Experience

Scanalytics Inc.

• United States
• Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President, Materials & Flooring

  • Jan 2022 - Present



SAHARA VENTURES LIMITED

• Marietta GA

• CEO and Director of Research and Development

  • Apr 2021 - Jan 2022

  Sahara Ventures is an R&D and technical marketing consulting business specializing in product development and product development lifecycle consulting, new product commercial rollouts and technical marketing for the plastics, floor coverings, medical devices, commercial architecture and design and venture capital industries. Sahara Ventures is an R&D and technical marketing consulting business specializing in product development and product development lifecycle consulting, new product commercial rollouts and technical marketing for the plastics, floor coverings, medical devices, commercial architecture and design and venture capital industries.



Engineered Floors, LLC

• United States
• Wholesale Building Materials
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Director of Applied Research

  • 2016 - Oct 2020

  Reported to VP Marketing. Driving force behind the organizations’ vision, mission, and objective to be recognized as the industry thought leader in the senior living, healthcare and education architecture and design market segments. Subject matter expert, Managing Editor/Author for research whitepapers and continuing education courses. Visionary early identifier of emerging marketplace trends and opportunities with high potential for brand differentiation and sales growth. Selected Achievements: Conceived developed and implemented a rapid-response to the Covid-19 crisis by developing a continuing education course which addressed customer concerns about the role of flooring in the spread of infectious disease. Conceived an implemented a webinar sales tool for engaging customers in lieu of in-office visits working from home due to Covid-19, thereby maintaining strong relationships and visibility, and maintaining a high-level of sales. Elevated the visibility EF Commercial and J+J brands, differentiating them from competitors, through visionary implementation of human-focused evidence-based design research and marketing strategies. Provided thought-leader level visibility for EF Commercial and J+J brands by presenting at major conferences, consulting with leading A&D firms, and supporting a Top 10 architecture and design firm in two highly-successful research projects. Developed and delivered strategic training and education programs to increase Sales Team productivity and effectiveness by using selling strategies highlighting a research-based approach to specifying flooring. Authored a series of continuing education courses presented nationwide 2014-2018 for APPA Drive-In Workshops Presented research updates at J+J’s annual Senior Living Design Symposia, which developed strong networks with designers and architects leading to increased visibility of and credibility of the J+J brand and 30% in increased sales in the senior living segment. Show less



J+J Flooring

• United States
• Wholesale Building Materials
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Director of Product Innovation | Director of Applied Research

  • 2011 - 2016

  Selected Achievements: Reported to SVP Operations and Finance. Primarily responsible for leading the product development team through the product development cycle for the new textile composite flooring category, and also for novel glue-free installation methods for modular carpet. Also led the marketing strategy development and development of the sales training program for textile composite flooring. ◼Conceived and implemented an R&D program for product optimization, product validation, market messaging, sales training, and commercial launch of J+J’s highly successful, award-winning Kinetex textile composite flooring with sales over $200MM ◼Developed J+J’s first-ever series of continuing education courses for architects, interior designers and end users. Authored a portfolio of white papers on key health, safety, and welfare topics to increase awareness of the human-centered advantages of soft floorcovering, particularly in the healthcare and education market segments. This highly successful program elevated J+J to thought-leader status in the architecture and design community and with J+J's end-use customers, paving the way for millions of dollars in new business, particularly in the healthcare and education market segments. ◼Key member of intellectual property team, working in collaboration with J+J legal staff and outside patent counsel in writing patent disclosures, patent applications, and responding to PTO office actions and responding to other patent-related matters. ◼Represented J+J on Carpet and Rug Institute committees and task forces which successfully challenged US government guidelines unfavorable to carpet Show less



Mohawk Industries

• United States
• Textile Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director, Technical Marketing

