Experienced CPA with 30+ years in Executive Financial Management seeking new opportunity bin the SE US.

1. BBLLAAKKEE WW.. RRHHOODDEESS,, CCPPAA
Telephone: 614.584.7782 ▪ 5974 Trafalgar Lane ▪ Dublin, Ohio 43016
Email: bears7961@hotmail.com ▪ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/pub/blake.rhodes/22/897/128
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE/CORPORATE, REGION CONTROLLER
BS (Accounting), Vice President of Finance/Corporate, Region Controller, with more than 20 years of multi-site
financial leadership experience that consistently converted organizational intent into action for Corporations ranging
from $50 million to $13 billion in annual gross revenue.
Recently, serving for 11 years as VP/Regional Controller for Waste Connections, Inc., in Memphis/Knoxville,
Tennessee, with responsibility for directly managing 15 controllers and 275 indirect reports across a 12 -state region
with 65 operating locations, including a recycling center and 14 landfills that generated regional revenue in excess of
$500 million annually.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
 IPO’s, Mergers & Acquisitions
 Structuring Financial Operations
 Instituting Cost Conservation Measures
 Supporting Multiple Business Locations
 Ability to Coach, Motivate & Mentor Others
 Over 25+ FinancialManagementExperience
 Financial Statement Analysis
 Strategic Planning& Execution
 GAAP/SOX/SEC Reporting/Internal Audit
 Working with Bankers & Financial Intermediaries
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
 Entrusted by Waste Connections Senior Management with directing Eastern Regional revenue growth as Vice-
President/Region Controller from $50 million in annual revenues in 2002, to $500 million in 2012. During this 11 -
year period successfully managed/integrated 48 acquisitions with annual revenues ranging from $100,000 to $150
million, with onsite visits ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months depending on the size of the acquisition.
 Hired/trained 11 of the 15 Division Controllers directly reporting to me at Waste Connections with the average
tenure of these employees in excess of 9 years. Eastern Region had the highest retention rate for division controllers
within the company. Consequently, region experienced the best DSO improvement from 2002-2012 (48.4 days to
30.4 days), and the Eastern Region received ‘most accurate financial projections’ awards for 7 of the 10 years under
my direction.
 Led financial aspects of a successful IPO as VP-Corporate Controller at Casella Waste Systems, and structured
financial teams, operations and reporting processes to support growth over a 6-year period from $55 million to $500
million. Charged with performing all SEC reporting functions and served as the direct liaison between the external
auditors and the company, while simultaneously managing the MIS Department consisting of 4 IT professionals.
 Worked for 3 years in the Internal Audit department at Waste Management, experiencing the fastest promotion in
the company’s history from Staff to Senior Auditor (14 months). Subsequently, developed new audit programs still
in use until they merged with another company. As a result of outstanding success promoted to Project
Manager/Controller, and promoted again to the position of Division Controller, receiving ‘Controller of the Year’
in 1995.
BENEFIT STATEMENT
A convincing and credible communicator with a demonstrated 20+ year track record of cultivating profitable business
opportunities, managing multiple business locations, post-mergers/acquisitions integration, and startup/turnaround
situations that consistently reduced operational cost while achieving bottom line profitability.

2. BBLLAAKKEE WW.. RRHHOODDEESS,, CCPPAA Page Two
KEY AREAS OF COMPETENCY
 Multi-Million Dollar Budget Management
 Ensuring Regulatory Compliance Initiatives
 Evaluating & Addressing Financial Exposure
 Creating a Shared Financial Operational Vision
 Leading & Managing Large Groups of Employees
 Maximizing Cash Flow
 Instituting Process Improvements
 Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis
 Technology Upgrades & Implementation
 Amending Financial Plans According to Economic Cycles
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Republic Waste Services, Columbus, Ohio October, 2014 to February, 2016
(A publicly traded company with annual revenues of $8 billion)
Market Area Controller
Directed all financial activities of the Central Ohio Area with over $100 million in revenue consisting of 8 Divisions.
Selected accomplishments as the Market Area Controller accomplishments included:
 Increased Operating Income and exceeded budget for the Market Area for the first time in eight years
- Increased OCC sales by over $100k with similar market and commodities from prior year via new contract
- Increased billing for extra services by over $100k over prior year through extensive work with operations and
sales
- Identified several “loss contracts” and helped divest of them for a profit (highest loss contract was ($325k) per
year and was traded to competitor in exchange for profitable business
- Reduced SG&A by 25% over prior year through synergies and coaching
- Renegotiated supply contracts with numerous vendors resulting in substantial savings
- Improved Industrial profitability by 25% through identification of low margin contracts and implementation
of charging for contaminated loads that had not been previously done by Management
 Assisted with Revenue Growth of the Area through Pricing Opportunities and Municipal Bids
 Provided support to Division President and local General Managers
 Reduced DSO by 20% over prior year
 Market Area was in top 10% of forecasting Areas in the Company
 Implemented strong internal controls that were not in place
Santek Waste Services, Cleveland, TN October, 2013 to June, 2014
(A private vertically integrated solid waste company with annual revenues of approximately $60 million, operating in 9 states,
with 17 landfills, 7 hauling companies, 4 transfer stations and 1 MRF)
Chief Accounting Officer
Reporting directly to the President of Santek, charged with restructuring and leading the administrative operations of
the Company including Accounting, HR, IT, Safety and Risk Management. In January, 2014, it was jointly agreed upon
with our major lender, Deutsche Bank, and our existing management team that the only option for survival was to sell
to a majority shareholder due to the high debt ratio and inability to fund new acquisitions through growth. We
partnered with Raymond James to assist us with a partial or majority sale of the Company. I departed the Company in
June, 2014 after that attempt was unsuccessful due to unrealistic expectations of valuation of the Company by the
Owner. Items accomplished as the Chief Accounting Officer:
 Restructured existing accounting department changing reporting of all positions directly to me as the CAO.
Documented and improved internal controls for cash, billing, payables and developed written job descriptions for
all personnel. Reduced close process from 15 days to 8 days in the first 3 months by reducing duplication and
retraining existing personnel. Developed a rolling 3-month projection that was in place by January 15, 2014 for Q1,
2014.

