Michael LaChance, PMP
Project Manager - Conversions at Vi-Jon- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Mario Contreras
I reported to Mike while working in the Remodel Project Team at Save-A-Lot. Mike was one of the pioneers of the re-branding process for our company. His attention to detail, great communication skills, and critical thinking skills were key in developing the foundation of our remodel work. I admired Mike's ability to juggle an immense amount of communication, budgets, deadlines, key stakeholders, and unexpected challenges all while coaching and developing his team. Mike's sense of humor and willingness to support his team regardless of how difficult or long the day had been kept me motivated during every project. Mike has definitely made a positive impact in my career development. Mike's ability to lead a team and manage multiple variables while working on projects is what makes him a great asset to any organization.
Dennis Russo
I have worked with Mike for many years in my multiple roles at Save A Lot and I have never met a more skilled Project Manager than him. His laser focus and perfectionist attention to detail meant nothing fell thru the cracks on any project he worked on. He is laser focused and is still able to see the big picture, skillfully managing multiple projects at the same time. He is s logical thinker that works very well in a team environment and is not afraid to hold stakeholders accountable and is able to wade through the most ambiguous of situations where others fail and does what is necessary to get a project completed on time. I whole-heartily recommend Mike for any position he is considering.
Mario Contreras
I reported to Mike while working in the Remodel Project Team at Save-A-Lot. Mike was one of the pioneers of the re-branding process for our company. His attention to detail, great communication skills, and critical thinking skills were key in developing the foundation of our remodel work. I admired Mike's ability to juggle an immense amount of communication, budgets, deadlines, key stakeholders, and unexpected challenges all while coaching and developing his team. Mike's sense of humor and willingness to support his team regardless of how difficult or long the day had been kept me motivated during every project. Mike has definitely made a positive impact in my career development. Mike's ability to lead a team and manage multiple variables while working on projects is what makes him a great asset to any organization.
Dennis Russo
I have worked with Mike for many years in my multiple roles at Save A Lot and I have never met a more skilled Project Manager than him. His laser focus and perfectionist attention to detail meant nothing fell thru the cracks on any project he worked on. He is laser focused and is still able to see the big picture, skillfully managing multiple projects at the same time. He is s logical thinker that works very well in a team environment and is not afraid to hold stakeholders accountable and is able to wade through the most ambiguous of situations where others fail and does what is necessary to get a project completed on time. I whole-heartily recommend Mike for any position he is considering.
Mario Contreras
I reported to Mike while working in the Remodel Project Team at Save-A-Lot. Mike was one of the pioneers of the re-branding process for our company. His attention to detail, great communication skills, and critical thinking skills were key in developing the foundation of our remodel work. I admired Mike's ability to juggle an immense amount of communication, budgets, deadlines, key stakeholders, and unexpected challenges all while coaching and developing his team. Mike's sense of humor and willingness to support his team regardless of how difficult or long the day had been kept me motivated during every project. Mike has definitely made a positive impact in my career development. Mike's ability to lead a team and manage multiple variables while working on projects is what makes him a great asset to any organization.
Dennis Russo
I have worked with Mike for many years in my multiple roles at Save A Lot and I have never met a more skilled Project Manager than him. His laser focus and perfectionist attention to detail meant nothing fell thru the cracks on any project he worked on. He is laser focused and is still able to see the big picture, skillfully managing multiple projects at the same time. He is s logical thinker that works very well in a team environment and is not afraid to hold stakeholders accountable and is able to wade through the most ambiguous of situations where others fail and does what is necessary to get a project completed on time. I whole-heartily recommend Mike for any position he is considering.
Mario Contreras
I reported to Mike while working in the Remodel Project Team at Save-A-Lot. Mike was one of the pioneers of the re-branding process for our company. His attention to detail, great communication skills, and critical thinking skills were key in developing the foundation of our remodel work. I admired Mike's ability to juggle an immense amount of communication, budgets, deadlines, key stakeholders, and unexpected challenges all while coaching and developing his team. Mike's sense of humor and willingness to support his team regardless of how difficult or long the day had been kept me motivated during every project. Mike has definitely made a positive impact in my career development. Mike's ability to lead a team and manage multiple variables while working on projects is what makes him a great asset to any organization.
Dennis Russo
I have worked with Mike for many years in my multiple roles at Save A Lot and I have never met a more skilled Project Manager than him. His laser focus and perfectionist attention to detail meant nothing fell thru the cracks on any project he worked on. He is laser focused and is still able to see the big picture, skillfully managing multiple projects at the same time. He is s logical thinker that works very well in a team environment and is not afraid to hold stakeholders accountable and is able to wade through the most ambiguous of situations where others fail and does what is necessary to get a project completed on time. I whole-heartily recommend Mike for any position he is considering.
