Vice President Operations at MN Department of Corrections

• Aug 2022 - Present

Director Corrections Industry

• Jan 2022 - Aug 2022

Factory Manager

• Oct 2019 - Jan 2022

Responsible for overseeing the manufacturing, assembly, and laundry services offered from the State of Minnesota. • Evaluated existing business practices and flows and implemented changes to areas that needed improvements while working with Offender Teams and Union Correctional Manufacturing Specialists (Supervisors). • Introduced the team to visual workspace tools and helping the Leadership and Offender Teams understand the benefits. • Rolled out 5S concepts while teaching both Correctional and Offender Leadership how to utilize checklists to create positive results. • Working with leadership and IT to create basic schedules for the different manufacturing areas. • Introduced the Correctional and Offender Leadership Team to Kata walks and improved communications from findings. • Enhanced the professional relationship between the Project Manager and Sales Team resulting in more/new customers to allow the available light manufacturing teams exposure to a diverse line of products allowing the expansion of products that Offenders would produce. Show less

Plant Manager

• Jan 2019 - Aug 2019

Handled all manufacturing operations. Built and created teams to perform all manufacturing, fabrication, welding, shipping, and inventory functions (up to 75 hourly and 5 salaried teammates). Evaluating existing operations, plant flows and manufacturing processes, shipping and inventory functions, creating and implementing improvement plans. • Created, trained the team how to understand, and installed visual workspace tools for tracking progress of tool time, daily sales, and daily hours of production. • Enhanced existing Standard Operating Procedures and created new ones where required for Shipping, Manufacturing, Paint Line, Fabrication, and Order Fulfillment teams. • Restructured existing maintenance system and implemented a preventive maintenance schedule for key pieces of equipment (Laser, Brakes, Punches, and Shear). • Designed and trained team how to work with lean concepts (visual workspace, order/time tracking, and utilize 5S concepts) to increase efficiencies in manufacturing and shipping processes increasing on time shipping from 20% to 85% in two months. • Worked with Manufacturing Engineers to create process improvements to manufacturing processes to increase productivity focusing on uptime for Bystronic Lasers, Robotic Welders, and Press Brakes. • Partnered with Purchasing to consolidate buying wood products from multiple suppliers to one supplier at a negotiated rate, resulting in 20% cost savings. • Collaborated with Human Resources to create job descriptions and classifications. • Worked with Human Resources to reintroduce safety programs to the production team and get the facility current with annual requirements. • Rolled out a fixturing and electric hand tool event for the assembly department that resulting in an increase to throughput by 30% in the first month. Show less

Operations Manager, Production Manager, Commercial Project Manager

• Mar 2017 - Jan 2019

Operations Manager, Production Manager, Commercial Project Manager-Le Sueur, Belle Plaine, Plymouth, MN Evaluated existing operations, plant flows and manufacturing processes, shipping and inventory functions, installation methods and assisted with creating and implementing improvement plans. •Created, trained the team how to understand, and installed visual workspace tools for installation crews reducing the need for repeated visits to the customer by 90% in the first month. •Enhanced existing Standard Operating Procedures and created new ones where required for Installation, Manufacturing, Fabrication, and Order Fulfillment teams. •Drove the startup and move of an additional order fulfillment facility from an available vacant building that was neglected for many years. •Sourced and worked alongside multiple contractors to repair and remodel the available production space to effectively ship materials worldwide from two buildings within the same block. •Designed and trained team how to work with lean concepts (visual workspace, order/time tracking, and utilize 5S concepts) to increase efficiencies in order fulfillment by 60% in two months. •Created training programs that were rolled out for the order fulfillment team to increase capacity for existing teammates and properly train new teammates. •Introduced the order fulfillment team to the organizations safety training and programs and started the rollout of a behavior-based safety program. •Drove the completion of many required safety enhancements to get the business compliant after a complaint was filed with OSHA because of the results of a neglected/abandoned building that was years behind the requirements that exist today. •Created measurement systems for production tracking for Order Fulfillment Team. This along implementing continuous improvement practices (high focus on 5S) allowed us to reduce from a 24/7 operation, 46 employees to a 10 hour a day, 5 days a week, 26 employees, and no overtime team. Show less

