Experience

Star Plastics, Inc., Market Development Manager
Apr 2020 - Present — 3 years 5 months

Star Plastics, Inc is a dependable compounder of engineering-grade thermoplastics headquartered in Ravenswood, WV. With an accomplished full-service laboratory to develop, test, and process materials, Star Plastics offers high-quality custom compounding (known for lot-to-lot consistency), and sourcing, supplying, and tolling polymers. The team at Star prides itself on being responsive to customer requirements with a high level of technical aptitude and strong of product knowledge.

Global Reach Plastics, President / Owner
Dec 2019 - Present — 3 years 9 months

Greater Chicago Area
Plastic Distribution, Marketing, Engineering, and Consulting

TOSAF ISRAEL, Plastic Industry Expert / Business Development Manager - Flame Retardant Masterbatch 
Apr 2019 - Dec 2019 — 9 months

HQ @ MOSHAV TNUVOT, ISRAEL

• Recruited to evaluate the US market potential for flame retardant masterbatches manufactured in Israel. After years of trying to build sales in North America from Israel, Tosaf decided to bring in an electrical/electronic plastic expert to assess the market. The initial strategy was to consider its European / Asian platform based on products sold in these countries.  
• Due to product liability concerns and lack of experience blending masterbatches and resins in-house, it was determined that US manufacturers were unwilling to switch from “fully compounded” UL-approved flame retardant products to save cost. 
• Completed an in-depth analysis of numerous market segments that included building and construction (expanded polystyrene foam & sheet boards, fire sprinklers, in-wall piping, etc.), electrical/electronic (circuit breakers, connectors, & other numerous flame retardant applications), artificial grass, wire and cable, automotive, lighting, plumbing, packaging, and compounders. 
• Utilized a detailed understanding of the halogen and halogen-free flame-retardant market, FR additives, and local suppliers.  
• Evaluated UL and ASTM flame testing requirements, test methods, procedures, and approval processes. 
• Assessed in-house blending of FR MBs with base resins versus using fully compounded grades with FR powders.  
• Coordinated with Ravago’s manufacturing plants to access where the lowest-cost compounding location for FR MBs and fully compounded grades. (Determined USA production using locally supplied FR additive powders was the most economical). 

LATI INDUSTRIA TERMOPLASTICI S.P.A, North American Business Development Manager
Jan 2015 - Apr 2019 — 4 years 4 months

Greater Chicago Area (HQ @ VEDANO OLONA, ITALY)

• In charge of the total profit and loss accountability for the North America business
• Responsible for managing the toll compounding of LATI materials at Omni Plastics (Celanese – after the buyout).
• Handled the procurement of raw materials through Omni / Celanese and the importation from Italy through LATI.
• Presided over customer orders, shipments, invoicing, stock levels, quality, customer, and toll compounding price negotiations.
• Performed part design reviews, material selection, and prototyping assistance also managed distributors and distribution of LATI materials
• Recognized for increasing sales from virtually zero to over $8MM, annually. 

ALBIS PLASTICS, Electrical / Electronic Business Development Manager
May 2012 - Dec 2015 — 3 years 8 months

Chicago, IL (HQ @ HAMBURG, GERMANY)

• Accepted the E/E position to forge a partnership between LATI and Albis, both having their own strengths and weakness, compared to the established resin producers/compounders in NA.  
• Selected to train the sales team on LATI’s extensive flame retardant and specialty grades
• In charge of material selection, engineering support, mold trails, and CAD/CAM assistance through LATI Italy
• Increased annual sales by $6MM. 

POLYONE CORPORATION, Global Strategic Account Manager
May 2008 - Dec 2011 — 3 years 8 months

Chicago (HQ @ AVON LAKE, OH)

• Successful moved the company’s largest most important customers under one corporate group responsible for setting the strategic direction and providing a central point of contact. 
• Managed ITW, Emerson Electric, Kraft Foods, and Motorola with combined annual sales of $25MM.  
• Developed global strategies as complex as ITW with its 850+ companies in 55 countries to significantly increase the efficiency of the five (5) business organizations competing in these highly competitive markets.  
• Created $3MM in target opportunities through a comprehensive analysis of existing business, sales translation programs, global team calls concentrating on core competencies, and corporate partnerships at active/new locations.  
• Led a cross-functional team on a four (4) year / $6MM development food and beverage R&D project that required approval through the Chinese Ministry of Health, FDA as well as the European Union Regulatory & European Food Safety Authority.  
• Partnered with multi-national customer engineering teams to define material requirements, product testing, and pricing.

