Ken Wilson

adv8mi@r.postjobfree.com • 615-***-****

LinkedIn URL • Daphne, AL, US

Director of Operations

Growth-driven professional with stellar record transforming underperforming plants with over $100M budget into successful, profit generating units by revamping operations, delivering effective change leadership, and driving business improvements, while minimizing people impact. Recognized for developing site-based strategies and initiatives which support business objectives, including leading network optimization, asset optimization, plant staffing models, and application of global best practices and standards. Derive genuine pleasure from transforming high-potential staff into outstanding leaders, demonstrating the creativity critical to financial and operational success, while building standard operating procedures, quality procedures, and product development. Well-versed with world-class performance tools, including six sigma, lean methodologies, and TPM to realize significant cost savings.

Areas of Expertise

Business Development

Stakeholder Management

Client Satisfaction

Quality Assurance

Production Management

Employee Retention

Training & Development

Lean Six Sigma Methods

Plant Operations

Compliance Management

Business Turnaround

Continuous Improvement

Bottom Line Enhancement

Business Launch

P&L Management

Accomplishments

Effectively worked with stakeholders to facilitate annual planning process to enhance daily volume, profitability, and delivery, resulting in high revenue streams.

Contributed significantly to launch of three thriving commercial bakeries and sports supplement production business.

Supervised effective revitalization of 2 food production facilities.

Conceived innovative operational strategy to expand profit margins by decreasing turnover rates from 114.28% to 22.35% while keeping retention rate of 77.65% and reducing payroll by 3.5% ($560K) of annual revenue.

Career Experience

FreshRealm, Inc., Montezuma, GA 04/2022 – Present

Plant General Manager

Lead numerous operational improvements as Plant General Manager and spearhead turnaround of underperforming chilled Ready-to-eat start-up food production facility. Upsurge business performance by establishing best management and associate team in organization within 2 months. Translate strategic goals into actionable initiatives and equip team with necessary resources to optimize production by providing guidance on process development, equipment selection, and equipment installation. Maintain business process workflow to minimize risks by assuring compliance with OSHA, USDA, FDA, GMP, and other applicable regulations across the plant.

Successfully transformed lagging operations and turned plant into profit generating unit.

Simplified overall performance management of organization by directing and mentoring employees to build standard operating procedures, quality procedures, and product development.

Enabled optimal resource allocation and objective attainment by setting realistic budget for labor, materials, and maintenance supplies for plant.

Next Level Blending, Abilene, TX 10/2019 – 06/2021

Plant Manager / COO

Minimized unnecessary costs and maintained quality standards as Plant Manager/COO, overseeing start-up facility in sports nutrition segment. Uplifted operational efficiency and contributed to increased profitability by revamping work system, workflow, policies, and procedures. Identified and mitigated performance gaps by evaluating leadership and employees. Boosted employee talent cultivation by designing action and training programs, while increasing product safety and leadership behaviors. Enhanced corporate governance by articulating company obligations and holding employees accountable via coaching, counselling, and, if necessary, application of discipline to address redundant behaviors

Enabled achievement of maximum production outcomes by implementing software to monitor production efficiency.

Improved bottom line and value of organization by fostering culture of honesty, fairness, and inclusion while setting reasonable goals and expectations.

Facilitated staff development and motivation by providing ongoing feedback to all personnel at all levels.

KW Consulting, LLC, United States 04/2018 – Present

Owner/ Operator

Commanded both unionized and non-unionized facilities. Drove overall supply chain capabilities by managing the plant-wide implementation of TPM, true efficiency, and team development. Facilitated client growth and satisfaction by catering to client needs for operational excellence and growth management experience, such as standardization of processes, asset rationalization and usage, and distribution realignment. Equipped clients with process improvement techniques by training with world-class performance tools, including lean methodologies, Six-Sigma, and TPM deployment. Propelled business into years of excellence by teaching executive management to develop, push, and lead teams with awareness of ways to be business’s natural center of gravity.

Optimized business profitability by increasing productivity, reducing waste and unit costs, as well as serving in several capacities with over $100M in budgetary responsibility.

Emerged as strategic leader by achieving success in both privately and publicly held organizations, optimizing cash flow by effectively managing P&L responsibilities in both.

Christie Cookie Company, Nashville, TN 02/2011 – 02/2018

Plant Manager / VP of Operations

Steered seamless plant operations to ensure high quality products, while directing all manufacturing activities of frozen cookie dough, including frozen dough food service division, baked cookie sales division, and mail order business. Streamlined workflow by supervising manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, and storage, as well as facility and equipment maintenance at privately owned 67K square foot enterprise. Drove high team performance by managing 70 direct and indirect employees out of approximately 100 employees and in-house executive staff. Aligned staff with profitability goals by supervising recruiting, training, and coordinating job duties for 200 temporary employees during peak mail order demands. Optimized business cash flow as well as resource utilization by creating and implementing new position in procurement, resulting in reduction of in-house ingredient inventories and use of just-in-time delivery. Yielded contract benefits by collaborating with outside vendors to renegotiate contracts. Lowered carbon footprint by performing research and installing equipment leading to less waste and improved throughput and quality, while preserving budgetary constraints and return on investment objectives.

Enabled plant to function at 75% capacity, accelerating 5-year plan formulation by strategizing implementation of lean manufacturing and process control.

Optimized employee retention and productivity by directing efforts to guarantee employee safety, growth, and morale.

Generated 50% decrease in labor requirements, rise in productivity and rise in throughput per dollar of labor via use of Lean tools and Lean Manufacturing methods.

Reduced employee turnover in manufacturing sector from 15% to less than 1%, as well as reducing waste and quality errors by establishing clear policies and procedures.

Reengineered processes to minimize cost of consumables, ranging from paper supplies to nitrogen utilized in flash freezing operations.

Lowered on-hand inventory of easily accessible replacement components and returned cash to company by implementing a preventive maintenance program.

Additional Experience

Consultant/Site Manager, Anita’s Snack Foods, Kingsport, TN 06/2019 -09/2019

Plant Manager DeMet’s Candy Company Mohnton, PA (union facility) 12/2008 - 02/2011

200Start-up Manager, Production Manager, Plant Manager, George Weston Bakeries, Hazleton, PA (union facility) 11/2006 – 12/2008

Project Coordinator Facility Start up Team Leader, Team Leader, and Production Manager, George Weston Bakeries, Carlisle, PA (union facility) 10/2002 – 11/2006

United States Navy, Military 1985-1994

Education

BS in Business Administration 2002-2008

University of Phoenix

Certifications

Certified in Microsoft office, Excel, Word, Power point, Outlook, and internet proficient

Completed AIB correspondence courses: Science of Baking-Foundations, Science of Baking-Bread and Rolls, and Science of Baking-Ingredient Technology

Successfully completed the AIB 20-week Residence course

HACCP Certified Alumni of George Weston’s leadership program (COMPETE)

Leadership Cumberland Alumni

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