EXHIBIT 10.31
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Agreement dated this 28th day of July, 1998, by and between Able Telcom Holding
Corp., with its address at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxx, 00000, ("Employer"), and XXXX XXXXXXX, ("Employee").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Employer is engaged in the telephone and telecommunication installation
and service, and manufacture sale and installation of highway signs and traffic
control products.
WHEREAS, Employer desires to employ Employee as the PRESIDENT/COO of MFS
Transportation Systems.
WHEREAS, Employer desires to avail itself of the services of the Employee in
order that his knowledge and ability may be utilized in the conduct and
development of the business and affairs of Employer.
WHEREAS, Employee has evidenced his willingness to enter into an employment
agreement with respect to his employment by Employer, pursuant to the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and mutual promises and
covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT: DUTIES
SUMMARY
Plans, develops, establishes policies and objectives of business
organization in accordance with the President and Board directives and
corporation charter, manages and directs the organization toward its
primary objectives, based on profit and return on capital, by
performing the following duties personally or through subordinate
managers.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other
duties may be assigned.
Confers with company officials to plan business objectives, to develop
organizational policies, to coordinate functions and operations between
divisions and departments, and to establish responsibilities and
procedures for attaining objectives.
Reviews activity reports and financial statements to determine progress
and status in attaining objectives and revises objectives and plans in
accordance with current conditions.
Directs and coordinates formulation of financial programs to provide
funding for new or continuing operations to maximize returns on
investments and to increase productivity.
Plans and develops industrial, labor, and public relations policies
designed to improve company's image and relations with customers,
employees, stockholders, and public.
Evaluates performance of executives for compliance with established
policies and objectives of firm and contributions in attaining
objectives.
Presides over Board of Directors for MFS Trans Tech.
Serves as chairman of committees such as management, executive,
engineering, and sales.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform
each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are
representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with
disabilities to perform the essential functions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that
must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential
functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative
of those an employee encounters while performing the essential
functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
2. FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT
Employee hereby accepts employment by Employer upon the terms and conditions
contained herein and agrees that during the term of this Agreement, Employee
shall devote all of his business time, attention and energies to the business of
Employer.
3. TERM
Employee's employment thereunder shall be for a term of three (3) years to
commence on the date hereof and will be renewed annually, subject to Board of
Directors approval.
In the event employee voluntarily resigns, employer's obligations are limited to
payment of base salary through the last day of employee's employment and
approved accrued vacation days. Stock options are exercisable per the stock
option plan provisions and no acceleration of unvested shares will be made to
employee.
4. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Employee may be
terminated on thirty (30) days notice without further benefits or compensation
for any of the following reasons: a) misuse, misappropriation or embezzlement of
any Employer property or funds; b) conviction of a felony, c) breach of any
material provision of this agreement.
5. TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE
Termination without cause can only be affected by an action by the Board of
Directors representing a majority of the members approving such termination. In
the event of the termination without cause, the Employee will be paid the
remainder of the base salary due under each one-year contract period and with a
minimum of 90 days severence pay (base salary only). All unexercised stock
options shall be accelerated. Upon sale or divestiture, the entire remaining
portion of this contract will be paid.
6. COMPENSATION
As full compensation for the performance of his duties on behalf of Employer,
Employee shall be compensated as follows:
i) BASE SALARY. Employer during the term hereof shall pay Employee a base salary
at the rate of ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($175,000) per annum,
payable no less frequently than in monthly installments.
ii) REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. Employer shall reimburse Employee for the
expenses incurred by Employee in connection with his duties hereunder, including
travel and entertainment, such reimbursement to be made in accordance with
regular Employer policy and upon presentation by Employee of the details of, and
vouchers for, such expenses.
iii) SALARY ADJUSTMENTS. Prior to the expiration of each contract year, the
Board of Directors will review Employee's salary and benefits and if appropriate
in its sole and absolute discretion will increase such salary and benefits for
the next succeeding year.
iv. AUTOMOBILE ALLOWANCE. Employer shall provide Employee with an allowance of
Five Hundred Dollars ($500) per month.
