for finding ways to help people give meaning to their philanthropy through support of arts education. I look forward to partnering with President Larry Thompson, a generous board and a talented staff to advance the mission of the college and to bring its vision to fruition.

Before UCSC, Mr. Moore was a partner and principal of Millennium Advantage, providing counsel on fund development, strategic planning, board leadership development and charitable giving programs. Prior to Millennium, Michael achieved significant goals for Sutter Health in Northern California and Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals in Boston. Over his career in fund development Michael has generated more than $ 250 million in philanthropic funding for higher education, health and human services, and the arts.

Michael is joining the Ringling team at a perfect time to work with us in achieving our destiny for the college, our students and the community, said Ringling College President Dr. Larry R. Thompson. His exemplary experience and knowledge comes to us at a time of great future potential for the college as we continue to build upon our success to date in educating and preparing our award-winning students to be leaders in the art and design professions and helping to change our rapidly-evolving world. The timing of Michaels appointment and his experience in community and corporate development along with the rising stature of Ringling represents a confluence of positive attributes akin to A Perfect Storm. The Ringling College Board of Trustees and I welcome Michael with great anticipation and look forward to his contribution in achieving our mutual goals.

Michael earned a Master of Arts degree in Philanthropy and Resource Development from Saint Marys University of Minnesota and is a Fellow of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and also served as Board Chairman for the AHP. He was also on the faculty of the Madison Institute at University of Wisconsin and wrote monthly articles about trends and issues in the field. Michael speaks at conferences throughout North America and Australia and as well a being widely published is also the author of Blueprint for Success, a capital campaign workbook as well as the co-author of A Healthcare Paradigm: Predicting Change for Healthcare and Philanthropy.

He is a Past President of the California Capital Chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP), was named his AFP chapters 2005 Outstanding Fundraising Professional and served a three-year term on the national AFP Foundation Board of Directors. On the community service front, Michael has also served on the boards of Rotary (as President), the United Way and the symphony. He was honored as Man of the Year by a prominent Sacramento area civic organization and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow for extraordinary service to his Rotary Club.

About Ringling College

Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, not-for-profit, fully accredited college offering the Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in 13 disciplines: Advertising Design, Computer Animation, Digital Film-making, Fine Arts, Game Art & Design, Graphic & Interactive Communication, Illustration, Interior Design, Motion Design, Painting, Photography & Digital Imaging, Printmaking, and Sculpture, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Business of Art & Design. Located in Sarasota on Floridas Gulf Coast, the picturesque 48-acre campus now includes more than 110 buildings, and enrolls 1,368 students from 42 states and 53 countries. It is recognized as being among the best and most innovative visual arts colleges in the United States as well as a leader in the use of technology in the arts. http://www.Ringling.edu







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Bowling Joins AchieveIt to Develop Content Library for Execution Management and Strategic Planning Software Company


ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) August 27, 2012

AchieveIt, a leading provider of execution management and strategic planning software, announced today the addition of Lauren Bowling as Content Specialist to its marketing team. As the company aggressively expands across vertical markets, AchieveIt plans to develop industry specific content that will allow organizations to accelerate results through better planning and more precise execution. Bowling will be primarily responsible for developing case studies, white papers, and instructional material to aid in this effort.

Bowling holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After graduating in 2009, she held positions at The Clutter Prescription in Birmingham, Ala., and Scopia Fund Management in New York City. She is also the author of a financial blog aimed at young women.

“Lauren will be a big lift for our team,” said Scott Regan, founder and chief execution officer of AchieveIt. “Our mission is to help organizations execute smarter, faster, and better, and developing an ongoing library of outstanding content is an important ingredient of our customer value proposition. To have someone of Laurens creative and writing talent will enhance our ability to accelerate the results curve for our clients.

In June, AchieveIt released Version 4.0 of its cloud-based software and reorganized the company to move into vertical markets outside of healthcare, where the company got its start. With Version 4.0, AchieveIt unveiled three new applications: ExecuteIt, AnalyzeIt, and ImproveIt. These applications help accelerate performance in strategic planning, strategy development, execution management, and performance improvement.

