Donavon D. Nelson
**** ****** ***** *****. ******* Grove, MN 55016 Cell: 612-***-**** *******.******@*******.***
Professional Summary
Innovative and creative manager widely recognized as experienced within the pressure-sensitive, sheet fed, packaging and expanded content label industry. Leadership and management skills have earned respect and resulted in higher company profits.
Developed patents related to packaging and expanded content labels.
Place highest priority on customer service, going the extra mile to meet customers’ requirements for construction format, quality, price, and delivery that ensures complete satisfaction.
Self-starter whose “can-do” attitude motivates employees; proven ability to assemble and direct highly structured and focused teams. Hands-on leader who regularly exceeds expectations.
Thrives on challenge and opportunity; continually seeks growth and improvement as a business owner, manager, team member, and industry leader.
Professional Experience
Tyco Inc St. Paul Mn 2013-2021
President/Owner (2013-2021)
Purchased and managed multiple Fish cleaning Franchisees
Grew business from $315,000 to over $ 1,000,000
Maintained 46% owner recognized earnings, highest of all 300 Fish Franchises
Sold franchises in 2021, with sales price setting a record for Fish Franchise resales.
IMAGINE PRINT SOLUTIONS, SHAKOPEE, MN 2012- 2013
Product Application Manager (2012-2013)
Directed a staff of 21 including pressroom, rewind, and warehousing.
Monitored daily production to ensure production throughput and quality requirements were met.
Implemented measures to motivate employees, improve production methods, equipment performance, product quality and efficiency.
Scheduled daily production for press and finishing equipment, focusing on maximizing production up time and equipment efficiencies
TAPEMARK, WEST ST. PAUL, MN 2008 - 2012
Snap Technical Expert (2008-2012)
Hired as technical expert from Smyth to facilitate smooth transition of Snap technology and equipment.
Developed SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) and training documentation, to conform to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) at Tapemark.
Patented Snap Construction (Patent 7,506,762).
Increased sales from zero in 2008 to more than $2M in 2012.
Introduced new Snapplicator Technology and equipment, leading to increased sales.
Developed next generation production equipment, increasing throughput rates and decreasing material waste.
Integrated state of the art system to deliver bulk to Snap package, which reduced fill-volume variability and enhanced seal integrity.
SMYTH COMPANIES, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 2001 - 2008
Snap Product Manager (2004-2008)
Directly responsible for design and launch of Snap product line, which led to increased sales.
Led efforts in design of new manufacturing equipment as well as developed GMP’s, SOP’s, and training documentation for Snap production.
Established patent for Snap intellectual properties (Provisional patent 2006/0283727 A1).
Led efforts in licensing, training, and transitioning Snap technology to Tapemark.
Business Unit Manager (2001-2003)
Led specialty products efforts by introducing new label constructions to industry, resulting in increased sales.
Introduced hot melt adhesive technologies used in production of specialty products, increasing manufacturing diversity.
Introduced patented DFX printing technology leading to increased sales.
CHROMIUM GRAPHICS, MISSION VIEJO, CA 2000 - 2001
Director of Manufacturing
Directly responsible for all Chromium Graphics manufacturing activity at UV Color, Grace Label, and CCL Label.
Consistently met tight deadlines while maintaining high quality standards for Topps card collectors and other customers.
Recognized by company leaders as the driving force behind improving service levels more than 90%, as calculated by “fill rate”.
Developed AQL’s and manufacturing SOP’s for all raw material suppliers, resulting in reduced raw material rejections and waste.
Reduced Chromium Graphics rejection levels from $618,000 in 1999 to zero in both 2000 and 2001.
CCL LABEL, SIOUX FALLS, SD & SHELTON, CT 1982 - 2000
ECL Business Unit Manager (1995-2000)
Oversaw staff of 78 in all facets of manufacturing, including estimating, planning and customer service.
Instrumental in increasing Expanded Content Label sales from $9M to $16M.
Developed structured training format for customer service department, resulting in reduced waste as well as improved equipment setup time.
Influenced business unit in being the lead for CCL Label in the areas of on-time shipments, waste reduction, and return on sales.
Championed new start-up operation in Puerto Rico to meet 1997 goals and objectives.
ECL Production Manager (1988-1995)
Instrumental in increasing Expanded Content Label sales from $360, 000 to $9M.
Built and maintained the organization’s most profitable department.
Developed industry’s most diverse Expanded Content Label construction formats.
Patented Expanded Content Label constructions (Patent 5,290,616 and 4,991,878)..
Increased departmental throughput more than 300%.
Led plan in training and continuous improvement efforts.
Production Supervisor (1986-1988)
Job Label Planner (1984-1986)
Flexographic Press Operator (1982-1984)
Education/Training
Vocational Degree, Bemidji Area Technical Institute, Bemidji, MN
Major area of study - Sales and Marketing
Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
Business Administration - two years of general and business studies courses
Cass Lake High School, Cass Lake, MN, Honors Student