Business Transformation Change Management

KYLE J. UPTMOR

402-***-**** Omaha, NE ***** *******@*******.***

OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE

Union Contract Negotiator Business Transformation Site Design, Build & Startup

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Global business transformation champion with an unmatched record of dramatically improving overall operational efficiencies and increasing bottom-line results for a global multimillion-dollar manufacturing leader.

Experienced leader directing people, processes, and projects. Driven to continuously improve operating costs while maintaining compliance with multijurisdictional regulations. Translates complex problems into viable solutions through development of innovative methods and execution of robust change management initiatives. Consistently achieve/exceed targeted goals and objectives of company.

Disciplined Veteran who optimizes military and civilian leadership experience to engage with production teams in a hands-on leadership role to efficiently resolve complex problems based on respect and buy-in from all levels of personnel to ensure the best outcomes.

Motivating COO that encourages team members’ individual growth by creating challenging environments, establishing opportunities, and rewarding dedication and hard work that instills confidence and motivates staff.`

Highlights:

Accomplished Private Equity COO. In first year, improved EBITDA 16%, TRIR – 21%, DSO – 31%, DPO – 21%, Procurement Savings $912k, and passed 5 NADCAP & 2 ISO/AS audits prepping the team/company for the $30M improved pipeline of products.

Turned around Valmont Coatings burning platform plants. Improved Operating Income 263%, gained 17% increase in efficiencies, bolstered average dollar per working hour 28%, and strengthened customer turn time 24%.

Selected to relocate to Toronto, Canada to direct total business transformation of company from privately-owned to publicly traded business. Executed a $1.7M turnaround within first year optimizing Lean principles and tools. Improved YoY efficiency metric by 14% and drove zinc usage down 23% during 3-years at plant.

Led and negotiated 5 Union contracts over 5 years (Unifor, Canadian Auto Workers, Canadian Steel Workers, and Construction General Laborers) on budget, on time, and without process interruption for Valmont Coatings.

Executed design, project rollout, and capital approval process for building $30M greenfield galvanizing plant in TX from strategy development through completion.

Marshaled significant bottom-line turn around in Valmont New South Wales’, Australia galvanizing business. Managed and implemented company’s standard work procedures at both exempt and non-exempt levels.

Delivered unprecedented safety improvements. Reduced Total Recordables in region from 20 to 12 and Lost Times from 5 to 1 and Serious Injuries from 5 to Zero, Year over Year (’19 vs ’20), improving % Employees Engaged by 265.1%, Audit Score by 7.8%, EHS Training Hrs Per Employee by 43.2%, Safety Contacts by 13.1%, Investigations started on time by 11.1%, and Safety Meeting Compliance by 3.6%.

Core Competencies:

Operations/Plant Turnaround • Efficiency Improvements • Capital Projects • Contract Negotiations • Lean Manufacturing

Quality & Safety • Recordable Incident Reduction • Critical Problem-Solving • Continuous Improvement • Employee Relations

Coaching, Training & Mentoring • Action Plans • Software Implementation • Business & Sales Plans • Cost Management

Process Development • Waste Reduction • Inventory Control • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Audits

CAREER PROGRESSION

Sabre Industries (a Blackstone Company) Alvarado, TX

Vice Present / General Manager – Galvanizing Division May 24 – Present

Oversees 7 direct reports, 400 indirect reports across 3 strategic locations. Tasked with the development, planning, organization, and oversight of the Operations, Sales, Project Management, and Estimation departments within the Galvanizing Division. Have full responsibility and accountability for the division's profit and loss, is focused on optimizing operations, and aims to enhance productivity with the goal of surpassing margin and profitability targets.

Pioneered Sabre Galvanizing’s first ever strategic deployment Action Plan. Introduced critical KPIs to measure results from a monthly basis to a shiftly basis. In first quarter alone, saw 16% improvement in zinc waste, highest ever number of dips in a quarter, and highest ever dip density in a quarter.

Destroyed first FY Qrter EBITDA and Revenue budget by 115% the first quarter with the company.

Consolidated Solar Support Structures manufacturing from three locations to one, creating floor space for more equipment / higher revenues at those shuttered sites. Improved beams/manhour 32% after project was executed.

Leading the expansion of Alvarado’s galvanizing facility, erecting new building, new kettle / furnace, cranes. Will double Alvaredo’s galvanizing capacity late 4th Qrter.

Pioneer Metal Coatings (an Aterian Company) Green Bay, WI

Chief Operating Officer Jan 23 – May 24

Lead 14 direct reports, 1100 indirect reports and management of operations, engineering, safety, quality, environmental initiatives, and customer care across a network of 10 plants. Demonstrates leadership in optimizing efficiency, ensuring compliance, and enhancing customer satisfaction within a dynamic industrial environment.