About AchieveIt

Serving more than 130 clients in 40 states and South America, AchieveIt helps organizations transform vision and goals into tangible business results by executing smarter, faster, and better. Through its suite of cloud-based strategy development and execution management applications, AchieveIt accelerates transformation through enhanced accountability, transparency, and execution. The company provides an innovative set of online tools to develop, monitor, and implement strategic and operational plans, performance and quality improvement projects, and leadership and management programs. A national thought-leader on strategy development and execution management, AchieveIt offers free execution management and strategic planning webinars and white papers on its website at AchieveIt.com.







Brett Whitcomb Joins Ryan as Principal to Lead New Insurance Tax Practice


Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) August 20, 2012

Ryan, a leading global tax services firm with the largest indirect tax practice in North America, today announced that Brett Whitcomb has joined the management team as Principal to lead the Firms new Insurance Tax practice.

Mr. Whitcomb will oversee a multi-disciplinary team of Ryan professionals providing multistate insurance premium, income, surplus lines, and self-procurement tax services, as well as insurance company compliance, dispute analysis, and global investigative services in regulatory inquiries, litigation, and Dodd-Frank matters related to insurance companies. In addition to his role as Insurance Tax Practice Leader, he will also be opening a new Ryan office in Hartford, Connecticut.

Prior to joining Ryan, Mr. Whitcomb led the National Premium Tax Compliance practice for a national accounting firm, supporting Fortune 500 clients as the national contact for multistate insurance tax services. He has also worked in the tax departments of several major global corporations throughout his distinguished 30-year career, including nearly five years as Corporate Tax Director of a Fortune 100 insurance company. Mr. Whitcomb has achieved industry recognition as a strategic thought leader in insurance tax and is a regular contributor to Tax Analysts, a leading provider of tax news and analysis for 150,000 tax professionals in law and accounting firms, corporations, and government agencies. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Accounting and Management Science from Tulane University Graduate School of Business, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History from Fairfield University, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Im excited to have a veteran insurance tax leader like Brett Whitcomb join our leadership team to launch our new practice and expansion into Hartford, Connecticut, said G. Brint Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Ryan. Our clients will benefit tremendously from Bretts strategic leadership and the added value that insurance tax services will bring to new and existing engagements.

I look forward to driving rapid revenue growth for Ryans Insurance Tax practice, said Mr. Whitcomb. I am proud to join this premier team of tax professionals and help support Ryans proven record of delivering superior client service and results.

About Ryan

Ryan is an award-winning global tax services firm, with the largest indirect tax practice in North America and the seventh largest corporate tax practice in the United States. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides a comprehensive range of state, local, federal, and international tax advisory and consulting services on a multi-jurisdictional basis, including audit defense, tax recovery, credits and incentives, tax process improvement and automation, tax appeals, tax compliance, and strategic planning. Ryan is a two-time recipient of the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the dynamic myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryans multi-disciplinary team of more than 975 professionals and associates serves over 6,500 clients in 40 countries, including many of the worlds most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at http://www.ryan.com.







Poston Joins AchieveIt to Accelerate Growth of Execution Management and Strategic Planning Software Company


ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) July 30, 2012

AchieveIt, a leading provider of execution management and strategic planning software, announced today the addition of Michael Poston to its executive team as the company continues an aggressive expansion into commercial markets. Poston will be primarily responsible for online and offline marketing and public relations.

Poston holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Structural Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in quantitative methods, both earned at Vanderbilt University. His 16-year career includes extensive experience in strategic planning, marketing, SEO, and product development.

“To have someone of Michaels experience and caliber join our team is humbling,” said Scott Regan, founder and chief execution officer of AchieveIt. “Michael has such a rare combination of talent that he can have an instant impact on our company. If we are the rocket, Michael will be our rocket fuel. He has that kind of potential for us.

Poston has a track record of accelerating sales growth for the companies he has worked with, which include small and large organizations, Fortune 500 companies, manufacturing companies, and technology firms. He has rich experience in business development, client acquisition and retention, digital platforms, and trademarks and patents.

