PROFILE

Senior executive with an Engineering degree and MBA background. Multi-task and action oriented, with proven success in manufacturing and aerospace sectors. Key roles include process development of innovative products and associated marketing support. Demonstrates versatility in managing a facility with high growth and product diversification. Promotes a participative management approach with strong leadership and interpersonal skills. A team player that is well organised, can manage several complex projects at different stages and promotes a very positive corporate image to clients and business associates. Strives for excellence in building customer relationships with emphasis on integrity, trust and customer satisfaction. Speaks several languages and communicates effectively in both small and large groups.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

UNICAST TECHNOLOGIES INC. Aug 2005 to Present
(Startup company- Aluminium die casting production using innovative technology and machines)
V. P. Operations

Reporting to the President, development of a new production facility, staffing and systems, capable of producing $12M/yr of castings for the commercial and automotive industry. Long term strategy of expansion, acquisitions, and joint ventures to grow business significantly.

•Securing financing including $650K in grants, $1M in external debt financing, and ongoing $3M search for an equity partner.

•Marketing and selling first orders of $2.5M to major manufacturers with MOUs from GM Powertrain and major manufacturers for specialised equipment and casting purchases.

UNI-CAST (USA) INC. 2001 to July 2005
(Aerospace supplier of thin wall complex aluminium investment castings, 110 emp, $10M sales)
Consultant

Consulting to the President, product development, process and plant improvements for this recently acquired company in Manchester NH. Have USA TN visa & ITAR defence clearance, for military confidential documents.

•Business development for new products with new focus of customer base to include aerospace. Supply Chain Management incorporating machining, finishing and assembly partners for turn-key components. Focus on new market more than doubled the company sales in flat market conditions, transforming $1M loss/year to highly profitable and growing company.

•Re-engineering of manufacturing processes, raw materials, documentation systems, training, and facility re-design for improved throughput, efficiency and capability. Product capability expanded and yields improved, turning traditional annual losses to highly profitable enterprise.

NMF CANADA (Presently SONACA - NMF) INC. 1999 to 2001
(Leaders in peened and finished wing skins for business and regional jets, 200 emp, $25M sales)
V.P. Operations

Reporting to the President, directing the operations of a shot peened formed aerospace wing skin facility in Mirabel (Montreal), while working with senior company officers to develop new business opportunities, and support the expansion of additional planned facilities in the USA and Spain.

•Managed facility budgets and forecasts, job-shop peening capability as well as single source programs of machining/peening and finishing of aircraft wing skin assemblies for numerous OEMs, from customer order to final shipments.

•Re-engineered anodising and painting process facilities, to improve surface finish applied to parts. Led extensive wing skin material study with Embraer to qualify new forming processes.

•Directed the major expansion of company's existing operations in order to complete vertical integration and Tier 2.5 aerospace supplier capability, by adding painting, gantry machining, automated riveting/hi-lock assembly operations with 65,000 ft2 addition and $14M investment.

HOWMET CERCAST (Presently ALCOA) CASTINGS 1993 - 1999
(Facility with 450 emp. & US$32M in sales, within Corporate Group of 1300 emp, & US $130M)
General Manager and Group V. P. Technology/Marketing

Reporting to the President, directed the company's daily operations, new construction and move of the company's Montreal operations to a specially engineered and newly constructed 185,000 sq. ft. facility in Laval. Led engineers and managers in the development of forecasts, budgets and systems to support the company growth and eventual move. Daily management, major re-birth and culture change of a facility which transformed its manufacturing focus from simple Tier III military parts, to advanced highly engineered structural aerospace components for large OEMs.

•Assembled teams to support the fast build schedule, implement labour/energy savings, and ensure minimal product delivery interruptions during relocation of the complex manufacturing facility from Montreal to a new site in Laval, Canada.

•Planning of trade shows, publications, presentations, expositions, and product brochures. Technical marketing and development of leading edge capabilities to aerospace OEMs including Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, and Allied Signal, establishing the company as world leaders in demanding applications such as pressurised doors, flap supports, flight controls, gearboxes, fan frames, and engine pylons.

•Managed excellent recovery from union drive campaign during most hectic phase of company growth period. Coordinated ongoing training sessions for senior staff and engineers, in order to reinforce personal technical and managerial skills, and adapt to business changes.

•Conceived and developed a new department, and capability for machining/finishing/assembly operations, thereby satisfying customer demands for turnkey components, and facilitating US$10M of new casting sales per year.

•Implemented a new controlled solidification foundry operation and associated processes to support structural casting growth, with new market focus, allowing millions of dollars of conventional production to be offloaded to under-utilised US operations. This created a threefold increase in local sales to US$35M US and facility growth from 175 to 450 people.

•Implemented ISO9002 quality system and Lean Manufacturing (Kaizen, QSI teams, and Visual Factory improvements).

HOWMET CERCAST (Presently ALCOA) CASTINGS 1989 - 1993
(Group of 6 precision aluminum foundries in Canada, USA & France with US$70M sales/year)
Vice-President Production and Research

Reporting to the President, managed the technical leadership and process innovations of six companies in North America and Europe. Liaison with business partners in Germany and Spain and co-ordination of a technical licence to Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Japan. Key member in the Group's senior team, facilitating the ownership transition from private to a new public corporation.

•Established a rapid prototyping capability to produce flight usable hardware from CAD files without hard tooling, generating sales of US$1.5M/yr and new spin-off applications.

•Developed several rapid solidification processes, imparting higher strength and ductility to aluminum castings, thereby strategically differentiating the company in the marketplace

•Led the international collaboration for the production of metal matrix composites from ceramic preform infiltration techniques, and co-developed, with Brush Wellman, net shape aluminum-beryllium castings to replace hogouts through a mutually exclusive Partnering Agreement.

CERCAST INC. (Presently ALCOA) 1980 - 1989
(Premier aluminum investment casting foundry in the world, with annual sales of US$18M)
Metallurgical and Chief Process Engineer

Reporting to the General Manager and President, was responsible for ensuring the company maintained an innovative philosophy within engineering while expanding the company's structural casting capability. Redesigned numerous facility expansions and improvements in the foundry. Acted as liaison with other process engineers and department supervisors in other divisions to share best practices and improve operations.

EDUCATION

M.B.A., McGill University, Montreal, Canada 1989
Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada 1980
Statistical Process Control, Value Engineering courses 1988 - 1989
Mechanical Assembly (bonding, riveting, bushings) of Aerospace Structures 1995

PROFESSIONAL & OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

•Six patents, for technological developments including; preformed ceramic cores, advanced casting/solidification processes, metal matrix metal composites, and robotic sanding of aircraft wing panels. Two trademarks for composite materials registered.

•Membership in several professional societies including l'Ordre des Ingénieurs de Québec.

•Accomplished author of 26 technical articles presented to professional societies or published in industry journals, on subjects of; development of wing skins, Tier II supplier development strategy, structural castings, metal matrix composites, rapid prototyping, & casting design.

•Languages: English, French & German

•Recreational interests: Skiing, golf, cycling, boating