John H. Kipp
Saratoga, CA 95070
408-***-**** ****.*.****@*****.***
Summary
Product / Program Manager experienced with complex hardware (optoelectronics, specialty lighting, mechanical systems) sold into fast-paced industrial markets (displays, telecom, aerospace)
- P & L responsibility for globally distributed products
- Experience defining new products, managing development, planning and executing launch
- Mechanical Engineering degree, MBA, former Naval Officer Work Experience
Prysm Inc. 9/2012 – 6/2016
Sr. Product Manager – Display Systems
Product responsibility for the hardware elements of large format display and videowall systems:
• Coordinated the successful development and launch of two product generations. Created detailed product requirements and led design phase review process.
• Created integrated system to manage all service resources (processes, documentation, toolkits), improving effectiveness and greatly improving the speed and accuracy of updates.
• Introduced a Design Rules system to document lessons learned from each project, capturing what had been tribal knowledge.
• Created tools which automated the creation of customer proposals, sales orders and tracking of installation quality.
Stanford University - SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory 8/2010 – 9/2012 Experimental Area Coordinator / Project Manager – LCLS X-Ray Laser Beamline Ensured scientifically productive and safe operation of experimental spaces. Worked with research teams to prepare each experimental setup.
• Introduced procedures and systems which improved watchstander training, communication across shifts and operator awareness of the beamline configuration. PerkinElmer Optoelectronics 2007 – 2010
Applications Engineering Manager – Laser Components and Specialty Lighting products Project management responsibility for new product development and introduction. Worked with salesforce and customers to define new products, quote, manage development and release.
• Led successful development of a robotic surgical system illuminator. Drove product definition and negotiated specification with customer. On-time delivery allowed the customer to meet their original launch schedule despite failure of the original vendor.
• Planned and implemented ITAR (technology export control) compliance system which prevented several attempts to illegally export lamps used in weapons components.
• Introduced design and costing tools which greatly reduced quote response times and improved the commercial decision-making process for new opportunities. New Wave Research 2004 – 2007
Applications Engineer / Project Manager – Industrial and Scientific Laser Systems Managed definition, design and development of new products. Defined requirements, configured hardware and coordinated development including vendor sourcing, timeline and budget tracking.
• Compiled and submitted FDA regulatory filings for new and derivative devices.
• Managed international regulatory requirements compliance. Hitachi Cable America 2002 – 2004
Regional Manager / Applications Engineering Manager – Optical Transceivers and ROADMs Led 6 Account Managers and an Applications Engineer, responsible for sales and technical support, licensing arrangements and representation on industry MSA (standards-setting) committees.
• Restored strained relationship with Cisco Systems’ Bay-area design groups and regained access to new programs.
• Broadened customer base by penetrating 3 major new telecom OEM accounts during a period of industry retrenchment and rationalizing of vendor bases. Agilent Technologies 2000 – 2001
Global Product Manager – 1Gb Optical Transceivers
P & L responsibility for 2000 revenue of $110M from direct and distribution sales. Responsible for establishing product roadmap and managing products through all phases of the lifecycle. Coordinated activities of Sales (global), Operations (in Singapore and UK) and Design Group (in San Jose, Ca).
• Coordinated successful development and launch of major new transceiver products (SFF & SFP) that became the business unit’s highest-volume products. Drafted the NPI Business Plan, defined product and positioning, established target spec, created documentation and managed launch.
• Initiated development of the first known dual-spec (GbE & FC) fiber optic transceiver. This innovation, which anticipated market developments by at least six months, created a significant competitive advantage and became the core of Agilent’s fiber optic portfolio. FCI / Berg Electronics 1997 – 2000
Product Manager - Electrical Backplane Connectors (10/1997 - 12/1999) Global Product Manager - Fiber Optics (7/1997 - 10/1998) P&L responsibility for Berg’s largest-revenue product line. Led the planning and successful launch of Fiber Optic product line.
• Achieved 20% annual sales growth while maintaining margins and expanding market share.
• Coordinated global capacity planning and weekly production leveling between manufacturing sites and regions to minimize merger-related disruptions. W.L Gore & Associates 1993 – 1997
Program Manager – Optical & Hybrid interconnects
Overall responsibility for product engineering, sourcing, marketing and production.
• Led a team of 20 including engineers, technicians, administrative personnel and a scientist.
• Turned around an under-performing product line by refocusing on high-margin specialty and aerospace applications. Achieved 2 years of 40% revenue growth and dramatically increased profitability. Established Gore as an industry leader in high-performance optical assemblies.
• Designed and managed several extensive Milspec-based testing programs involving teams of engineers, outside labs and the design and fabrication of specialized hardware.
• Won sole-source position on a major Lockheed Martin aerial towed decoy program (AN/ALE-55) with an innovative hybrid fiber optic/electrical tether cable. Performed proof-of-concept testing, developed design rules and managed design, prototyping and development.
• Led development and production of the first known spaceflight-rated singlemode fiber optic assembly. Program was completed on time during plant shutdown by a team facing layoff. Siecor Corporation 1989 – 1991
Senior Project Engineer – Fiber Optic Cables and Hardware Led teams of engineers and technicians in the installation and restoration of networks across the US and internationally.
• Served as on-site project manager for the first long-haul optical network in India.
• Created and taught revenue-producing training courses. Was the only engineer qualified to teach the full range of courses which ranged from Network Design to hands-on Installation and Repair.
• Led a successful high-priority development project which prevented loss of a strategic customer. Designed and managed testing, developed installation procedures and all documentation. Military Service
U.S. Navy 1985 – 1989
Served as Electronic Warfare Officer and Communications Officer aboard USS Rathburne (FF-1057). Led underway and inport watch sections and managed 15 sailor division.
• Reduced ship’s message error rate by 40% though revised procedures and reemphasized training.
• Division won the “Green C”, a badge of communications excellence painted on the winning ship’s superstructure.
• Uncovered and corrected the systemic loss of control of top secret weapons-use authenticators. My actions allowed resolution by the National Security Agency (NSA) without escalation.
• Created an Emergency Destruction Plan used by inspecting officers as an example for other ships.
• Managed team of 40 sailors in rehabilitation of the ship’s superstructure, saving $250K by performing work normally done by shipyard workers. Education
Kenan-Flagler Business School Chapel Hill, NC
University of North Carolina
MBA – Emphasis in Marketing and Finance
Ranked in the top 10% of marketing students by fellow MBA candidates. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NY
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (with Honors), ranked in the top 10% of Engineers in class, Midshipman Battalion Officer, named top Humanities Dept. Graduate. Experience Summary Positions where relevant: Years USN Siecor WL Gore Berg Agilent Hitachi New Wave PerkinElmer Stanford Prysm Total Applications Engineering • • • • 8
BOM • • • • • 10
Bill of Materials • • • • • 10
Business Case • • • • • 10
Business Analysis • • • • • 10
Business Plan • • • • • 10
Cables • • • 8
Connectors • • • • 10
Customer Facing • • • • • • • 15
Excel • • • • • • • • 15
Failure Analysis • • • 6
Fiber Optics • • • • • 10
Illustrator • 2
Interconnects • • • • • • 15
ITAR • 2
Laser • • • • • • • 14
Marketing • • • • • 10
NPI • • • • • 14
Optical Transceiver • • 4
P & L • • • • • 12
Pricing • • • • 9
Product Definition • • • • • • • • 15
Product Launch • • • • • 14
Product Lifecycle
Management
• • •
• • 15
Product Management • • • • • 15
Project Management • • • • • • • • 10
Solid Works • • 4
Technical Writing • • • • • • • • • 12
Training • • • • • 15