Greater Cleveland
As Deputy General Counsel with over 25 years of legal expertise, I contribute to Myers Industries by addressing complex legal matters and navigating regulatory frameworks. My role emphasizes business transformation and resiliency, with a focus on supporting public company reporting, compliance, governance, and litigation management. Leveraging my legal skills and business acumen, I work to implement effective legal strategies that align with organizational goals. My dedication to process improvement and collaboration supports the company’s operations in highly regulated industries, ensuring compliance and fostering sustainable growth.
• Working on the following matters: $3 Million real estate transaction, $18 Million asset purchase, product liability issues, human resources, regulatory compliance for EPA/ASTM/CSA registrations, FDA registration, non-compete enforcement, contract review and negotiation, consumer warranty claim management, commercial documentation (terms and conditions, purchase orders, order acknowledgements, quotes and invoices), supervise immigration matters and patent enforcement. • Developing company-wide COVID-19 response. • Fuel container and food packaging business units are highly regulated.
Legal Advisor to 6 Global Businesses: Worked directly with business leaders to serve their legal individual legal needs based on assessment of the legal requirements and risks for each business. •Advised on compliance (legislative updates, policy, prevention, investigation, repair), commercial, employment, litigation /claims, intellectual property and M&A. •Initiated several legal proceedings recovering $6.65M. Compliance & Governance: Assisted the General Counsel with global compliance activities, including the programs themselves and status updates to the Board of Directors. •Assistant Secretary – attended meetings and prepared minutes for the Nominating and Corporate Governance & Audit Committees. •Compliance Programs: Anti-Corruption, Conflict Minerals, Safe Harbor, Signature Authority and Record Retention. •ITAR Empowered Official. •Negotiated high value, global commercial contracts with multi-national customers. •Built information databases which were utilized during due diligence and collateralization exercises. •Supervised entity management program for 50+ entities in over 16 countries. Mergers & Acquisitions: Advised Executives on structure, process, potential liabilities and other legal issues. Managed and conducted due diligence, supervised negotiation of transaction agreements, and managed integration. •Worked closely with General Counsel on sale of OM Group to private equity for $1B. •Acquired Rahu Catalytics and Ener-Tek. •Divested Ultra Pure Chemicals and OMG Belleville. Global Project Management: Corporate Finance commenced several complex transactions which developed my Project Management skills on a global level. •Worked with outside lawyers, notaries, corporate secretary firms, tax advisors and accountants in multiple countries to achieve plan goals. •Implemented/reviewed all documents/filings and managed execution. •5 tax restructuring plans. •3 credit facilities. •Annual cash repatriation process.
Consultant (2003 to 2004) & Senior Counsel (2004 to 2006) Led major cost reduction project addressing Top 100 non-merchandise vendors (NMV) saving $4.3M on a $17.8M annual marketing expense. • Created a bidding process, including NMV Policy, RFP Templates (3), and Guidelines, process flowcharts, various procedural forms and other documents. Conducted training for new NMV Policy. • Reviewed and negotiated NMV contracts. Drafted and implemented form contracts. Reviewed merchandise vendor guide for domestic and import vendors. • Managed Prop 65 claims and litigation. • Participated in following internal Committees including Central Purchasing, Policy Review and Operating Group.
Vice President, Commercial (2000 to 2002), Corporate Counsel (1999 to 2000) & Commercial Contracts Counsel (1997 to 1999) •Directed North American Commercial Management Team and Proposal Response Team based in Cranberry, PA. Supervised 19 employees. • Managed all legal matters for 2 of 4 business units and retained responsibility for all major commercial contracts and for contract management company-wide. • Drafted, implemented and enforced a Commercial Contracts Policy. • Created contract database to track and monitor commercial contracts. • Engaged in complex contract negotiations with major telecommunication providers including AT&T, Nynex / Bell Atlantic / Verizon and US West / Qwest.