3. BBLLAAKKEE WW.. RRHHOODDEESS,, CCPPAA Page Three
 Developed written procedures for the IT department to handle disaster recovery procedures and had 3rd party
contractor perform peer review on existing IT Department and implemented recommended changes in order to
strengthen internal controls.
 Additionally, worked closely with HR manager in order to implement a wide-array of required procedures such as
applicant tracking logs and 3rd party audit existing personnel files in order to ensure compliance with federal wage
and labor laws.
Waste Connections, Inc., Memphis/Knoxville, Tennessee May, 2002 to September, 2012
(A publicly traded company with annual revenues of $2.5 billion)
Vice President/Region Controller
Recruited to direct newly created Eastern Region that grew in 11 years from 10 districts in 2 states to 45 districts in 12
states, comprised of 36 collection operations, 23 transfer stations, 1 recycling operation and 14 landfills. Successfully
coordinated relocation of regional headquarters from Memphis to Knoxville, Tennessee in 2012.
 Led acquisition teams for 3 multi-million dollar ‘new market acquisitions’ in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2002, in
Houston, Texas in 2008, and Albany, New York in 2010, with a combined annual revenue of $275 million.
Remained on-site for several months post acquisition in order to accomplish the following 5 items: 1) Assimilate the
new companies into Waste Connections; 2) Hired/trained all financial personnel; 3) Implemented internal
accounting controls to conform with GAAP/SOX; 4) Managed all systems conversions; and 5) True-up with
previous owners post acquisitions.
Casella Waste Systems, Rutland, Vermont May, 1996 to May, 2002
(A publicly traded company with annual revenues of $500 million)
Vice President/Corporate Controller, Rutland, Vermont
Scope of duties consisted of directing financial operations for company that went public in 1997 and grew from $55
million to $500 million revenue in 6 years.
 Implemented company-wide collections program reducing DSO from 51.2 days in 1996 to 29.4 days in 2002.
Trained 3 Vice President/Region Controllers, who reported directly to me, trained 10 Market Area Controllers who
indirectly reported to me. The majority of these personnel are still at the company and many have been promoted
to areas of more responsibility.
Waste Management, Inc., Houston, Texas January, 1986 to May, 1996
(A publicly traded company with annual revenues of $13 billion)
Initially hired as an Internal Auditor and was quickly promoted to Senior Internal Auditor after 14 months, the only
Senior Auditor entrusted with the responsibility of running multiple audits simultaneously. Promoted in 1988 to
Special Projects Controller of the Southeastern Region working exclusively for the Region Executive Team.
Responsible for all construction projects in the Region with an annual budget of approximately $300M. Promoted
again in 1990 to Project Manager/Controller with operational and financial responsibilities for all major capital
projects in the Southeast Region.
 In 1992, promoted to the position of Vice President/Controller for a start-up operation in Roanoke, Virginia with
annual revenues of $15 million. Due to success of this start-up, promoted again in 1993 to a much larger division
with revenues of $75 million in York, Pennsylvania. Served on the implementation team for the company’s new
billing system while working at Corporate as an Internal Auditor and also assisted in the due diligence of
international acquisitions.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
BS, in Accounting, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 1985
Certified Public Accountant, 1989 (active CPA License)
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants