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As President of Kaleidoscope Business Options, Inc., Mary Bruce helps fast growing businesses survive success by providing strategic, operational and financial planning services. Ms. Bruce brings to this task over thirty years of business and volunteer leadership experience.
Business Planning
Established a long-range planning process that increased focus on core businesses, led to three acquisitions and resulted in sales growth at triple the market rate.
Financial Control
Developed a participative budgeting process and the organizational disciplines to support it. Designed new performance measurement systems and created an early warning projection model that supported achievement of targeted profit results for nine consecutive years.
Project Management
Successfully managed five separate AS/400 system implementations that brought nine sites from mainframe, System 36 and PC environments to newly developed AS/400 business systems. These projects allowed full integration of three newly acquired companies.
Investment Analysis
Saved the company over $20,000,000 through relentless search for better business alternatives to proposed capital expenditures.
Leadership
Created three positions and established these new staff functions with skeptical line managers. Recruited and developed seven MBA analysts into high performing employees. Attended Sandoz Chemicals' international management program, Mastering Change, in France.
Quality
Provided leadership in successful implementation of the Quality Improvement Process. Twice received Sandoz Chemicals' highest quality recognition: The Winner's Circle Award.
Employment Background
Sandoz Chemicals Corporation (now Clariant Corporation) (1983-1995). Executive Director Planning and Operational Analysis; Manager Inventory Planning; Manager Business Planning; Planning Analyst.
National Gypsum Company (1979-1983). Senior Market Analyst.
Garlock Garkit Division of Colt Industries (1978-1979). Market Analyst.
Package Products Div. of Engraph, Inc. (1975-1978). Market Research Analyst; Personnel Assistant.
Activities and Organizations
Business Expansion Funding Corporation (formerly CCDC). Board Member 2008 to present. Board Vice Chair 2009-2011. Advisory Board Member, 1998-2004.
Business Success Institute, Charlotte Chapter. Sponsor and instructor, 2005-2011.
Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. Member since 1995. Minority Business Leadership Institute Advisory Board Member and Instructor, 1999 to 2002. Small Business Council Chair, 2001-2002.
Charlotte Council on Alcoholism & Chemical Dependency. Board, 1986-1991. Board Chair, 1989-1990.
CPCC BEST Program. Coach and Instructor, 1996-2004.
National Association of Women Business Owners. Member 1995-2011. Board Member, 1996-1999.
Queens University McColl School of Business, Entrepreneurial Leadership Circle. Member, Mentor, Speaker and Review Panel Member for EMBA business plan presentations, 2004 to present.
The Charlotte Business Journal's Women in Business Mentoring Program. Mentor 2004 to present.
WECS WINGS Scholarship Program. Mentor, 1995-2000. Mentor Coordinator, 1996-2000. Capital Campaign Administrator, 2001-2004. WECS Board Member, 2002-2004.
Women Executives. Member, 1978-1984 and 1994 to present. Board Member, 1979-1980 and 1996-1997.
Honors and Awards
Charlotte Chamber's Entrepreneur Awards. One of 3 finalists in the 1-10 employee category, 2002.
The Business Journal Women in Business Achievement Awards. One of 25 recipients in 2001.
The Charlotte Post Best Awards. Named Small Business Advocate of the Year, 2001.
National Association of Women Business Owners. Woman Business Owner of the Year Award Finalist, 2009; Rising Star Award Finalist, 1996 and 1997.
Education
Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. High honors.
Strategy Formulation and Implementation, University of Michigan Executive Business Program.
Quality Management College, Phil Crosby Associates.
School of Marketing, American Marketing Association.
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