Experience

Buyers Products

• United States
• Automotive
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Director of Engineering

  • Feb 2020 - Present

  Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area



MTD Products

• United States
• Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Engineering Director, Product Development

  • 2009 - Oct 2019

  Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area Direct responsibility for all aspects of the Global Wheeled Products Development seven product development teams. Successfully managed 50+ engineers including all engineering product design efforts, prototype building and scheduling, and all aspects of Production Verification and Prototype test plans. Active participant at the highest levels of MTD Products Inc global strategic planning team. Led mechanical examinations and failure analysis of Outdoor Power Equipment, formulates accident… Show more Direct responsibility for all aspects of the Global Wheeled Products Development seven product development teams. Successfully managed 50+ engineers including all engineering product design efforts, prototype building and scheduling, and all aspects of Production Verification and Prototype test plans. Active participant at the highest levels of MTD Products Inc global strategic planning team. Led mechanical examinations and failure analysis of Outdoor Power Equipment, formulates accident reconstructions and offers expert reporting and testimony when necessary. • Energized and staffed MTD Products’ seven platform development teams and two Systems Engineering teams. • Led all aspects of work of 50+ Product Design Engineers and CAD Resources. • Guided teams that provided both new platform projects and sustaining engineering. • Budgeted and managed annual multi-million dollar design and multi-million dollar capital operations budgets. • Inspired and supported teams delivering major vehicle product launches often in less than 12 months. • Developed and incrementally expanded an offshore engineering team with an outside partner to create a flexible and cost-effective extension to our product development staff. • Managed numerous outside industry consultants to provide exclusive mentoring and product evaluation expertise to improve product features and launch success. • Directly responsible for all aspects of MTD’s engineering co-op program including hiring, scheduling, mentoring and career planning. MTD has a 95% retention rate of students upon graduation to full time engineering staff. • Served as key decision maker on engineering staffing, development team staffing, milestone scheduling and prototype and capital costs. • Set strategic direction for MTD’s stage gate and project portfolio management software (Siemens Teamcenter).

• Engineering Manager, Product Development – Cub Cadet Division

  • 2004 - 2009

  Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area Responsible for all aspects of the global Cub Cadet Rider Product Development operations. Managed 19 engineers and prototype technicians to provide complete engineering product designs, prototype building and scheduling, and all aspects of Production Verification and Prototype test plans. Active participant at the highest levels of Cub Cadet strategic planning. • Selected and implemented a new Engineering Team structure to align 3 Engineering Team Leaders to provide improved product… Show more Responsible for all aspects of the global Cub Cadet Rider Product Development operations. Managed 19 engineers and prototype technicians to provide complete engineering product designs, prototype building and scheduling, and all aspects of Production Verification and Prototype test plans. Active participant at the highest levels of Cub Cadet strategic planning. • Selected and implemented a new Engineering Team structure to align 3 Engineering Team Leaders to provide improved product platform focus. • Re-focused the Development teams to begin launching major vehicle platform projects in less than 12 months. • Managed the multi-million dollar design and operations budget providing for both new design projects and existing product improvements. • Decreased costs significantly by implementing Value Engineering principles and reducing warranty costs. • Reduced cost on Cub Cadet’s highest volume rider platform and offset commodity cost increases while reducing customer returns. Cub Cadet went from 15% market share 40+% of the total market share in this high-profile brand category.

• Chief Engineer, Lawn & Garden Tractor Business Group

  • 1994 - 2004

  Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area Responsible for all aspects of the mass market Rider Product Development platform operations. Managed 8 engineers directly in this business-critical product team and was matrixed responsible for prototype building and scheduling, and all aspects of Production Verification and Prototype test plans. Directed cross-functional, multi-platform focused team that included both Product Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering. Support developing products that would grow the global tractor business… Show more Responsible for all aspects of the mass market Rider Product Development platform operations. Managed 8 engineers directly in this business-critical product team and was matrixed responsible for prototype building and scheduling, and all aspects of Production Verification and Prototype test plans. Directed cross-functional, multi-platform focused team that included both Product Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering. Support developing products that would grow the global tractor business profitably. • Collaborated with Sales reducing SKUs by more than 10%. • Developed projects increasing sales volume 40%, reduced product costs significantly and grew market share 10 points. • Managed multi-year product and technology roadmaps and an annual development budget. • Developed product differentiating features that migrated the Rider Product Line from 90% Value and Economy (10% Premium) to 50% Premium (50% Value and Economy) products. • Received MTD’s “Business Innovation Award” for a new product launch success.