Robert Freer
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Robert E. Freer, Jr. BB & T Visiting Professor in Ethics & Free Enterprise Leadership 345 Bond Hall, The Citadel School of Business Administration 171 Moultrie St Charleston, SC 29409 Phone: 843-953-4944 Fax: 843-953-6764 Email: [email protected] Web Site: www.Free-Enterprise-Foundation.org CAREER HISTORY Visiting Professor (2004-Present) and First John S. Grinalds Leader in Residence (2005- 2006) Appointed First BB&T Visiting Professor, School of Business Administration, The Citadel, Charleston, SC 2009 – Member Citadel General Awards Committee (2004- 2005) have served on both graduate and undergraduate curriculum committees at various time since joining the faculty. Adjunct professor, Charleston School of Law 2006- Present (Antitrust) President& Founder; 2002-Present Free Enterprise Foundation Serve as the President and CEO of this independent nonpartisan institute dedicated to preserving and publicizing the best in Free Enterprise. The Foundations goals are the continuing education of the public on the vital role of free enterprise in securing the blessings of liberty, and the creation of enterprise excellence consistent with the highest standards of ethics and civic responsibility through best practices. Located in Charleston, SC, the foundation has set for itself a national goal of serving as a catalyst to encouraging an ever rising standard of enterprise excellence consistent with long accepted notions of enterprise responsibility and adherence to fundamental principles. 2008 awarded key to the City of Mt. Pleasant, SC and proclamations from Cities of Charleston and North Charleston for successful Interamerican Conference on Trade Development in the region. Special Public Policy Correspondent, Charleston Mercury, 2005-2011 Featured Columnist, Charleston Tea Party Patriot 2011- Consultant /Investment Banker/ Attorney, 2000-2002 As a consultant served as principle strategic advisor to the CEO and the Board of Directors of ASCII Technology Holdings, Inc., ATH owns the ASCII Group Inc and the Internet software development company; TechnologyNet, Inc. ASCII is the world’s largest independent group of information technology (IT) value added resellers (VARs). TechnologyNet has created for ASCII application software that has added valuable new sources of scaleable revenue to the Company model. 1 *Restructured the two operating companies through mergers creating a Delaware holding company. *Through three substantial formal rounds and several informal financings, maintained financial viability of TechnologyNet. *Negotiated significant discounts in TechnologyNet payables and conversion of large denomination debt instruments to equity, permitting mergers to proceed and surviving company to continue virtually debt free. Natural Solutions Corporation Board/Executive Committee, 1997-2002 (Formerly Ice Ban) Rescued Ice Ban Corporation by finding required funding and the implementation of strong supportive board leadership. *Restructured the Corporation with new Charter and bylaws, secured experienced management and Board of Directors. *Obtained a multi million operating fund and transfer of corporate control to experienced operator in new location. *Drafted and obtained passage of measure authorizing 90% funding by States from Federal Highway funds for use of Company’s product on bridges, elevated roadways and approaches. Partner, Senior Partner, President or Secretary Barnett & Alagia, 1985-89 Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler, 1989-91 Freer & Alagia et al P.C., 1991-97 Baise, Miller & Freer, P.C., 1997-2000 Private Practice of law for my clients including, Amstar Corporation, M & M Mars, Ice Ban, Inc., Churchill Ltd, Colgate Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson, Praxis Biologics, Warren Car & Tank, Trans World Express, The U.S, Cuba Business Council, Regent University, David Hamilton Smith Investments, and Flight International. Practice was largely Federal Agency and legislative based and included: Obtaining early termination of waiting period for multi million dollar merger of Praxis into American Cyanamid; duty drawback for millions of dollars in imports; defending client in federal criminal prosecution in duty drawback proceeding and obtaining millions in moiety for diverted product recovered by federal prosecution of guilty parties; drafting of major legislation amending Federal Highway statute worth millions to client; counseling clients on Robinson-Patman compliance; drafting major statute in international relations area and counseling House and Senate committees re same; Successful representation of major advertisers in FTC proceedings and continuing anti-trust counseling of several major clients. 