G.

William Meckert, III

P.O. Box 118 Waterbury, VT 05676 (802) 244-5647 (home) (802) 793-0026 (cell) bill.meckert@gmail.com Linked In Profile -- http://www.linkedin.com/in/billmeckert

CFO / SENIOR FINANCIAL MANAGER / GENERAL COUNSEL

Accomplished executive leader with value system which emphasizes integrity and team-oriented management style. Portfolio of successes involving the start-up, turn-around, and growth of diverse businesses, including structuring and raising in excess of $10-million of private equity. Track record of developing and implementing creative entrepreneurial solutions to difficult business challenges. Combination of a professional background as a CPA (4 years) and as an Attorney (5 years), enhanced by 20-years of business management and leadership in roles as CFO, General Counsel and President/COO. Expert-level accounting and financial skill set in areas of strategic planning, financial planning & analysis, banking and private equity relationships, business/investment evaluation, and financial reporting and budgeting, as well as extensive experience with accounting system design, accounting department staffing and management, and day-to-day accounting function operations. Legal expertise in areas of business contracts & transactions, partnerships & joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, private equity & bank financing matters, and general corporate, real estate, employment and income tax law. Very strong personal work ethic with a successful track record of maximizing performance of direct reports through leading by example, emphasizing a team approach, and prioritizing the success of others. Seasoned leadership skills utilizing personal business management philosophies developed over a widerange of experiences with focus on: understanding the skill set (i.e., strengths and weaknesses) of individual team members, setting realistic and achievable team member goals, empowering critical managers and providing the resources and support to allow them to achieve success, and participating (as necessary) in their ongoing activities to assist with overcoming challenges. Diverse industry experience including: - real estate development (land planning, construction, leasing and financing); - hotel & restaurant (operations management, corporate strategy, development and financing); - post-secondary education; - retail industry (operations, leasing and construction); - private equity raising / venture capital; and - entertainment & broadcasting (cinema operations and radio/TV legal and accounting).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CFO / General Counsel New England Culinary Institute (Dec., 2008 current) -- CFO / General Counsel (with 9-month role as Interim President from Jan 2011 to Sept 2011). Instrumental in salvaging a very high-profile, internationally-acclaimed Vermont post-secondary culinary education leader with multiple restaurant operations under critical turn-around circumstances. Initially, commenced role as personal favor to Owner/President with a consulting review of troubled Accounting-Finance Department in December, 2008. Accepted role of CFO/General Counsel in January, 2009. Became member of three-person transitional Presidential Management Team in the Fall of 2009. Promoted to Presidents role by Board of Directors as of January 1, 2011. Post Sept-2011, remained under contract for limited consulting transition through the end of February, 2012. Primary responsibilities and accomplishments over 33-month term included: Complete reorganization of finance area taking the output performance of a department which had not been able to produce accurate monthly financials for several years to the redesign of all accounting systems, restaffing of most key finance personnel, and development of new internal controls and accounting procedures, with the result that accurate monthly financial statements were being produced within six months of arrival, including all new operational budgeting processes; Developed and implemented critical key strategic plan in first year, which included unification of campuses in Montpelier, closing of all Essex food & beverage operations, strategic cut-backs and restructuring of personnel, development of new purchase order systems to control expenditures, and management leadership of organization to minimize negative impacts of these drastic steps;

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The result was a dramatic turn-around of financial results from FY2008 and FY2009 net losses from operation of ($475,000) and ($2,700,000), respectively, to a FY2010 net operating profit of $1,100,000; Prior to engagement, NECI lost its primary bank and sole lending source after a 20-year relationship. Within six months of new role as CFO, identified and negotiated a new lender relationship with an aggregate $1.7-million credit facility; Led implementation of creative new Admissions marketing focus, including a revamped internet presence, the introduction of social media strategies, and an innovative new campus tour program, with the result that the initial two enrollments following promotion to role as President achieved budgeted targets for the first time in five years; Drove the entrepreneurial development of new on-line education programs with focus on industry partnerships and non-accredited professional Certification through new eNECI platform; Planned and effected reorganization of senior organizational management structure, including hiring of key Vice President positions and development of new Executive Cabinet team approach. Repaired seriously-damaged relationships with third-party vendors, including rebuilding of their confidence in NECIs stability; and Overall dramatic shift in institutional focus on operational efficiencies and individual employee productivity and accountability.

