Global CPG manufacturing and engineering executive

René I. González, PhD Resume Page * of *

RENÉ I. GONZÁLEZ, PHD, PMP

Cranford, New Jersey 787-***-**** ********@*****.*** linkedin.com/in/reneigonzlez/ GLOBAL MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS AND ENGINEERING EXECUTIVE As a transformational leader with the ability to set a vision, lead change and deliver results, I thrive on creating sustainable and reproducible revenue and profit growth. Experienced in leading global manufacturing, engineering and R&D initiatives, I specialize in optimizing production, supply chain and distribution networks across diverse international settings. Recognized for delivering large-scale projects and driving pioneering changes, I combine a hands-on, servant leadership approach with a strong focus on team empowerment to achieve outstanding business performance. CORE COMPETENCIES

P&L & Financial Management

Revenue & Profit Growth

Global Operations Strategy

Manufacturing Operations

Plant Engineering & Automation

Complex Project Management

Turnarounds & Transformation

Leadership & Team Development

Lean Manufacturing & CI

Supply Chain Optimization

Vendor Management

KPI Performance Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Abe’s Vegan Muffins – New York July 2024 – Present A leading manufacturer of vegan, allergen-free baked goods, specializing in muffins, brownies, cakes, for major U.S. retail and wholesale markets. Focused on clean-label products for consumers with dietary restrictions, including dairy, egg, and nut allergies. Abe’s emphasizes quality, consistency, and sustainability across its two manufacturing sites. Vice President of Operations

• Oversee operations across two manufacturing sites ($50M revenue, 200 employees), with a focus on labor efficiency, product consistency, quality and maximizing throughput through continuous improvement and machine uptime.

• Lead capital projects in automation and facility expansion, including the buildout of 1 new industrial kitchen and 4 new production lines for high-volume muffin and cupcake manufacturing. kdc/one – New Jersey 2022 – 2024

A leading contract manufacturer, CDMO, for the beauty, personal care, and home care industries, kdc/one is renowned for its comprehensive end-to-end supply chain solutions, serving clients ranging from emerging indie brands to multinational corporations. The company boasts a global network of advanced manufacturing facilities. Vice President & General Manager, ChemAid Apr 2023 – June 2024

• Directed operational, financial, and strategic management of the ChemAid facility ($90M revenue site), steering the site towards substantial revenue and performance improvements. Managed a diverse team of 300, overseeing significant enhancements in production efficiency, product innovation, and client satisfaction. Vice President & General Manager, Acupac Jul 2022 – May 2023

• Orchestrated the turnaround of Acupac (a $30M revenue site, 250 employees) through a critical transition period, successfully stabilizing operations and restoring business continuity following the departure of key personnel to a competitor. Dramatically improved operational efficiencies and financial stability within one year achieving site EBITDA target.

• Directed the manufacturing of OTC and medical devices, including hemostatic gauze, ultrasound gels, and colostomy wipes, aligning processes with FDA regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and high-quality production standards.

• Led repricing efforts that resulted in a $900K increase to the bottom line, demonstrating strong negotiation skills and market acumen.

• Exceeded cash flow expectations with $644K realized, against a budget of $239K, optimizing financial health and operational liquidity.

• Managed capital expenses effectively, spending $921K of the revised $1 million budget, showcasing fiscal discipline and project management skills.

• Surpassed continuous improvement (CI) cost savings goals by 48%, achieving $734K in savings against a target of

$496K, through the implementation of 23 Rapid Improvement Events (RIE) and Kaizen initiatives. René I. González, PhD Resume Page 2 of 3

The Estée Lauder Companies – New York, NY 2019 – 2021 A leading global manufacturer and marketer of 25+ prestige skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care brands, Estée Lauder operates in more than 150 countries and generates $14.29B in annual revenue. Executive Director, Global Engineering, Future of Manufacturing and Distribution

• Technical leader and project manager developing the design, scope, cost, and schedule for a new $1B greenfield factory of the future outside of Tokyo, Japan. Lead the procurement of critical facility equipment for compounding, fill and assembly, robotics, and automated warehouse storage and retrieval. Manage a team of five Director-level reports, 10 indirect resources, multiple engineering firms and EPCMs, and a budget of over $200M.

• Led the formulation and execution of The Estée Lauder Companies' global manufacturing and distribution strategy, coordinating stakeholders and consulting with industry experts to forge a state-of-the-art infrastructure and competitive edge aligned with corporate goals.

BP, Lubricants Castrol – New York, NY 2015 – 2019

Castrol is the industrial and automotive lubricant brand of BP, a leading multinational oil and gas company that produces the equivalent of 3.7M barrels of oil per day and generates annual revenue of $183.5B. Americas Head of Engineering 2019

Senior Project Engineering Manager, Americas Region 2015 – 2019

• Advanced to oversee a $30M capital projects portfolio, enhancing storage, processing, and manufacturing of automotive and industrial lubricants, guiding a team of 10 direct reports.

