Chris Gattis

Plainsman Enterprises LLC is a financial and operational management consulting firm helping experienced and start-up companies thrive in today's competitive business environment.  We have recently:

• Led private clients in financial management consulting with start-up and existing companies,
• Guided new businesses with  start-up advisory services,
• Led large and small companies through a turnaround management,
• Facilitated business plan development and budget formulation that held up in ‘real life’ application,
• Placed financing and take-out/refinancing while managing lender relations,
• Assisted high net worth clients with real estate development and estate planning consulting services.

• Drove turnaround of then-$76MM building products distributor into nation’s largest privately-held distributor of industrial and commercial insulation, firestopping and accessory products.
• Significantly decreased interest cost and kept company in business by reducing DSO from 125 to 78 over a three-year period, with continued incremental improvements following on $25MM in accounts receivable by hiring a credit manager, developing credit standards and utilizing mechanics liens.  Annual sales growth exceeded 10% in each of the three years.  Theoretical interest savings would exceed $6MM annually.
• Reduced vehicle operating costs by over $100,000 annually by developing a fleet management system to monitor and improve efficiency of 160-vehicle fleet.  System included trip routing and vehicle efficiency, new vehicle specs, accident investigation and driver qualification file management exceeding USDOT requirements.
• Reduced workers’ compensation insurance costs $150,000 annually by decreasing the experience modifier from 1.18 to 0.84, a 29% decrease, over a three-year period by implementing pre-employment and random substance abuse testing, safety meetings and a return-to-work program for injured workers.
• Decreased cost of property and general liability insurance by creating a risk management program to mitigate exposure to vendor product and employee driving liability. 
• Developed financial reporting system, where none existed before, for 33 branch locations and regional groups including trend and comparison analysis to performance metrics.

• Converted business from ‘Job Shop’ to industrial operation, achieved 13% net sales increase through multi-pronged approach: reduced product lines from 20 to six; produced standard product to inventory.
• Increased production efficiency by 36% and decreased product costs 31% while reducing headcount 50% through major process improvements.
• Negotiated preferred raw material purchasing status with major US polystyrene manufacturers by leveraging international purchases; reduced costs by 36%.
• Reduced freight costs 41% by outsourcing freight business that had been internal since business inception.  Streamlined internal operations by eliminating an average of two hours daily from team leaders’ responsibilities.

• Led credit & collections staff that managed $50MM in accounts receivable, reducing bad debt from 0.42% of net sales to 0.12%, saving approximately $1.5MM annually.
• Protected company financial assets by providing consulting services for financially troubled customers; educated sales force in financial and risk assessment; managed bankruptcy and liquidation activities to minimize losses.
• Team, Facilitation, Communication and Quality Tools training from National Quality Organizations.
• Taught team-building and training and assisted in creation of production quality team program.
• At President’s direction, conducted comprehensive analysis of logistics, production scheduling & customer service functions.  Reorganization projected to save company approximately $1MM in excess freight costs and provide consistent operation throughout seven departments located in California, Indiana and Alabama.

• Premier project placed Honda electronic parts and R&D facility in Eastern NC.
• Managed site selection activities for expanding and relocating industrial concerns located in the Midwest.
• Guided site acquisition, environmental studies and community positioning analyses.
• Unique approach insured company and community fit that allowed for mutual long-term growth.

• Implemented production efficiency and budget performance reporting system adopted as the standard for all plants company-wide.
• Developed quality tools training for production management and line leaders, kick starting TQM effort and initiation of statistical process control at Lanett, Alabama facility that was adopted company-wide.
• Reported construction progress to International bank and local Industrial Development Board on construction of state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Chambers County, Alabama.
• Managed precious metals (primarily platinum) inventory of bulk material and production parts reporting purchases, usage and production losses to U.S. Government.

• Developed mortgage origination operation that generated $4.5MM of mortgage volume per month; performed originations, closings and appraisals; generated fee income of approximately $100,000/Month.
• Directed loan servicing activities that managed $85,000,000 first mortgage bond pool, generating over $300,000 in fee income per month.
• Developed reporting system to meet requirements of Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and Federal National Mortgage Association for mortgages serviced and properties with foreclosure/bankruptcy issues.
• Researched and reported REO (real estate owned) collateral recommendations to U.S. Government for FHLMC & FNMA.