Francine Do freely admits that she pores 100% of her efforts into her job. The CFO and COO of Las Vegas-based Advanced Imaging Solutions (AIS) made an immediate impact on the company upon her arrival—employing innovative methods that have provided massive improvements for budgeting, revenue and profits. Within two years she received several company awards despite being a relative newbie.
While her financial skills have been honed throughout the course of her career, Do’s work ethic can be traced to her mother, Thu Dao, who brought her family to the United States from Vietnam in 1975. Thu Dao wanted her children to have a chance at achieving the American Dream, and worked tirelessly at a number of jobs to ensure they would have a clear path. Do is eternally grateful for having such a role model and an opportunity to accomplish many wonderful goals.
“She’s my hero,” said Do, “and I miss her every day.”
Do carries on her mother’s unyielding work ethic, ensuring AIS continues down the path of profit through her work with the organization’s finance, HR, logistics and internal IT teams. Backed by more than 20 years of experience, including 17-plus with Canon, Do is a critical component in the dealer’s quest to reach the $100 million plateau.
“I’m a results-oriented individual,” said Do, a 2021 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. “Setting and establishing goals can be very motivating for me. I love the opportunity to tackle a project that benefits the company.”
Right Person
Do joined the AIS fold in mid-2020 with experience at dealerships including Inland Business Systems and NewCal Industries, the latter of which was acquired by Canon after growing from $4 million to $35 million during her tenure. AIS was in need of a leader to quarterback the finance department, and chief executive Gary Harouff felt she was the right person to help lay the groundwork for procedures and provide in-depth analysis of company financials.
The key to approaching financials, Do observes, is not as black and white as many people perceive it. She has worked to drill down to provide insights that help the AIS engine run more smoothly. Her background as a controller, human resources director and business operations director provides a level of insight that has been a catalyst for her success.
“You have to really see the actual deal in itself, inside and out, and have that creative mind to make sure you can drive and work with sales to get the deals where they need to be,” she said. “The job is not just about financials. The key is to work with every single department and gain a better understanding of their needs.”
AIS owes a debt of gratitude, to some extent, to the influences of Steve Tarpley and Ken Wilkens, who recruited Do at NewCal Industries and were instrumental in her development. Tarpley, she notes, is not only highly intelligent but is a master of solving problems.
“Steve is simply amazing in front of a customer or his salespeople,” Do noted. “He can motivate you to really do well.”
Growth Drivers
Do is optimistic for the future of AIS, considering it was able to maintain staffing levels to combat the pandemic-induced downturn in business and emerge with positive net profit. While business is slowly returning to pre-COVID levels, she’s confident the company can hit its budget goals, especially in light of some key hires, including a new vice president of sales.
With 2022 on the horizon, Do wants to focus on improving communications and helping sales representatives construct profitable deals. On a personal note, she’s working hard at finishing her degree with the University of Phoenix and has been invited to join The Golden Key International Honor Society and The National Society of Leadership and Success. At AIS, she’s captured a pair of Gary Awards (given to individuals who represent key company values such as trustworthy, responsive and integrity) and the President’s Award.
Do has two daughters, Jillian and Justine, and recently became a grandmother (“people like to call me glam-ma” she laughed). She loves to travel and counts Europe among her favorite destinations. In 2022, Do hopes to visit either Japan or Vietnam, the latter of which she has not seen since immigrating in 1975.
