Margaret Hicks, MBA, FCIS

I am a young retiree with an interesting academic and professional background. I grew up in Singapore but am currently living in the States. I am bi-lingual in English and Mandarin. I was a corporate trainer and business consultant in Singapore prior to being a Commercial Portfolio Manager with Huntington Bank in Florida.

I earned my MBA from one of Europe's top graduate schools - Warwick Business School at the University of Warwick in England. Warwick consistently ranks in the top ten of all major rankings of British universities and is the only multi-faculty institution aside from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge to have never been ranked outside of the top ten. It is ranked as the world's third best university under 50 years (and first in Europe) and as the world's 9th best university based on employer reputation. Entrance is competitive, with around 8.25 applicants per place for undergraduate studies.

I have laid out below the milestones in my professional life. Nothing is a better credential than glowing references from paying clients. I have included brief snippets of written testimonials I had received for the seminars I had given. I hope it gives you a sense of who I am and how I can help you.

Accomplishments

* Featured as a 3-page article in March 1992 issue of CALIBRE - The Magazine for Achievers as a corporate trainer to watch.

* Received several plaques for hosting national and international conferences.

* Awarded prizes in Toastmasters Speech Contests.

* President of Ernst & Whinney Toastmasters Club

* Vice President - Education of Toastmasters Club of Singapore ( pioneer public club )

Skills

* Extremely articulate - Particularly adroit in written communications

* Ghost-writing executive releases

* Strong background in business practices with special emphasis on financial analysis of corporate results

Testimonals - Financial Seminars

" My colleagues and I are unanimous in agreeing that the course was of great value and extremely well put together. As we had some 13 nationalities who were senior executives of 16 overseas companies within the Group, the course could truly be considered an International one." ....... Ian Ingram, Managing Director, INCHCAPE INSPECTION & TESTING SERVICES (S) PTE LTD

Professional Experience

* Commercial Portfolio Manager - Huntington Bank

Responsible for managing a $120 million commercial portfolio and was involved in both underwriting as well as monitoring the various loans

* Operations Consultant - Space Coast Credit Union

Streamlined mortgage processing operations and financial reporting and analysis for full range of mortgage products

* Owner/Manager, Avant-Garde Training Associates

Designed, marketed and conducted many financial, marketing and management programs for top managers as well as executives at the operating level

Conducted seminars in : -

1) Finance for Non-Financial Managers

2) Where Have All the Profits Gone ?

3) Financial Analysis for Non-Financial Managers

4) Effective Selling Skills

5) Sharpening Your Presentation Skills

6) Improving Managerial Effectiveness

7) Effective Interpersonal Communication

8) Problem-Solving & Decision-Making

* Senior Consultant - Ernst & Whinney Consultants

* Manager/Director - BSL Associates

Testimonial - Marketing & Management Seminars

" Your lectures were well planned and thought-provoking. The subject matter was relevant and encouraged a practical approach to managerial problems and the use of lateral thought. We found the course material to be most interesting and the text will be invaluable as a reference source as we seek to improve ourselves and manage inevitable change." ........Capt T Bearder, Managing Director, SWAN HUNTER SINGAPORE PTE LTD

" ..... attended by our representatives and executives from ASEAN countries, Taiwan and Korea. Your programme was interesting, informative and practical which benefited the attendees extensively. We would certainly consider engaging your services in our future sales meetings.".......Lawrence Gan, Divisional Manager - Far East, STANLEY WORKS ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD

" Seminars were a tremendous success. You were able to relate examples and incidences relevant and illustrations were key in bringing home the concepts." ........ J P Wong, Financial Controller, METHODE ELECTRONICS FAR EAST PTE LTD

" .......evaluated as interesting and recommended for all senior officers. Margaret was favorably evaluated by participants of the two courses conducted." ....... To King Yok, Course Co-Ordinator, PORT OF SINGAPORE AUTHORITY

" had very good feedback on the way the course was conducted. Finance has always been a dry subject but you have made it interesting and insightful. " ...........Wong Mee Lee, Training Manager, CITIBANK

"..... for the managers and executives from the different Asian branches of our group SITA. I have particularly appreciated your professionalism and dynamism, to conduct this seminar, being convinced that all of us will have benefited from it." ....................Patrice Colombelli, Managing Director, SITACLEAN Technologies (S) Pte Ltd

" courses were very useful and applicable. They have found you very knowledgeable and experienced. Your cases were practical and extensive. You are confident and effective in delivering your lectures." ...... Zainan bt Mustafa, Group Financial Controller, JOHORE STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

" ...... found you had extensive knowledge and experience to really give them a very interesting, lively and fruitful discussion." .. Ling Chong Ngiu, General Manager, SANYO AIRCONDITIONERS MFG (S) PTE LTD

"Her course materials was well integrated and relevant to practical business applications." ...... Azizah Dahlan, Corporate Affairs Manager, ERICSSON TELECOMMUNICATIONS SDN BHD

"Margaret was found to be lively, knowledgeable and professional in her approach. Most importantly, the seminar enlightened the participants, who are non-financial personnel, on financial matters and we believe that it had certainly benefited them." .......Mavis W Y Soh, Personnel Manager, KES SYSTEMS & SERVICE PTE LTD