In June, AchieveIt released Version 4.0 of its cloud-based software and reorganized the company to move into vertical markets outside of healthcare, where the company got its start. With Version 4.0, AchieveIt unveiled three new applications: ExecuteIt, AnalyzeIt, and ImproveIt. These applications help accelerate performance in strategic planning, strategy development, execution management, and performance improvement.

About AchieveIt

Serving more than 100 clients in 30 states, AchieveIt helps organizations transform vision and goals into tangible business results by executing smarter, faster, and better. Through its suite of cloud-based strategy development and execution management applications, AchieveIt accelerates transformation through enhanced accountability, transparency, and execution. The company provides an innovative set of online tools to develop, monitor, and implement strategic and operational plans, performance and quality improvement projects, and leadership and management programs. A national thought-leader on strategy development and execution management, AchieveIt offers free strategic planning webinars and white papers on its website at AchieveIt.com.







Zaizi Joins Ephesoft as a Global Platinum Partner

Laguna Hills, CA (PRWEB) July 18, 2012

Ephesoft Inc., the leader in providing advanced cloud-ready capture solutions, today announced that Zaizi, a global open source systems integrator headquartered in London, has attained Global Platinum Partner status in the Ephesoft Partner Program.

As a Global Platinum Partner, Zaizi has demonstrated expertise with Ephesoft technologies, proven ability to meet customers needs and able to deliver the solution across the EMEA region. Ephesoft Platinum Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel.

Zaizi will work closely with Ephesoft in three areas: product roadmap, mailroom automation expertise, and best practice sharing. Collaborating on a common product roadmap ensures that clients may quickly adopt new features and capabilities to meet the growing digital demand. Zaizi has established a dedicated team of Ephesoft-proficient product experts in all aspects of Ephesoft’s technology to accelerate rapid client adoption. Further, the partnership enables the two companies to exchange and develop best practices so clients are provided with specific business solutions to meet changing business needs.

Zaizi is an Alfresco Platinum Partner and Best Partner of the Year 2012 and eXo Platform Advanced Partner with extensive experience of assembling open source technology solutions that are tailored to a business particular needs. Their technology solutions are assembled to support and enhance their clients business processes.

Zaizi employs a staff of highly experienced managers, architects, and software engineers that are certified and skilled in open source system integration. We are extremely pleased to have attained Platinum Certified Partner status in the Ephesoft Partner Program. This allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Ephesoft to our customers, said Aingaran Pillai CEO and Founder of Zaizi. The benefits provided through our Platinum Certified Partner status will allow us to continue to enhance the offerings that we provide for customers.

Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities, said Ian Pope, VP of Sales and Marketing for Ephesoft EMEA. They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Today, Ephesoft recognizes Zaizi as a new Platinum Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise providing customer satisfaction using Ephesoft products and technology. And, Zaizi has hit the ground running, winning deals including at Bristol City Council where Ephesoft is used to process application forms and accompanying documents (such as utility test certificates) from private landlords. Many more are in the pipeline. See a video interview.

About Zaizi

Zaizi is an experienced information and technology consulting firm headquartered in London specialising in the Alfresco, eXo Platform and Ephesoft solutions. Zaizi works with large commercial and government organisations to improve productivity, reduce operating expenditure and reduce risk by delivering robust, scalable content solutions including document and web content management systems, portals and corporate extranets. With expert staff and strong business readiness skills, we design, build and support innovative, assembled software solutions to deliver fast-to-market and cost-effective content management solutions.

About Ephesoft

Ephesoft, Inc. is headquartered in Laguna Hills, California with offices in Maidenhead, England. Ephesofts document capture solutions are open-source and cloud-ready, offering extreme flexibility and accessibility for a wide range of customers. The company has been experiencing rapid growth in both the US and EMEA markets. For more information visit http://www.ephesoft.com or call (949) 335-5335.







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Todd Heckman Joins Smart Devine as Managing Director in Their Business Advisory Practice


Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) July 10, 2012

Todd works with his clients on a wide range of management advisory services focusing on strategic planning, cost containment, performance improvement, and information technology. He has nearly 20 years of experience assisting clients with large-scale business transformations and has specialized in ERP implementations, shared services, and post-merger integration. He has conducted numerous business reorganization projects for clients and has done extensive work with ERP implementations, shared services, and post-merger integration.

