Walter Matlack

Experience

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  Chester County Aviation Inc

  Jan 1978 - Apr 1979

  Lineman

  After getting my pilot’s license I saw the opportunity to fly cheap. As a line man at Chester County Airport I was able to rent a Cessna 150 for $3.50/hour. That barely covered the gas! I took the opportunity to add about 200 hours (many night VFR) to my logbook.

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  Keystone Trailer Services

  Sept 1979 - Sept 1981

  Fitter/Mechanic

  Before going to college I had the pleasure of working at this start-up trailer/tank repair shop. Sonny Broyles had experience with his family’s trailer refinishing business, but he was driven to make his own mark in the repair industry. His recipe was simple. Good honest hard work. Although Sonny was driven to perfection he always had the time and patience to train me properly. I learned more than tanker welding and fitting fifth-wheel pins, I witnessed first-hand how to become a good manager of people. Show less

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  H&R Block

  Jan 1984 - Apr 1984

  Tax Preparer

  H&R Block doesn’t hire preparers that haven’t taken their course and passed the exam. However I convinced the owner to let me take the exam and I aced the test. I produced over one-hundred individual tax returns while I was taking a full course load at WCU that tax season. Ironically my marketing major friends received 12 credit “A”s and generous tips working as bellhops, but the accounting department wouldn’t consider my request for an elective credit. I wondered if I picked the wrong major. (*see CFO above) Show less

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  Alston's Hallmark

  Dec 1984 - Mar 2002

  Chief Financial Officer

  Accounting was the right major! (* tax preparer below) I joined the corporate office of this popular retail chain out of college and became the financial steward to the 22 store family owned group of companies in 1995. It was complicated operating nine corporations with five different fiscal years while being mindful of tax consequences. Then I oversaw the implementation of a ‘Type-A’ merger that; although difficult in itself, simplified accounting and tax planning. Alston’s was early to take advantage of technology and I cut my teeth on PDP and Vax mini-computers in 1986. Later I implemented the conversion to Microsoft (then Great Plains) Dynamics software on an NT based network. I was so invested, I personally connected the CAT5 cables to the hub and configured all the servers.After 9/11 everything changed; it seemed customers didn’t care about personal service and relationships anymore so we had to adjust to a commodity driven retail industry. We responded by implementing more technology with in-store POS equipment generating real-time inventory and sales data connected to headquarters via WAN. We reaped the benefit of higher sell-through percentages and minimal inventory carrying costs. Our connection to the Hallmark system provided for just-in-time inventory replenishment. Although we were a technological retail powerhouse; it was the personal relationships with wonderful people that I remember most about Alston’s. Show less

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  Off Shore Gaming Association

  Sept 2002 - Dec 2010

  Bookkeeper/Consultant

  While maintaining accounting records, processing receivables and payables, and generating financial statements I enjoyed the comradery of very high-output and intelligent individuals in an energetic doc.com organization. I monitored the financial condition of the company and implemented tax minimization strategies. Restructuring QuickBooks improved functionality and left me additional time to communicate with colorful clients from the gaming industry. I was also assigned to webmaster the thoroughbred racing affiliate which required me to stay abreast of horse racing while on the clock. I gained a great deal of knowledge about one of the fastest growing industries in the country, and I do pretty well at the track! Show less

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  W L Matlack

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2020

  Personal Consultant

  Consulting with professionals as diverse as doctors, rocket scientists, machinists, oddsmakers, and audio engineers has afforded me the opportunity to identify unusual challenges and develop unconventional solutions. Examining a medical partnership’s financial statements provided the impetus for a physician to renegotiate an employment contract. Analyzing profitability and the costs of maintaining current technology impelled a technical concern to refocus their business model increasing their profitability and ROI. Analyzing customer usage data revealed a security weakness exploited through collusion that could have proved catastrophic if it remained undiscovered. Show less

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  Southern Structures, Inc.

  Feb 2020 - now

  Accountant & HR Manager