CFO / General Counsel

EuroWest Properties, Inc. (1990 - 2008) -- CFO, General Counsel & COO of commercial real estate development and entrepreneurial business turn-around company. Created accounting systems and oversaw all financial matters, as well as the sourcing, structuring and ongoing relationships regarding all bank and private equity financings (both construction and permanent). Hands-on oversight of all legal matters involving acquisitions, leases, financings and property planning & development. Managed all construction projects in which Company acted as its own general contractor. Projects included: Essex Outlet Center (Essex, Vermont) -- acquisition of failed 100,000-sf retail center and conversion and expansion to northern Vermonts premier Designer Factory Outlets Center totaling 250,000-sf with tenants including Polo/Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Orvis, adidas, Oshkosh, and Van Heusen, including private equity raise-up of $4.4-million. Essex Cinemas (Essex, Vermont) -- development, financing, design, construction and operation of an 8-screen, 1,500-seat "stadium seat" Cinemaplex, opened October, 2001, including private equity raise-up of $1.3-million Essex Way Center (Essex, Vermont) -- development, financing, construction, lease-up and management of mixed-use retail & office complex. Essex Town Center (Essex, Vermont) -- preliminary planning and permitting of a 400,000-sf mixed-use commercial and residential project in joint venture with Homestead Design, Inc. Extended Care Facilities (Tennessee) -- takeover, operation and work-out of $8.0 million Tennessee Extended Care Facilities (two) for Germany-based investment group (salvaging 100% of $2-million "lost" investment) -- sold Feb., 1992.

CFO / General Counsel

EuroWest Inns, Inc. (1992 - 2008) -- CFO, General Counsel & COO of resort hotel business. Negotiated, structured and effected acquisition from FDIC, workout, and debt restructuring of Essex Resort & Spa (formerly, The Inn at Essex), a 120-room, four-diamond luxury Vermont inn and conference center, featuring award-winning restaurants previously operated by the internationally-acclaimed New England Culinary Institute. Formation included structuring and syndication of $3.2-million partnership. Senior executive responsibilities for all aspects of hotel operations, accounting, financing, and legal. Oversaw rebranding, expansion, operation and evolution to a first-class resort, including construction and operation of premier on-site spa, tennis and other recreational facilities. Created and formulated the "Vermont Culinary Tourism" concept which includes state-of-the-art culinary training for leisure guests.

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CEO / CFO Creative Entertainment Concepts, Inc. (1987 - 1990) -- CEO, CFO & Founder of San Diego hospitality company which designed, constructed opened and operated an ocean-front 12,000-sf fine dining restaurant and nightclub complex on Mission Beach . Created and implemented business plan, including $1.5 million limited partnership syndication. Acted as developer in design and build-out of $2.0 million project (completed on budget). Operations CEO of restaurant facility with $3.5+ million annual sales and 150person staff. Designed accounting systems, and hands-on CFO responsibility for all cash-flow planning, budgeting and accounting. Total management responsibility for all business operations.

Venture Capital

Sorrento Associates, Inc. (1986-1987). Vice President, General Counsel of San Diego regional investment banking firm. Responsible for General Counsel legal functions, including financial analysis and strategic planning. Legal role in the structuring and organization of initial $10.0 million private venture capital fund. Left to pursue entrepreneurial opportunity. Achieved Series 7 accreditation.

Attorney

Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, formerly, Aylward, Kintz & Stiska (1982-1987). San Diego Attorney with practice emphasizing business transactions, corporate & contracts law, mergers & acquisitions, tax planning, partnership & securities matters, and real estate law. Industry specialization included real estate development, radio & TV broadcasting, hotels, venture capital, and oil & gas. University of San Diego LL.M. Tax Program (1984 - 1986). Adjunct Professor (part-time while practicing law). Courses included Income Tax Planning and Sales and Exchanges.

CPA

Coopers & Lybrand (1980 - 1982) -- CPA (part-time) with Palo Alto and San Jose offices while attending Stanford Law School. Emphasis in corporate and partnership taxation and real estate & entertainment syndications. Price Waterhouse & Co. (1976 - 1979) -- CPA with experience in both audit and tax departments. Industry experience included radio & TV, newspaper publishing, copper mining, and real estate development. Youngest promotion to Senior-Level in Company's history.

PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION Attorney-At-Law California (1982 - current) Certified Public Accountant California (1981 - expired) Arizona (1979 - expired)

EDUCATION Law (J.D.) Stanford Law School (Palo Alto, California). Graduated - May, 1982. GPA: 3.6 of 4.0 (top 15%).

Accounting (B.S.)

Arizona State University (Tempe, Arizona). Graduated - December, 1976. GPA: 3.9 of 4.0 (top 1%).

OTHER Personal Married (Kjirsten).