Grad Seeking Assistance - Steve Burns (USMA '05)

GRAD SEEKING ASSISTANCE:  Steve Burns (USMA '05)

Steve Burns (USMA '05) is conducting a job search in the Denver area.  He is a recent MBA graduate (University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management), with successes in corporate positions as well.  Steve is focusing on opportunities requiring cross-functional team leadership and/or operations management.

In recent days, Steve has applied for positions at both Jeppesen and Anthem, and is also interested in other corporate or government teams that would benefit from his leadership skills and track record as a problem solver.        

Please take a look at Steve's cover letter and resume, below.  Contact him directly if you can offer advice, referrals, or other job search assistance.  (Please Note:  Any formatting issues are due to the limitations of our BizNet blog.)


1.  COVER LETTER:


Robert (Steve) Burns
2085 Mountain Sage Dr.
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
RSBurns.IM@gmail.com
860-836-6157

Dear Hiring Manager,

            Throughout my Army and Professional career, I have excelled as both a people and process leader.  I am passionate about mentoring junior leaders and realizing successful process improvements and implementation. I would like to put my leadership skills, experience, and passions to work advocating and making an impact for your company. 

Past successes:

-        Commanded a Patriot Missile Firing Battery.  Took command in Korea, redeployed them back to the States, moved them from Fort Bliss, TX to Fort Hood, TX and then stood the unit up at the new post and trained new crews to become deployable.  I was responsible for the welfare and safety of all the Soldiers and their Families.  I was offered a second command of the Battalion’s Headquarters Battery which was a cross functional leadership experience as I worked with the other battery commanders in the battalion as well as the staff officers and their Soldiers.  In both of those roles I had the privilege of mentoring and training junior officers. 

-        As a battery commander, I led by example and showed the Soldiers that I truly cared. I was the first commander to certify on the weapons systems, led the unit in fitness events and brought families together.

-        Led a team at Boston Scientific manufacturing batteries for pacemakers and internal defibrillators.  Gained experience working in the medical device field working on high tech products where quality was of the utmost importance. 

-        I was one of the founding members of Team Red, White and Blue and am currently on the Veterans Expeditions board of directors.  I’ve been a leader with RWB since the start in several different roles and I’ve seen how these Veteran Support Organizations have positively impacted so many lives.  I know how valuable good customer service and positive interactions is to Veterans, especially ones who are struggling at home. 

Finally, I’m an inquisitive, caring and experienced leader and teammate.  I have operational experience, direct and cross functional leadership and I know that I have a lot to offer your team.  I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and discuss how my experiences and skills will allow me to make an immediate impact on this team.

Thank you for your time and consideration in reviewing my application.

Respectfully,

Steve Burns

2.  RESUME:

Robert “Stephen” Burns

Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 ● RSBurns.IM@gmail.com ● (860) 836-6157

 https://www.linked in.com/in/rsburns

SUMMARY

Dedicated leader with ten years of experience leading cross-functional teams, managing complex projects and collaborating with colleagues and partners to successfully accomplish mission critical objectives of the organization.  Known for possessing a deep passion for mentoring and developing leaders, working tirelessly to obtain the resources needed and collaborating with other groups to solve problems.  Expertise in the following areas: 

·       Leadership and Coaching	·       Operational Reporting and Analytics
·       Business Process Improvement	·       Presenting to peers and leaders
·       Financial Planning and Analysis	·       Managing complex projects / processes

EXPERIENCE

DISH NETWORK, Denver, CO

          Senior Financial Analyst, FP&A                                                               August 2015 – October 2017

·        Provide budget to actual variance analysis for Direct Sales, Customer Service Center and Retention/Loyalty and create reports for the CFO, Treasurer and the respective Vice Presidents.

·        Create budget targets for the business units and help them conduct financial forecasting for the year.

·        Manage the subscriber summary and forecast and send monthly updates to the CFO.

