Candidate for
Assessor-Recorder; County of Fresno

I am a native of the central valley, born in Fresno in 1961. My father is a retired union carpenter and my mother a retired school teacher.

My education began in the Fresno Unified School District and ended with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business, with a minor in accounting, from Fresno State University in 1984. I am a licensed CPA and have spent over 25 years working in every level of finance and management.

I have been married 30 years to my high school sweetheart. Our family consists of two daughters, one son, two Sons-in-law and three grandchildren. We have raised our family with a faith in God, love of country and the desire to learn and constantly improve. For the past 10 years I have been providing financial management and executive coaching services to small business and non-profit entities. Also I am an adjunct Auditing Professor at Fresno Pacific University. I am a God fearing family man who feels blessed to be born in the greatest country the world has ever known.

Why I Am Running

As a politically active person and a native of Fresno County, I have decided to run for County Assessor/Recorder to use my gifts and talents to help my community. As a CPA, I have spent my career assisting business and non-profit entities with financial management and strategic planning helping them be more successful. I believe I can do the same for Fresno County. The job of Assessor/Recorder is extremely important as it impacts every home owner, business owner and farmer. It is extremely important that the Assessor/Recorder office is run efficiently and correctly. I believe I am the right person for the job.

Guiding Principles

In the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence there is a sentence every American is familiar with, it is "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Did you know that the original words were "..that among these are Life, Liberty and Property"? Property is defined as land and items you own and the money you earn. Next the declaration indicates that Governments are instituted to protect these rights. The reason it was changed from "Property" to "pursuit of Happiness" is debatable, but the intent is the same. You have a right to keep your property and the government needs your permission to have some of it.

It is obvious that the government needs to be funded and that's from the cities, to the county, to the state and to the federal government, but to what extent? Along the way we as citizens have allowed the government to receive a portion of our property in the form of property taxes, sales taxes and income taxes. We are far from under taxed. However, it is not the job of County Assessor/Recorder to determine the amount of taxes we pay, but to implement the laws as they apply to your property. I will follow the regulations and laws of property valuation in California that apply to the County of Fresno as written and as intended. You can be assured your property will be valued legally, accurately and properly.

COMPLETE RESUME FOLLOWS:

Michael W. Goossen, CPA

Administrative Leadership, Coaching & Strategic Planning Financial & Operations Management, Financial Systems Design, Compensation & Benefits,Governmental Compliance

Adept at operating in a highly competitive and heavily regulated environment with ultimate responsibility. Successful track record of both initial project development and turnaround management through creation and implementation of sound financial controls and business planning. Possessing strong analytical skills with the ability to identify and focus on key issues and develop realistic solutions. A positive, result oriented approach and commitment to organizational effectiveness. Strengths include implementation of business objectives, public speaking, staff training and leadership development with the ability to motivate employees and enhance productivity.

Professional Experience

Adjunct Faculty Member, Fresno Pacific University 09/11 to present Teach Auditing 420 to upper classmen as part of the required course work to achieve an accountancy degree from the university. I have received better than average reviews from students.

Outsourcing CFO Services 10/02 to present Providing financial and management services to small and medium sized businesses in Central California. My services include tasks assigned a controller or CFO and business management services in administration strategic planning and personnel. I am providing these services as a sole proprietor working closely and personally with the customers I serve.

Regional Account Executive, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics 03/00 - 10/02 Responsible for sales and marketing to donor screening laboratories in the Western Region of the United States. Duties included sales, contract negotiation, contract implementation and business development. Total dollar value of contracts under management exceeded $15 million in sales annually.

Selected Achievements:

• Successfully implemented the largest independent testing laboratory contract in the history of Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics valued at $10 million per year.
• First to implement new blood typing technology at a large blood center in my region.

Providing cost accounting and management services to the blood banking industry. Services to blood banks include developing Activity Based Costing systems, financial benchmarking and strategic planning. Services to the vendors in the industry include presentations on blood industry economics, sales strategies and developing value added services for customers.

Central California Blood Center, Fresno, CA 09/91-08/99 President/Chief Executive Officer, (07/97-08/99) Interim President/Chief Executive Officer, (09/96-07/97)

Responsible for directing all operations and assuring fiscal integrity of the Blood Center, a regional nonprofit blood service with an annual budget of over $10 million and 125 employees. Developed and led Senior Management Team, and worked with Board of Directors to develop and implement strategic plans. Located and cultivated new opportunities and business partners. Maintained strict compliance with all regulatory agency requirements.

Selected Achievements:

• Completed Activity Based Costing system throughout the entire Blood Center, which resulted in a 10% reduction in operational costs. System was devised in prior capacity as CFO.
• Developed and implemented a Board approved long term strategic plan including the realignment of logistics for blood donations, which saved over $150,000 annually.
• Negotiated a "win-win" contract with hospital customers that lowered their average cost by 10% while maintaining a net income for the blood center exceeding 6%.
• Negotiated a contract which kept the organization on the leading edge of lab technology at a lower cost than any other blood facility in the country.
• Created a safety committee which reduced on the job injuries requiring a day or more lost, from every 20 days to a record of over 390 days without a days lost injury. This resulted in projected premium savings of over 50% and an award from the workers compensation carrier.

Responsibilities included managing all financial processes, ensuring financial stability, supervision of a budget in excess of $9.5 million, preparing financial statements and presenting financial reports to the Board of Directors. Met regularly with the CEO and Board for administrative and long term planning activities. Directed day to day operations. Negotiated all leases and maintained positive cash flow of 56,000 square feet of office properties. Oversaw employee training, benefit programs, personnel policies and legal issues. Served as Systems Administrator for AS400 computer system.

Selected Achievements:

• Built and improved on financial strengths developed in previous capacity as controller for the C.C.B.C.
• Performed effective balance sheet and cash management which improved all key indicators including the generation of over 3 months revenue reserve
• Generated an increase in the current ratio, which ultimately rose from 2.2 to 1 in 1991, to 8 to1 in 1999, and reduced total debt as a percentage of equity from 94% to 9% for the same period.
• Produced similar improvements in ROA, ROE and accounts receivable turnover.
• Conducted search, selection and purchase of complete blood banking computer system. Directed a multi disciplinary team throughout a 16-month process of system validation required by the FDA.
• Established a national financial ratio survey for blood banks in 1992 with 10 blood centers which has grown to 52 as of 1999.
• Lead a management team which processed mapped all the blood center activities, resulting in the implementation of several changes with measurable financial improvements.

Accountable for financial operations of 3 separate corporations administered by the Medical Society including the Central California Blood Center, The Professional Exchange Service Corporation, and the Fresno-Madera Medical Society. In charge of benefits, salary administration, corporate insurance including general liability, board errors and omissions and malpractice for the blood bank. Directed separate bookkeeping departments of each corporation with a total staff of 6.

Selected Achievements:

• Analyzed financial situation of the C.C.B.C. to determine causes of financial trouble. Made recommendations to the Board to improve results and received Board approval.
• Managed a significant financial turnaround for C.C.B.C. going from a 3.6% loss in 1987 to a 3.7% net income in 1988.
• Established cash management and financial strategies that began an 11-year progression of profitability and consistent improvement in financial condition that continues today.
• Implemented a uniform employee benefits package for all 3 corporations, which took advantage of the combined total employee population improving benefits for all participants.

Education

Bachelors of Science, Business Administration, Minor in Accounting California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA