A Team Product Marketing

SKIP BELTZ

Pen Argyl, PA • **********@*****.*** • 610-***-**** • https://www.linkedin.com/in/skip-beltz-9643a32a/ VP, GLOBAL MANUFACTURING

PRODUCT MARKETING & MANAGEMENT • REVENUE & PROFIT GROWTH • PROCESS INNOVATION Agile and authentic senior manufacturing leader who executes bold new ideas, innovations, and strategies that catalyze improvements in quality, culture, and sales at highly specialized global organizations. Trusted business advisor to senior leadership for expertise defining vision, building partnerships, and aligning cross-functional teams to drive effective product development. Strategic change agent who creates cultures of excellence by sharing knowledge, optimizing processes, and continually challenging and inspiring employees to achieve solutions others deem impossible. Career Highlights:

● Promoted 5x into increasingly complex roles at Martin. Led global manufacturing teams of 250+, as well as tactical leadership teams. Expertly navigated cultural norms and practices to close 8-figure global deals and train key stakeholders.

● Led development of $100M+ multi-product line, marrying craftsmanship and technology to provide premium products. Headed processes for buying, developing, and implementing robotics machines to improve output without sacrificing quality; robotics work featured in advertising and magazine publications.

● Fostered partnership with Plek Machines to improve competitive advantage and market share growth for Martin Guitars; led negotiations for $238K initial investment.

● Facilitated and presented at conferences in Las Vegas and Europe as industry SME. AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Strategic Planning

Customer, Vendor & Partner Relations

Global Sales & Business Development

Employee & Leadership Development

Margin Expansion

Project Management

Process Engineering & Implementation

Product Design & Development

Training Culture Building DE&I

Resource Management & Allocation

Budgeting & Forecasting

Marketing Research & Strategy

Financial Analysis & Modeling

Sourcing & Procurement

LEAN Manufacturing

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

C.F. Martin & Co. – Nazareth, PA

Oldest guitar manufacturer in the U.S.; known for guitar and string products with unrivaled quality, craftsmanship, and tone. Director of Product Management – Guitars 2012 – 2022 Trusted advisor to senior leadership and company ownership on product development/design of world-renowned guitars; developed and revised short- and long-term product management plans to achieve sales and profitability goals for business. Owned $3M operating budget, capital plan, and forecasting for all products made in U.S. & Mexico facilities. Supervised and secured regulatory approval for new products. Traveled extensively across globe to train internal teams, manufacturers, vendors, and customers on product; served as face of company at tradeshows, including NAMM.

● Built effective revenue, trend, and demand forecasts for $150M company, centered in extensive research and analysis of economic and market conditions.

● Increased product line sales $30M – while improving margin 30% – after building and executing product roadmap; reimagined design elements of underperforming categories, created strategies for gaining market share, streamlined offerings, improved lead times, and closed 7- and 8-figure deals via global and custom direct sales.

● Improved e-commerce business by developing product launch and offering plans in partnership with leadership of large internet dealers. Notably led improvements in product display for Amazon platform.

● Exceeded aggressive monthly and quarterly sales, profitability, and process goals by integrating efficiency changes to both international container shipments and domestic runs.

● Refined and optimized product lines to continually attract new customers, while executing on company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible manufacturing. Skip Beltz • **********@*****.*** • 610-***-**** Page 2 of 2 Plant Manager 2002 – 2011

Promoted following abrupt manufacturing plant leadership change in extremely high-growth period. Senior leadership team member; oversaw 8 direct and 280+ indirect reports. Owned $3.4M+ budget (material, labor, overhead). Defined strategic and capital equipment plans to improve quality and costs, while creating competitive advantage in marketplace.

● Oversaw completions, quality, efficiency gains, and employees in product process requiring 250+ specialized employees to finish. Energized and educated team on premise that “when we look, when we focus, we will find opportunities” mentality.

● Increased output of primary product lines product > 54% by leading efficiency improvement strategy that also reduced direct labor, material, and overhead costs $3M within first 5 years – enabling significant reinvestment in business.

● Reduced quality costs $800K within 4 quarters of implementation by calculating risk strategy and dynamic change management techniques to create paradigm shift.

● Reduced employee turnover by optimizing plant onboarding experience in partnership with HR and company leadership.

● Improved competitive advantage while enabling market share growth by forging and cementing partnership with Plek Machines. Analyzed feasibility and applicability to Martin Guitars; led negotiations for $238K initial investment (company ended up acquiring 16 total machines).

Process Improvement Manager 1998 – 2002

Headed multiple process improvements and system implementations that boosted productivity > 50%.

● Led large-scale implementation of robotic spray system that converted finishing capacity from hand to robotic spraying.

● Managed design, engineering, installation, and implementation of robotic polishing system in collaboration with outside integrator. Following successful implementation, a 2nd cell was purchased and is still utilized in current production process. Department Manager, Finishing Department 1992 – 1998 Promoted from line to direct daily department operations; oversaw quality, efficiency, employee productivity, and compliance. COMMUNITY & VOLUNTEER AFFILIATIONS

Guitar & Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA)

President (2-yr. term) • Board of Directors • Lifetime Advisory Member GAMA is a trade association comprising manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors of guitars and guitar-related products with a mission of growing the guitar community by increasing access to learning guitar. Robotics Industry Association

Moderated conference as keynote speaker in Europe and Las Vegas, Nevada EDUCATION

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA CERTIFICATIONS

Product Lifecycle Management • American Management Association Robotics Programming • Fanuc Robotics North America

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