Manager Project

James G. Houvener

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

Midland, MI *8642 *****@********.***

989-***-****(home) 989-***-**** (cell)

http://www.linkedin.com/in/houvenerjames/

Executive Leadership

Increase the value provided to customers, employees, and owners

Safety - Quality - Productivity - Lower waste - Reduced Costs

Experienced plant operations leader with a history of improving

execution, and developing leadership to bring out the best in people to

develop talent and provide career opportunities. All to meet the

organization's purpose of providing excellence in product and service.

Leadership expertise includes:

. Improve Execution: Develop organizational and execution skills in

direct reports, obtainable goals, accountability

. Right Staffing: Create processes to get the right people in the right

positions - Job descriptions, job postings, interview processes,

performance evaluations, disciplinary and reward systems, dignified

termination processes

. Lead by example: Establish and articulate company vision based on

foundational values, long-range goals, and core purpose

. Improve Employee Morale: Develop commendable leaders that treat

employees with dignity and respect

. Manage change: Plan ahead, communication, trust and honesty, listening

skills

Recent Relevant Accomplishments

Leadership & Organizational Development

. Facilitated transformation to new owners including all new policies,

dress codes, safety standards, reporting structures, and corporate

leadership. And, merged local plant culture with new corporate culture

while maintaining a high level of morale and meeting production goals

for efficiency, deliveries, quality, and customer satisfaction.

. Raised hiring standards for key positions to improve the quality of

staff. Improved performance evaluations given by all managers to

identify and reward star performers, and to fix or remove bottom

performers (pay for performance).

. Plant-wide visioning: vision statement, mission, values & objectives,

to make sure employees at all levels understand why we do what we do,

and how their activities fit into the big picture.

. Conducted regular leadership training sessions for direct reports

through use of book or article readings and discussions. Developed on-

site leadership development classes using local business professor to

train all leadership group managers.

. Conduct regular meetings with direct reports to improve communications

and review goals, including monthly leadership meetings, safety

meetings, and quarterly meetings with plant employees to review plant

performance and developments.

Process Improvement

. Improved safety, quality, productivity, on-time delivery, and waste

reduction by championing Lean continuous improvement efforts including

Six Sigma, Kaizen, and 5s. And, improved accountability through daily

war room meetings, barrier identification, problem solving and

solution tracking.

. Ranked number one in safety versus 18 plants in large-plant group

2007. Lowest workers compensation cost per hour in the company in 2011

while beating the industry and company average accident rate.

. Facilitated acquisition and implementation of new equipment and

technology to improve throughput and lower costs.

. As Technology Manager, project leader for the installation and

training of the corporate IT system in the plant, working with the

corporate implementation team. Project completed on time and under

budgeted goal.

Cost Reduction

. Improved labor and total cost dollars per thousand units produced, in

a challenging print market with heavy pricing pressure, in each year

versus prior for the past seven years. Resulted in improved cash

earnings from operations each year. In 2012 offset $1 million drop in

sales due to price with more than $1 million savings in operations

costs, slightly improving operating income.

. Implemented and managed difficult staffing reductions to control costs

during recent economic recession. Maintained unit cost, quality, and

productivity at reduced staffing levels, while also improving on time

deliveries, reducing customer concerns and improving customer

satisfaction.

. Lowered waste cost from previous year 60% in 2008, 30% in 2009, 25% in

2010 and another 10% in 2011 through Lean continuous improvement

efforts and improved accountability.

James G. Houvener

5107 Foster Road

Midland, MI 48642 *****@********.***

989-***-****(home) 989-***-**** (cell)

http://www.linkedin.com/in/houvenerjames/

Experience

Quad/Graphics (formerly Worldcolor, Quebecor World and Pendell Printing)

PLANT DIRECTOR (VP & General Manager / General Manager) July 2005 to April

2013

. Financial and performance responsibility for a 300 employee, $55

million annual sales printing facility

. Leadership ability to manage change, develop and communicate vision,

values, and long-term goals

. Led the company to improve value provided to customers, employees, and

owners through improved execution of strategic goals, and by ensuring

the best employees are in the right jobs to ensure success exceeding

customer and owner expectations.

. Skills consistently used: logic/analytical abilities, project

management, delegation, interpersonal and computer skills

. Trusted and respected for honesty, listening and organization skills,

even temperament, and patience

. Developed skills in the leadership team and in direct reports through

coaching, mentoring, discussion, and training

. Understand strategic intent and visioning, and the necessity to

differentiate from the competition by a combination of employee skills

and experience, equipment, and procedures that creates a unique

ability to meet customer needs while exceeding owner's expectations

. Annual budgeting process and monthly financial performance review,

working closely with the plant and group controllers

TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS MANAGER 2000 to 2005

MANAGER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 1990 to 2000

PROJECT MANAGER 1988 to 1990

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT 1987 to 1988

Additional Work History

. The McKay Press - Midland, Michigan: Pre-press Department Supervision,

1986 to 1987

. The John Henry Company - Lansing, Michigan: Pre-press Department

Supervision, 1985 to 1986

. Pendell Printing Inc. - Midland, Michigan: Skilled trade

apprenticeships, Prepress Supervision, October 1976 to 1985

Education and Training

Northwood University - Midland Michigan Campus:

. Master of Business Administration (MBA) - April 2006 - Richard DeVos

Graduate School of Management

. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) - December, 2003 - Summa Cum

Laude

Significant Training/Seminars:

. Rusty Staub's "Helping Individuals Lead Successfully" April 2008

. Six Sigma Champion, April 2007

. Excel Partnership, Inc: Understanding and Implementing ISO9001:2000

. Conway's Right Way to Manage/Investment in Excellence: Extensive

training provided by employer in statistical process control, goal

setting, and teamwork

Civic and Recreation Activities

. Past Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board Chairman and Board of

Directors Executive member

. Leadership Midland graduate 2005, Citizen's Academy graduate 2012

. Church Youth Group Counselor & Leader - Worked with kids throughout

the year including spring-break mission trips to South Carolina,

Washington DC, Mississippi to provide relief to hurricane victims,

etc.

. Outdoor Family Activities: Camping, hiking and backpacking, fishing,

outdoor photography, wildlife viewing, dogs

Contact this candidate