Credentials
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PMP - Project Management Professional
Project Management InstituteDec, 2014- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Vi-Jon
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United States
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Consumer Goods
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300 - 400 Employee
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Project Manager - Conversions
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2019 - Present
Leadership role within the Conversions Team, responsible for planning, directing and coordinating all aspects of all approved projects related to product conversions and exits. • Responsible for ensuring the goals or objectives of projects are accomplished within prescribed time frame and cost targets. • Manage the day-to-day activities of internally driven conversion projects and ensures the functional departments meet their key deliverables to ensure the project is delivered on time. • Responsible for projects through last shipment of predecessor product or until project has been closed. • Proactively work with business and cross-functional leadership teams to execute, validate and commercialize Conversions projects. • Lead activities to obtain value for both the customer and company. • Responsible for gathering data from the organization to complete cost estimates for new products or changes to existing products. • Utilize well-developed influencing skills up and down the organization. Proactive integration across multiple functional departments within the organization which includes Sourcing, Operations, R&D, Demand Management, Brand Management, Sales, Engineering and Cost Accounting. • Effectively communicate project deliverables and changes to the organization and elevate to upper management projects that are off-target in a timely manner. Specifically any scope changes to original project. • Work with the organization to manipulate timelines to accommodate expedited timing. • Communicate with project stakeholders on an ongoing basis. • Work with the organization to provide the most cost effective solutions while still meeting the needs of the customer. • Provide the organization, project leadership, direction, and hold the project teams accountable for following PMO Best Practices and using the project tools as designed. Show less
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Save A Lot
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United States
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Wholesale Food and Beverage
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700 & Above Employee
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Special Projects Manager
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2004 - 2019
Led and oversaw multiple projects and teams within a retail organization. Played a key partnership role in transformational process improvement initiatives between multiple departments to increase operational and process efficiencies. • Managed projects to completion, on time and within budget. • Utilized analytics to realize efficiencies and cost-effective processes. • Motivated multi-department teams to achieve objectives and deliverables. • Understood and conveyed risks to leadership. • Employed interpersonal skills and train to reinforce company expectations. • Sourced and negotiated products/services. • Represented customer’s interests to ethical and productivity standards. • Managed accounting of the project to make sure budget was not exceeded. • Developed communication strategies to keep stakeholders of all levels of company updated. Additional Experience @ Save-A-Lot • Risk Management Special Projects, Safety • Senior Property Manager • Operations Manager Show less
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Goedeker Machinery
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Greater St. Louis Area
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Sales Engineer
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2002 - 2004
Utilized technical, interpersonal, problem solving, and self-confidence skills to sell technologically and scientifically advanced products to potential customers, and demonstrated how they were better than the competitors' products. • Achieved 24 million of capital equipment sales. • Collaborated with both internal and external teams (Application Engineers, Service Teams, Accounting, and Office staff) to provide solutions to my accounts. • Facilitated account meetings to understand needs of customer and provided solutions. • Developed and maintained account relationships (both customer and vendor). • Implemented new marketing and direct mail items. Show less
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Zimco Machinery Division of Magna Machinery
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Greater St. Louis Area
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Operations Manager
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1998 - 2002
Managed overall operations and was responsible for the effective and successful management of labor, productivity, and quality control. Served as a company representative with distribution vendors. Enhanced the operational procedure, systems and principles in the areas of information flow and management, business processes, enhanced management reporting and looked for opportunities to expand systems. Carry out supervisory responsibilities of the Service and Office teams. • Oversaw all operations of a Machine Tool sales and distribution organization • Maintained P&L profitability. • Supervised, hired, coached, and scheduled all inside personnel. • Inventory control for multiple locations. • Purchased and invoiced capital equipment to meet deadlines. Show less
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TJ's Pizza and Fundraising Company
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Greater St. Louis Area
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Plant Manager
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1995 - 1998
Oversaw all plant operations and was responsible for the effective and successful management of production, labor, productivity, and quality control. Enhanced the operational procedure, systems and principles in the areas of information flow and management, business processes, enhanced management reporting, and looked for opportunities to expand systems. • Managed daily plant operations. • New product development. • Supervised, hired, trained and scheduled all plant personnel • Inventory control for two locations to meet production deadlines • Compliance w/USDA Show less
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Education
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Saint Louis University
BA, Communication/Marketing
Community
