Current Searches

MRG is continually beginning and completing new search assignments. For more information about any of the positions listed below, send an e-mail with your resume and letter of interest to the appropriate e-mail address in the listing. As a retained search firm, we do not keep a resume database and do not accept unsolicited resumes unless you are qualified for a position we currently have open.

Director of Information Services

Our client, a Midwest manufacturing firm, is seeking a Director of Information Services reporting to the VP of Operations.

1. Lead the IT department’s operational and strategic planning, including fostering innovation, planning projects and organizing and negotiating the allocation of resources.
2. Manage IT staffing, including recruitment, supervision, scheduling, development, evaluation and disciplinary actions.
3. Manage and participate in the deployment, monitoring, maintenance, development, upgrade and support of all IT systems, including telecommunications, servers, PCs, operating systems, hardware, software, peripherals and Office Automation equipment.
4. Identify appropriate e-business strategy and plan: Internet, Intranet, Web Site, and E-Commerce based on company presence and customer demands.
5. Develop software and hardware standards.
6. Research and recommend “leading-edge” technologies and systems.  Maintain a proficiency in “state of the art” technologies.
7. Evaluate and select 3rd party consultants.  Establish contractual relationship with consultants and oversee business partner relationships.  Establish appropriate depth of knowledge of infrastructure.
8. Maintain and improve IT Corporate Compliance standards and policies and procedures to ensure external audit requirements are exceeded.
9. Develop business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for all new capital IT spending and initiatives.
10. Develop and maintain an IT Disaster Recovery Plan.
11. Maintain existing ERP and make recommendations for appropriate adjustments needed by the company.
12. Oversee provision of end-user services, including help desk and technical support services, measuring response time and monitoring “customer” satisfaction, assuring that all service levels are appropriate.
13. Provide reports that help all functional areas of the company reach their goals and objectives.
14. Act as technical liaison between the company and all technology consultants and vendors.
15. Develop and maintain a LAN/WAN infrastructure to support business requirements.
16. Evaluate operating performance of the Information Systems against agreed-upon levels of response time, system availability, and delivery of information; identify and take corrective action where necessary to meet the established goals.
17. Provide project implementation support for all new system projects.
18. Prioritize and manage daily, weekly, and monthly operating schedules to ensure highest levels of data integrity and appropriate levels of system backup and recovery capability.
19. Maintain an accurate inventory of all capital IT equipment.
20. Support all existing applications.
21. Manage people and processes to coordinate all multi-site locations.  Ensure each site has required staff, clearly identified measurements of performance, and that all are held accountable for goals and objectives.

The successful candidate will have the following qualifications:
• IT degree, preferably an MBA
• IT manager or director level individual capable of the next step upward in his/her career
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong financial acumen,  including cost/benefit analysis and budgeting
• Security and disaster-recovery experience
• Previous people management experience
• Strategic – visionary

Past experience should include:
• Manufacturing
• Multi-site
• ERP conversion
• Worked with company of $100 million or larger
• Part of a senior management team
• Web site development
• Working in a fast-paced environment
• Capital investment justification

Send letter of interest and resume in Word format to: mailto:dan@mrgpeople.com or call 563-323-3333.

President, Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce

The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit corporation serving the business communities of Clinton and Camanche, Iowa and Fulton, Illinois since 1872.  Supported by its 563 member and a dynamic board of directors, it is unquestionably one of the most proactive Chambers of Commerce in the Midwest.  The Chamber has a long history of encouraging a strong local economy, a receptive business climate, sound government, and a high quality of life.  The Chamber is focusing on several initiatives to improve the community, including:
• Transportation initiatives – U.S. Highway 30 expanded to four lanes between I-88 and I-380; Expansion of 19th Avenue North, etc.
• Local and state government advocacy
• Tourism development
• Membership development and membership services
• Community development (recreational and quality of life amenities, gateway corridor and business district revitalization, quality education institutions)