2 Vice President, 1974-1984 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Senior corporate officer responsible for regulatory compliance, governmental relations, and energy and environmental management. Also served as General Counsel. *Directed all state and federal government relations *Drafted significant comments to FDA on Medical device amendments largely adopted by Agency. *Led Company response to Toxic Shock crisis and succeeded by our prompt actions in largely eliminating negative effects on Company *Obtained Federal clearance for $350,000,000 sale of significant Timber holdings in California at height of market value. *Led legal team implementing decision to create Midwest Express as regulated air carrier and represented the Company before the CAB. Airline created without use of outside resources at substantial savings to Company and has operated profitably since, both before and since it was spun out as a public entity. *Led legal team creating Integrated Services Corporation (ISC) as a regulated Common carrier for all commodities in 39 states and DC. *Led successful industry response to dumping in U.S. of kraft capacitor tissue and represented Company before the ITC in this fully litigated matter and before the full Commission on several others. *Managed corporate energy resources and ensured compliance with all state and federal environmental requirements. *Company fully complied with and was a leader in environmentally focused operation of its business. There were no fines for effluent limitations violations during my tenure. Executive Assistant to the General Counsel, 1971-74 U.S. Department of Transportation Served as the senior assistant to the General Counsel of the Department in the management of the Department in the delivery of legal services, served as the primary contact on Coast Guard Judge Advocate General reviews and the correction of military records; represented the department before the Interstate Commerce Commission in the revision of consumer protection rules in the Household moving industry, served as the office liaison with the Chief Counsels of the Department’s modal agencies. Advertising Examiner, Trial Attorney, 1964-71 U.S. Federal Trade Commission Assistant to the Chairman, Liaison Officer, & Assistant to the General Counsel Served as a trial attorney in both the Consumer Protection and Anti-competitive practice areas of the Commissions responsibility, selected as a legal advisor to Chairman Weinberger and subsequently Miles Kirkpatrick, represented the Commission in negotiating its liaison agreements with sister agencies and on Capitol Hill. (Case Appendix available upon request) Recipient, Distinguished Service Award. ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES Chairman & CEO, 1988-2005, Lawyers for the Republic 3 Co-founded and chaired this organization that supports various voting rights activities including the preservation of minority rights in reapportionment. *Sponsors the Ronald Reagan Award for Excellence in Law and Public Policy. *Ran the Fairness for the 90s project, which raised over 3 million dollars and provided data and software to minority groups interested in electoral redistricting. Extensive data was given to Harvard after redistricting for 1990 was concluded. Foundation also... * Supported the creation of Finding Our Roots; Facing Our Future: America in the Twenty First Century Book was published in 1997 by Madison Books. Board of Governors, 1985-2000 The Republican National Lawyers Association Co-founded this group and directed its expansion into a national organization with more than 1,500 members. Served as its first general counsel. Also served as Assistant General Counsel of the 1984,88,92, and 1996 Republican National Conventions. Board Member, 1979-1984 Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsels Association President, 1979-1981 Founded this association and served as its first president which grew to a membership of 450 corporate attorneys in two years. It is now a chapter of the American Corporate Counsels Association. Chairman Emeritus, 1994-Present Washington Episcopal School Chairman & CEO, 1986-1994 Designed and directed the start-up operations of this blue-ribbon nursery-grade 8 school, guiding its growth from minimum assets to a serviceable endowment and an excellent reputation in the community. *Completed the licensure, staffing, planning, and tax clearance for the 501(c)(3) status of the school and enrolled 91 students in less than six months. Today the school has over 275 students and 50 faculty and owns its own building *During my eight years as its Chairman, we had 100% annual giving and succeeded in operating on cash flow without any borrowing whatsoever. Commissioner, 1983-93 Presidents Commission on White House Fellowship Appointed by President Reagan and reappointed by President George H.W. Bush. We selected and supported Fellows for Service as Assistants for Cabinet Officers and