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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS
DAVE HAMRICK InfoCision Management Corp. ◆ Akron
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ave Hamrick has answered the call now for six years for InfoCision Management Corp., and he has made and saved the company money doing it. This year, the large call center operation is on track for record sales and profits, thanks in large part to Mr. Hamrick’s efforts. The 4,200-employee company posted gross revenues of $174 million in 2011. Mr. Hamrick has upgraded InfoCision’s financial systems and procedures, reducing expenses, improving management information and all but eliminating the audit adjustments that predated his arrival. “He has built a departmental team that has elicited great confidence from all who work with them,” the nomination said.
Under Mr. Hamrick’s watchful eye, InfoCision’s accounting team has sliced in half the time it takes them to bill to four days from eight and has decreased the closing time of the financials by 75%. Mr. Hamrick’s efforts have included the development of a more effective use of costing data, which created a more specific and detailed analysis for clients on an individual basis, allowing InfoCision to determine where to drive the highest volume of calls for each client, maximizing gross margins. Additionally, Mr. Hamrick was behind the utilization of real-time reporting in all facets of the company, which has enabled InfoCision to react quickly to the changing needs of the business environment. When InfoCision’s founder and primary decision maker, Gary Taylor, fell ill in 2009, Mr. Hamrick not only guided InfoCision through tough economic times, but also assumed the added responsibility for the financial and operational management of several outside businesses owned by the Taylor family. He continues to coordinate all financial affairs of Mr. Taylor’s foundation, personal wealth and financial management, according to the nomination. “Three years ago, during the perfect storm, comprised of a
OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2012
A CLOSER LOOK
JOHN HARVAN
A CLOSER LOOK
■ ORGANIZATION: InfoCision Management Corp. ■ LOCATION: Akron ■ INDUSTRY: Direct marketing ■ EMPLOYEES: 4,200 ■ 2011 REVENUE: $174 million
Hospice of the Western Reserve ◆ Cleveland
■ ORGANIZATION: Hospice of the Western Reserve ■ LOCATION: Cleveland ■ INDUSTRY: Health care ■ EMPLOYEES: 950-plus ■ 2011 REVENUE: $98 million
plummeting economy, the call center market’s experiment with offshore locations, the collapse of the credit markets, and the tragic illness of the company founder and primary decision maker, Gary Taylor, InfoCision CFO Dave Hamrick not only guided InfoCision through the narrow channel to more stable financial waters, but also took on the additional responsibility for the financial and operational management of several outside businesses owned by the Taylor family,” the nomination said. “Today, Dave continues to provide solid financial guidance as the economy and markets continue on their roller coaster ride.” In addition to Mr. Hamrick’s quarterbacking at InfoCision, he’s coached baseball, wrestling and football for various organizations, including the city of Green and Ohio Storm Baseball, for which he is head coach.
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s the Hospice of the Western Reserve has evolved into the largest hospice in Ohio and one of the largest in America, John Harvan has kept pace, overseeing the evolution of its financial infrastructure. Chief financial officer since 1991, Mr. Harvan has provided for the upgrade of systems and staff to meet the financial and informational needs of the growing organization, whose budget has climbed since he joined it from $8 million to $98 million. For one, he initiated and oversaw the implementation of significant advances in the nonprofit’s accounting and financial service capabilities, including advances in automation and procedural innovation. Over the years, he also has served as principal liaison and manager for three bond issuances, which ultimately bought the local hospice the construction of its Hospice House on Lake Erie at the end of East 185th Street, shoreline development at that site and the land and construction of the Ames Family Hospice House in Westlake, which opened in June. Mr. Harvan “has steeped himself in the knowledge of health care policy, Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance,” and has adapted to the changes going on in the local, state and federal health care arenas to help position Hospice of the Western Reserve to be responsive to the demands of patients, referral
sources and payers for services provided, the nomination said. His success is evidenced by outside auditors’ consistent, unqualified audit opinions year to year, as well as the limited number of adjusting entries and limited or no internal control recommendations from them, too. According to the nomination, Mr. Harvan’s initial interest in serving Hospice of the Western Reserve stemmed from his commitment to its mission of assuring that comfort care be available to all who may benefit from it. “He came to the organization with a sense of purpose, has embraced our hospice mission and demonstrates a passion for it,” the nomination said. During his time with the organization, Mr. Harvan has played a pivotal role in incorporating additional counties into its service area, helping to grow it to its current status of 98th percentile in the nation for program size and patients served. Beyond ensuring that the organization’s financial capabilities grew with it, Mr. Harvan also shepherded the growth of Hospice of the Western Reserve’s endowment from nothing to $25 million. Mr. Harvan is the local hospice’s representative to, and board member of, the Hospice Alliance of Ohio, as its board chair, and also is the CFO Forum leader of National Hospice Work Group, a networking organization of the 20 leading hospice organizations in the United States.
UPCOMING EVENTS Ideas at Dawn breakfast series
Forty Under 40
Crain’s continues its 2012 breakfast panel discussions with an event centered around intangible assets on Oct. 31. For more information or to register, visit www.crains cleveland.com/section/breakfast.
Sterling Jewelers congratulates all of the 2012 CFO of the Year Award finalists and winners.
Crain’s again this year identifies and profiles 40 of the region’s brightest young business leaders with this annual section. To register for this year’s event and read about past classes, visit www.crainscleveland .com/section/40under40.
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