Rick Rothwell

Capabilities

• Business Growth Strategies
• Financial Planning/Analysis
• Product Development & Marketing
• Budgeting & Cost Allocation
• Personnel Motivation
• Direction-setting
• WOW Customer Service
• Relationship Management
• Business leadership

Biography

Rick has a diversified background in business. He has served as a corporate controller/VP of Finance for a manufacturing subsidiary of a Fortune 500 company. During his 10-year tenure he developed a concise understanding of cost accounting and inventory transactions. He developed processes and reporting requirements for material and labor reporting. He was also responsible for the manufacturing operations for a short time.

Serving as VP-Operations of a small manufacturing company in Boulder, Colorado, he headed a manufacturing team that introduced process improvements that allowed the company to double sales without increasing headcount. While at this company, he was part of a team that grew the business from $6 million to $12 million in two years.

In 1990, he moved to Oklahoma City to work for an ex-boss. Rick was responsible for all of the manufacturing functions for a large plastics company (primarily injection molding). This company was a subsidiary of a Fortune 500 company, and his inclusion on the management team was key, so that the team could focus on the growth of the business. In the four and one-half years that he was with this company, he helped to grow the revenues from $16M to $65M. This rapid growth included the acquisition of a major competitor. He was charged with the responsibility of moving the acquired company from Chicago to Oklahoma City.

In 1994, he and his wife purchased their own businesses in the Oklahoma City area. They purchased two 1-hour photo-finishing stores that included portrait studios. The stores were part of a 400-store franchise. During their seven-year ownership, they were honored with every award that the franchise awarded- Marketer of the Year, National Franchisee of the Year, and Customer Service Program of the Year. They sold the stores in 2001 in order to move home to Cheyenne.

After moving back to Cheyenne, he has consulted with people looking to get into self-employment options – particularly franchising. He helped many entrepreneurs join franchises that would meet their individual goals, needs and expectations. He placed people into franchises across the country, as well as one placement in Mexico City. He has also consulted with business owners on how to improve their business, via one-on-one consulting services.

Rick is one of nine “Trained Brains” nationwide, who help national business growth guru Doug Hall teach business growth to companies.

In May, 2010, Rick received 2 national awards at the National Manufacturing Extension Partnership convention in Orlando. He was part of the “Lean Team” from Wyoming that was recognized for delivering Lean Solutions to companies in Wyoming, and helping those companies to increase their profitability. He was also recognized as part of the Eureka Trained Brains, who have helped the MEP network to develop and implement Business Growth Services on a national level.