Brock Waterman

Experience

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  FINL

  Jun 1997 - Sept 1997

  Client Support Technician and Associate Programmer

  Worked as a Client Support Technician and Associate Programmer

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  Lands' End

  Jun 1998 - Aug 2004

  Intern to Senior Programmer Analyst

  Key Accomplishments:• Saved over $500,000 on one project• Managed application with over 300 users• Taught myself Java programming language• Led numerous complicated cross-team projects• Earned 5 promotions in 6 years moving; Identified cost savings of over $500,000 by developing an in-house solution• Designed entirely new systems from client specifications • Served as weekly on-call for the merchandising systems of the company• Provided leadership as a business and/or technical lead for numerous projects• Developed and supported mainframe applications using COBOL, JCL and DB2• Supported a small packaged application, StyleManager, with over 300 users on my own• Mentored junior staff consisting of interns and employees new to certain technologies• Learned Java programming language on my own and developed Java programs for 2 years Show less

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  Business Model Consultant

  Jan 2000 - Dec 2015

  Strategic Process Expert & Owner

  Key Accomplishments:• Successful investments in multiple businesses• Profitable every year• Saved numerous failing businesses• Trackable beneficial work done for clientsBusiness Model Consultant has helped numerous clients through our “Discover, Implement, Adapt” process for business model creation for the following clients:* Entrepreneurs* Business Owners* Intrapreneurs* Product Developers* Management* Executives* Social and Non-profit venturesWith the following services:- Consulting- Process Improvement- Problem Investigation- Business Expansion- Group Education- SpeakingWhile this business was running as Fundunity LLC my goal was to help small businesses successfully launch, reach their full potential, and recover during tough times through three key areas: * Business consulting* Google analytics and search engine optimization - help people find your business online* Social media – why it is important, plus when and how to use it, plus we can help protect a company’s online reputationThe original business was known as GeNext Software and started in 2000 and later became Fundunity LLC. It offered web site design/hosting, consulting and venture capitalism help. During the time of this company I accomplished items like- Arranging debt financing from my own funds for two companies- Improved business processes for clients by computerizing accounting and use of online systems- Met with clients to develop web site layout, theme and design, explain issues and solutions Show less

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  Waterman's Forage / Chopper Box Repair & Sales

  Jan 2008 - Aug 2020

  Key Accomplishments:• Sold business in 2020• Hired an office manager and transitioned responsibilities from prior owner• Updated financing options to include credit cards, financing plans, and more• Updated internal financial reporting system to have P&L, Cashflow, and Budget process• Regional promotion efforts via Google Adwords, Facebook, and stories in Agriview and Country Today publications to promote the businessAgriview (https://www.agupdate.com/agriview/news/business/ag-business-eases-into-transition/article_a93e8f52-76fd-5792-a4ff-b3ddd520f319.html) Country Today (http://www.thecountrytoday.com/Farm/Farm-News/2018/07/09/div-class-libPageBodyLinebreak-Fixing-it-for-the-farmers-div.html) In late 2017 my brother and I worked to transition my parent's business Lumber Land LLC ownership to ourselves. We were able to find a structure that worked for all parties involved. I am now the majority owner of the business with my brother also being an owner. Our first step was to hire an office manager so that we could have my mother retire which we have done. We are now in the middle of improving important operational issues and pushing forward in finding ways to create more demand. We are also cross training employees. In the future our plans will be to push into a new business model with additional revenue sources, since the amount of dairy farmers has been consistently decreasing over the past 10 years. Show less

  • President (Co-owner)

    Jan 2018 - Aug 2020

  • Business and Financial Analyst (Co-Owner)

    Jan 2008 - Dec 2017
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  FDIC

  Feb 2011 - Jan 2012

  Financial Institution Specialist

  Key Accomplishments:• Unofficial team lead $2.1 billion bank closing• Passed all bank accounting exams• Passed all financial exams• Became pseudo team lead at compliance examLearned about bank accounting, business practices, and bank closings. Examined banks for compliance and risk management, and participated on a $2.1 billion bank closing through my rotation with the department of resolutions and receiverships (DRR).

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  Efutures.com

  Jan 2012 - Jun 2012

  Market Specialist

  Key Accomplishments:• Earned the Series 3 license in three weeks• Wrote for company weekly newsletter• Opened accounts from 5 year old leads• Setup sugar futures webinar with magazineWorked as a futures broker helping clients to achieve their financial goals. Within 3 weeks of receiving my study materials I passed the Series 3 with - 95% in application- 94% in regulation (70% needed for each). I went after the opportunity that I had on the order desk to learn how to take customer calls. About 5 weeks into my employment I started writing for the newsletter (On March 6). Even before the end of my 90-day probationary period I was on the phone calling customers starting to try to build my book. I was told by my boss and others that I was good on the phone. I spent four Wednesday nights in a row of my own time pursuing customers. I had even been developing various other avenues of promotion outside of work for myself. In over one month, I was able to open a $10,000 account and had verbal commitments from many other customers for account openings all from leads that had not been contacted in most cases in 5 years.On my own time I have read six books covering topics like: - Financial psychology- Commodity fundamentals- Options strategies - Technical tradingI developed an in-depth commodity guide for sugar which was going to be used for promotional purposes. Using this guide and my knowledge, I wrote an article which was to appear in the July 2012 issues of SFO (Stocks Futures and Options) Magazine. I was also scheduled to do a webinar covering the fundamentals of the “Softs” markets in conjunction with this article. It was to be the first one that was done in the history of the Platteville office from what I was told. Show less