POSITION SUMMARY
The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for a dynamic, visionary leader to run the Chamber’s operations.   Following is an overview of the position:
• The President shall be the Chief Administrative and Executive Officer of the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce with responsibility for the full range of its activities. 
• The President shall serve as Secretary of the Corporation and to the Board of Directors.
• The President shall serve as an advisor to the Chairman and Chairman-Elect on program planning, and shall assemble information and data, and cause to be prepared special reports as directed by the Program of the Chamber.
• The President shall be a non-voting member of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and all other committees and task forces.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
The Chamber President will answer to the Chamber Chairman and Board of Directors of the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Position the chamber as a leading force for progress in the Clinton area by building strong working partnerships with county, city, state, school, higher education and other strategic regional partners.
• Provide leadership in developing the chamber’s multi-year strategic plans and annual business plans. 
• Strengthen the chamber by increasing revenues, growing and engaging the membership and developing key strategic initiatives and the resources to support them.
• Manage the chamber’s operations, including overseeing management of budgets and finances, staff, board of directors and volunteers and implementation of the chamber’s strategic and business plans.
• Identify chamber and community needs and develop a program designed to meet those needs; provide motivation to staff and volunteers to accomplish Chamber activities.    With the assistance of the Divisional Chairpersons, the President shall be responsible for the administration of the program of work in accordance with the policies and regulations of the Board of Directors.
• With cooperation of the Budget & Finance Committee, the President shall be responsible for the management of all financial activities of the Chamber, including affiliated organizations and special funds.  Prepare an annual operating budget, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.  Monitor income and all expenditures within approved budget allocation.  Prepare periodic financial reports for the Board of Directors.  Hire an annual audit staff to review financial information and to prepare an annual report for the Chamber.
• Hire and discharge all staff members when deemed appropriate.  Supervise and assign overall work responsibilities to appropriate staff members and provide staff training programs.  Evaluate staff for efficiency and performance on an annual basis including salary reviews and fringe benefit packages.
• Meet regularly with the Board of Directors.  Purpose is to advise the Board on community and organization issues.  Maintain accurate records of these meetings and transactions.  Assist the Board in the formulation of policy and interpret Board policy to the staff, committees and community as appropriate.
• Serve as the Chief Official Spokesman of the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Fulfill all of the legal obligations of the Chamber in accordance with the bylaws and all applicable federal, state and local laws.


MAJOR INITIATIVES
• In concert with strategic partners, support the development of a community vision plan to guide economic and community development efforts.
• Establish close working relationships with city and county governments and work toward strengthening local government.
• Advance major transportation initiatives toward completion (i.e. U.S. Highway 30 four-laning to Interstate 88; extension of 19th Avenue North)
• Support community development initiatives that enhance the quality of life and livability of the Clinton area (amenities, gateway corridors, educational institutions)
• Actively support the revitalization of key gateway corridors and business districts by insuring sound planning and aggressive implementation.
• Continue to develop more tourism through effective CVB marketing and sales efforts.
• Strengthen the chamber by growing the membership, engaging the membership and developing more revenue in support of chamber programs and initiatives.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
• Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in business, administration, public administration, economic development or related field. Advanced degree or chamber accreditation preferred
• Minimum of 3 years of executive experience in chamber, economic development or equivalent experience is required
• Experience in a comparable organization in a community with a population of 10,000 or more
• Demonstrated effectiveness as an inspirational leader, with strong written and verbal communications skills
• A history of generating respect and support when successfully engaging, partnering, building alliances with a wide range of constituencies and influencers that includes business leaders, economic development partners, elected officials and the media

EXPERIENCE
• Successful membership development and fund-raising initiatives
• Knowledge of city, county, state and federal legislative processes and public-private funding partnerships
• Familiarity and knowledge of transportation issues, including Highway access projects
• Demonstrated ability to manage chamber (or equivalent organizations) finances and human resources (hiring, firing, development/training, compensation and performance appraisals)
• Record of successfully managing board of directors, volunteer committees and task forces
• A record of developing successful community and economic development strategies
• Knowledge and ability to successfully support the marketing, sales efforts of a Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Experience with successful business recruitment, retention, expansion, creation efforts
• Ability to develop strategic planning, goals setting, action plans, budgeting, staffing plans
• Previous experience working with quality of life issues in a constructive manner (i.e., schools and beautification projects)
• Demonstrative knowledge of local, state and national issues which affect the community

SKILLS
• Communicator, who is honest about the state of the business environment, acknowledges concerns, works at building morale, celebrates small wins, and encourages others to be proactive about helping to improve the business environment in the region.
• Able to ensure alignment within the organization so that everyone is working towards the same goals and that they understand any change in direction.
• Networker who builds collaborative and productive relationships with others both inside and outside the chamber, and maintains a wide network of contacts that can be leveraged on behalf of the organization’s goals.
• Impact and influence:  Have the ability to generate support from others to achieve the desired outcome, especially in situations where there is no clear “ownership” of the issue under discussion.  Exhibit this competency in a planned and strategic way, never randomly.  Motivate others to want to follow them even when they don’t have to.
• Able to operate one-on-one, as a peer, with local business CEO’s.
• Strong organizational leader who can engage the business community and local elected officials in a functioning and vital public/private partnership
• Ability and demonstrated success working with groups to develop strategies to implement community and economic development initiatives.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
• Energetic, assertive, dynamic, positive leader
• Strong verbal, written and public speaking skills
• Diplomacy and ability to manage conflict
• Well organized, multi-tasker
• Dynamic interpersonal skills
• Resilient, assertive and self reliant
• Team player, good partner
• Strategic thinking, critical thinking
• Enthusiastic, energetic fresh look
• Good partner and collaborator
• Brings an outside perspective
• Results oriented, follows through
• Unafraid of change and adversity
• Adaptive to different people

SALARY AND BONUS
Commensurate with experience.

RELOCATION
The company will pay reasonable and negotiated moving and relocation expenses.

Send letter of interest and resume in Word format to: hap@mrgpeople.com or call 563-323-3333 and ask for Hap Georlett.