TICONA / CELANESE, Market Development Specialist
Feb 2006 - May 2008 — 2 years 4 months

(HQ @ FLORENCE KY) 

• Led and oversaw a team of six (6) application development engineers, market development, and sales account managers working with the major automotive companies, and their tier suppliers.  
• Increased annual sales by $5MM within a $20MM potential market over two(2) years by leading the North American Automotive Interior Celstran® long fiber reinforced thermoplastics (LFRT) business team charged with developing door panels and dashboard components. 
• Segmented the Electrical / Electronics industry into target niche markets, which offered the highest returns and greatest growth potentials for Ticona’s materials. 

LATI USA, Electrical / Electronics Market Manager
un 1997 - Feb 2006 — 8 years 9 months

Chicago (HQ @ VEDANO OLONA, ITALY)

• Newly formed LATI USA venture requiring an industry expert to develop and implement an Electrical / Electronic business plan.  
• Recognized as highest rank sales contributor responsible for generating 58% of LATI’s sales in the USA. 
• Negotiated multi-year, $20M global contract with Schneider Electric to supply flame-retardant and glass-filled compounds also negotiated multi-year, $10MM global contract with Emerson Electric to supply glass, lubricated, and alloyed grades. 

EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY, Senior Account Development Leader
Feb 1991 - Jun 1997 — 6 years 5 months

Chicago (HQ @ KINGSPORT, TN)

Accepted newly created position responsible for the sale of a new high-temperature Polyester ‘PCT’ polymer. Charged with developing market and product strategies, product literature, and sales presentations, while determining which niche segments offered the highest returns at the lowest barriers of entry. Key customers included Molex, Lake Center Industries, Cinch Connectors, Grayhill, Thomas & Betts, Methode Electronics, 3M, Seagate, Augat, Mallory, Motorola, and Robinson Nugent. 

• Averaged 125% annual sales growth after the first year.
• Managed complex projects that required multi-location sales and service at all customer levels. 
• Increased annual sales to $8MM after four years in a highly competitive market.

HOECHST CELANESE, Senior CAD / CAM Design Engineer
Feb 1987 - Feb 1991 — 4 years 1 month

Greater St. Louis Area (HQ @ CHATHAM, NJ)

Constructed a satellite office in Lake St Louis, MO, to work directly with Emerson Electric’s design and manufacturing engineers on the development of plastic components used in a wide array of Emerson products.

TEXAS INSTRUMENT, Military R&D Plastics Engineer / Mil-Spec Procurement Leader
Sep 1982 - Feb 1987 — 4 years 6 months

Dallas/Fort Worth Area (HQ @ DALLAS, TX)

Developed various types of compression molded radomes to protect leading-edge radar systems located on jet fighter wings (required a secret clearance). Created and updated military specifications for TI’s military defense division suppliers.

SPE Positions Held

• No Positions Held

Education

University of South Florida
B.S.Chemical Engineering
1983 - 1987

Southern Methodist University
M.S.Mechanical Engineering
1989 - 1991

Southern Methodist University
Mechanical Engineering

Professional/Personal Development

• Managing Forwarders, Brokers & Carriers, International Supply Chain Training
• Six Sigma, Two-week in-depth training class
• Business Management, Eastman Chemical, Kingsport, TN, 1997
  (Internal Business Management & Global Economics program consisting of thirteen classes (one week @ class))
• Tony Robbins Seminar, Unleash the Power Within
• Myers-Briggs Seminar, Understanding Personality Traits and People

Summary

• Held numerous North America and Global leadership roles both in Sales/Marketing and Technical at various plastics companies around the world.
• Provided consulting services for years
• Engineering degrees in both Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, focusing on plastics.

Additional Information

• Have been a tutor in both chemistry and math since my first year in college. Working with students to help them understand these subjects better.
• My strengths lie in being able to work with all types of personalities and ages. This is shown over the years based on my individual and leadership roles in technical, sales and marketing.

Hobbies and Activities — Scuba Diving, Water Skiing, Motorcycle Riding, Gym, Tutoring/Volunteering.