Joanna Johannes
Gulf Breeze,FL
Summary
I am a profit recovery and fraud detection expert with outstanding presentation, communication and cross-cultural team management skills. I am a high-energy, results-oriented leader who has recovered multi-millions of dollars for my clients. My experience in owning and operating financial consulting firms as well as educational institutions has allowed me the skills needed to manage all facets of any business including the highest level of financial & administrative leadership.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
President
Lighthouse Academy & Lighthouse Christian College
08.2005 - Current
- Manage 100 employees and 15 independent contractors
- With over 800 families, I supervise 5 chief executive officers that oversee all aspects of school management
- Increased enrollment by 30-100% each year since inception
- LPCA has 4 K-12th campuses, and the company just launched Lighthouse Christian College in 2022 with full blown college athletics
Chief Executive Officer
Advanced Profit Services
03.2000 - 03.2017
- Managed 32 forensic auditors
- Served as CEO of this multimillion-dollar profit recovery firm whereby I managed multiple client accounts & databases to keep track of all financial mistakes made by my clients
- Successfully led profit recovery audits for the Home Shopping Network which resulted in an additional $11 million to their bottom line within 2 years
President
Auditing and Consulting Professionals
03.1997 - 03.2000
- Managed 30 auditors in United States and in Australia
- Our strategies resulted in multi-millions of dollars in profit recovery for retailers with revenues exceeding $1 billion
- Presented findings to client President & CFOs on a weekly basis
- Increased revenue by 300% over a 1-year period by obtaining clients such as Michael's Arts & Crafts, NFL, PetSmart, Ascent Media and other high-profile companies
Chief Financial Officer
L. Luria & Sons
03.1994 - 03.1997
- Reported to CEO
- Hired to maximize exit strategy for owners
- Managed team of 120
- Responsibilities included all aspects of accounting and finance
- Created new revenue streams through acquisition of competitor
- Increased EBIT by 100% in one year through identifying inefficiencies, overpayments, and the establishment of profit recovery techniques
Director of Finance
Federated Department Stores
08.1989 - 03.1994
- Reported to CFO and oversaw 310 employees
- Managed all areas of finance for the world’s largest premier department store company
- Led team through a $6.6 billion takeover bid, a merger, and a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reconciliation
Education
Ph.D. - Higher Educational Leadership
Northcentral University
Phoenix, AZ01.2018
MBA - Business Administration
Nova University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida01.1993
Bachelor of Science - Finance
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida01.1989
Skills
- Strong Verbal and Written Skills
- Data Management Expertise
- Project Leadership
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- Business Operations Management
- Expertise in DOE Compliance
- Financial Planning Expertise
- Overpayment Detection Specialist
- Financial Fraud Investigation
- Licensed Real Estate Broker
- Contract Law Knowledge
- Expert in Payment Discrepancy Analysis
- Efficiency Consultant
- Strategic Budget Management in Fortune 500 Contexts
- Accounts Payable Specialist
- Conflict Resolution Expertise
- General Ledger
- Accounting software
- Payroll Management
- Fraud Detection Expertise
- Comprehensive Financial Evaluation
- Data Analysis
- Professional Presentation Skills
- Integrity and ethics
Elevated Skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Database management
- Leadership and Microsoft office applications
- Business operations & development
- DOE standards
- Financial management
- Overpayment detection strategist
- Forensic auditor
- Real Estate Broker / Contract law
- Duplicate payment query expert
- Efficiency & compliance consultant
- Fortune 500 budgeting
- Accounts Payable expert
- Negotiations/diplomacy
- General Ledger/Accounting software
- Payroll / benefits - fraud detection
- Financial Analysis & statistics & presentation
Activities
- Former President of Navarre Rotary Club (2010/11)
- Elks Club Elite - current
- Chairperson of local Republican National Business Council (5 years)
- Owner of Coconut Palm Real Estate
- Active member of Navarre and Gulf Breeze Chambers (Current)
- Nominee for International Rotary Business Ethics Award (2012/13)
- Daughter of the American Revolution (since 2016)
- Treasurer for the Christian Schools of Florida (2013-2023)
- Board of Directors for Christian Schools of Florida (current)
- Board of Directors for Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office (current)
- Board of Directors for ANGELFORCE (current)
- Paul Harris Fellow (since 2009)
- Chapel leader
- Member of Global Methodist Church (Finance & Budgeting Committee: 2012-2015)
- Currently attending non-denominational Liberty Church
- Licensed Active Real Estate Sales Broker
- Lifetime member of American Water Ski Association / Former world kneeboard champion
- Married with two sons (ages 21 and 23)
Timeline
President
Lighthouse Academy & Lighthouse Christian College
08.2005 - Current
Chief Executive Officer
Advanced Profit Services
03.2000 - 03.2017
President
Auditing and Consulting Professionals
03.1997 - 03.2000
Chief Financial Officer
L. Luria & Sons
03.1994 - 03.1997
Director of Finance
Federated Department Stores
08.1989 - 03.1994
MBA - Business Administration
Nova University
Bachelor of Science - Finance
University of South Florida
Ph.D. - Higher Educational Leadership
Northcentral University
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