Laura L. Webster, CPA

Experience

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  AT&T/Lucent Bell Labs

  Jan 1972 - Jan 2001

  Manager

  My last role was the Chief Financial Officer of a semiconductor unit in Orlando with $1B top line and 2,000 employees. Prior to that I was the audit manager for Caribbean Latin America. I travelled in the region extensively to perform audits of AT&T subsidiaries in the region. Everything from sales offices to major telecom infrastructure projects to joint ventures to manufacture switching equipment with Brazil.

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  AT&T and Lucent Technologies

  Mar 1973 - Feb 2001

  Management

  Worked for AT&T in high school, through college, through passing CPA exam. Relocated to Chicago, New Jersey, Orlando, Miami and back to Orlando for various positions. Was Regional Audit Director for Caribbean Latin America, back office accounting for Consumer Products division and CFO of semiconductor unit, to name a few.

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  Agere Systems

  Jan 1996 - Jan 2001

  CFO of Cirent

  Cirent Semiconductor was a joint venture of Cirrus Logic and Lucent Technologies. Lucent later did a spin off of the semiconductor unit. That company was called Agere.

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  Lucent Technologies

  Jan 1996 - Jan 2001

  CFO of Cirent

  Lucent was formerly part of AT&T and was spun off in 1995. Lucent formed a joint venture with Cirrus Logic that became Cirent.

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  Cirent Semiconductor

  Nov 1996 - Feb 2001

  Chief Financial Officer

  Administered all financial and accounting activities for the facility, including managing accounting staff. Participated as member of the management team, reporting to the Cirent board for the financial results and the outside audit. Prepared charts and studies for the Board of Directors. Prepared the annual budget. Traveled to Singapore to perform seminal cost benchmarking. Developed and managed a capital budget of up to $150 million per year, and a $400 million capital budget for the R&D line. Met or exceeded cost-per-wafer goals. Found 10% in budget savings, enabling company to achieve financial goals when business slowed.Maximized resources by employing leveraged operating leases for fabrication equipment.Modeled several strategies for Lucent’s planned acquisition of the Cirrus Logic fabrication capacity.Researched and selected a bank, managing large cash account using Repurchase Overnight (REPO) agreements Show less

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  Tatum

  Feb 2001 - Apr 2003

  Partner

  Consulted with client companies, providing tailored CFO services.• Created 5-year projected financial statements for a new company, including income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and projected personnel; served as interim CFO as company sold manufacturing capabilities to Tyco International.• Conducted post-bankruptcy due diligence audit on a subsidiary of Lernout & Hauspie following lawsuit by a key shareholder.• Led financial elements of bid submission to the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for post 9-11, next-generation voice recognition software. Show less

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  Orlando Law Firm

  Apr 2003 - Nov 2009

  CFO

  Orchestrated growth and expansion of local law firm, provided direction to staff, managing and training 20 people including legal and pre-litigation staff. Responsible for all areas of Accounting and Risk Management, Human Resources and Information Technology. Established every business process needed to successfully run the practice. • Managed the firm’s significant financial growth from its inception, implementing systems and procedures to properly manage the finances and operations.• Built cash account through careful use of growth strategy, cash management and spending discipline.• Landed and negotiated profitable agreements with firm’s two largest clients.• Built corporate identity through television advertising campaign and Web site launch Show less

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  CFO Strategic Partners

  Apr 2007 - Jan 2008

  Consulting CFO

  CFO Strategic Partners creates significant value for its clients using a number of proprietary tools that were developed to supplement traditional financial reporting. Use of “best practices” approach to provide client executive team with the processes and information required to better manage and grow the company. Role: go in and solve problems of troubled companies.

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  Hannover Life Re America

  Nov 2008 - Mar 2012

  Strategic Financial Management, Transfer Pricing, IPO data room, developed company metrics for CFO, devised tax strategies to lower the companies income tax liability. Manage group of 5 professionals, accounts payable, fixed assets, cash, accounts receivable, book close, journal entries and budgets. Responsible for preparing internal management reports for Senior Management and Group Mangement in Hannover, Germany.

  • Assistant Vice President

    Feb 2011 - Mar 2012

  • General Accounting Manager

    Nov 2008 - Feb 2011
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  Arledge & Associates

  Apr 2012 - Jan 2013

  Director - Auditing / Consulting

  Develop the consulting practice at the firm; identify client needs and develop solutions. Implement practice aids and framework to achieve highest quality results for client. Design marketing to small and medium size business for virtual accounting solutions. Perform and direct audits of firm's clients. Market and participate in the business community of Edmond and the Greater Oklahoma City metro area.

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  Gaillardia Country Club

  Jan 2013 - Aug 2013

  Chief Financial Officer

  Provide financial oversight to club operations to ensure profitability and world class execution. Oversee accounting, human resources and information technology departments. Report to Executive Director and ownership.

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  Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

  Aug 2013 - Mar 2014

  Director of Accounting

  Manage accounting staff and deliver statutory accounting results for Ameriprise Financial property and casualty insurance division located in the Green Bay, WI area. Treasurer of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra and member of the board.

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  CFO Strategic Partners

  Mar 2014 - Jan 2015

  Consulting CFO

  Serve as full time, interim or part time CFO for clients. Quickly assess strategic and operational opportunities to guide company forward. Institute best practices. Serve as part of senior management team.

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  Invalid18215534

  Jan 2015 - Jun 2020

  Retired

  Retired

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  Edmond Mobile Meals

  Feb 2024 - now

  Volunteer