Background
Mr. Wilkinson has over 30 years of consulting experience serving major electric, gas, telephone, and water utilities, corporations, state and local governments, financial institutions, and regulatory bodies. He specializes in financial management, accounting, budgeting, affiliate transactions, cost allocations, and strategic and long-range planning. He is a Certified Public Accountant, having spent seven years as Manager of Management Consulting Services for Ernst & Young. Mr. Wilkinson has also served as a an Associate Professor and Instructor of Accounting at a number of universities, as well as the Director of Resources Planning and Management Division at the Gulf South Research Institute.
Mr. Wilkinson has participated as Lead Consultant in a number of utility related assignments in which he investigated one or more of the following areas: financial management, affiliate transactions, cost allocations, corporate planning, external relations, cross-subsidization, financial forecasting and capital structure.
Education
Residence requirements for Ph.D., Louisiana State University (Accounting)
MBA, Louisiana State University
BS, Delta State University (Accounting)
Certified Public Accountant, Mississippi
Functional
Experience
Regulatory Proceedings
Reviewed the financial management function, inter-company (affiliated) relationships, and allocation of fees between parent and subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Assignment was part of settlement agreement with the SEC and five state regulators.
Assisted in the preparation of rate filings for various utility companies, including independent telephone companies and water and sewer companies.
Prepared economic analyses and testified as expert economist before State and Federal regulators in matters involving issues such as bank branch and charter applications and wrongful death and injury litigation.
Served as Special Master in Chancery Court on several occasions. The work has usually included review of exhibits, testimony, and financial records to define transactions, identify liquid assets, and lend assistance in determining equity.
Developed a "Fairness Opinion" evaluation for three commercial banks for a proposed merger. The project included a valuation of each of the three banks and a calculation of exchange rates for the common stocks of the three banks in consummating the merger.
Prepared several economic feasibility studies and development plans for the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.
Legislative Affairs and Lobbying
Developed and implemented comprehensive political action programs and lobbying for the Mississippi Legislature.
Developed annual plan and schedule for corporate political action programs.
Developed and implemented comprehensive legislative campaign and political contributions strategy for party primaries and general elections in Mississippi.
Developed and implemented "off season" activities, including visits with Legislators and candidates, identification of issues, identification and building of coalitions, conducting research regarding issues and developing strategy for passing or killing anticipated legislation.
Monitored and reviewed all legislation introduced in the Mississippi Legislature. Identified and analyzed specific legislation of interest to clients.
Planned and implemented the legislative strategy for highly contested legislation, including formation and management of large diverse coalitions and daily monitoring and management of lobbying activities.
State Government Organization, Budget and Operations
Prepared the original budget, grant request, and implementation plan for establishing the Mississippi Small Business Development Center (MSBDC). Implementation included negotiating contracts and financial functions.
Reorganized a major software development contract, developed a project work plan, and negotiated a contract settlement.
Conducted a review of the methods and procedures for collecting oil and gas taxes for the Mississippi Oil & Gas Board.
Conducted an operations and financial review of the Mississippi Veterans Home Loan Purchase Board.
Selected
Clients
Entergy Corporation
Peoples Natural Gas Company
Mississippi Power & Light Company
Western Kentucky Gas Company
West Texas Utilities Company
Central and Southwest Corporation
U.S. West, Inc.
Advanced Technologies, Inc.
NYNEX/New England Telephone Company
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
San Diego Gas & Electric Company
Southern California Gas Company
Additional Business &
Professional Experience
Ernst & Young, Manager, Management Consulting Services.
Gulf South Research Institute, Director, Resources Planning & Management Division.
Louisiana State University, Associate Professor and Instructor of Accounting.
Belhaven College, Associate Professor and Instructor of Accounting.
Mississippi State University, Associate Professor and Instructor of Accounting.
University of Mississippi, Associate Professor and Instructor of Accounting.
Jackson State University, Associate Professor and Instructor of Accounting.
Professional Memberships
Chairman Advisory Board, Mississippi Small Business Development Center
Vice Chairman, Mississippi Hospital Equipment Financing Authority
Member of the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants
