Experience

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  DSA Systems, Inc.

  • United States
  • Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Director Of Operations

    • Jul 2022 - Present

    As Director of Operations, my focus expanded to all business areas of our company, including sales, HR and finance.My leadership in project execution continued to sharpen planning accuracy and ensured budget adherence, keeping operations in lockstep with financial reporting and control mechanisms. On the business development front, my active engagement with current and prospective sales ensures our activities support local and global company goals. I drive opportunities for collaboration and resource optimization to promote growth across the company.I act as a vital link between sales, business development, and operational readiness, facilitating capacity planning, resource management, and production in response to complex political dynamics and sensitive project requirements.In resource management, I oversee the talent lifecycle from hiring to termination, focusing on forecasting and aligning with global company values. I tackle the challenge of meeting growing resource demands, while staying aligned with the company’s financial goals and constraints. I am also dedicated to enhancing global collaboration, talent development, performance coaching, and team building.My collaboration with our regional offices in Germany, China, South Africa, and the Americas significantly impacts mechanical design, project management, and product strategy.In Technical Sales, I lead cross-company collaboration workshops, conduct company visits, and manage quotations and engineering sales. My comprehensive approach to estimation, planning, and capacity monitoring ensures that our technical sales efforts are strategic, efficient, and operationally coherent.

  • Program and Operations Manager

    • Nov 2020 - Jul 2022

    In my dynamic role as Program and Operations Manager, I have applied my project management expertise to modernize our operational strategies. My adoption and refinement of the earned value method, aligned with PMI PMBOK standards, have fortified our dedication to data-driven, objective reporting. This commitment to transparency and accountability pervades every phase of our projects.With a vigilant approach to monitoring and controlling, coupled with meticulous capacity planning, I have transformed our cost collection practices. Such strategic oversight has markedly improved the quality of our projects, particularly in terms of cost efficiency and adherence to schedules, yielding substantial improvements across our project portfolio.Within the realm of operations, my guidance encompasses financial management, involving the optimizing of reporting processes. This methodology has not only streamlined our operations but has also enhanced visibility into the financial well-being and performance metrics of our various business segments.

  • Principal Mechanical Engineer

    • Jan 2019 - Jul 2022

    As the Principal Mechanical Engineer at DSA, I was pivotal in pioneering and transforming our design and manufacturing practices. My role began with a clear goal of disrupting an aging supplier network with innovative design techniques, early adoption and application of additive manufacturing, pushing boundaries in rapid prototyping and championing a fully distributed, on-demand manufacturing system.I've mastered printing with materials ranging from rubbers to metals and engineering plastics, and my efforts have positioned DSA as a leader in producing innovative products. Starting as the first mechanical engineer, I've established our engineering office from the ground up. Over the past four years, I've hired, trained, and developed a robust team, now including two full-time mechanical engineers, fostering a culture of expertise and collaboration.My hands-on skills in advanced mechanical design, backed by FEA and generative design methods, allow me to approach complex engineering problems with a practical and effective design philosophy. My goal has always been to demystify complex concepts, ensuring simplicity in our problem-solving approaches.By adopting new tools early and continuously honing our skills, our team is not just keeping pace but setting the standard for the future of the industry.

  • Program Manager

    • Sep 2017 - Oct 2020

    As DSA Systems' EV start-up business in Southern California expanded, my focus shifted to program management. In this role, I became deeply involved in every facet of our operations. My responsibilities range from scouting sales opportunities and leading project contract negotiations to maintaining customer relations and managing resources. I ensure projects flow smoothly through our organization, keeping teams aligned and objectives clear.My contributions have been instrumental in refining our organizational processes. I became an eager student of PMI's Project Management Body of Knowledge including Agile methodologies. I introduced and integrated enterprise level PM tools into our organization as we modernized our business tools. Most notably, the effective and accurate capacity planning of resources within a portfolio of projects, lead to major efficiency gains for our operations.

  • Technical Consultant

    • Jun 2016 - Aug 2017

    With over 35 years of industry presence, DSA has established itself as a premier expert in crafting custom communication solutions tailored to vehicle electronics. As the USA branch, DSA Systems operates from our headquarters in Troy, MI, and has expanded with a satellite office in Southern California. I had the distinction of being the first DSA Systems employee stationed in California in 2016. Our mission was to cater to the burgeoning customer base of electric vehicle startups, including Faraday Future and Karma Automotive.Initially, my role was multifaceted, offering technical engineering consultancy, handling technical sales, and overseeing project planning. As the Southern California office began to grow, my responsibilities evolved; I stepped into the roles of project manager and technical liaison, working on-site at customer facilities. I managed a team of seven engineers, providing direct leadership to four and indirect oversight to three.In parallel, I took on the role of business unit manager and product owner for an innovative venture in IoT-based truck telematics solutions. My responsibilities encompassed a broad spectrum, from researching new regulations and legal requirements to recruiting developers, orchestrating product marketing strategies, crafting business models and use cases, and spearheading proof of concept development. A significant achievement was registering our devices with a leading US cellular provider, a move that not only solidified our market presence but also opened avenues for partnerships and business opportunities within this technological domain.

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  MHussl Consultants

  • Cape Town Area, South Africa

  • Mechanical Project Engineer

    • Aug 2012 - Sep 2015
    • Cape Town Area, South Africa

    Within a small team of independent engineers, I was responsible for delivering mechanical building services related projects, ranging from HVAC to acoustical engineering projects, from structural engineering projects, to building management system integration. These projects were in support of ne...

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  Île de Païn

  • Knysna Area, South Africa

  • Sabbatical

    • Nov 2011 - Jun 2012
    • Knysna Area, South Africa

    During a career break I apprenticed as a bread baker at the highly acclaimed Île de Païn Bakery in Knysna. My teacher was the 3rd generation, Austrian Master Baker Markus Farbinger. After successfully starting, growing and selling our own restaurant, I wanted to take the time to develop and expl...

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  Volkswagen of South Africa

  • Powertrain Engineer

    • Dec 2002 - Aug 2011

    During my time at Volkswagen of South Africa I enjoyed tremendous opportunity and exposure to international projects. I loved working with people from different cultures and the travelling was both inspiring and eye opening. Within a small dynamic team, my role as powertrain engineer continuously...

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  Vovo Telo

  • Port Elizabeth

  • Owner

    • Jun 2008 - Feb 2011
    • Port Elizabeth

    Vovo Telo started as an independent, neighborhood bakery. I helped out for fun initially, but soon resigned from my engineering job to join this booming startup full time. We opened 2 more locations, and thereafter started a spin-off concept of which I had majority ownership of.The bakery side of...