Project Manager Sales

Axel Conrads

**** ********* ******, **********, ** 60564

630-***-**** ****.*******@*****.***

Chief Executive Officer

A customer-focused P&L manager with a successful background of managing complex equipment sales,

product management and projects assignments in domestic and international environments. Especially skilled

at making continuous improvements in product and systems performance, reliability, profit margins and

customer satisfaction. Leader for developing and implementing of Lean Manufacturing environment and

practical process improvement concepts. Proven capacity to solve complex problems, designing workable

strategies and leading successful solutions from concept to completion. Implements preventive maintenance

programs and life cycle cost analysis. An excellent developer of employee and managerial talent. Success in

building organizations that achieve results beyond requirements and expectations .

Extensive professional skills and experience, including:

Sales, Marketing & New Business Development Lean Management, 5S & ISO Certification

Hiring, Training, Motivating & Team-Building Solving Complex Technical & Business Problems

Creating Business Plans, Budgets & Reports Speaking & Writing in English & German

Assuming Full P & L Accountability Working with MS Office, SAP & M2M

Maximizing Customer Satisfaction & Retention Controlling Costs & Boosting Profits

Professional Background

Technotrans America, Inc. (auxiliary equipment, printing industry) Mt. Prospect, IL 2004 – 2009

-- Vice President, Service

Significantly strengthened OEM relationships by consolidating two independent service groups into one

centralized organization. Reduced company headcount from 135 to 108.

Led continuous improvement process for project management and installation concepts, adding value to

the sales process. As a result installation services were added to 95% of the received orders.

Developed a proactive customer calling program to focus on preventive maintenance, training and

technical support. Aftermarket revenue increased by $322,000 in 2008.

Monthly analysis of the support calls and training of the field service personnel resulted in higher levels of

customer satisfaction. Recognized a decrease of customer complaint calls: from 20 to 3 per month within

six months.

Improved product quality through ISO measures, implementation of 5S and Operation Excellence focus.

Reduced warranty exposure by more than $200,000 annually.

Introduced new communication tools to improve interaction with customers and off-site technicians.

Saved travel cost of $60,000 each year.

Axel Conrads – page 2 (Professional Background, continued)

MAN Roland, Inc. (offset printing press manufacturer) Westmont, IL 1997 – 2004

-- Vice President, Commercial Web & Newspaper Service

Managed, directed and trained Service Personnel to expand equipment knowledge and reduce installation

times. Average installation time dropped from 11 to 8 weeks.

Coordinated global business concepts for installations and project business to in crease revenue by 30%

annually.

Improved customer support significantly by initiating Print Process and Operator Training for pressrooms.

Contributed in workshops to evaluate print results and communicated recommendations to the end -users,

which led to newspaper press sales of more than $100 million annually.

Strengthened MAN Roland market position by relocation of Service Department from Groton, CT to

Westmont, IL – improving customer satisfaction. Reduced operating expenses for the department by

$250,000 in the first year, and added 3 technicians per year for 4 years.

Assisted the integration team in launching SAP for the organization. Moved 4 administrative people into

operational functions, and collected open receivables of $ 500,000 within the first 6 month s.

MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG (global printing press manufacturer) Augsburg, Germany 1989 – 1997

-- Service & Project Manager

Improved process control by developing and executing a new rigging and installation concept for printing

press installations. Completed a selected project three months ahead of schedule and achieved a $2.8

million profit margin.

Negotiated and implemented Contract Agreements with customers, suppliers and vendors to reduce costs

by more than 10%.

Established project objectives, policies, procedures and performance standards within boundaries of

corporate policy, to reduce travel costs per project by $20,000.

Initiated and maintained front-line contact with customer project professionals and top management

regarding project execution and dispute resolution. Brought up remaining open items and drove them to

closure, reducing on-site support by an average of 3 months.

Developed project reports and financial summaries using MS Office and Filemaker, increasing transparency

of project calculations. Outlined added values to achieve price increases of up to 8%.

Education & Training

Bachelor of Science – Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnicum of Munich, Germany, 1989.

Communications strategies (Better Communication on the Phone, 1990 Augsburg)

Negotiation techniques (MAN Corporate Training, 1992 Munich)

Project management (MAN Corporate Training, 1993 Munich)

Additional training in leadership skills (University of Michigan Business School, 2001 Ann Arber)

Business Coach Advanced Management Skills (Vera Schweizer, 2008)

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