Operations Manager

RICHARD A. (DICK) CHRISTOPHER

**** ******** **. • Grand Prairie, TX 75051 • 864-***-**** • ****************@*****.***

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT │MARKETING STRATEGY │PROJECT MANAGEMENT

PROFILE

Accomplished operations and sales leader with record of focused growth-oriented, strategic leadership that boosts profitability, speeds time to market, reverses poor performance and drives organizational commitment. Strong ability to empower, lead and motivate teams to peak performance in highly competitive markets. Expert in applying a consultative, solution-based approach, while building high-trust relationships. Talent for conceptualizing, planning and executing effective business expansion strategies through vision, communication and value creation. Known for ability to analyze and evaluate data, policies, markets, trends and operations to enable sound business decisions.

SUMMARY OF KEY STRENGTHS

Project and Product Management Multi-Site Operations Management

Budget and Forecast Development Process Development/Improvements

Sales Management/Team Building Technical Consulting

Marketing Strategy/Product Positioning Strategic Planning/ Program Development

Contract Writing New Program Implementation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS

AAR Global Solutions Dallas, TX 2009 - Present AAR is a leading provider of products and value-added services to the worldwide aerospace and defense industry. With facilities and sales locations around the world, AAR uses its close-to-the-customer business model to serve aviation and defense customers through four operating segments: Aviation Supply Chain; Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul; Structures and Systems; and Aircraft Sales and Leasing.

Senior Technical Advisor LCCS Proposal Writer

Participate in all aspects of the Government LCCS RFP/RFQ Development and Response.

• Responsible for compiling facility information as it related to workspace availability, manpower requirements and engineering capabilities.

• Translate the compiled data from operations into a military contract format.

• Responsible for communicating with the proposal manager ensuring that contract format was being adhered to per military specifications.

• Develop organizational planning activities in support of contract requirements in the areas of staffing, hangar floor planning to ensure adequate workflow requirements, material control and CONUS/OCONUS logistical support for

US Army aircraft.

• Write and edit proposal narratives to include approaches, detail plans of support activity and summaries describing the complete capsule of the LCCS transitional segments through the life of the LCCS contract.

Stevens Aviation, Inc. Greenville, SC 1999 - 2008

Stevens Aviation is a diversified aircraft service provider offering expertise in the areas of: aircraft maintenance, modification and refurbishment, aircraft sales, aircraft management, flight services, and fixed base operations. Headquartered in Greenville, SC, Stevens operates facilities in Denver CO, Nashville TN, Dayton OH, Greenville SC, and Greer SC. Stevens also supports the US Department of Defense on a number of significant depot maintenance, modification and upgrade programs.

Richard (Dick) Christopher Page 2

Program and Marketing Manager

Provided operational leadership of the Hawker/Beechjet maintenance staff through all phases of aircraft repair.

• Responsible for managing the maintenance and refurbishment of the Raytheon product line to include the Hawker and Beechjet aircraft.

• Oversight of the daily activity of maintenance and avionics technicians, tracking schedule time lines and on time project completions.

• Responsible for daily meetings with staff on status of work in progress, collaborated with support departments to ensure projected start/stop dates were being adhered, daily communications with customers and upper management. Review work orders for accuracy.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

 Converted Stevens Aviation from a one dimensional aircraft repair company to the latest state-of- the-art jet aircraft modification and refurbishment facility through sales and marketing leadership.

 Established the Program Manager position to provide the leadership and product knowledge of Hawker/Beechcraft aircraft. Utilized time line project planning tools to reduce turn-times, increase profits and create the standard of excellence expected in the aerospace business.

Gantt Aviation Georgetown, TX 1998 - 1999

Gantt has a 30 year history of buying and selling jets and turbo props. Gantt facilitates trades and international deals, provides support for every step of the aircraft purchasing process, and locates off-market or hard-to-find planes.

Service Manager

Responsible for spearheading the set-up and management of the aircraft maintenance department.

• Responsible for hiring competent staff, procurement of tooling and facilities up-grades.

• Managed 15+ employees of various mechanical and electronic aptitudes. Ensured ROI by controlling costs and formulating competitive flat rates for servicing aircraft.

• Oversight of daily meetings with floor supervisors to track work in progress. Reviewed work orders for accuracy, communicated with customers and scheduled work into the facility.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

 Established Gantt Aviation as a full service aircraft facility through creation of its maintenance operations. Collaborated with the Federal Aviation Administration to write the Repair Station Manual, established facility assets and authored the sales and marketing materials.

Raytheon Aircraft Services Little Rock, AR 1995 - 1998

Raytheon Aircraft Services - Little Rock services Hawker series business jet.

Service Manager

Responsible for management and daily oversight of the largest factory aircraft maintenance service center for Raytheon Aircraft.

• Provided warranty service and completed contract exceptions for new aircraft owners.

• Oversight and management of 100+ employees in four different departments. Monitored staff levels to ensure 95% productivity. Collaborated with Sales and Marketing on the approval of sales proposals.

• Oversight of daily production meetings, responsible for visiting each aircraft in progress to view work areas, provided safety briefings and communicated with crew chiefs.

• Provided upper management with project up-dates and cost/sell status of work orders. Reviewed work orders prior to invoicing.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

 Managed a recently purchased facility. Provided the leadership by implementing a new work order system, establishing individual crews to handle aircraft maintenance and expanded the shifts to accommodate additional outside customer activity.

Richard (Dick) Christopher Page 3

United Beechcraft Tampa, FL 1994 - 1994

The Beech Aircraft Corporation, previously the Beechcraft Division of Raytheon and now a unit of Hawker/Beechcraft, is a United States manufacturer of general aviation and military aircraft, ranging from light single engine aircraft to business jets and light military transports.

Technical Sales Representative

Responsible for launching the sales and marketing effort for United Beechcraft, Tampa, Fl.

• Responsible for preparing the facility to maintain the Hawker aircraft.

• Spearheading the staffing, tooling procurement and modification of the facility to accept larger aircraft.

• Communicated and collaborated with production personnel on the preparedness of the staff, review and preparation of sales proposals, visited facility-based customers and reviewed sales forecast with upper management.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

 Established United Beechcraft Tampa as an Authorized Factory Service Center for the Hawker Aircraft. Provided the leadership through procurement of tooling, training staff and organizing facility layout to accommodate the larger jet aircraft.

Atlantic Aviation Houston, TX 1984 - 1994

Atlantic Aviation, headquartered in Wilmington, De, provides a wide range of aviation services, including the largest network of fixed base operations in the U.S. and a dedicated concierge service for general aviation aircraft owners and pilots across the United States.

Service Manager

Responsible for the management and oversight of aircraft maintenance to include 30 plus employees and 2 departments.

• Responsible for the rehabilitation of the facility to become profitable within 24 months.

• Oversight of the newly installed computerized work order system, training of supervision and employees, scheduling start/stop dates of aircraft maintenance.

• Oversight of daily production meetings with supervision, review work orders, contact customers on progress of maintenance, discussed challenges and resolutions with upper management and provided direction to the sales department.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

 Rehabilitated the Houston facility from a $500k profit losing organization to a $500k profitable facility in 18 months. This was accomplished by strong leadership and management of company assets, employees and gained customer confidence.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Cumberland Community College

United States Air Force

Dale Carnegie

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATONS

American Management Association (AMA)

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)

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