Developed and implemented first ever strategic plan for all Pioneer locations, including the Engineering, Quality, and Customer Care team. X Matrix rollout with KPIs implemented at all locations and functions throughout organization.

Improved process throughput efficiencies by 14% in first 12 months through lean methodologies, Kaizen bursts, and actionable countermeasures

Created standardized processes around safety incidences and near misses throughout the organization. Stood up safety committees at each location enabling Pioneer to implement a new PPE standard, dropping corporate TRIR by 21% and beating industry averages.

Passed 5 different NADCAP audits and two ISO/AS audits over in 2023/2024. Developed ITAR compliance program and registered company to expand customer base for Pioneer, improving customer pipeline by $7M for first half of 2024.

Manage yearly capital budget for Pioneer, final approval authority for all ROI and maintenance capital projects

Valmont Coatings Omaha, NE

Vice President of Operational Excellence 2020-2022

Responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining Valmont’s continuous improvement strategy for Global Coatings. Building strong cross functional relationships, enlisting support and working in partnership with functional and operational leaders. Works within the organization at all levels creating value and buy-in for Operational Excellence. Valmont Coating’s global leader for all site and global KPIs - $360 M per year responsibility.

Developed and trained new VP of North America Operations highlighting over $1.2M in opportunities throughout North America. Developed and executed Action Plans and Countermeasures throughout the year realizing a 65% success rate on the $1.2M opportunity.

Trained, coached, and implemented strategic deployment X Matrix throughout the Global Coatings Division ensuring corporate initiatives and KPIs were in line with site goals.

Lead the division’s effort to find new value added opportunities at each North American facility realizing over $1.35M in additional profits for the division.

Championed Valmont wide Kaizen event with internal sister divisions to ensure quality expectations and turn around times were being met, slashing turn times by 32% and dropping quality discrepancies by 41%.

Valmont Coatings Omaha, NE

Regional Manager 2016-2019

Has been responsible for 15 different plants across the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Managed operations for 12 of the 20 plants across North America as well as 3 plants in Australia with 12 Direct (GM) reports, 500 dotted line reports, and $250M budget. Earned Valmont Agile Certification in 2018.

Orchestrated $4.016M OI turnaround a year after taking ownership of east coast galvanizing sites.

Helped govern, design, build, and start-up of $30M greenfield galvanizing site in Brenham, TX.

Slashed Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) by 1195% (from 5.62 to .47) 2018 vs 2019

Executed a challenging and critical plant turnaround at American Galvanizing through active Union CBA negotiations. Achieved 217% improvement in Operating Income in 2018 over 2017, continually exceeding expectations to date.

Championed ‘GalvTrack’ system by partnering with IT to create a process for evaluating formulas created by plants and communicating length of time for leaving and extracting specific materials from kettle. Collaborated with operational leadership team to develop 230 formulas. Decreased zinc used by 1.7M pounds in 2018, a $2.25+M savings and reduced cross-training and onboarding time by 35%.

Coached GM’s to develop Action Plans and KBI’s to identify and deliver 10% year-on-year growth and trained 10 managers to become Valmont Lead Certified, 2018.

Valmont Coatings Ontario, Canada

Senior General Manager 2013-2016

Directed Ontario operations with 12 direct reports, 140 indirect reports and managed $1.5M project improvement budget and $36M annual revenue. $1.7M turnaround within first year, Operating Income.

Valmont Coatings Claremore, OK

General Manager 2011-2013

Promoted to align plant metrics with division goals; create sustainable processes; and achieve unmet financial, operational, and safety targets. Managed 6 direct reports plantwide and 105 indirect reports with full accountability for P&L. Conducted EPA, safety, employee relations, and operations audits.

Valmont Coatings Claremore, OK

Operations Manager 2010-2011

Managed day-to-day operations of 2 galvanizing kettles and 5 shifts with staff of 80 employees.

Kimberly Clark Paris, TX

Operations Team Leader 2006-2010

An American multinational personal care corporation that produces primarily paper-based consumer products with $18.2B in revenue.

Recruited to manage $75M operating budget, 42 operators, achieve safety, quality, productivity, housekeeping, logistics, asset management, and human resources objectives.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Education: Master of Business Administration, University of La Verne, CA

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Oklahoma State University

Credentials: Agile Certified, Valmont

Lean Certified, Valmont

Lean Sensei Certified, Kimberly Clark

MILITARY

U.S. Air Force, Captain, Developmental Engineer 2002-2006

Test Environmental and Safety Project Officer 2003-2004

Undergraduate Pilot Trainee 2002-2003

AFROTC/AFA Recruiting Officer/Assistant to Commander 2002-2002

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