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Howard Cohen

11 Alpine Court, Smithtown, NY 11787

631.830.1011 – cohenhow@gmail.com

Information Technology Executive

Long Term Proven Track Record of Delivering Successful Profit-Driven Technology Solutions

Core areas of expertise and qualifications:

Information Technology Professional with outstanding leadership abilities and a broad range of knowledge and experience in strategic planning, development, and implementation of enterprise wide IT initiatives, including software development, networking, and telecommunications.

Proven ability to design, implement and manage enterprise architecture and business solutions with significant return on investment. Extensive experience developing systems for a high transactional volume environment that includes: retail, wholesale and ecommerce.

Hands on experience leading all phases of development cycle while coordinating and motivating project team and communicating effectively with other departments within the organization.

Have expertise in managing several industry standard databases on multiple platforms. These platforms include Windows and Linux based operating systems, Oracle, MySQL, and SQL Server database environments. Have current experience on AS400.

Budget planning, staffing, P&L, Asset Management, Documentation, Source Code control, Disaster Recovery & System Redundancy, Software Selection, Quality control and Outsourcing.

Professional Experience

The Parts Authority, Inc – Rockville Centre, NY February 2002 - Present

IT Director

Establish an IT department from the ground up for 10 location 50 mm auto parts chain. Chain has grown to 35 locations and 200mm nationwide utilizing innovative and adaptive technologies and strategies to facilitate rapid growth.

Provide leadership, vision, and make final decisions on all technology projects working with business leaders to meet organizational goals and objectives in fluid and rapid growth environment.

• Started IT Department for $200 million Auto Parts Company with 35 locations.
• Responsible for $1 million IT budget and final decision making in all hardware and software purchases.
• Implemented private T-1 network that reduced communications cost and increased performance.
• Selected Warehouse Distribution system that runs on an AS400 to replace 20-year-old proprietary UNIX system at the Parts Authority. Led rapid, 3-month successful implementation including data conversion/cleanup of 2.7 million part records and 2.1 million invoice records. Company processed 5,000 transactions first day of go live. Subsequently have integrated 4 multi-store acquisitions into our computer systems within 20-45 days of each takeover.
• Generated over $30 million in additional annual sales by leading E-commerce initiative.
• Reduced capital tied up in inventory by over 10% by creating an inventory evaluation program to support executive decision making and put the right parts on the shelf. Current inventory is in excess of $50 million.
• Manage extension of staff of 3 programmers 2 web designers, and one graphics person in Bangalore in addition to 2 programmers and 4 network and support personnel onsite.

All bases covered – Houston, TX July 2001 to January 2002

Senior IT Manager

• Responsible for Financial, Payroll, and HRMS systems using Oracle Financials.
• Improved financial reporting across the enterprise by managing an initiative to distribute reports written in ASP on the company intranet.
• Reduced DSO by 6 days and improved cash flow by developing an improved process for accepting credit cards and online payments at All Bases Covered.

SiteStuff, Inc – Austin, TX January 2000 to July 2002

Director, Information Services (June 2000 – July 2001)

• Enabled the achievement of corporate vision, strategy and goals through targeted IT initiatives.
• Senior member of corporate management involved in defining business strategies and designing technology solutions to business problems.
• Responsible for investigating and implementing new technology, including infrastructure development, to maintain a competitive edge.
• Responsible for scheduling and balancing IT resources in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

ERP Services Manager (January 2000 – June 2000)

• Managed the implementation of Oracle Financials and built in-house ERP staff of eight to replace the outsourced consulting team.
• Enhanced operational and financial integration through automation of manual business processes via targeted Oracle customizations and process workflow.
• Responsible for Financial system, end-to-end EDI integration with suppliers, catalog management, Web integration, customer interfaces, and coordination with the Quality Assurance team for integration and acceptance testing prior to each production release.

IKON Office Solutions – Houston, TX May 1997 to January 2000

Project Manager Financial Systems (March 1999 – January 2000)

• Managed projects focused on migrating ancillary accounting systems to Oracle Financials, including a custom Overnight Aging and Collection system.
• Managed the Y2K testing and remediation of ancillary accounting applications.

Senior Team Lead Financial Systems (March 1998 – February 1999)

• Managed the rewrite of interfaces to Oracle Financials when Oracle Financials was implemented to replace Macola as the corporate accounting system.

Team Lead Financial Systems (May 1997 – February 1998)

• Managed and participated in the software development and modifications to the field accounting system in 200 sites, including interfaces to the corporate accounting system

InTErnational Accounting soFtware – Melville, NY November 1991 to April 1997

IT Manager / Application Developer

• Managed all phases of business including Payables, receivables, Payroll, and software development.
• Developed a multi-company, multi-currency, and multi-user integrated accounting system written in Foxpro. Installed base of approximately 250 sites at IAS.
• Designed and developed 75% of the code for the following modules: General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Inventory Management, Sales Order, Purchase Order and System Administration modules.

Redi Industries – Hempstead, NY, RUSSELL INDUSTRIES – Oceanside, NY September 1987 to October 1991

Programmer Analyst

Systematics Data Marketing – Syosset, NY January 1984 to August 1987

Programmer Analyst

Professional Classes

Management and Leadership competencies	Leadership & Management Development
Project Management	Team Building workshops
Diversity Awareness	Management Training Classes

Hofstra University – Bachelor of Business Administration 1983

Major – Business Computer Information Systems