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  University of Wisconsin-Platteville

  Jan 2013 - Dec 2015

  Launch Lab Coordinator

  Key Accomplishments:• Four $25,000 Ideadvance Grant recipients• Created successful process to help participants• Numerous successful business launches• Student received licensing agreement for ideaResponsible for overall leadership, development, organization, coordination, and launch of all operations, policies, and budgets for the Pioneer Launch Lab. The Pioneer Launch Lab was a student entrepreneurship incubator and lab associated with the Pioneer Academic Center for Community Engagement (PACCE) entrepreneurship program and the curriculum minor in Entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville. The lab uses the principles of the following methodologies to help students in their search for a scalable and repeatable business model that they can grow into a full business:- Business model canvas- Lean start-up- Customer development Show less

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  Platteville Massage Therapy LLC

  Apr 2013 - Aug 2021

  Business and Financial Analyst

  Key Accomplishments:• Profitable in first year, all subsequent years• Full schedule within 2 years of launch• Development of website and key marketing• Data tracking and decision making systemPlatteville Massage Therapy LLC is a thriving business which my wife, Becky Waterman, and I have built on our own through hard work and dedication. We have worked together on every part of the business model development and execution, but my wife handles all of the day-to-day operations. Assisted my wife in all business aspects of her launch including location, signage and marketing, financial, systems setup, risk analysis, business planning, and more. Show less

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  Southwest Wisconsin SBDC

  Dec 2015 - Oct 2019

  Senior Business Consultant

  Key Accomplishments:• Increased long-term clients by 262%• Increased jobs created by 233%• Increased business starts by 50%• Increased business capital invested by 45%My role at the SBDC, as a Business Consultant, is to help the following types of businesses:• Existing businesses that want to expand, transition, or improve• New ventures including local, regional, and international lifestyle businesses • Innovative ideas which may be scalable and repeatable and which require customer development and liquidity eventsAs a Business Consultant my expertise and experience in the following areas are essential to helping businesses: • Financial management• Financial projections • Business model development and analysis• Lean startup• Customer discovery• Risk management• Website planning• Social media and social listings• Search engine optimization (SEO)• Strategic planning and executionMy life and business experience are especially suited to helping businesses in Southwest Wisconsin because:• I grew up in Southwest WI and know the area.• I understand and have experience with the agricultural economy.• I have worked with several small family businesses.• I understand and have experience helping existing businesses to grow.• I have experience helping people successfully launch new firms. Show less

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  Dubuque Massage Therapy LLC

  Jan 2016 - Aug 2021

  Business and Financial Analyst

  Key Accomplishments:• Profitable in second year• Hired first employee in late 2016• Development of website and key marketing• Data tracking and decision making systemAssisted my wife in all business aspects of her launch including location, signage and marketing, financial, systems setup, risk analysis, business planning, and more.

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  Innovative Dubuque LLC

  May 2019 - Aug 2021

  Owner/Founder

  Our Customer:Once upon a time, there was a business owner who worked incredibly hard, but who could not get ahead. They were passionate about their business and enjoyed their customers. But they always found themselves dealing with immediate and urgent issues. While they liked their employees they struggled to find and keep employees who did work as envisioned. This kept them busy in the business. It also prevented them from having time for friends, family, and living their life. When they did launch a new product or service people would congratulate them. But they never sold as much as they hoped and found it hard to know where to market. They were always worried about what one business or economic issue would happen next. They never were able to make the money in the business they had expected. Overall, they were stressed, tired, and felt like their path forward was hard to see.Our Brand Story:Then this business owner started working with Innovative Dubuque LLC. By utilizing our service, they learned more about their business model. They also learned how to develop a customer-focused mindset. They learned how to read and interpret their financial statements. They listed their customer segments and learned how to make each one a key driver of sales and profit. They implemented a targeted marketing approach. They learned how to define and track key business and marketing metrics. Overall, they learned the importance of working on their business, not just in it. They understood their business model and their plan going forward. They came out of the process with a new focus and on a path to financial success. Our Mission and Brand Promise:Our mission is to deliver results by leveraging our staff’s knowledge and experience to work with business owners, non-profits, government organizations, entrepreneurs, and the community. “Find Focus, Make Money & Live Life” is the brand promise clients can expect when they work with Innovative Dubuque LLC. Show less

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  FIRE Travel Family

  Jun 2021 - now

  Dad

  On Labor Day (Sept 6, 2021) Becky and Brock Waterman made it official and retired. This allows them to spend more time together and with the kids. It also allows them to travel the world and world/home school the kids. As we have been on the path to early retirement the FIRE Travel Family has traveled along the way. For example, Brock has been to 35 countries, Becky to 14 countries, Kyra to 4 countries, and even Verity has been abroad to Belize.The path to get to this was a lot of work! But now we are sharing both our new adventures and information about how we achieved financial independence and retired early on our blog (https://firetravelfamily.com/blog/). We have also started putting out YouTube videos on our channel (https://www.youtube.com/FIRETravelFamily). Show less