Todd has taught seminars on project management, change enablement, performance improvement and strategic planning. He presents regularly at numerous industry conferences and is a frequent contributor to industry publications.

Prior to joining SMART DEVINE, Todd was a Partner at several international accounting and advisory firms where he led the companys higher education practice. He was formerly a Partner for SMART Business Advisory and Consulting and also spent nearly 8 years with Arthur Andersen.

We are extremely pleased to have Todd join the talented team at Smart Devine. Todd has been a significant addition to our growing business advisory practice and has a proven record of being an excellent resource for clients with his considerable expertise and ability to lead complex projects, said Jim Smart, CEO of Smart Devine.

Todd holds a bachelors degree from Shippensburg University and a masters degree from Penn State University.

Smart Devine, is headquartered in Philadelphia and provides a full range of accounting, advisory, tax and investigative forensic accounting services to companies across a variety of industries.

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Ramtech Joins Hensel Phelps to Add New 4-Story Modular Building Barracks at Fort Sam Houston


Mansfield, TX (PRWEB) July 09, 2012

Ramtech Building Systems of Mansfield, Texas has announced that the company has secured a $ 9.7 million contract to provide the modular buildings for the fifth and final phase for the MILCON Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing (UEPH) Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Barracks to be used by the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. The permanent modular construction project is part of a multiple task order under an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract previously awarded to the Southwest Division of Hensel Phelps Construction Co. in Austin, Texas. The Jacobs Engineering Group is under contract for architectural and engineering services for the project, while Ramtech will act as a strategic subcontractor by fabricating and installing the 152 individual modular floor sections that will be assembled to create the four-story, 272 room structure. Totaling 116,480 square feet, the manufacturing phase is slated to begin in September with a scheduled completion of December 2013.

Faced with the challenge of acquiring permanent facilities faster, better, cheaper, and greener, in 2005 the Army Corps of Engineers embarked on a master planning program to change the way it executed MILCON and BCA programs. Frustrated at not getting quality facilities in the timeframe it needed them, the Corps established a continuous building program that emphasized the standardization of facilities and processes while expanding the use of prefabricated buildings through the use of permanent modular construction. Ramtech has worked as a subcontractor to Hensel Phelps on several previous high-profile projects, including the construction and fabrication of 24 single and two-story administrative modules for the U.S. Army at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas and the manufacturing and construction of temporary modular barracks facilities for the Army’s 4th infantry division at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. According to Gary White, Ramtech’s vice president sales and estimating, “we have built a great working relationship with Hensel Phelps from our previous projects together, and they recognize our ability to generate the speed and cost savings that modular construction can provide on a project of this size.”

Because the AIT barracks facility houses U.S. combat troops, the structure will be built to meet the Armys rigid Anti-Terrorism Force Protection (AT/FP) construction standards and progressive collapse requirements for buildings three stories and above. All of the modular floor sections are designed and built as a six-sided unitized box acting as a rigid cube when stacked together with the other sections. The permanent modular building will also meet the requirements of LEED Silver Certification by including waterless urinals, energy star roofing material, recycling of waste materials to achieve a 50% diversion of waste normally sent to land-fills, and utilization of construction materials with a 20% recycled content. Heating and cooling will be provided through a chilled water assist hydronic heat pump system with each unit serving one dorm room. Ramtech will be responsible for the plumbing and electrical connections as well as some of the interior finish-out including the ceramic tile installation. In addition to the sleeping areas, the building will also house a computer learning center, training area, and laundry facilities.

About Ramtech Building Systems

Since 1982 Mansfield, Texas-based Ramtech Building Systems has been providing innovative permanent modular buildings for government agencies, healthcare providers, Fortune 500 companies, and educational institutions throughout the Southern United States. As a design-build construction company, Ramtech offers full in-house design, a manufacturer direct product, and complete site construction services all within a single-source solution. By emphasizing a value engineering approach, Ramtech has successfully completed over 3,000 prefabricated buildings for diverse projects of all sizes. For more information, visit the company’s website at http://www.ramtechgroup.com.