Plant Manager

• Feb 2014 - Jul 2016

Handled all manufacturing operations. Built and created teams to perform all manufacturing, shipping, and inventory functions (up to 110 hourly and 50 salaried teammates).• Led four-month project that reduced two shifts to one while maintaining production and on-time shipping levels for Slitting Department; increased uptime from 4% to 15%.• Managed six-month project for Cut to Length Department, reducing three full-time shifts utilizing three lines to three shifts utilizing one line; increased uptime from 7% to 38%.• Partnered with Corporate Purchasing to consolidate buying packaging materials from multiple suppliers to one supplier at a negotiated rate, resulting in 20% cost savings.• Collaborated with Human Resources to create job descriptions and classifications for multiple plants, resulting in consistency across all sites.• Created Standard Operating Procedures and Standard Driven Processes used at multiple plants to create consistency and enabling any changes to be reflected at all plants.• Worked with Human Resources to create numerous events designed to foster teamwork and give back to the community.• Created quality check programs used in manufacturing, ensuring customer received similar manufactured products from all facilities. • Contributed to creating and complying with budgets, both capital and day-to-day operations.• Produced scheduling programs for all facets of manufacturing, shipping, and inventory which allowed communication of accurate delivery dates to the customer.• Directed 5S, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other Continuous Improvement Programs to invest in the teams’ knowledge to achieve and improve production results. Show less

Production Manager / Warehouse & Shipping Manager / Interim Plant Manager

• Apr 1999 - Feb 2014

Production Manger-Anoka MN, Interim Plant Manager for (3 different plants) Warren Michigan, Morrisville Pennsylvania, and Atlanta Georgia• Managed multiple shifts on all aspects of the operations of Fabrication Equipment (Brakes, Shears, Punches, Saws, Welding, Grinding, Assembly, Cut To Length Lines) and Order Fulfillment of flat sheet products. • Drove safety programs, changed initiatives to improve productivity utilizing Lean Techniques, and managed team to achieve on-time shipping goals with minimum quality issues.• Advanced team to create ISO documents and Standard Operating Procedures. • Engaged with the creation of multiple quality and labor reporting documents.• Involved with the creation of Production Schedules.• Rolled out 5S initiatives to production team, resulting in a 10% increase of production in the first year.• Assisted with creating and establishing vendor / purchasing relationships for consumables in packaging supplies, skids, forklifts, etc. to reduce the number of vendors. • Created and implemented a restructure plan for the practices of the existing teams working towards consistency with other Metal / Building Products Plants. • Produced Metal Products Standard Operating Procedures used at multiple plants.• Created quality check programs for all aspects of metal business.• Implemented the first cycle count program which successfully counted 100% of raw and finished goods at any of the Metal Products plants.• Developed scheduling programs. • Created relationships for suppliers and contractors for consumables, equipment maintenance, and recycling efforts.• Drove efforts of the team to achieve the first Metal Products plant without a lost time injury for two years award.• Maintained a union free environment after attempts were made from Sheet Metal Workers. Show less

Plant Manager

• 1990 - 1998

Responsible for all aspects related to manufacturing including safety, quality, and human resource functions. Created production schedules for welding, brakes, punch presses, assembly, paint, and shipping departments. Engaged with engineering team when quoting new job shop projects. Responsible for maintaining UL Listing status with CSA. Overseen all purchasing of supplies, services, and maintenance contracts for equipment and grounds. Responsible for all aspects related to manufacturing including safety, quality, and human resource functions. Created production schedules for welding, brakes, punch presses, assembly, paint, and shipping departments. Engaged with engineering team when quoting new job shop projects. Responsible for maintaining UL Listing status with CSA. Overseen all purchasing of supplies, services, and maintenance contracts for equipment and grounds.