The professional story is below.  Click here to learn more about what helped inspired Matt.

After reflecting on my education, work experience and professional acumen, I have found one thing that ties it all together.   I have been on the path to develop strategies for success in all of my business dealings.  While reading the Book of 5 Rings by Miyamoto Musashi he lists nine requirements (bulleted below) to the path of being indomitable in whatever path you choose.  I possess these traits, and I have the tools to help drive myself and others to success.  My path in business has been an unerring commitment to producing product of the highest quality in its industry, refining process to be cost competitive and repeatable and building the best teams available to ensure long term sustainability.

• Do not harbor sinister designs
• Diligently pursue your chosen path
• Cultivate a wide range of interests in the arts
• Be knowledgeable in a variety of occupations
• Be discreet in commercial dealings
• Nurture the ability to perceive the truth in all matters
• Perceive that which cannot be seen by the eye
• Do not be negligent even in trifling matters
• Do not engage in useless activity

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Respected business leader with strong background in industrial supervision, benefits administration and operations management.  Strengths include systematic attention to superior quality, on-time product delivery and understanding of customer needs and expectations.  Resourceful, with managerial savvy to lead teams to excellence in both small and large enterprises.

EDUCATION

MBA – CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY, Cleveland, Ohio – 1998 to 2000

BBA – UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME, Notre Dame, IN – 1984 to 1988

MANAGERIAL SKILL SET

LEADERSHIP

• For more than one company, have gone into an area with well-seasoned workforce and learned their roles, issues, products, systems, etc. and implemented much needed improvements.  This was done by earning respect from those involved and helping them become champions of change themselves.
• Organized and executed plan to increase staffing by 100%, providing critical capacity to meet shipping  dates when an outside vendor was not able to meet its obligations
• Guaranteed individualized attention to all Associates, providing solutions, answers and troubleshooting
• Addressed tough people issues, improving cross-shift relationships at operator and supervisory level

COST SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS

• Mapping value streams to implement process improvements
• Subject Matter Expert in Lean Systems, Total Productive Maintenance, 5S and Set-up reduction
• Lowered monthly tool expenses from $250K per month to $110K per month
• Made data-driven decisions, maintaining dept. average of 105% of production targets
• Improved wine bottling process into a one-man operation capable of making 20 cases per day by hand
• Coached production employees, increasing production 10% while running 316SS and nickel-alloy metals
• Researched team-based performance evaluations, developed standard work instructions and established base-line expectations leading to full blown implementation of company pilot for execution
• Oversaw 5-S process, organizing all plant equipment, tools and supplies, increasing efficiency of plant operations by an estimated 10%
• Implemented SPC in tool grinding operations, reducing rework by 50%
• Changed support group’s focus from task-oriented to customer-focused, reducing set-up time 10%
• Arranged training for employees in CNC and general machining to improve operations flexibility
• Revised Tool Room floor plan, eliminating four hours overtime per day and reducing set-ups 25%
• Coordinated with scheduling personnel, to lower set-up time, reduce scrap and increase output

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

• Present lectures and coursework, exams and evaluations for both MBA and undergraduate students
• Assisted with hardware installation of UNIX Mini-tower server, multi-user system and conducted required computer training for all users.  Performed manual to digital data transfer and acted as site go-to person for system, database, hardware and communication issues and performed daily back-ups every evening
• Developed comprehensive inventory reports, reducing stock-outs and improving procurement efficiency
• Proficient in Windows, MS Office, Outlook, Explorer, Project, Lotus Notes, Contribute and Front Page.  Acted as Subject Matter Expert and performed user training on MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MRP and ERP mfg. software, inventory management software (Control) and UNIX database software
• Designed and maintain four websites with Contribute and Front Page
• Developed custom Access Database to track employees’ daily productivity.  Performed all updates and custom reporting with database.  Rolled out this database to three other sites and customized for each site.
• PC repairs such as memory and board replacement, network card installation, software and hardware adds
• Set up wireless network system for up to 32 users for an Internet Café

INVENTORY MANAGEMENT

• Developed comprehensive inventory reports, reducing stock-outs and improving procurement efficiency
• Lead project of adding 14,000 part numbers to inventory system of $7M total inventory
• Developed a production tool inspection program, ensuring that all production tooling met manufacturing specifications to before tools were committed to inventory
• Key role in implementing vendor-managed inventory on critical items

GETTING INVOLVED

• Learned equipment maintenance to keep machines running until scheduled maintenance personnel arrived
• Developed into a wine-maker, adding a new profit center and new customer base
• Performed all support functions for plant on 2^nd shift, maximizing number of direct labor hours
• Learned to operate key equipment and made recommendations to improve up-time from lessons learned
• Learned web design, generating presence on Internet and creating market niche
• Diagnosed and addressed productivity issues, eliminating repeated errors and identifying training areas
• Developed MS Access database to measure productivity in support areas, adding specificity to annual employee evaluations and correction of performance deficiencies
• Evaluated benefits package and researched new options to offer competitive compensation packages. 
• Authored press releases to aid in publicity of the business

• Helped negotiate, interpret and maintain contracts with 71 union locals.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR - Prepare lectures, grade exams and assignments, and evaluate students’ performance.  Instructor in the following: Operations Mgt., Marketing Mgt., Retail Mgt. and Statistics

• CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY - Cleveland, OH April 2008 – Present

• BRYANT & STRATTON COLLEGE – Cleveland, OH Sept. 2008 – Present

STUDIO OF 5 RINGS - Cleveland, OH 2004 – Dec. 2008

Owner, Master Vintner and Curator - Created small business venture combining a micro winery and art gallery into an upscale gathering place.  Capital resources required to sustain this venture on a full-time basis are greater than availability, driving my decision to dedicate myself to a full-time career elsewhere. 

OSBORN INTERNATIONAL. – Cleveland, Ohio May 2006 – Sept. 2006

Production Supervisor - Full charge of two-shift operation with CNC equipment, presses and assembly.  Position was not as advertised, and I volunteered to step aside. I took this opportunity to see if my part-time business could turn into a full-time career.

SWAGELOK CO. – Solon, Ohio Jan 1998 – May 2006

Production Supervisor – Performance management, wage administration, safety programs and project work.  Direct responsibility for production schedules, $7.5M of inventory and cost management. Swagelok adopted a practice of only hiring from the outside rather than promoting from within.  Sensing systemic lack of opportunity for growth, I left Swagelok for Osborn International.

AVI FOODSYSTEMS, INC. – Warren, Ohio 1996 - 1998

Benefits Administrator - Managed life insurance benefits and a $4M self-funded health insurance plan for 1,500 eligible employees in seven states.  During my tenure there, I was exposed to large manufacturing firms. I left to join the Swagelok Co.

OHIO COLOR, INC. – Youngstown, Ohio 1988 - 1996

OTHER ENTREPRENEUR EXPERIENCE

MC PHOTOGRAPHY - Youngstown, OH 1992 - 1996

• Professional photographer for commercial, weddings, portraits and modeling
• Developed sales skills to grow business and satisfy customers' needs
• Negotiated a high school year book contract, increasing market share
• Developed market plan, set pricing and developed advertising
• Expanded from home-based studio to full commercial studio, increasing market presence and studio capability

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

• MS programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook and Explorer
• MRP, Order Point and Vendor Managed Inventory Implementation & Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Webmaster and Web Design
• 5S, TPM and Kaizen Facilitator Certification

• Supervisor Training
• Drug Testing
• Interview Training
• Languages: Conversational German
• Oral Presentation   (Toastmasters International)
• Workplace Harassment Training
• Tow Motor and Crane Certification