Edward Chin-Mook

Key Qualifications Mr. Chin-mook has 17 years of experience in developing and implementing management and accounting systems for micro, small and medium-size firms in Jamaica across multiple sectors. Working at the Board Level of the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) since 2005, including as President, he administered the European Union (EU)-funded Private Sector Development Program (PSDP) contracts for the Association, valued at over J$11 million and comprising of all island MSME training and technical capacity building. Mr. Chin-mook successfully lobbied the government to increase its tax threshold for indirect tax General Consumption Tax from J$1 to J$3 Million, as well as for the adoption of the 15 percent Small Business Procurement Policy from government and increased availability of low cost funding to the MSME sector. He is and has been a board member of important organizations, including the National Planning Committee, the Steering Committee for the EU PSDP program, the National Commission on Science and Technology chaired by the Prime Minister, the Target Growth Competitiveness Committee chaired by Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, and the Jamaica Chamber Of Commerce; as was an Executive Council Member of the Private Sector Organization Of Jamaica (PSOJ). Education and Certifications BSc. (Hon) Accounting, Management, University of the West Indies, 2004 Languages Language Reading Speaking English Native Native Chronological Work History Owner, Global Ink, 2003 – Present Remanufacture Ink and Toner Cartridges exclusively for HP printers. Partnered with spouse to establish a green business focused on delivering a high quality product utilizing the most modern re-manufacturing equipment, coupled with service and support for all equipment which utilizes our products. We work very closely with our North American and European suppliers to ensure that the all our machinery and inputs are ISO Certified and the companies are committed to client support and not just the sale of products. Coupled with the fact that we are saving our environment we are also reducing our balance of payments in “Import Substitution” and the provision of sustainable employment. President, Caribbean Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, 2010 – 2015 Chair Credit Committee – City Of Kingston Corporative Credit Union COK, 2010 – 2011 President, Small Business Association of Jamaica, 2007 – 2009 Oversaw and administered the following groups and activities: • IDB Consultants – Collateral Registry and Establishment of Fair Trade Secretariat • IFC Consultants – Development of SME Loan Products • World Bank Consultants – Impact of their intervention to sector • USAID Consultants - Business Climate and Legal Reform – Access to credit MSME • Shared Services Incubator – Establishment of MSME shared services incubator, Phase I • Common Wealth Secretariat Mission – Evaluate the MSME sector. The Secretariat will be returning in November 2009 to assess needs and begin their intervention • CIDA - Consultation for the Caribbean EFE Program, a program that is being co-designed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges • EU/GOJ SBAJ Capacity Building Contract - In association with JAMPRO, the EU has given approval for a facility to support the strengthening of the Secretariat valued at $7.9 million with the SBAJ having to cost share 25 percent • EU Consultants – Audit of the Private Sector Development Program Executive Committee Member, Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), 2007 – 2009 The Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) was established in 1976. It is a national organization of private sector associations, companies and individuals that are working together to promote a competitive and productive private sector. The organization seeks to influence national policy issues of a political, social, or economic nature. The Executive Committee, under guidance from the Council, leads this process by promoting discussions with the country's government, political directorate, and the opposition. The Organization is also in close and constant contact with the major multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies. The PSOJ is governed by its Council, which is elected by the general membership at the Annual General Meeting to serve for a two year period. The Council elects each year from its members, an Executive Committee, which includes the President and Officers of the PSOJ. Founding Director, Guanaba Foundation 2009, Established a pilot for community sustainable development, a non-profit entity to serve the community of North West St Catherine. The plan is to create a “BIZ HUB” facilitating training, finance, marketing, and the establishment of agro-processing shared services facilities. Deputy Prime Minister Dr. The Hon. Kenneth Baugh, who is Member of Parliament for the constituency has endorsed the project and given a commitment to lend support where possible. Other founding directors are; (SBAJ)- Drs. Meredith Clara Hypolite Derby (Community): Donald Baugh, Dr. Patrick Bennett (Chairman), Devon Green, Dr. Carolyn Hayle, Kevin A. B. Lue. Initiated dialog for Funding and Collaboration with the EU, IDB, Japanese Government and FAO. Project Proposals are being written for submission. Lobbied Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Stimulus Package Announced by December 2008 15% Small Business Procurement Policy A mandatory 15% of total procurement