Mike Ballard

Team builder and Innovation leader

Surprise, AZ 85388

ad0hal@r.postjobfree.com

+1-562-***-****

Achieve employment with a company that can fully utilize my 30 years of experience in design, development and leadership. I've had the pleasure of helping a number of companies step up their game and get LEAN. I like things clean, organized, and optimized. Let's eliminate waste and create things right the first time. I'm mechanically minded and have been blessed with the ability to bring dreams and ideas from concept to reality. I love people and enjoy building individuals up to realize their highest potential. I've had lots of experience leading teams and know how to identify and then amplify each individual's natural talents. This is how high-performance employees can be developed internally. As employees develop and rise to the occasion, team moral and confidence levels rise with them. "A rising tide lifts all ships". I have been in engineering my whole life, but have also worked with people extensively through my church and everywhere I lend my assistance. I bring with me a well rounded contact list of solid relationships, with long-trusted vendors, that are truely some of the best in manufacturing. These vendors have historically exhibited the best price rate to quality ratio while delivering their goods and services faster than any other. These vendors cover a large gambit of services. They create injection molds, thermoform molds, machined parts, steel cast parts, aluminum die cast parts, springs of all types, stamped parts, injection molded parts, thermoformed parts and heat treatment of steel and aluminum. I'm also the sole inventor of a number of patents and have a proven track record of creating and developing innovative, robust, functional, and extremely successful products. Please contact me so we can further discuss the leadership, value and integrity that I will bring with enthusiasm, to your team members and company.

Single Inventor Patents

US8863422B2, US8453365B1, US9857132B2, US9410762B2, US8904692B2, US9322626B2, US9752839B2,

US9605918B1, US20190323790A1

Willing to relocate: Anywhere

Authorized to work in the US for any employer

Work Experience

Director of Research and Development

Timney Triggers - Phoenix, AZ

January 2021 to September 2023

• Led the research & development department, bringing new innovation and processes into the company. Worked with cross-functional teams to expedite products to market.

• Mentored under master trigger designer, Calvin Motley, for complete understanding of trigger geometry, function, feel, manufacturing methods and pre-determined safety standard requirements.

• Utilized FEA software to examine stress areas and pre-emptively bolster components and assemblies.

• All projects designed with GD&T, FMEA and DFMA as foundational standards.

• Acquired training and certification to setup, maintain and operate Fanuc Robocut wire EDM machines.

• Learned product specific metallurgy to produce premium, and robust triggers

• Produced production quality trigger prototypes with parts that were designed, created, heat treated, and beta tested to stringent performance standards. Successfully re-designed legacy triggers that had a history of safety or excessive customer complaint discrepancies.

• Remington 870 (safety issue)

• CZ Scorpion V2 (safety and reliability issues)

• Tavor 5.56 (safety, reliability and legality issues) Designed and developed new triggers from the ground up.

• Tavor 7

• AR pattern shotgun Trigger

• Armorer’s Series AR-15/Ar-10 Trigger

• AK 47 trigger

• Lever gun trigger

Factory Improvemnt Initiatives

• Identified root cause of many problematic component failures and material discrepancies.

• Redesigned and built a new lapping machine platform that significantly reduced errors and inconsistency between operators resulting in more RTFT assemblies.

• Drove for and Implemented previously non-existent QC/QA standards, including fully defined prints, a solid PDM implementation, Keyence comparator purchase and impeentation and QMS interface.

• Researched pinch-points, and bottle-necks, surveyed assemblers, and created tooling and special tools to simplify and expedite assembly across all personnel regardless of strength or co-ordination. Emerging technologies developer

Patriot Ordnance Factory, Inc. (POF-USA) - Phoenix, AZ January 2020 to August 2020

Developed components for several weapon systems working directly for Frank Desomma, including magazines, individual component parts, and pistol grips. Researched, sourced, designed and developed battery technology and embedded electronics packages that could withstand 2 fathoms of water pressure for APB360. (a subsidiary of POF) Director of Research & Development

Archangel Manufacturing - Phoenix, AZ

October 2007 to January 2020

Archangel / Promag Industries

• Formed Archangel Manufacturing as a division of Promag Industries to develop an entirely new line and catalog of high-performance, feature packed, products and accessories. Nine patents were granted for these creations and more patents are still in process.

• Created the Archangel logo, company mission statement, and marketing materials

• Led a team of managers that succeeded in bringing all of these projects to complete and successful fruition. Injection Tooling Department, Stamping department, Molding Department, Machining Department, Packaging Department, Marketing, Sales, and Assembly Department.

• Designed and developed all new product specifications including materials, texture callouts, components, bill of materials, hardware, packaging, assembly line fixtures, assembly procedures, build boards, exploded assembly views and end-user instructions. Searched and investigated vendors, obtained samples, bartered quotes, and communicated through final component delivery. The standard Archangel product design style and philosophy always maintained focus on a naturally flowing mix of function, ergonomics and aesthetics. All products were also based on a low-cost, high-return keystone model

• Worked with polymer material compounders to develop new, proprietary materials that exceeded name-brand, high-end materials in strength and durability testing for a fraction of the cost.

• Researched, purchased, setup and operated equipment such as CNC milling machines, marking lasers, laser scanning devices and multiple 3D parts printers.

