Manager Sales

Mark A. Grassman, PE, MBA

**** ****** *****, *********, ********* 53589 *********@*****.*** 920-***-**** linkedin.com/in/mgrassman

Strategic Executive Operations & Engineering Leader

*** I ENABLE BUSINESSES TO WIN ***

Strong, passionate, detail-oriented executive leader successful at integrating with a corporate culture, turning around operations toward profitability, driving increased revenues and decreased costs, providing overall strategic business deliverables, and directing talent to translate corporate objectives into actionable and quantitative plans.

In-depth experience across multiple industries including corporate operations, diverse manufacturing environments, and in-depth continuous improvement functions at all levels.

Experienced in the leadership of material management and supply chain, strategic planning, appropriate Lean and Six Sigma methodology, and utilization of engineering, data analysis, budgets, and forecasts to establish and maintain complex strategic objectives. High personal integrity and interpersonal relationship skills.

Management Competencies

Leadership, Employee and Peer Mentoring

Strategic Planning and Implementation

Process, Workflow, Marketing, and Cost Analysis

Procurement, Negotiation, and Vendor Leverage

Manufacturing and Supply Chain Optimization

External and Internal Service and Engagement

Develop Processes, Build, and Track KPI’s

Profit and Loss Ownership and Budgetary Targets

Professional Experience

Business Excellence LLC, Stoughton, Wisconsin

President 2011 – Present

Evaluate small to mid-size firms to analyze capabilities, create business strategy services and to apply Lean Thinking and Six Sigma methodologies in the areas of leadership, manufacturing, marketing, sales, procurement, healthcare, and quality control applications.

Key Contributions:

Successfully developed a comprehensive strategic plan for 35% growth at August Winters in Appleton on an accelerated timeline (6 days)

Expanded revenue at Aurora BayCare Medical Center by 20% per service provider

Increased the market reach of the struggling JJ Rouman Engineering firm by 30% through the identification of three new business ventures.

University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Adjunct Professor of Business 2017

Conducted campus classes in Supply Chain, General Business, and ERP with junior and senior level college students. Develop syllabus, assign studies, evaluate, test, and grade materials. Complete UW-GB documentation and submission of grades.

Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP), Madison, Wisconsin

Manufacturing Specialist - 2016 Staff Addendum

Evaluated company operations and culture toward readiness for required change and applied principles of proper business management and focused training toward company employees from CEO to floor staff.

Key Contributions:

Implemented solution delivery resulting in 20-50% cost reductions in areas of continuous improvement, controlling cost, employee retention, product flow, removal of constraints, and new business development.

Nelson Global Products, Stoughton, Wisconsin

Six Sigma Black Belt, Corporate Business Solutions 2014 – 2015 (Corporate-wide reduction in staff)

Served as project leader employing cost savings, efficiencies, and reduced waste, utilizing Continuous Improvement and Six Sigma tools. Evaluated operations and worked cooperatively with plants across Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Tennessee to optimize backlog with best-practice business principles, Six Sigma/Lean projects, S5, and Kaizen applications.

Key Contributions:

Designed and executed a plant turnaround project to overhaul support staff, operations product flow, and scheduling systems. Transformed plant into a complete flow facility (300 employees), reduced lead time by >5 times/27 to 4-5 days, reduced manufacturing costs by 50%, generated inventory reduction of 30+% and increased EBITDA from -30% to +30% in 4 months, achieving corporate goals.

Outlined and conducted a Six Sigma project providing resolution to a significant material composition and selection issue with a high-value account.

CE Power Solutions of Wisconsin, Appleton, Wisconsin

Operations Manager, Sales Engineer 2012 (Corporate-wide reduction in staff)

Managed day-to-day operation and provided leadership of plant departments. Monitored and ensured sales division performance in job estimates, bids, inside, and outside sales, and managed direct report service assistants and corporate support personnel through oversight, employee development and annual employee reviews. Performed oversight of multiple company projects; low to high voltage, electrical component commission, testing, maintenance, and retrofitting, and equipment installation projects. Established and reinforced best practices for reporting, project setup, internal and external communications, and customer invoicing.

