May 18th

It is essential for companies with government contracts to adopt real-word strategies to master and manage effectively areas of Contract Administration and Cash Flow Management Governance. These competencies are vital to the success of government contractors in a unique market. The Government has an interest in offering contractors opportunities for financial rewards sufficient to stimulate effective contract performance, and to attract the best qualified small and large business concerns. Rules, however, need to be understood and implemented in order to achieve good contract performance, profitability and adequate cash flow levels. This is especially important for contractors operating in a leveraged environment where strong operational and financial controls are critical success factor.

Guests:

Christine Zmuda– Government Contractor Engagement Manager, Microsoft
Matthew McLauchlin– Parnter, Tatum, LLC
Dwayne L. Cook– Parnter, Tatum, LLC

About the Guests:

Christine Zmuda
Government Contractor Engagement Manager
Microsoft

In her 14 year tenure, Christine Zmuda has held several leadership and individual contributor positions at Microsoft. A pioneer at heart, much of her focus has been in early phase businesses at Microsoft. In the late nineties, Ms. Zmuda was part of a small team that brought Microsoft’s first software as a service offering to market effectively growing that business to $75M in three years. Ms. Zmuda went on to lead the Midatlantic Platform business which was a $220M business with the focus of growing the midmarket infrastructure and applications installed base. In her current role, Ms. Zmuda leads the Microsoft Dynamics Strategy for financial management and contract management for government contractors. In this capacity, Ms. Zmuda works with the Microsoft product teams and extended partner solution provider teams to ensure Microsoft Dynamics meets the unique requirements of government cost accounting. Ms. Zmuda also leads much of the government community based efforts to include executive events as well as a blog for Government Contractors.

Prior to Microsoft, Ms. Zmuda was employed by Mobil Oil prior to the Exxon acquisition. At Mobil Oil, MS. Zmuda worked on one of the first EDI projects which automated inventory payments for US based company owned service stations. Her last position at Mobil involved working on several technology programs oriented at improving the customer experience like the Mobil Speed Pass, which remains a differentiator for Mobil Oil today.

Ms. Zmuda is a graduate of Michigan State University (B.A. degree) and American University (M.B.A.) Ms. Zmuda is a member of Secaf.org, Women in Technology, and the Professional Services Council. Ms. Zmuda also holds a board position on the Technology Council of Maryland.

Matthew McLauchlin
Parnter
Tatum, LLC

Mr. McLauchlin is an International Management Expert with 18 years of successful executive management, financial management/budgeting, reality-based strategic planning and execution, solution-oriented problem solving, organization development and restructuring, diplomacy, and program implementation in corporate and government sectors. Specialize in the development and implementation of financial planning, metrics/bench-marking, risk management, strategic planning, and appropriations accessing a personal global network of experts in business, finance, government, security, and international organizations.

Mr. McLauchlin is a Partner in the Mid-Atlantic Office of Tatum, LLC. Tatum is the largest Executive Services firm in the U.S. that offer executive, consulting and search services. Tatum focuses on optimizing the Office of the CFO, helping organizations facing challenges or transition due to, Performance issues, Mergers, acquisitions or exit, Rapid growth, Infrastructure constraints, and Leadership skill or capacity gap. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of the Grossman Burn Foundation that is a non-profit international reconstructive surgery provider coordinating finance management and operations.

Mr. McLauchlin’s career has included serving as the Director and Managing Member of a consortium of companies responsible for directing the due diligence and financing of corporate acquisitions (including light manufacturing, mining, hospitality, finance, and business services) and real estate ventures with values in excess of $180 million. Additionally he developed a strategic acquisition and consulting firm from initial inception to holding $356 million in balance sheet assets and revenues of over $1.2 million in only a 2-year period. During this same time he was the acting CFO for international medical relief group providing delivery of humanitarian medical supplies during active combat/conflict operations.

Mr. McLauchlin specializes in implementing turnkey solutions for ensuring project success for corporations from initial assessment, to strategy development, resource funding, work outs/turnarounds, and supporting emerging market investors, governments, and corporations by developing and implementing customized programs through a global network of world class experts and capabilities. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of the Grossman Burn Foundation that is a non-profit international reconstructive surgery provider coordinating finance management and operations.

Mr. McLauchlin served as the Senior Advisor for Finance to the Palestine Ministry of Interior in Ramallah, West Bank through the US Security Coordinator in Jerusalem, Israel. Previously he served four years in Afghanistan as the Senior Advisor and Director of Special Projects to the US Ambassador, Commander of US Forces, and Commander of NATO Forces. He was responsible for overseeing and coordinating the $18 billion US funding and assistance to the US Mission to Afghanistan. Additionally he is responsible for managing special projects and analysis of operational policy implementation as well as conducting reviews/investigations into potential mismanagement. Concurrently he served as Liaison on Afghanistan resource issues with Executive and Senior Leadership in Washington.

Mr. McLauchlin has held special political appointments in the U.S. Government to advise senior executive leadership including the National Security Council, State Department, Defense Department, NASA, the United Nations, US Congress, and other US and international agencies on program implementation and strategy execution with direct implications for foreign policy, national security policy, strategy, program planning, implementation, and budgets.

He holds degrees in Political Science/International Security Affairs from the University of Michigan, Human Development/Psychology from Eckerd College, and an MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix. He is currently completing his Doctorate in Business Administration at the International School of Management in Paris, France with an emphasis on strategic leadership in crisis management and emerging market environments. Mr. McLauchlin is a member of the American Foreign Service Association.

Dwayne L. Cook
Parnter
Tatum, LLC

Cook is Practice Leader – Partner for the Mid-Atlantic Practice of Tatum.

Cook specializes in finance, accounting, mergers and acquisitions, sales management and operations. During his career his professional experience includes working for both consulting and professional services firms, public corporations and a private equity company. As Practice Leader Cook is currently building the practice driving aggressive business development activity, managing the consulting and executive services practices and assisting in driving key thought leadership in the MidAtlantic practice and Tatum, nationally. Focus areas include government contracting, restructuring, private equity and financial services.

As a consultant Cook consulted and lectured internationally regarding the impact of US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards on an entity’s reported financial results. Areas of expertise include SEC, revenue recognition, business combinations, financial instruments and valuation, structured finance, debt and equity. The industries covered include hedge funds, finance companies, private equity, manufacturing, retail and banking. As EVP and Chief Financial Officer of Charter One Mortgage Cook developed, integrated and managed superior finance and accounting functions post acquisition for parent, Charter One Financial, by focusing on strategic initiatives identified by the parent company including analyzing complex accounting standards and communicating the impact of those standards to executive management, measuring and communicating key performance metrics to business line managers, the Board of Directors for improved performance. Cook’s breadth of experience includes managing sales and operations for Fidelity Funding and Title, First Independence Mortgage Corporation and Charter One Mortgage. His excellent communication skills and leadership were evidenced by rapid advancement and promotions to executive management. He led the recruitment, training and retention of seasoned sales professionals supporting growth initiatives.

Cook began his career as an accountant in Dallas, Texas with KPMG. Cook worked and an accountant, auditor and consultant for financial services, federal, manufacturing and retail clients during his tenure with KPMG and departed as a Senior Manager-Consulting.

Cook continues to train and instruct and has been interviewed and quoted in several national publications including American Banker and The Wall Street Journal

Cook received his Bachelors of Business Administration degree from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas.

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