Sales Manager
Resume:
Len Shaffer!
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SUMMARY!
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A leader in business management. A multidiscipline background in manufacturing,!
sales, R&D and procurement and business development. An out of the box thinker with!
a unique ability to work with all levels of management and labor to resolve problems!
and find unique solutions. Adds energy and positive attitude to all situations. Great!
people skills with an excellent ability to develop and build relationships with peers,!
customers and suppliers.!
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Excellent skills in developing strategies for procurement, product development, sales!
and marketing. !
Very strong negotiating skills.!
Excellent relationship management skills!
Great understanding of supplier markets and market intelligence and analysis.!
Excellent ability to work with a wide range of people in many different cultures.!
Excellent coordination skills.!
Excellent communication skills.!
Strong background in Root Cause Analysis, 6-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing.!
Excellent sales, management and market development skills.!
Proficient with Microsoft Office, Windows and Mac OSX, excellent computer skills.!
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EXPERIENCE!
Consultant !
April 2013 – Present Chelsea, Michigan!
Consulting for the manufacturing and formulation of printing inks for the waterbased
and solvent based printing ink markets. Assisting companies in due diligence for
acquisitions and supporting financial and technical goals.!
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Director of Global Packaging Raw Materials!
Flint Group!
January 2005 – March 2013 (8 years 3 months)Plymouth, Michigan!
Worked as a liaison between the Global Procurement team and the Global Packaging
Division to find ways to save raw material cost through alternate sourcing and/or
reformulation. I would visit plants around the world to review raw material purchases
and to review the formulations in which these raw materials were used. We would work
as a team with Procurement and the local labs to qualify alternate raw materials and/or
reformulate as necessary to reduce cost. !
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Director of Global Technology!
Flint Group!
January 1998 – January 2005 (7 years 1 month)Plymouth, MI!
In 1998 Flint Ink was expanding globally and I accepted the newly created position of
Director of Global Technology. In this roll I coordinated technology development for
Heatset, Sheetfed, News, Publication Gravure and Packaging inks around the world. !
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Technical Director, Packaging Division!
Flint Ink!
August 1993 – January 1998 (4 years 6 months)Ann Arbor, MI!
I managed a group of 45 ink chemist and professions in the Waterbased, Solvent
Bases, Sheetfed, UV labs as well as remote labs in St Louis and Atlanta. I was
responsible for the R&D and Product Development in all areas and worked closely with
upper management and sales to develop new business. During my term as Techncial
Director we closed every contract for the customers that came to Ann Arbor. I also
supported Flint Ink’s global expansion and acquisition efforts as a member of the Global
Due Diligence team. !
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Plant Manager/Regional Techncial Services Manger!
Sinclair & Valentine!
August 1987 – August 1993 (6 years 1 month)Ann Arbor, MI!
I moved to a plant that was loosing money and quickly turned the operation to one of
the most profitable at S&V. I worked with the lab and one of the largest printers in the
area to develop a set of inks that meet their needs. I then began to expand my talents
to support the North East Region ranging from Virginia to Main for market development,
sales and technical support.!
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Regional Technical Services Manger!
Sinclair & Valentine!
June 1982 – August 1987 (5 years 3 months)Atlanta, Georgal!
I worked with sales to generate new accounts. We worked as a team focusing on key
accounts and had a 100% record of capturing a major portion of the business at each
of these accounts while I was in this roll.!
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Applied Technical Speciallist!
Applied Color Systems!
June 1981 – June 1982 (1 year 1 month)!
I worked as a Printing Ink Application Specialist to install color computing software
anywhere were ink was being manufactured or used. I would then train the people how
to use the software to best fit there needs.!
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Chemist, Lab Mgr, Production Mgr, Regional Mfg Mgr/Plant Mgr!
Borden Chemical, Printing Ink Division!
June 1969 – June 1981 (12 years 1 month)Baltimore, Maryland Atlanta, Georgia!