offered by government agencies will be reserved fro small businesses and micro-enterprises. Since 2005 he has lobbied the government to implement a system to ear mark a set portion of government procurement to small businesses under less cumbersome and bureaucratic conditions. The model copied from the United States under the USA Small Business Administration’s program Business Matchmaking. Business Matchmaking (BMM) is the nation's premier public-private initiative supporting procurement opportunities for small business in every industry. Increase General Consumption Tax, (G.C.T) Sales Tax payment threshold for Small Businesses from JA$1Million dollars to JA$3 Million. Prior MSME once formalized would have to charge and pay over indirect sales tax monthly calculated on the accruals basis. This proved very challenging for many in adding to their back office requirements and the fact that their business could not support this additional administrative cost. Hence the raising of the threshold would give them time to grow and they would not charge the indirect sales tax. Their status on the Tax Role is adjusted from “Registered Business” to “Registered Tax Payer”. SBAJ- National Contact Point for SME in Jamaica - CORDIS EU Framework Program 7-2009 Working closely with the Scientific Research Council of Jamaica who is the National Contact Point for the program, SBAJ was select to represent the SME sector through representation on the board of the National Commission on Science and Technology. National Co-ordinator : Audia Barnett (SRC) ,Alternate Co-ordinator : Georgia Bernard (Brussels), Health : Linnette Peters (Min. Health) , ICT : Marcia Forbes (Min. Telecom.) Energy : Ruth Potopsingh (PCJ), SME : Edward Chin-Mook (SBAJ),Environment : Leary Myers (NEPA) , Food, Agriculture : Audia Barnett (SRC) CORDIS, is an European Union program for Community Research and Development Information Service for Science, Research and Development with these main missions: • To facilitate participation in European Research activities; • To enhance exploitation of research results with an emphasis on sectors crucial to Europe's competitiveness; • To promote the dissemination of knowledge fostering the innovation performance of enterprise and the societal acceptance of new technology. Steering Committee Member of the Private Sector Development Program 2007-2009 The Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP), a five-year technical assistance programme (2004-2009) funded jointly by the European Union (EU), under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF), and the Government of Jamaica (GoJ), is geared toward developing the private sector. Globalization and the liberalization of markets have created both challenges and opportunities, for business operators and private sector support institutions in Jamaica. The major challenge facing the country's Planners is how to improve the competitiveness of the private sector to ensure that businesses are able to operate efficiently in a more intensely competitive international marketplace. National Export Strategy 2009 Collaborated with Jamaica Exporters Association and Jamaica Trade and Invest providing advice on SME related issues and concerns, which must factor in the crafting of the Strategy. Co-opted and supervised a panel from our membership who reviewed and the draft document culminated in our participation at the strategic retreat to frame the final document. Jamaica’s National Export Strategy (NES) is a unified strategic initiative that seeks to maximize the export sector’s direct contribution to economic and social development. The vision of the NES is to make Jamaica the place of choice for creative, innovative goods and services of exceptional quality. The strategy is being developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce, with technical assistance from the International Trade Centre (ITC) and partial funding from the Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP), a joint initiative of the Government of Jamaica and the European Union. The goal is to improve our export performance by advancing the competitiveness of firms and sectors, while enhancing the business and trade environment. The strategy is being championed jointly by Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) and the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA). The NES is part of Vision 2030 Jamaica, the National Development Plan that is being led by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), and calls for improving our international competitiveness. The NES will be implemented by a network of partners (the Network for Export Solutions). The Network seeks close alliances among the members of the business support network from the public and private sectors, which include regulatory bodies, centres of information and business services providers. National Export Council 2009 The National Export Council is an independent institution for public-private deliberation that acts in an advisory capacity to the Government and the private sector and is charged with oversight for the implementation and management of Jamaica’s National Export Strategy. The Council is composed of representatives from the public and private sector who are critical members of the trade support network and wider export community. National Entrepreneurial Conference 2009 Actively participated in the conceptualization, planning and execution of the conference. The conference is a collaborative effort involving the HEART