Charisse F. Wernecke Ph.D., CPA (inactive)

Professional Experience

Faculty, Stevenson University 2011 to present

President, Institute of Notre Dame:

Transformation to achieve sustainability:

• Spearheaded an inclusive strategic planning process that articulated the vision, goals, and implementation steps to promote future prosperity
• Increased revenues through higher enrollment, fund raising, improved endowment fund investing
• Balanced the School’s operating budget for the first time in years
• Enriched the 160-year old building’s appearance to showcase its history and character

Academic enhancements:

• Initiated a one-to-one student Tablet-PC program to enhance instruction and engage students
• Launched a Bio-Medical Sciences program as part of the national STEM initiative
• Developed partnerships with local institutions by establishing an exchange program for college credits with a university and two full nursing scholarships with a local hospital
• Increased funding for and scheduling of faculty development

Revenue generation through increased enrollment and fundraising:

• Increased financial aid and technology through grants and gifts
• Cultivated new donors by establishing Grandparents Day, the Scholarship Luncheon, the Corporate Open House, and by hosting receptions at the President’s Home
• Re-engaged alumnae through e-newsletters, school magazines, and support of their programs
• Improved visibility through personal visits, branding, and creative marketing

Chief Financial Office, Boys’ Latin School:

Leadership

• Served as the right-hand to four headmasters and on Board of Trustee committees for finance, human resources, budgeting, risk management, financial aid, technology, endowment, and strategic planning
• Led the production of three strategic plans: solicited input from constituents, analyzed data, authored workshop executive overview books, and created detailed implementation plans
• Designed and implemented a school-wide technology plan for academic enrichment and administrative efficiency
• Advocated for the creation of the academic dean position, subsequently approved, which allowed for comprehensive management of curriculum from kindergarten through 12th grade
• Authored vital sections of the school’s ten-year accreditation for the Association of Independent Maryland Schools [AIMS] Self Study, Action Plans, and School-wide Goals

Financial management and human resources:

• Eliminated operating losses of the school and associated line of credit debt by implementing effective measures for fiscal responsibility and financial budgeting
• Grew the endowment by funding depreciation, selecting an investment advisor, and establishing investment and spending policies
• Negotiated with MHHEFA for low-interest state bonds to fund construction and re-finance debt
• Increased faculty compensation after benchmarking salaries at peer schools; improved all benefits
• Authored a comprehensive employee policy manual

Chief Financial Office, Lion Brothers Company

Leadership

• Key member of the management team of this mid-sized manufacturing company responsible for finance, personnel, information systems, customer service, and pricing; served as chief liaison for the joint venture China facility (Lion Redcliffe)
• Played an integral role in the strategic planning process to position the company as a high quality, low cost produce
• Spearheaded the contract renewal with the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU), provided rationale for increases in compensation
• Co-authored, developed, and implemented a business plan for manufacturing that supported an effective inmate rehabilitation plan

Effective development of sales and marketing strategies

• Analyzed profitability by market segment to identify niches on which to focus
• Created and utilized a pricing model to maximize profits based upon direct costs, order volume, offshore possibilities and customer history
• Developed a sales incentive program based upon growth and profitability

Finance, accounting, budgeting, treasury, forecasting, cash management, bank borrowing, physical inventory, annual audit, and monthly financial statements

• Developed and implemented monthly financial statements including ratio analysis, inventory turnover, cost of goods sold details with an executive narrative summary
• Created and implemented an annual budget by cost center for Board approval
• Negotiated a bank-financing package structured with an operating line of credit and a term loan facility as well as lease negotiations for equipment acquisitions
• Formulated a cash management program designed to minimize operating debt costs by focusing upon collection procedures and reduced inventory levels

Audit Manager, Ernst & Young