About the Author:

Louis W Mehrmann

Biography

Summary

“Lou” Mehrmann is a retired free lance Business Management Consultant with over 45 years of customer focused interrelationships and business process experience.  He began his business career when he joined IBM immediately after serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean “Conflict” where he earned his Dolphins aboard the Submarine U.S.S. Sennett (SS408) as an Electronics Technician.

Lou has 35 years of diversified IBM experience; in field, headquarters, line, staff, and management positions; in service, marketing, and corporate business functions.  His major strengths are in business process planning/management, process problem/causal analysis, solution design/implementation, and standards.  He has specialized knowledge in Information Systems Management, Data Security, Audit Practices and Procedures, and Baldrige Quality Assessments.  He is a creative, energetic results oriented professional, whose work ethic, example, and exceptional rapport with younger employees build strong team commitment

After retiring from IBM, Lou spent:

·         Two years as a consultant with the IBM Credit Corporation base lining, entitling, and reengineering their field marketing process.

·         One year consulting with medical practitioners performing office work flow time/motion studies, evaluating staff assignments, making staffing recommendations, and in the evaluation of overhead expenses and recommended cost reductions.

·         Five years as a consultant, again with the IBM Credit Corporation designing, implementing, and managing an end-user Customer Satisfaction Program.

·         Two years with DBA Business Transformation Services doing self-study course evaluations and recommendations, learning activity identification to support specific skills, career path roadmap definition and design, and in evaluation of participation by business unit and profession in the career planning process.

Accomplishments:

Initiated, developed, implemented information systems management briefings, seminars, planning sessions to address customer concerns about complexity, reliability, availability issues  resulting in eased transition to new applications, decreased pent up demand and increased productivity. Lou conducted sessions for several hundred customers including more than a dozen Fortune 500 establishments.

Lou designed, developed, and published twelve customer data control documents for IBM. (Security Assessment Questionnaire, Security Controls and Procedures, Risk Assessment, Contingency Planning, Dial-Up Security, Information Ownership and Classification, Personal Computer Security, Control of Off-Site Terminal and Software Usage, Information Systems Network Security, Fire Suppression in DP Operations, Bibliography of Security, Audibility, Control Publications, and a Detailed Three Phase Project Plan for Implementing System Network Control Centers).

Lou counseled over 3000 IBM customers nationwide via seminars relating to security, audibility, and control of information systems to address data integrity and corporate Data Asset Protection issues. This resulted in heightened customer awareness and implementation of improved protection methodologies.

Developed and initiated three new corporate audit programs for IBM; (Personal Property Taxes for M&D Sites, Buy America Procedures and Controls, Import Process Controls) which identified a lack of business process controls over several critical business functions exposing the corporation to significant financial loss opportunities.  Resulted in major changes to worldwide sourcing logistics system and strengthening of associated internal controls.  Participated in 12 audits, acted in capacity of Auditor in Charge for 11 additional audits, Mentored and trained six new audit team players.

Facilitated documentation and analysis of IBM field technical support process that identified significant redundancies.  Resulted in initiation of major process re-engineering project to affect ten times (10X) improvement in process effectiveness and efficiency.

Developed, implemented, and managed an End-User Customer Satisfaction program for IBM Credit Corporation.  Established closed loop process to identify and correct systemic root causes of customer dissatisfaction.   This resulted in 8% (87%-95%) improvement in overall customer satisfaction and designation as “Best of Breed” within IBM parent company.

Lou Mehrmann is a prostate cancer survivor, having both surgery and radiation after diagnosed less than one year after retiring from IBM.  Since that time, both Lou and his wife Gloria have been actively involved in promoting cancer awareness in a variety of ways.  Lou developed and provided the American Cancer Society (ACS) a presentation on prostate cancer that is readily available to deliver to any organization with an interest in the subject. 

Lou personally presented to over 100 business, fraternal, university and church organizations in Southwest Virginia.  He has been actively involved with the American Cancer Society as a committee Chairman for cancer education and on the local ACS board of directors.  Lou is also an active member of the planning committee for the local Man-to-Man prostate cancer support group sponsored by ACS.  In recognition of his dedicated service, Lou was selected and participated for several years in the Department of Defense (DoD) Prostate Cancer Research Program as a consumer advocate to evaluate proposals from medical professionals competing for research funding.   

In response to requests, Lou and Gloria established a volunteer program for cancer advocates to support the Southwest Virginia Cancer Center.  As a couple, they became active participants in the Man-to-Man program and selected to participate in the American Cancer Society National Cancer Awareness Education Council.  They developed several training modules to teach selected leaders how to establish, organize, and run successful Man-to-Man functions for ACS.  They personally trained new Man-to-Man leaders in several cities across the mid-south region of ACS.

Change Management

Change Management

Security is a Management Issue
 

Ownership and Classification

Firewalls, Virus Protection and Spyware Security Keep Intruders Out, Executive Blueprints Offers A Course to Keep Confidential Data In  
Orange County, CA (PRWEB) April 11, 2006 -- Imagine the impact of customer data, financial records or strategic plans in the hands of competitors, disgruntled employees or posted on the Internet. “Ownership and Classification” is a course designed to address this potential devastation.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/4/prweb370203.htm

Risk Management

"Risk Management, Are You Prepared to Handle an Unexpected Event?" is a New Release in Series by Louis Mehrmann
Orange County, California (PRWEB) June 9, 2007 -- Management, control and protection of confidential data is a matter of corporate responsibility and potential for personal liability. The new focus is a move from reactive compliance to proactive and cost-effective information protection and control. Organizations of all sizes are making substantial investments to protect customers and employees from the tremendous risks. The latest book by Louis Mehrmann addresses these growing concerns with practical applications designed for business owners and managers.