Product Development Engineering

Kenneth J. Spear

**** ******* ***** **

Grand Rapids, MI 49546

616-***-**** (Home)

918-***-**** (Cell)

***********@*******.***

Summary: Skilled product management, engineering, and new product design

and development executive with extensive expertise and experience in

leading and directing cross-functional new product development teams to

design, develop, coordinate, and implement projects, on time and on budget,

resulting in significant corporate growth in sales and earnings. Proven

record of building, organizing, and managing high performing

product/project development teams through the application of effective

engineering and product development tools and processes with accountability

for results while controlling costs and driving innovation.

Specialties and Areas of Expertise

. Extensive knowledge, expertise and experience with product engineering,

product line management, project management, product development

. Consumer and competitor market, product, cost, and retail research and

analysis

. Customer driven (voice of the customer) inputs to determine product

development roadmaps and strategic initiatives

. "Cradle to grave" product and project management from conception through

product launch including resource management, scheduling, reporting,

execution, and follow-up ensuring timeline, cost, quality, and financial

objectives

. Exceptional cross-functional team leadership and communication skills

. Product, program, and project management skills to manage multiple

projects and programs

. Excellent analytical, decision making, and problem solving skills to keep

projects on track

. Stage gate development process, gate reviews, design reviews, and

milestone management

. Product industrial design, aesthetics, labeling, literature, product

merchandising, product manuals

. Big box experience with The Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears, Walmart, and

others

. Product and manufacturing costing knowledge and experience

EDUCATION / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

. MBA, Management, Youngstown State University

. BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame

Attended several continuing education courses and seminars on product

innovation, new product development, value engineering, concurrent

engineering, ergonomics, project management, product liability, plastics,

injection molding, CAD, rapid prototyping, lean product design and lean

manufacturing

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

HARDI North America, Davenport, IA - Division HARDI International - $200mm

manufacturer of agricultural sprayers headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark

Manager of Engineering and Product Development (March, 2011

to June, 2012)

Report to President, Hardi North America. Manage and direct all

engineering, product development, and product management efforts for

trailed and self-propelled sprayers for North American market.

Accomplishments (HARDI)

. Successfully expedited and implemented 2011 new products resulting in

record fiscal sales year ended 8/31/2011 up 9% over 2010

. Introduced record number new products for 2012 introduction at

National Dealer Meeting resulting in record beginning fiscal year

backlog up 24% over previous year backlog

Page 2 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Continued

. Assumed leadership role and streamlined product development and

product management allowing engineers and product managers to focus

efforts on effective project management to bring new products to

production faster and with greater confidence and at targeted product

cost

. Led efforts for planning, project justification, and corporate

approval for $3.6mm plant expansion for powder coat paint line

installation and additional manufacturing space for self-propelled

sprayers

Knape & Vogt, Grand Rapids, MI - Privately held by Wind Point Partners -

$150mm manufacturer of consumer products including drawer slides, storage

and organization products, and ergonomic office accessories

Sr. Director of Engineering (February,

2008 to January, 2011)

Reported to Vice President Marketing and New Product Development. Managed

and directed Engineering efforts for new product design and development for

drawer slides, home and office storage and organization products, and

ergonomic office product accessories. Led product development group of 25

engineering directors/managers, engineers, CAD operators, and technicians.

Responsible for new product capital budget and Engineering expense budget.

Responsible for all patent activities, product standards, and global

certifications. Member Executive Staff and Management Team.

Accomplishments (Knape & Vogt)

. Organized New Product Development efforts into strong and effective cross-

functional Product Focused Project Management Teams (8), focused on

formal project management and product development techniques to

consistently implement new products on time and on budget

. Successfully launched several new products with incremental net sales

annually in excess of $10 million

. Introduced new products that more than doubled automotive sales during

severe downturn in auto industry

. Refined, tailored, and implemented Stage Gate process as an effective

tool to manage NPD projects

. Aggressively introduced new products growing market share during economic

downturn with significantly less resources

. Implemented product and process cost savings in excess of $1.1 million

annually

Bush Hog LLC, Selma, AL - Division Crown Consolidated Industries (CCI) -

$200mm manufacturer of agricultural cutters, landscape equipment, mowers,

utility vehicles, building and construction equipment, and zero turn mowers

Vice President of Engineering (May, 2005 to

December, 2007)

Reported to President & CEO Bush Hog LLC. Managed and directed Engineering

efforts for new product design and development for rotary cutters, utility

vehicles, zero turn radius riding lawn mowers, construction equipment

including loaders and backhoes, finishing mowers, landscape equipment, and

graphics. Led product development group of 56 engineering managers,

engineers, designers, CAD operators, model makes, and technicians.

