STEPHEN J. RIPP

* ******** **** ***** · Kingwood, TX 77339

Tel.: 713-***-**** · ac9u1j@r.postjobfree.com · www.linkedin.com/in/stephenjripp · www.ZürichInd.com

STRATEGIC BUSINESS LEADER

A hands-on Business Leader with P&L, SEC, SOX and regulatory experience in managing NYSE, BSE & LSE-listed, Private Equity & Closely-Held international multi-site electro-mechanical capital equipment manufacturing companies.

PROFILE

A highly collaborative Equity Builder with extensive strategy and business development, SIOP, CapEx, Budgeting and plant experience. High EQ coupled with business solutions expertise in delivering long term appreciation to investors by developing dynamic organizations empowered to drive Productivity, Revenue, EBITDA and ROIC. Skilled in managing a leveraged balance sheet while achieving sustainable process reliability and margin enhancement. Highly experienced in acquisition ID, transaction & integration. Broad union/Works Counsel and JV/Partnership contracts experience.

MBA Finance · BS Mechanical Engineering · BS Economics

Certifications: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt · CPM · CPIM · PCMM · PCMH · Deming SPC · Danaher Bus. Sys.

Career M&A’s: 1 JV · 2 IPO’s · 2 Strategic Sales · 2 Mergers · 11 Acquisitions · 1 $225MM High Yield Bond Issue

- Extensive Int’l Experience · High Multi-Cultural Competency · Change Catalyst · Passion for Winning Performance -

Grew Revenue from $51MM to $73MM, EBITDA from 7% to 26% with a 26% CAGR at Arc Machines Inc.

Grew Revenue from $121MM to $157MM, EBITDA from 6% to 28% with a 22% CAGR at SIEBE plc

Grew Revenue from $39MM to $89MM, EBITDA from 4% to 24% with a 25% CAGR at Franke Federal Inc.

Grew Revenue from $115MM to $262MM, EBITDA from 5% to 26% with a 24% CAGR at Standard Brands Inc.

EXPERIENCE & RESULTS

Chief Executive Officer - Zürich Industries llc www.ZurichInd.com Houston, TX Liquidity event. 2002-2019

The firm deploys a Hands On Lean Six Sigma approach to restructuring challenged companies by leveraging its composite Finance, Manufacturing & Supply Chain, Engineering and Sales / Business Development expertise to set a strategic vision, manage capital and make operational and process improvements to drive client revenue, EBITDA and company valuation.

Grew Zürich Industries llc Revenue from Start Up to $32MM, EBITDA to 27%, CAGR to 29% and Cash Flow to $3MM.

Achievements at Signature Zürich Industries llc Global Clients [3 of 22 international contract client businesses]:

As the CEO at client Arc Machines Inc. Los Angeles, CA Private Equity portfolio firm. 255 employees. Liquidity event.

Transformed a staid orbital welding business into a global brand of welding and sense / test / measurement systems.

Responsible for the P&L, global business development and B2B / eCommerce of a multi-site high mix/low volume manufacturing platform supporting an OEM Direct, Manufacturers Rep’s and in-country Distributor Sales model.

Introduced 18 new products and an aftermarket revenue stream while expanding from 6 to 14 U.S. Asian and European profit centers serving the global aviation, defense, automotive, high-purity and nuclear-hydro-fossil-O&G energy markets.

Transitioned the firm from a Make to Stock (MTS) to a multi-site Engineered to Order (ETO) manufacturing model.

Deployed a Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) approach to achieve a 17% reduction in COGS, a 9% reduction in fixed and variable expenses and a 26% reduction in Working Capital while increasing the CSL from 62% to 97%.

Grew Revenue from $51MM to $73MM, EBITDA from 7% to 26%, RONA by 34% and Cash Flow to $5MM.

As the COO at client SIEBE plc – APV Americas Div. Long Beach, CA 545 Employees.

Developed and executed a strategic plan to transform a high-growth 7 site high mix / high volume engineered electronic HVAC and gas regulation products manufacturing and distribution business into a North American category leader.

Restructured terms and implemented KPI’s and Six Sigma disciplines in restructuring Manufacturing & Supply Chain operations to achieve a 37% increase in productivity with reductions of 32% in COGS and 26% in Working Capital.

Grew Revenue from $121MM to $157MM, EBITDA from 6% to 28%, RONA by 37% and Cash Flow by $13MM.

As the COO at client State Water Heater Inc. Ashland City, TN Privately-held. 1,250 employees.

Optimized the SIOP, manufacturing & supply chain operations in the restructuring of a 9 site / union / $315MM North American OEM residential, commercial and specialty water heater systems manufacturing and distribution business.

Implemented a blend of Lean Six Sigma, 5S and SMED techniques linked to a QMS to reduce the defect rate (PPM) by 67%, lead times from 24 to 9 days and drive inventory turns from 3 to 9 while improving the CSL from 59% to 96%.

Chief Operating Officer – Flintlock Ltd. Houston, TX Private Equity portfolio firm. 330 employees. 1999-2002

Restructured to profitability 3 industrial precision machining and plastic molding manufacturing facilities, diversified the customer base, developed new products, launched B2B / eCommerce and grew revenue and EBITDA. Liquidity event.

Signature Achievements:

Developed and launched 6 new brands to support the expanded distribution beyond the U.S. into Europe & Mexico.

Instituted TPM, renegotiated terms & deployed Short Cycle / SMED / Demand Flow techniques in transitioning the business from a Make to Stock (MTS) to an Engineered to Order (ETO) model which increased productivity 60% & inventory turns from 4 to 23 while reducing lead times from 29 to 6 days, COGS by 34% and Working Capital by 38%.

Grew Revenue from $55MM to $82MM, EBITDA from 6% to 23%, RONA by 42% and Cash Flow to $5MM.

Chief Executive Officer – Franke Federal Inc. Rancho, CA Privately-held. 290 employees. 1998-1999

Diversified the customer base, develop new products, expand into new markets and grow revenue and EBITDA.

Signature Achievements:

Transitioned the firm from a manufacturer of only residential deep-drawn & machined and plastic molded vessels by introducing eCommerce and 14 new products into the medical, marine, aviation, aerospace and agricultural vessel markets.

Restructured overhead and deployed a blend of FMEA/pFMEA, 5S & Lean Six Sigma techniques to increase productivity 38% and CSL from 65% to 97% while achieving a 24% reduction in COGS & a 19% reduction in Working Capital.

Acquired a $27MM Canadian competitor (Kindred) and developed and launched the proprietary FRANKEUSA brand.

Grew Revenue from $39MM to $89MM, EBITDA from 4% to 24%, RONA by 34% and Cash Flow to $5MM.

President – Standard Brands Inc. Los Angeles, CA Private Equity portfolio firm – then IPO on the NYSE. 1994-1998

Diversified the customer base & markets, developed new products and grew revenue & EBITDA. 1,800 employees.

Signature Achievements:

Expanded the firm from an architectural-only surface coatings business into an international engineered polymers coatings enterprise serving the O&G, marine, aviation and aerospace market sectors in North, Latin & South America.

Responsible for 12 North/Latin/South American facilities, launched 7 new brands and introduced 19 new products.

Grew Revenue from $155MM to $262MM, EBITDA from 5% to 26%, RONA by 32% and Cash Flow to $17MM.

PRIOR POSITIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

VP Operations-Engineering-Quality – Sunbeam Corp., Providence, RI Private Equity portfolio firm then IPO on the NYSE

Responsible for 48 global electro-mechanical manufacturing facilities with 3,800 employees.

Dir. of Manufacturing – Black & Decker Corp., Towson, MD & Idstein FDR - NYSE

Responsible for 8 U.S., 9 European & 3 Asian electro-mechanical manufacturing facilities with 2,300 employees.

Dir. of M&A – Black & Decker Corp., Towson, MD - NYSE

Responsible for the integration of 4 of 22 SBU’s acquired in the B&D acquisition of Emhart Industries Inc.

Dir. of Global Supply Chain–Procurement-Quality – Black & Decker Corp., Towson, MD - NYSE

Oversight of 92 global manufacturing facilities, contract manufacturing and sourced products with a $2.7B annual spend.

Manager of Engineering & International Technical Marketing & Sales – Black & Decker Corp., Towson, MD - NYSE

Responsible for the product design, engineering and launch of the DeWalt brand of power tools and accessories.

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

MBA Finance · University of Wisconsin

B.S. Mechanical Engineering and B.S. Economics · University of Wisconsin

Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautical Engineering Studies · U.S. Air Force Academy

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification · Villanova University

Professional Certifications: CPM · CPIM · PCMM · PCMH · Deming SPC · 5S · APQP · CI Management

Instructor Certifications: Danaher Business Systems, Zenger-Miller TQM Program and Crosby TQM Program

Quality Systems Specialties: TPS, Toyota Kata, Lean Six Sigma, 5S, SMED, TPM and Shingo Dimensions

Project Management Skilled: Total Project Management (TPM), Critical Path Project Management (CPM) & API Standards

Facility Reg.: ISO 9001:2008 (5) · ISO 13485 (4) · ISO 14001:2004 (4) · TS 16949:2009 (2) · RC 14001 (3)

Project Management for the design, engineering, construction & staffing of 14 mfg. facilities: 15,000 sq.ft. to 750,000 sq.ft.

Project leadership for ERP CRM & WMS systems implementations of Oracle · SAP · JDE and independent HRIS software

Strong MS Excel modeling & MS PowerPoint presentation skills with an analytical approach to business issues.

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force · USAF Pilot · Honorable Discharge

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