7. OPTIONS
Will automatically vest if Transportation Systems is sold or there is a change
in control of Able Telcom, Inc. Employee will receive 50,000 share stock option
at $14.00 per share, which vests after one year of employment.
8. FRINGE BENEFITS
During the term of this Agreement, Employer shall provide at its sole expense to
the Employee, hospitalization, major medical, life insurance and other fringe
benefits on the same terms and conditions as it shall afford other management
employees.
9. UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
Subsequent to the termination of the employment of Employee, Employee will not
interfere with or disrupt or attempt to disrupt Employer's business relationship
with its customers or suppliers. Further, Employee will not solicit any of the
employees of Employer to leave the Employer for a period of two (2) years
following such termination. In addition, Employee agrees that all information
received from principals and agents of Employer will be held in total confidence
for a period of two (2) years following termination of employment. To the extent
such information is proprietary and not generally available to the public or
sources outside employers company.
10. INCAPACITY
In the event that Employee shall become incapacitated or unable to perform the
duties of his employment hereunder for the balance of the current one year
Period (hereinafter referred to as the "Disability Period"), the Employee
nevertheless shall be entitled to full salary and other payments not including
bonus, provided for hereunder during the Disability Period; provided, however,
that any amount paid to the Employee under any Employer provided disability
insurance will be subtracted from payments to be made to the Employee by the
Employer. In the event that Employee is incapacitated for a period which exceeds
the Disability Period, Employee shall not be entitled to receive the
compensation and other payments provided for hereunder for any time after the
end of the Disability Period. In no event shall the disability payment period
exceed the period of this Contract. Employee shall be considered to be
incapacitated when he is unable to perform the normal duties required of him
hereunder. Two (2) medical doctors assigned by Employer shall determine
incapacity.
11. NOTICES
All notices hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent to the parties at
the respective addresses above set forth. All notices shall be delivered in
person or given by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, and shall be
deemed to have been given when delivered in person or deposited in the United
States mail. Either party may designate any other address to which notice shall
be given, by giving notice to the other such change of address in the manner
herein provided. Employer, or its management, directors, representatives,
employees or affiliates will not make any public announcements or any other
information related to Employer, directly or indirectly, without the expressed
written consent of Employee.
12. SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS
If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced in whole or
in part, the remaining conditions and provisions or portions thereof shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect and enforceable to the extent they
are valid, legal and enforceable, and no provision shall be deemed dependent
upon any other covenant or provision unless expressed herein.
13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT: MODIFICATION
All prior agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof between the
parties are hereby canceled. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the
parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and the parties hereto have made
no agreements, representations or warranties relating to the subject matter of
this Agreement which are not set forth herein. No modification of this Agreement
shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
14. BINDING EFFECT
The rights, benefits, duties and obligations under this Agreement shall inure
to, and be binding upon, the Employer, its successors and assigns, and upon the
Employee and his legal representatives, heirs and legatees. This Agreement
constitutes a personal service agreement, and the performance of the Employee's
obligations hereunder may not be transferred or assigned by the Employee.
15. NON-WAIVER
The failure of either party to insist upon the strict performance of any of the
terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed as a
waiver or relinquishment of this Agreement, shall not be construed as a waiver
or relinquishment of future compliance therewith, and said terms, conditions and
provisions shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver of any term or
condition of this Agreement on the part of either party shall be effective for
any purpose whatsoever unless such waiver is in writing and signed by such
party.
16. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be construed and governed by the laws of the State of
Florida.
17. ARBITRATION
Any controversy or claim arising under, out of, or in connection with this
Agreement or any breach or claimed breach thereof, shall be settled by
arbitration before the American Arbitration Association, in Palm Beach County,
Florida, before a panel of three arbitrators, in accordance with its rules, and
judgment upon any award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof.
18. CONTRACT
This contract supersedes all previous contracts between Employee and employer.
19. READINGS
The headings of the paragraphs herein are inserted for convenience and shall not
affect any interpretation of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have set their hands and seals this 28th day of
July, 1998.
Witness: Employer: ABLE TELCOM HOLDING CORP.
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXX
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Chief Executive Officer & Director
Witness: Employee:
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXX By: /s/ XXXX XXXXXXX
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