Sales Manager

BRUCE A. PETERSEN

**** ***** ***** *****, *****, OH 44333

330-***-**** ********.**@*****.***

EXECUTIVE LEVEL OPERATIONS MANAGER

GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS NEW BUSINESS

DEVELOPMENT

PLASTICS RUBBER CHEMICALS

Well rounded senior level international operations leader with a broad set of experiences who has been

tested in a host of markets and businesses. Has built and led successful teams, and has a tremendous

understanding of global sourcing, manufacturing operations, value chain management, marketing, and

quality systems based on Lean Six Sigma principles. Proven leadership skills, with the ability to clearly

set organizational direction, and then provide the leadership to motivate others to achieve strategic

objectives in an environment of continuous improvement. Brings a successful track record of leading

organic sales growth through strong customer orientation and product innovation. Demonstrated

experience in initiating culture change and driving initiatives across the organization. Recognized

expertise in market intelligence and competitive analysis, sourcing strategies, strategic and operational

procurement, risk mitigation, negotiating, and contract management. Possesses insightful thinking and

rigorous analytical capabilities.

Global Sourcing Strategies Operations Streamlining Change Management Lean Six

Sigma Financial Analysis Strategic Planning Budget Forecasting Business Unit

Development Channel Management Inventory Control

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

POLYMER CONSULTING SERVICES, LLC, Akron, OH 2005 – Present

Plastics consulting firm working with large auto manufacturers to develop high quality, state-of-art

materials and parts for OEM and service manufacture. Clients include Magna, Toyota, Ford, GM, and

Chrysler.

President and Founder

Asked by major automotive parts manufacturing client to continue management of thermoplastics

production after closure of former plastics firm. Performed in consultant role to direct client facility and

involved staff. Directed all aspects of research and operations including development and production of

new compounds and colors, management of supply chain, oversight of all financial and accounting

activities. Direct reports included Plant Manager, Senior Extrusion Engineer, Purchasing Manager and

Production Manager.

Developed more than 60 new exterior automotive colors for Chrysler, GM, Ford and

Toyota. Gained initial approval and established commercial production in fewer than

three months.

Created new processes to recycle client-generated materials into OEM parts including

auto body moldings and trim to save up to 35% on materials costs.

Established quality systems to maintain outstanding quality and on-time delivery

records.

LYNN PLASTICS COMPANY, LLC, Lynn, MA 2002 – 2005

Developer and producer of proprietary thermoplastic compounds with special focus on polymer and color

technologies for the automotive industry, wire & cable, specialty tubing, and building materials markets.

End products included plastics used for auto exterior trim and other OEM auto parts, wire and cable

compositions, shrink tubing, fencing, and decking. Sales revenues were $23M, with 74 employees.

Chairman, CEO and Owner

Acquired stagnant company in 2002 and completely rebuilt it, stabilizing rapidly declining sales in year

one, and growing sales by 9% in year two while increasing gross margins by 2.5% despite significant

increases in raw material costs. Recruited, hired and trained effective management team to implement

new business strategy including new Director of Technical Sales and Marketing, General Manager of

Operations, Director of Quality, and Color Manager as well as other key staff. Focused on developing new

products including advanced PVC foam and rigid PVC compounds to expand market share and acquire

new customers. Implemented Lean Manufacturing methods and led the organization to develop accurate

performance metrics that improved inventory turnover, cash flow, supply chain management,

manufacturing, new product development quality systems, and sales and marketing.

Created new system for financial analysis, budgeting and financial performance metrics.

Directed new product development efforts leading to improved sales and margins.

Renegotiated all key raw material, service, and logistics agreements resulting in annual

cost reductions in excess of 10%.

Obtained TS 16949 certification for the company and A2LA accreditation for the

laboratory within two years.

BRUCE A. PETERSEN ********.**@*****.*** PAGE TWO

DIAMOND POLYMERS/NETWORK POLYMERS, Akron, OH 1994 – 2000

Jointly managed and owned plastics companies specializing in thermoplastic raw materials used for

electronics, automotive, packaging, cosmetics and appliances. 50 employees and sales as high as $48M.

President and Director, Diamond Polymers

Executive Vice President, Network Polymers

Brought on board to revitalize stagnant company. Managed operations of both companies with three

direct reports, CFO, Controller, Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Technology. Also

directed treasury functions and supply chain for both companies. Brought in new staff, reorganized

product mix for higher margins and directed the development of new, profitable proprietary compounds,

particularly the Softflex® product line of innovative soft plastics that strongly bond to hard surfaces, to

achieve both dramatically larger market share and higher profits. After death of senior partner, managed

purchase of his equity entirely out of cash flows of two companies.

Doubled sales of Diamond Polymers from $12M to $24M by developing new, specialty

engineered compounds, and custom colored materials that increased profits by 500%.

Steered Network Polymers product mix to fewer, higher-profit products and added new

distribution principal suppliers to increase profits by almost 300%.

Developed new, Softflex® line of specialty thermoplastic elastomer alloys to increase

annual sales by more than $1M and profits by more than $400,000.

Initiated and managed $2M dollar project to add additional production capacity, new

laboratory, warehouse and office space,

A. SCHULMAN, INC., Akron, OH 1974 – 1994

International plastics supplier established in 1928, providing proprietary, high performance plastic

compounds and resins used in a variety of consumer, industrial, automotive, and packaging applications.

Schulman had revenues of over $750M with over 1,500 employees.

Vice President, Materials Management

Established the strategic objectives for global raw material, equipment and services sourcing and

created an organization to direct the company’s supply chain operations with total value of more than

$500M for all North American operations in coordination with European operations. Managed supply

logistics for NA Schulman manufacturing operations, distribution of Schulman proprietary products and

the distribution of subcontractors’ product throughout the Schulman chain. Coordinated purchasing,

logistics, and distribution to ensure lowest cost sourcing and most effective delivery schedules.

Spearheaded projects with MIS to develop pioneering automated materials

management system to save the company millions of dollars in staffing and

inventory costs with greater productivity.

Established systems for developing market intelligence and analysis leading to best-

in-class sourcing.

Streamlined and rationalized the raw materials base to ensure the most cost

effective use of materials resulting in multi-million dollar cost savings.

Collaborated with product management groups to develop new engineered

compounds to grow sales.

Championed in partnering with suppliers to develop new resin formulas tailored

exactly to company’s product line needs to reduce costs and significantly expand

product sales.

Initiated and implemented programs for supplier evaluations, site audits,

benchmarking best practices and quality improvement.

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s Degree in Soviet and East European Studies/Russian Language &

Literature/German Language & Literature/International Economics, summa cum laude, Phi

Beta Kappa

Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

AFFILIATIONS

Society of Plastics Engineers

Member of Executive Committee, former President of the Society

Society of the Plastics Industry

Former Corporate Voting Member

OTHER INFORMATION

Computer Skills: Highly skilled in Excel, Power Point, and Word

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