·        Conducted ad-hoc financial analysis projects for various business units.

·        Established the first Veterans Group collective resource for DISH Network.

MBA Summer Intern                                                                                         May 2013 – August 2013

·        Provide financial planning and analysis for the Customer Service Operations team.

·        Led a project to analyze if signal data can tell the team to preemptively send a truck/tech.

BOSTON SCIENTIFC, Arden Hills, MN

          Senior Production Supervisor                                                                  August 2011 – August 2012

·          Supervised a 20-person team to safely and efficiently manufacture batteries for pacemakers and defibrillators.

·          Led a cross functional project that streamlined production from battery automation lines and increased output by 30%.

·          Increased shift productivity by 20% by improving operator versatility and reducing inefficiencies on production line. 

UNITED STATES ARMY, AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY

       Captain, Headquarters Battery Commander, Fort Hood, TX and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. 

                                                                                                                                  December 2009 – July 2011

·        Led 223-person team in Texas and Kuwait executing staff operations, managing 4 Patriot firing batteries, and providing critical communications for 788-person battalion.  Planned and resourced missions.  Maintained $40M of equipment. 

·        Planned and resourced deployment of 175-person team on short notice to 5 locations in Kuwait; fulfilled Secretary of Defense’s request for forces and provided air defense coverage for multiple US interests.

·        Developed and implemented a strategy to consolidate leadership for all battalion medical and food service personnel without any loss of service to subordinate units; greatly increased accountability and productivity.

·        Developed relationships with Kuwaiti Army and Air Force units; planned, coordinated and resourced joint training exercises for air defense crews, increasing protection for major population centers in Kuwait City and Al Jahra.

·        Emplaced and employed communications platoon that provided critical communications link integrating northern fire units with battalion headquarters; successfully planned/executed link from multiple locations. 

Captain, Patriot Missile Battery Commander, Fort Bliss, TX        October 2008 – December 2009

·        Led 102-person team providing air defense against enemy aircraft and ballistic missiles. Planned/resourced missions.

·        Rapidly trained 3 new air defense crews on critical skill set; enabled battery to be first of 4 in battalion to achieve gunnery certification; became first battery commander to pass tactics exam with 95% score.

·        Facilitated deployment of 10-person team and $10 million of equipment to Israel in support of joint exercise linking multiple new air defense platforms together for first time; greatly increased readiness in region. 

First Lieutenant, Battalion Adjutant, Fort Bliss, TX and Camp Carroll, Republic of Korea

                                                                                                                            July 2007 – October 2008

·        Led 10-person team in Texas and South Korea providing personnel support to 800-person battalion operating in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, and Texas.  

·        Developed staffing model and analysis that enabled movement of 700+ personnel to Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan.

·        Developed tracking that enabled efficient production of 1,500+ awards/500 evaluations upon redeployment. 

Lieutenant, Executive Officer, Platoon leader, Tactical Control Officer   May 2005 – July 2007

·        Led 25-person team executing air defense tactical control and launching operations.  Planned and resourced missions.  Maintained $30M of equipment.

·        Led 20-person crew conducting live fire testing of new Patriot software system at White Sands Missile Range. 

EDUCATION 

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, Carlson School of Management, Minneapolis, MN         May 2014 

Master of Business Administration, Emphasis: Finance  

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, West Point, NY                                                     May 2005

Bachelor of Science, Economics  

COMMUNITY SERVICE

TEAM RED, WHITE AND BLUE  

Captain, Minnesota Chapter                                                                                                 2012-2014         ·        Team RWB is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission of enriching the lives

               of Veterans through fitness and community relationships. 

VETERANS EXPEDITIONS

           Treasurer, Board of Directors                                                                                         2016 -Present                     ·        Veterans Expeditions is a veteran led, chartered non-profit in the state of Colorado

                           that aims to get Veterans outside to reconnect to the land they defended and

                           overcome missions using teamwork and leadership.