• Produced internal assembly videos and instructions to help train new employees and maintain consistency.

• Produced external videos to help customers with installation and troubleshooting.

• Produced yearly SHOT Show booth videos and sales materials including studio product images and sales rep materials. Manned show booths, events and worked to create partnerships and co-ops with other manufacturers.

• Designed new product center displays for SHOT Show every year and was in charge product selection and placement.

• Shot as a competitor and company representative at local and national matches representing and promoting Archangel/Promag.

• Attended new software release seminars and relayed pertinent information to select personnel and departments. Implemented software and hardware updates. Director of Research & Development

Knoxx Industries - Paso Robles, CA

August 2000 to September 2007

Developed new and existing products including but not limited to: The Compstock, the CopStock, the Sidewinder drum conversion, The Spec-Ops Stock, The Spec-Ops folding stock, and the Axiom stock. The Axiom stock was awarded with the "NRA GOLDEN BULLET PRODUCT ACCESSORY OF THE YEAR" in 2008.

• Produced prototypes with machined and 3D printed components.

• Designed and created custom machines, fixtures and gauges to streamline assembly line efficiency and ensure product quality.

• Programmed, setup and operated a CNC milling machines.

• Performed product demonstrations and training at various law enforcement agencies.

• Produced demo videos and presentation video for SHOT Show each year. Additionally, I have attended SHOT Show as an exhibitor every year since 1997.

• Shot as a competitor and company representative at local and national matches representing and promoting Knoxx Industries.

Chairman

International Confederation Of Revolver Enthusiasts June 1997 to June 2001

• Campaigned successfully to be elected into the position of Chairman.

• Served as Chairman of ICORE for 4 years.

• Grew organization membership over 1000% in that time.

• Organized and hosted monthly online board meetings.

• Championed yearly classification requirements that helped bring the organization into a fiscally positive position.

• Worked with local and national businesses to promote the organization and develop working relationships.

• Developed ads and marketing materials to promote the organization.

• Negotiated rates and advertising spots with magazines, and periodicals.

• Shot multiple disciplines in other shooting organizations to promote and bring new competitors into ICORE.

• Served as Match Director of the Smith & Wesson International Revolver Championship twice

• Served as S&W IRC prize coordinator 7 times. Made many contacts in the industry and delivered the highest cash value prize table in the history of the match. R&D Manager

Hogue Inc

1990 to 2000

Molding Department Manager Hogue Inc.

• Developed new products and development methods.

• Designed and constructed custom machinery to solve manufacturing problems, save money, and fill unique rolls.

• Worked on and helped create injection molding tooling. Setup, and operated manual and CNC milling machines.

• Streamlined manufacturing methods and fixtures to reduce costs and improve quality.

• Produced marketing materials and point-of-purchase displays.

• Managed the injection molding department night shift.

• Setup, operated, and maintained injection molding machines, thermoforming machines, and other auxiliary equipment.

• Shot as a competitor at local and national matches representing Hogue Inc.

• Worked directly with other manufacturers and coordinated co-ops within the shooting sports.

• Setup and manned the company booth and tables of many trade shows and events. Education

High school diploma or GED in Computer Science

Atascadero High School - Atascadero, CA

1984 to 1987

Skills

• Solidworks

• Drafting

• GD&T

• 3D printing

• prototyping

• reverse engineering

• FEA testing

• equipment research and procurement

• injection molding

• thermoforming

• stamping

• ultrasonic welding

• laser engraving

• video and photo production

• PC scratch builds and computer system troubleshooting

• commercial drone pilot

• safety coordinator

• sponsored competitive shooter all disciplines

• match director

• have been certified by NROI as a range officer.

• CAD

• Logo Design

• Research & Development

• Merchandising

• Customer service

• Purchasing

• Mechanical Engineering

• CNC Laser Cutting

• CNC

• Mechanical Knowledge

• Manufacturing

• Mechanical Design

• CNC Programming

• Machining

• Product Development

• Quality Management

Links

http://www.youtube.com/archangeldevelopment

Certifications and Licenses

Commercial drone pilot FAA UAS

December 2018 to October 2025

Assessments

Mechanical knowledge — Proficient

October 2023

Understanding and applying mechanical concepts and processes Full results: Proficient

Sales skills — Proficient

October 2023

Influencing and negotiating with customers

Full results: Proficient

Attention to detail — Proficient

October 2023

Identifying differences in materials, following instructions, and detecting details among distracting information

Full results: Proficient

Sales skills — Proficient

December 2020

Influencing and negotiating with customers

Full results: Proficient

Teamwork: Interpersonal skills — Proficient

November 2020

Responding to challenging team situations at work

Full results: Proficient

Work style: Conscientiousness — Proficient

October 2023

Tendency to be well-organized, rule-abiding, and hard-working Full results: Proficient

Project timeline management — Proficient

October 2023

Prioritizing and allocating time to effectively achieve project deliverables Full results: Proficient

[Base] Question Set — Proficient

December 2020

Full results: Proficient

Management & leadership skills: Impact & influence — Proficient September 2023

Choosing the most effective strategy to inspire and influence others to meet business objectives Full results: Proficient

Indeed Assessments provides skills tests that are not indicative of a license or certification, or continued development in any professional field.

Contact this candidate