Key Contributions:

Tracked and converted a -18% EBT in July to above the break-even point between August and October in a business line that had operated below break-even for eight years.

Worked collaboratively with legal team to negotiate and redraft the terms and conditions of the company’s largest utility customer in Minnesota and the Dakotas.

Bay Tek Games, Pulaski, Wisconsin

Director of Operations 2011 - 2012

Conducted operations management of a $20M+ manufacturing environment and served on Leadership Team. Scope of responsibility included manufacturing, research and development of new products, quality control, and supply chain management. Promoted continuous improvement through Lean Processes, negotiated materials purchasing, and initiated professional development programs.

Key Contributions:

Analyzed workflow of quality control and logistics and created a new Quality Control Manager position and a new Shipping Coordinator position to reduce shipped defects by 40%.

Basset Mechanical, Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Vice President, General Manager, COO – Manufacturing 2006 – 2011

Managed sales and marketing, custom manufacturing, construction installation, divisional unionized staff of 180 employees, and served as a member of the Board of Directors and Leadership Team. Leveraged supplier agreements to negotiate contract terms. Maintained customer engagement and support through sales and marketing strategies, and reorganizing division talent to stabilize business lines.

Key Contributions:

Utilized Lean methodologies, sales and business planning, process improvements, and employee development to direct record growth, 10% over budget in 2007, 2008, and maintain steady sales through recession years 2008 – 2010.

Organized cross-departmental launch of Six Sigma, Lean, and Strategic Deployment implementation, resulting in a minimum of a 20% increase in profitability of Lean projects (Hoshin-Kanri based).

Appleton Papers, Appleton, Wisconsin 1995 - 2006

Project Manager, International 2005 – 2006

Spearheaded planning, evaluated and qualified facilities, initiated contracts and supply agreements, served as company liaison to US and Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and finalized international joint venture expanding into Chinese market.

New Business Development Manager 2004 – 2005

Managed several direct report team coordinators, conducted market and customer insight, drove strategic marketing focus, and led commercialization of new products resulting in a 67% volume increase from 2003 to 2004. Developed Kepner-Tregoe and Six Sigma training and application strategies to address performance concerns.

Six Sigma/Lean Team Leader 2001 – 2004

Trained and served as a mentor for multiple Black Belt direct reports, implemented lean projects utilizing 5S methodology with a 20% reduction in downtime in target units. Scheduled and conducted Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) workshop training activities.

Additional Professional Experience

Appleton Papers, Appleton, Wisconsin Engineering Manager

Appleton Papers, Appleton, Wisconsin Staff Electrical Engineer

Appleton Papers, Appleton, Wisconsin Maintenance Electrical Engineer

P.H. Glatfelter Corporation, Neenah, Wisconsin Electrical Instrument Engineering Manager

Phoenix Engineering, Madison, Wisconsin Engineering Manager

Procter and Gamble, Green Bay, Wisconsin Automatic Controls Engineer

Education

Current Licensure, State of Wisconsin #26417-6 Licensed Professional Engineer

Milwaukee School of Engineering Certified Six Sigma Black Belt

Milwaukee School of Engineering Certified Lean Manufacturing Practitioner

University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, Wisconsin Master of Business Administration

University of Wisconsin – Madison, Wisconsin Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering

Professional Development

Ed Miller Strategy Development Services Hoshin-Kanri Strategic Planning

Initium LLC Strategic Marketing

Marshall Institute Total Productive Maintenance Trainer

Graduate and Current Mentor- Dale Carnegie Dale Carnegie Effective Communications

Professional Affiliations

Greater Madison Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 – Present

Humanitarian Aid, Haiti and North Milwaukee 2010 – Present

Green Bay Rotary Club and International Aid Committee 2011 – 2013

NEW North Consortium 2006-2011

NEW Manufacturing Alliance 2007-2011

Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Board 2007 – 2010

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