F.O.C.U.S. Resources - Lea Strickland CMA CFM CBM

Lea Strickland, MBA CMA CFM CBM, President and founder of F.O.C.U.S. Resources (business management systems consulting firm that addresses the total business through financial performance), has over 18 years experience in financial and operational leadership positions with various companies including four Fortune 500 and Global 100 companies (Ford Motor Company, Visteon, Newell, Solectron, and others). She has worked with established and emerging companies - private and public, US and foreign-owned. She holds degrees from The Ohio State University (MBA—Accounting, Marketing and Human Resource (Change Management)) and The University of Charleston (Bachelor of Science - Finance and Business Management with technical minors in Marketing and Accounting).

As a financial leader, Lea was instrumental in obtaining funding from Deutsche Bank for a local technology growth company. She is also credited for saving over $30 million for a manufacturing operation and obtaining $97 million in funding for the expansion of that same facility. Her client and industry experience includes: audit, banking, OEM automotive and Tier 1 automotive manufacturing, electonics manufacturing, consumer products manufacturing, software, industrial textiles manufacturing, and many other industries.

In 2004, Lea was asked to be expand her consulting practice into working with government grant and contract recipients on compliance and financial control systems. The governement funding compliance consulting focuses on small tecnhology, bio-technology, software, and bio-agriculture businesses transitioning from research and development to full commercial operations.

Ms. Strickland was also asked to develop an “On-shoring” program to provide consulting services to technology firms in Europe and Asia seeking to locate, build, and operate facilities in the United States. These innovative tele-workshops are provided via telephone and internet to companies prior to their establishing a footprint in the U.S. market.

In addition to her consulting services, Lea is a well-known and sought-after speaker, expert panelist, workshop leader, and author on start-ups, micro-enterprise, small business, financial systems, and business issues for companies of all sizes. Since 2003, she has had over 200 articles published in journals, newsletters, website expert sites, and magazines (print and internet-based). Her credits include:

Book: Out of the Cubicle and Into Business

Expert Columnist:

Carolina Newswire
NC Journal for Women

Area Expert: Entrepreneur Magazine

Contributor:

Small Business Technology Magazine
Business Leader Magazine

Lea has been honored with the several awards including: Outstanding Young Executive in the U.S. (1989), International Who’s Who of Professional Management (1999), and Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals (2003).

Currently, she is active in municipal governance: Town of Cary Zoning Board of Adjustments, and the following community and business organizations:
Small Business Technology Magazine Advisory Board
Council for Entrepreneurial Development
Financial Executives Network Group
Association of Professionals in Business Management; and
Institute of Management Accountants.

In addition to her current client list, Lea is working with several other business and community leaders to establish affordable resource programs for entrepreneur s and small businesses. She is also co-hosting the North Carolina Capital Markets Exchange to aid emerging and growth businesses in obtaining growth capital.

Upcoming books:
Into Business Step-by-Step: Making the Key Decisions Fall/Winter 2005
Government Grant Accounting – The Business Requirements of Government Funding Fall/Winter 2005
Vision, Strategy, Structure - Results 2006
The 360° Enterprise 2006

“For Lea, it isn’t about fitting the business to the method, it’s about finding the right approach for the business.” - G. M., Electronics Manufacturer


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