  • 2009 - 2011

  Reported to SVP Marketing. Built from ground-up the technical marketing strategy to rebrand Mohawk as the knowledge-based leader in the healthcare and education market segments. Selected Achievements: ◼Developed healthcare and education segment-specific marketing collateral and sales training programs and made 100’s of in-person presentations to 1000's of customers nationwide and at leading conferences. Conceptualized and implemented creative technical marketing strategies that dramatically grew carpet sales in the healthcare, senior living, and K-12 market segments by at least 30%. ◼Created an immediate strategic technical marketing focus on marketing overall which increased sales momentum and profitability in a market recovering from the financial crisis of 2008. ◼Collaborated with sales leadership in implementing a technical marketing strategy to drive growth in commercial market segments beyond healthcare and education. ◼Implemented TMG’s vision of becoming a knowledge-based business that customer’s trust/turn to for thought-leadership and research-based information and resources ◼Formulated unique technical marketing strategies to elevate the image of Mohawk products in residential markets ◼Authored over 20 published articles for trade publications reaching a readership of over 300,000 Show less



Interface

• United States
• Textile Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director of Research/Director of Innovation

  • Feb 1998 - Mar 2009

  Reported to VP Research and Development, SVP Research and President, Interface Research Corporation. Led chemical/materials product development and managed product development, process innovation and their cooperative, synergistic relationship with manufacturing, sales and marketing, design, finance, and field technical services. Championed and led research with Georgia Tech on environmental foot-printing methods. Identified and implemented an industry-first multi-variable lifecycle assessment program, the cornerstone of Interface's vision to be recognized as a global leader in environmental sustainability. Conceived and executed a highly successful and disruptive technical marketing campaign to support Interface's penetration into the healthcare and education market segments based on human-factors research on how flooring affects human performance in the built environment. Project leader for the development, testing, validation and commercial launch of hugely successful Tactiles glue-free installation system for modular carpet. Conceived, implemented and led a new function for providing rapid-response product development, chemical/materials and manufacturing process support to Interface's carpet, rug, textile and foam products divisions. Show less



Highland Industries, Inc.

• Greensboro, North Carolina, United States

• Group Leader, Advanced Development

  • Apr 1991 - Feb 1998

  Reported to VP Technology. Leader of a multi-disciplinary group of engineers and scientists responsible for developing and commercializing new industrial textiles, for automotive and other applications, critical to meeting corporate strategic plan objectives to grow Highland Industries by expanding into market segments where it had not previously competed. Responsible for implementing and managing all phases of product development lifecycles and working in close collaboration with Manufacturing Engineering to assure smooth manufacturing scaleups. Actively collaborated with market segment leaders and marketing department leaders to support the rollout of new products. Demonstrated leadership skills in building and nurturing relationships with decision-makers and specifiers at customers with emphasis on those with Tier One automotive suppliers and OEMs. Project leader for the development, and of an industry-first low-fogging laminated vinyl fabric for automotive interiors. Worked closely with materials engineers at OEMs to successfully qualify this material at all US domestic and transplant OEMs. Developed innovative high-durability vinyl coated and laminated fabrics for the commercial sign, awning and shelter markets. All assigned and self-originated projects completed on-time and on-budget, leading to sustainable and profitable long-term business. Worked with outside patent counsel in writing and submitting patent disclosures and patent applications. Listed as named inventor or co-inventor on several issued US and PCT patents. Show less



GE

• United States
• Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Advanced Development Specialist

  • Aug 1987 - Apr 1991

  Reported to Manager, Product Development. Functioned as an individual contributor in an R&D organization located on-site at a large plastics manufacturing operation. Responsible for developing new and novel thermoplastic molding compounds as directed by product management, and in close-alignment with customers and end-users. Researched and developed new molding compounds based on original ideas and presented findings to management. Responsible for supporting manufacturing in troubleshooting quality issues with established product lines, and support of manufacturing scaleups for new products. Identified candidates for new vendor selection when required. Worked extensively and with GE patent counsel to develop patent disclosures and patent applications for inventions and monitor competitive intellectual property. Developed and commercialized high-temperature resistant, thermally stable fiberglass reinforced PCT thermoplastic polyester molding compounds capable of withstanding vapor-phase soldering used in manufacturing high density E/E connectors. Developed and commercialized impact-modified PET polyester molding compounds for use in automotive exterior body panels. Developed and commercialized a range of fiberglass-reinforced PET polyester molding resins utilizing PET bottle scrap. Accomplished by selecting nucleation additives which permitted rapid molding cycles without causing brittleness. Commercialized PBT polyester in food contact applications by implementing FDA GMP procedures. Developed an in-house course on technical writing to enhance the skills of non-exempt laboratory support staff. Served as member of university recruiting team for GE Plastics. Show less