Trust/ NTA, the University of the West Indies (UWI), the University of Technology (UTech), and Northern Caribbean University (NCU). Additional partners include: Management Institute for National Development (MIND), Self Start, Small Business Association Of Jamaica, Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) and the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ). II Regional Seminar on Competitiveness: “Information and Communication Technologies - To improve the Productivity of SMEs”– Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago • Made presentation in Session 1 and participated in Panel Discussions • Made vital networking linkages with CARICOM partners in SME development around the region. Re-started talks on the resuscitation of CASME , Caribbean Association Of Small and Medium Size Enterprise. Regional Technical Meeting -Implementing Community Agricultural Policy in CARICOM 30th April - 1 May, 2009 Trinidad and Tobago Represented the SME sector of Jamaica inclusive of small farmers and Agro Processing. Policy harmonisation is an integral part of the CARICOM integration process through the Single Market and Economy (CSME). The commitment and goals to establish a CARICOM Community Agricultural Policy in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas represent a significant step towards realising the economic and political benefits of regional cooperation. Situation Harmonisation of agricultural policy in CARICOM will require extensive, inclusive and comprehensive consultation, across diverse stakeholder groups in the region. Such regional dialogue cannot be substituted. The region needs to make a firm decision with respect to a regional agricultural policy. Expected Outcomes: Given the meeting's focus, at the end, the key outcomes expected will be to: (a) arrive at a consensus position on the relevance, timing and feasibility of articulating and implementing a regional policy for agriculture; (b) send a clear and unambiguous signal on the urgency and options that the region should pursue with respect to regional agricultural policy and strategy; (c) propose clear steps on the process forward and time-frame for managing the task of developing regional policy and strategy, including incorporating and building on successful private sector initiatives, where these exist. Networking and Meeting with senior Multilateral Agencies • World Bank - IDB- ITC- UK- EU -IFC – CIDA- USAID Chairman and Director of SMEnet Enterprises Limited – 2010 Company established to offer accounting and management services to SME’s. Director, Global Information Systems, Ltd., 1996 – 2003 Consultancy - Accounting Implementation and Software Customization, including: • Accounting Solutions (Accpac –Platinum- Real World- Peach Tree- Quick Books- MYOB – Dac Easy) • Programming Tools (Microsoft Access, Visual Basic, Magic 4 GL, Dream weaver, PHP) • Operating Systems (MS-Dos, Windows, Linux) Customized software solutions have included: Industry: Tourism Client: Silver Sand – Columbus Heights Application Description: Villa Management and Reservation System Coordinate reservations as well as expenditure applicable to each unit. Produce detailed monthly Owner Statements and update the General Ledger control accounts and calculate commission earned. Industry: Services Client: Securicor Jamaica Ltd Application Description: Cash In Transit Billing System Capture data from “Transaction Sheets” and apply rules of contract agreed with clients, creating a detailed and comprehensive invoice which is then integrated into the accounting software for update in the Accounts Receivable and General Ledger respectively. Industry: Health Client: UWI Tony Thwaites Wing Application Description: Patient Management System Monitor and track patient from admissions to discharge with the production a detailed invoice which is then integrated with the Accounts Receivables, Inventory, and General Ledger Modules. Industry: Shipping Client: Lannaman and Morris Shipping Application Description: Manifest Billing Import data from Shipping Lines main system and convert to Customer Invoices. Special features were charges for Demurrage, Chassis, Storage, Container Tracking, and US$ Rates. Interface with Accounts Receivables and Payables to match income with expenses and ensure that all charges are accounted for, and reconciled with the control accounts in the GL. Industry: Services –Engineering Client: Carib Engineering Application Description: Job Costing and Project Management Track contractors and monitor performance based on Bill Of Quantities compared to overall contract, thus creating a customized sub ledger for this unique industry with built in algorithm according to the National Contracts Commission rules regarding award and tenure of government contracts. Daily and weekly batch updates to Accounts Payable and General Ledger. With the production of reports for Work in Progress, Retention, and overall project status across all subcontractors engaged per task per project. Industry: Service – Printing Client: Litho Graphic Printers Application Description: Print Management and Billing System Complete management of printing processes: job placement to collection of deposit to production with the transfer of material from stores and final billing. At the end of each week, batches are uploaded to the General Ledger . Consultant, Creative Computers, 1992 - 1996 Senior Accountant, General Management Company, 1990 - 1992 Junior Auditor, Mair Russell And Partners (Audit Firm), 1989 - 1990