• Led a cross-functional team, four engineering firms, executing major automation projects in the U.S. and Brazil with a $20M budget, increasing production efficiency and reliability.

• Integrated SAP-driven labeling automation, that led to digital transformation of operations. Baked by Melissa – New York, NY 2014 – 2015

An NYC-based cupcake brand famous for its signature, bite-size cupcakes and treats, Baked by Melissa is a rapidly expanding startup e-commerce and retail bakery chain with stores in New York and New Jersey. Director of Plant Operations

• Delivered a 15% net productivity increase and a 300% capacity boost through automation and process re- engineering. Achieved over $500K annual savings and fostered a high-performance culture, avoiding unionization. The Cooper Spirits Company – New York, NY 2012 – 2013 An independent, privately held alcoholic beverage company producing artisanal, integrity driven products that include Slow

& Low Rock and Rye, Crème Yvette, and St-Germain elderflower liqueur. Vice President, Production and New Product Development

• Spearheaded the rapid launch of two major whisky brands, orchestrating the entire development process from concept to market within a year, managing a multi-million-dollar budget and multiple production sites. William Grant & Sons – New York, NY 2009 – 2012

William Grant & Sons is the American luxury spirits subsidiary of Scotland-based William Grant & Sons, Ltd., the third- largest producer of Scotch whisky in the world with an 8% market share and production of 7.6 million cases per year. Manufacturing Director

• Directed a 1.4 million case bottling production facility and a 2.5 million case warehouse distribution operation. Managed 7 direct reports, 50 indirect personnel, and an annual budget of $300M.

• Turned around and revitalized US manufacturing and distribution to mirror corporate global best practices.

• Achieved standout results, including a 10%+ YoY increase in total net productivity, a two-fold increase in alcohol blending capacity, $1.4M in labor savings over 5 years, and facility energy cost reductions of 20%.

• Led projects to improve safety of alcohol processing and bottling areas.

• Managed all capital projects. Directed the procurement, design, installation and commissioning of $2M high speed glass bottling line. Led the construction and design of alcohol quality control laboratory and acquisition of analytical instrumentation. Trained employees on spirit quality testing procedures. René I. González, PhD Resume Page 3 of 3

Pan American Grain – Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 2003 – 2009 One of the top agro-industrial, food and beverage product companies in Puerto Rico, with $400M+ in annual revenue. Director, Beverage and Liquid Foods Manufacturing and Product Development

• Led construction of new state of the art manufacturing plant and spearheaded the design, production, and rollout of new products. Managed two plants, P&L, 155 team members, for a 3-shift manufacturing operation and consolidated distribution center. Developed and implemented strategies to maximize revenues, profits and efficiency, and optimize production and cost control.

• Led the development of a new business unit focused on the production of 21 new juice, cocktail and sauce products in pouch format. Captured 36% of the juice drink market share in Puerto Rico, outperforming Capri Sun.

• Grew sales 40% by creating a new market niche with innovative packaging called “Gasolina Ready to Drink Cocktails” in a pouch.

• Oversaw capital expenditures and the sourcing, purchasing, and deployment of automation equipment in excess of

$30M. Led 3 plant startups including a state of the art Italian designed coffee torrefaction and packaging facility, beverage and tomato sauce processing and packaging facility in aseptic and hot fill formats.

• Delivered $1.3M annual savings in rice milling and packaging facility (for a 1-time $300,000 investment) by managing a Six Sigma project to reduce number of defects and percent overfill in consumer packages US MILITARY SERVICE

United States Air Force Air Force Research Laboratory – Edwards AFB, CA 1998 – 2003 Captain / Program Director / Senior Research Scientist 2001 – 2003 Rocket Propulsion Research Scientist Engineer 1998 – 2001

• Spearheaded a multimillion-dollar aerospace R&D program, securing key funding from AFOSR and DARPA and directing groundbreaking work in advanced material design.

• Innovated high-performance polymers for critical defense applications, enhancing the capabilities of solid rockets, jet canopies, turbine engines, and spacecraft, by enhancing state-of-the-art plastics, rubbers, and lubricants. EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Chemical Engineering

University of Florida – Gainesville, FL

Master of Science (MS), Chemical Engineering

University of Florida – Gainesville, FL

Bachelor of Science (BS), Chemical Engineering

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Troy, NY

CERTIFICATIONS, TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PMP® Project Management Professional – PMI April 2022 ASCM Association for Supply Chain Management Professional US Air Force Training DOD Intermediate Systems Acquisitions Course; Squadron Officer School; Rocket Propulsion Technology and Facilities Course; and DOD Acquisition Fundamentals LANGUAGE SKILLS

English & Spanish ILR Level 5 – Native or Bilingual Proficiency PATENTS & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

US PATENT 7,193,015: Nanostructured chemicals as alloying agents in fluorinated polymers (2007) US PATENT 6,767,930: Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Polyimide Composites (2004) Scientific Research Publications List

AWARDS & PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

United States Air Force Commendation Medal Directorate Propulsion Program (2003) DOD Scientific Advisory Board “World Class” Rating Research Group Leader (2002)

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