Sales Customer Service

Louis Hess

***** ***** *** ****** 858-***-****

San Diego, CA 92128 abnn7l@r.postjobfree.com

General Management and International Operations

General management professional with the results orientation and cultural intelligence to lead independently

in complex international markets.

• Proven success initializing and growing new ventures

• Supply chain optimization

• Turnaround of troubled operations

• Acquisition analysis and post merger integration

• US born; dual EU citizenship with strong French language skills

CUSTOMatrix™ Consulting, San Diego, CA 2007- Present

CEO Associate focusing on market intelligence, turnaround leadership and strategy

• University of California, San Diego CONNECT Executive in Residence guiding sustainable building

product, green energy and construction software firms to prepare for venture capital financing

• Keynote speaker covering EU market at the international Panel World Expo, CNN Center, Atlanta

• Developed a comprehensive EU market strategic plan for a Canadian multi-national

SmartPly Europe, Ltd., Waterford, Ireland (formerly Louisiana Pacific Europe) 1996 – 2007

US / Irish world-class joint venture sustainable wood panel construction products company

Chief Executive

Attained market leading position in the United Kingdom and Ireland against entrenched competitors

Directed regional sales offices in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands, American agency

relationships, marketing, finance, treasury, and manufacturing operations for a $170 million Irish plant, 12

megawatt biomass energy facility, R&D, in addition to board level legal entity concerns.

• Led the business from inception to $125 million in sales and record profits of 19% ROS in 2004 by

leveraging eastern seaboard export position during the US building boom. Results Q3 2007 YTD:

EBITDA 15.5% and net profits of 10.8%; double plan pace.

• Directed the transition of the business from a joint venture to stand-alone legal entity in 2002.

Managed legal issues with EU authorities, due diligence activity between shareholders, product re-

branding efforts and restructuring the balance sheet

• 2002 winners of the BBC-sponsored Excellence in Marketing Awards for product re-branding efforts,

web site, and marketing strategy post re-organization.

• Launched structural I-beams, extruded molding, and cladding materials as part of a building systems

approach in 2000. Brought the new unit to profits in 2001 and sold to leading customer in 2002.

• Developed a Euro-specific product range with unique chemistry to gain majority share in the frame

house building market in the UK and Ireland. Realized 37% volume growth in one year; more than

double the market growth rate. Deployed six sigma techniques in product development and launch.

• Gained the approval of the Irish Ministry of Finance for the acquisition of Weyerhaeuser Europe,

(sales of $160 million). Prepared plans for key sales account and operational integration, realization

of synergies, and supply chain strategy.

Avery Dennison, Pasadena, CA 1981 - 1996

$6.3 billion multi-national manufacturer of pressure sensitive materials and office products

Avery Dennison de Luxembourg, S.A. 1993 - 1996

New central European state of the art coating and distribution business unit with sales of $104 million

Director

Partnering with customers to focus product line and service needs drives profitability

Promoted to take leadership of this new business unit serving the office and consumer products markets.

Directed purchasing, customer service and key account liaisons, product management strategy, quality,

finance, engineering, and human resources in addition to government and union relationships.

• Propelled volume 30% pushing the new unit over breakeven in 1994 and achieving 11% ROS in

1995

• Partnered with key customers to develop a completely new range of laser, copier and EDP products

gaining $9 million in new sales in 9 months while focusing the product range from 71 to 44 offerings.

• Grew volume $5.4 million with 24-hour express service to the Benelux region.

• Won second prize in the EU Prix Écologique by developing a repulpable adhesive.

• High performance organization and ISO 9002 certification enabled a 34% reduction in customer

complaints and an increase in delivery reliability from 93.3% to 99.4%.

• Project managed a $70 million coated films facility in East Germany.

Avery Dennison, Monrovia, CA 1989 – 1993

Self-adhesive coating plant serving the automotive, pharmaceutical and office products industries

Plant Manager

A dramatic turnaround in quality, service, profitability, environmental compliance and labor

relations

• Cut environmental emissions to take unit from brink of closure to receipt of a mayoral proclamation

• Rework cut 60% and losses reduced 32% to achieve a 28% ROTC in 1992 with customer returns

reduced from 4.2% to 0.9% of sales.

• Delivery integrity improved from 82% to 97% via team scheduling and improved maintenance.

• Employees opted to be union-free after implementation of high performance teams.

Avery Dennison – Corporate Staff, Plant Management and International Roles 1981 - 1988

Ducommun Metals, Los Angeles – Senior Financial Analyst 1979 – 1981

Fiat-Allis Construction Machinery, Deerfield, IL– Senior Quality Analyst 1976 – 1979

Education and Professional Development

Post Graduate and Third Level

MBA Finance, DePaul University, 1979, Delta Mu Delta National Business Honor Society

BS Operations Management with Industrial Chemistry Minor, University of Illinois, 1976

INSEAD, Fontainebleu, France

Marketing Channel Management, 2002

Managing Partnerships and Strategic Alliances, 2000

Competitive Strategy, 1999

Professional Development

Product Management Strategy, Management Centre, Brussels, 1994

Certified Logistics and Supply Chain Manager, APICS, 1987

Certified Manufacturing Engineer, University of California, Los Angeles, 1981

Community and Trade Association Affairs

USGBC – United States Green Building Council – member – San Diego Chapter

Junior Achievement Ireland, Chairman, Southeast Region – Increased corporate funding 48% and

doubled student penetration in two years. First and only Irish recipient of the Silver Leadership

Award, 2005

Waterford Chamber of Commerce – Board member leading strategic industry development group.

Structural Board Association – Papers Presented:

“A European Perspective: OSB for a Fragmented Market” Miami, 2006

“New Europe, Old Europe and OSB” Vancouver, 2007

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