I began my career at Borden Chemical's Printing Ink Division 1969 as development
chemist in Baltimore, Maryland and quickly moved through lab management,
production management, plant management and regional manufacturing management
roles.!
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Recommendations!
Badal Shah
President and CMO, Aakash Chemicals
Len is a true professional. From all the years I had the pleasure of working with him, he
truly represented his company and their goals in the best manner. He is a technical
thought leader, has a great mind for creating efficient solutions, and treats others with
respect and dignity. Len is one of those people that inspire you to do your own job
better because of the passion and time he puts into his duties and the smile he does it
with. It was a true pleasure working with Len, I will always value the relationship we
developed.!
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Kim Stone
D irector, Corporate Communications at Flint Group
“Len commands great respect in our company, among our customers and !throughout
our industry. His unique combination of unequaled expertise and true humility--not to
mention his appreciation for laughter--made him a pleasure to work with. Over the
years I frequently turned to Len for help in understanding technical information or
industry dynamics. He never hesitated to take the time to offer assistance, and he was
always patient and gracious. I'm not the only one who depended on Len. I've seen
colleagues in functions as diverse as marketing and manufacturing, finance and
procurement, and beyond--worldwide, no less--depend on Len. His efforts have made a
lasting impact on Flint Group. If this deluge of complements sounds exaggerated, it is
not. It is spot-on.!
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Paul Edwards!
VP Ink Technology at EFI
I had the pleasure of working with Len during my time at Flink Ink. Len is a well
respected professional in the ink industry and brings to the table years of experience in
all aspects of the ink business, from manufacturing, through technical service, ink
technology and packaging applications. Len brings a lot to the table and is great to
work with.!
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Liana Roberts!
President at Cal-Chem Inc.
Leonard has both technical and commercial experience in the ink industry. He is an
expert! !
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Ed. Seidl!
Finance Manager, Food BU at Amcor Rigid Plastics
I had the pleasure of working with Len at Flint Group in my capacity as a raw material
buyer. In three words: Len got it! His career in the ink industry touches several areas
from plant management, to purchasing, to formulation and development, to crack
trouble shooter. It is this end-to-end perspective, that makes him such a valuable
contributor to any team. The most important thing Len can put on his resume is, "I'm a
doer.”!
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Rik Guns
C hief Commercial Officer at Indulor
Len understands ink and he understands "inkies", around the world. Soft spoken,
diplomatic and highly knowlegeable, he is respected by all. Len is a walking treasure of
experience and expertise in (flexo) ink making.!
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Michael Cox
D irector of Marketing at Cork Industries Coatings and Adhesives--Experts in Innovative Specialty
C oatings
I've known Leonard (Len) for over 30 years starting with Sinclair & Valentine Inks,then
Flint(Ink) Group. I've relied on his knowledge and expertise of all types of inks,
Flexo,water based and solvent,-flexible packaging, corrugated,etc. offset, heatset,
UV,and their applications, He has been a wealth of knowldege to me and to Flint over
the years, And he would be a major asset to any company.!
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Kevin Bergeson!
Global Lead Buyer at Flint Group
Len brings an engery and an ablity to energize a group of people for results. He has a
wealth of knowage that is unmeasurable using his drive to complete projects on time.
He is an asset to any team. !
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Julio Rodriguez!
Technical Director - Solvent at American Inks and Coatings Corp.
I've worked with Len for over 30 years and consider him one of my very few mentors as
well as a dear friend. Len has had a tremendous impact on product development,
customer service, process improvement and cost savings projects throughout his
career due to his vast experience in the packaging ink market. This coupled with his
global contacts and connections make Len a truly invaluable resource and wealth of
knowledge.!
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HONORS & AWARDS!
Printing Ink Pioneer!
National Association of Printing Ink Manufactures!
April 2002!
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Dan Math Employee Award!
Sinclair & Valentne, LP!
February 1988!
For Excellence in Leadership, Dedication and Accomplishment!
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Techcnial Service Award!
Sinclair & Valentine!
February 1985!
Foe Outstanding Performance
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