Manager Sales

Donovon H. Gaze

** ******** ***** ***** 770-***-****

Marietta SC 29661

abiiti@r.postjobfree.com

Summary

Substantial and progressive experience in management of wood product

manufacturing, including full

P & L responsibility, management of production, engineering, purchasing,

logistics, product development and sales.

Significant experience and success in identifying customer-specific

solutions and product design resulting in single-customer sales of several

million dollars per year.

Successful record of implementation of lean manufacturing initiatives

in manufacturing operations, reducing costs, enhancing safety and improving

profitability.

Extensive experience with a diverse range of manufacturing

environments and materials, including solids, particleboard and plywood,

veneers and laminates, plastics and solid surface materials.

WORK EXPERIENCE

August 2006 to Present

PRESIDENT

Level Five Careers Inc., Greenville, South Carolina

Own and operate a recruiting company specializing in the recruitment

and placement of individuals in the wood products industry. I have

successfully recruited for positions from company President to hourly

employees, with particular emphasis on Operations Management and

Engineering.

January 2006 to July 2006

DIRECTOR, Plant Operations/Quality Assurance

Blue Ribbon Stairs, Inc., Sacramento, California

Responsible for management of all manufacturing, purchasing,

quality, safety, distribution and engineering functions of a $30 million

stair balustrade manufacturing and installation company. Directed the shop

operations of seven assembly and installation divisions throughout

California and Nevada. 30 direct reports, including Plant Manager,

Warehouse Manager, Buyers, Engineering Technician and hourly manufacturing

and warehouse positions. (Downsized)

March 2005 to November 2005

GENERAL MANAGER

Marietta Stair and Millwork, Marietta, Georgia

Assumed full P & L responsibility as General Manager for turn-

around of company producing approximately $2.5M annually in custom

millwork, custom cabinetry, stairs and production cabinetry. Average custom

cabinet sale of $30K, average custom millwork project sale of $75K. 43

direct reports, including two Production Managers, two Design/Sales staff

and two Product Engineers. (Downsized/Division Closed)

December 2002 to March 2005

PLANT MANAGER

Cabinetcraft, Atlanta, Georgia

This is the cabinet division of John Wieland Homes and

Neighborhoods, one of the most successful privately-owned home builders in

the country. I managed an 80,000 square-foot plant, with 73 direct reports

producing approximately $25M annually in cabinets (custom and semi-custom),

millwork and Corian countertops, as well as wood components for satellite

locations.

Promoted to Plant Manager from Component Operations Manager after

6 months, and after having succeeded in achieving 300% increase in daily

wood door production as well as a 20% increase in productivity in all

internal component operations, through use of Lean Manufacturing

techniques. This achievement was repeated in 2004. I was responsible for

successfully completing a plant re-arrangement in the midst of the

company's busiest season, in order to accommodate a new leading-edge UV

finishing system, while successfully leading the plant to its highest

historical levels of volume. In addition to the promotion, I received two

raises and received all quarterly bonuses at the highest potential rate

after joining the company.

(Page 2)

April 2001 to September 2002

MANAGER, SPECIALS ENGINEERING

Steelcase, Inc., Fletcher, North Carolina and Grand Rapids, Michigan

Managed two engineering offices specializing in quotation,

design and engineering of special order and customer-specific solutions for

Wood division of world's largest office furniture company. Direct P & L

responsibility, sales plan of over $100 Million, operating budget of $3.5

million. Supervised the activities of up to 17 personnel in three

locations across the US, including 11 engineers operating with a PRO/E

platform, working with custom product design and development across 19

different product lines. Responsible for coordination with manufacturing

management in two plant locations, and acted as a member of Management

Council of the Fletcher plant, an ISO9001 facility.

(Downsized - Plant and Division Closed)

March 1999 to April 2001

SENIOR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER

Hill-Rom Company, Inc., 5349 Corporate Road, Charleston SC 29405

Managed vertical integration of the manufacture of case goods for

Long-Term Care division of the world's largest manufacturer of hospital

beds and related items. ISO 9001 standards were required and maintained for

all operations. This was a "focused-factory" operation, operating under

very Lean, Kaizen-based manufacturing techniques. Responsible for

engineering and management of all facets of operation, including new

product development and engineering, to include identification and

specification of parts and raw materials; process design, implementation

and integration, including specification and acquisition of machinery;

application of engineering standards and design and implementation of

quality control programs; programming and optimization of CNC machinery;

maintenance; management and supervision for three engineers and nine hourly

operators. Processes involved laminated particleboard, solids and veneers.

. Given added responsibility for production management within two months

of production launch

. Succeeded in creating a manufacturing operation that profitably

produced in 25% of the typical square footage, a higher quality

product at a 35% cost reduction.

. Re-engineered existing product line to incorporate modern assembly

techniques

(Downsized - Plant and Division Closed)

August 1995 to March 1999

SELF-EMPLOYED

Customs, 305 Fairhaven Drive, Taylors SC 29687

Provided custom furniture, millwork, and woodworking design to the

retail market and the trade. Created and sold custom furniture and millwork

statewide, as well as working temporary contract positions within the

industry. This business was conducted on a part-time basis, while also

providing full-time home-care for my father until his death.

November 1992 to June 1995

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Chandler - Attwood Limited, 6200 Highlands Parkway, Smyrna, Georgia 30082

Assumed responsibilities for management of all manufacturing

operations at start-up of Hon Industries newly-developed concept in office

furniture manufacturing (laminated case-goods). Directly responsible for:

production efficiency; purchasing, accounts payable, inventory and freight;

employee recruitment, training, and payroll; direct supervision of

production operations (two shifts, 16 personnel); OSHA/safety and

environmental issues, and maintenance. Responsibilities also included

ability to perform and train personnel in all production-related skills,

including CNC router operations and to act as substitute for Site General

Manager.

Also acted as division process-improvement coordinator. After

receiving formal training in RCI, a Kaizen-based improvement process,

spearheaded and implemented process improvement program on a division-wide

basis. Also acted as division coordinator for Archer Bond inventories and

MRP plan.

. Atlanta facility consistently maintained a position as #1 in the

following areas: production profitability and efficiency, materials

utilization, employee retention, and cost effectiveness.

(Downsized - Plant and Division Closed)

(Page 3)

May 1986 to November 1992

PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER

Southern Furniture Classics, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina

Total responsibility for management of manufacturing and sales of high-

end 18th/19th century furniture reproductions, commercial cabinetry and

store fixtures, with annual sales approaching one-million dollars. Broad

areas of responsibility included product engineering, production

management, sales management, accounting and office management. Product

composed primarily of solid woods, utilizing only the most basic of

machinery operations combined with hand-craftsmanship.

EDUCATION

Greenville Technical College - Greenville, South Carolina - 78 credit hours

towards Associates Degrees in Marketing, Accounting and General Studies

(College Transfer).

University Of Maryland, University of Michigan, various others - 50 credit

hours towards BS in Criminal Justice.

Graduated Eastside High School, Taylors, South Carolina 1972

MILITARY SERVICE

April 1973 to December 1976 - U.S. Air Force - Weapons Systems

Security Specialist. Specially trained in nuclear and special weapons

security and anti-terrorism. Honorably discharged with rank of Sergeant (E-

4). Received the highest possible annual evaluation scores ("All Nines")

every year and was asked to re-enlist by my base commander in 1976.

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