Responsible for new product capital budget and Engineering expense budget.

Responsible for all product standards and global certifications.

Responsible for all patent activities, product liability, and product

safety.

Accomplishments (Bush Hog LLC)

. Re-built and organized Engineering efforts focused on formal project

management and product development techniques to consistently implement

new products on time and on budget. Effectively implemented Stage Gate

NPD process.

. Successfully launched 3 new platforms of rotary cutters increasing market

share by 10 points to over 40% at the expense of competitors

. Successfully launched 3 new platforms of zero turn mowers tripling market

share in less than 1 year

. Spearheaded efforts to out source utility vehicle component manufacturing

resulting in $1,000 direct cost savings per vehicle

. Successfully launched 6 new platforms for mid-mount tractor front loaders

resulting in manufacturing ability to build to order loaders in 5 days or

less resulting in $5 million inventory reduction and $1.5 million direct

product cost savings annually

Page 3

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Continued

Dixon Industries, Coffeyville, KS - Division Blount Industries (BLT) -

$40mm manufacturer of zero turn mowers and equipment

Vice President of Engineering (March,

2001 - May, 2005)

Reported to President & CEO Dixon Industries, Member Operating Committee.

Managed and directed Engineering efforts for new product design and

development for zero turn radius riding lawn mowers and equipment. Led

group of 23 engineering managers, engineers, CAD operators, and

technicians. Responsible for new product capital budget and Engineering

expense budget. Responsible for global product procurement focused on

product from China. Responsible for all product standards and global

certifications. Responsible for all patent activities, product liability,

and product safety.

Accomplishments (Dixon Industries)

. Re-built and organized Engineering Team focused on lean design and

manufacturing

. Grew business by over 40% with attractive new and improved products

launched over the period

. New products introduced in 2002 - 2004 accounted for virtually 100% of

sales in 2005

. Successfully outsourced several components in China resulting in $750k

annual cost savings

. Assumed integral leadership role for marketing product management

completely revamping both consumer and commercial product lines

solidifying market leadership position on consumer mowers and no. 2

position on commercial mowers.

Ames True Temper, Parkersburg, WV - Division Hanson Industries (1986 -

1995), US Industries (1995 - 2000) USI - $350mm manufacturer of lawn &

garden and building & construction tools and accessories

Director, Product Research & Development

(1986 - 2000)

Reported to President & CEO, Ames True Temper - Managed and directed cross-

functional new product development from initial concept, product design and

support, through implementation into production for all new product

categories. Led product development group of 12 engineers, designers,

model makers, and technicians. Responsible for $2 - $4 million capital

budget for new product tooling and equipment and Engineering expense

budget. Responsible for vendor selection, tool build, and implementation

for all new product tooling, molds, and equipment. Responsible for CAD

hardware and software and all patent activities. Directed NPD activities

for Garant Company (Canada), IXL Group (Handles), Woodings Verona (Striking

Tool Lines), and Spear & Jackson (England).

Accomplishments (Ames True Temper)

. Consistently delivered innovative new products, from initial conception

through launch, on time and within budget parameters significantly

contributing to company record sales and earnings 6 of the last 7 years

in the 1990's elevating and maintaining company's position as the clear

and recognized new product leader and innovator

. New products developed and launched in the 1990's accounted for over 90%

of company sales in 2000

. Received approximately 40 patents on various range of products

. Implemented CADKEY and SOLIDWORKS 3D solid modeling, Stratasys rapid

prototyping, gas assist injection molding process, lean design

engineering practices significantly reducing product development cycle

times, product tooling costs, and engineering changes to ensure on time

and accelerated new product introductions

. New product introductions resulted in 1000%+ physical growth of the

company's molding operation

. Received numerous personal and department awards for excellence in new

product design and innovation

Huffy Corporation, Bicycle Division, Celina, OH - $350mm world's largest

manufacturer of bicycles

Manager, Product Development and New Product Implementation, Principal

Development Engineer

R.D. Werner Company, Greenville, PA, $300mm manufacturer of ladders and

climbing equipment

Product Engineer

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