SPEED Virtual Product Development

SPEED Virtual Product Development fills the gap for start-ups and mid-sized companies that want their connected devices custom designed by a team of experts at a fair price. Our clients take comfort knowing their project is backed by decades of experience. We make sure your product is expertly designed, feasible to make, and is made of the best performing, most economical, and available components possible.

CEO | Founder

PolyOne

Responsible for the overall strategy of the global IQ Design Labs industrial design organization for PolyOne Corporation.  Main responsibilities include the establishment and standardization of studio spaces, processes, hiring, and strategic alignment with the overall PolyOne strategy.  Responsibilities included:

-  Development of 5 year strategy including software tools, hiring, space, and value the design   organization would create for all 5 business units of the PolyOne organization
-  Establishment of a design studio and hiring of personnel in Europe to create a global design presence
-  Development of a standardized design process that provided a repeatable approach to client projects and also involve PolyOne technical resources to insure feasibility of design for manufacturability 
-  Participated in training of the business unit sales teams in the design value proposition of “Design + Materials + Manufaturing Expertise” 
-  Within 3 years, grew the design services into $85 million in new business opportunities and a team of fifteen designers/engineers

Global Director of Design - IQ Design Labs

Manage the industrial design group supporting both our Packaging Solutions and Custom Engineered Structures business segments.

- Member of the Packaging Solutions Leadership Team responsible for setting strategy and executing organizational goals and achieving budgets.
- Implemented robust design and project management process utilized by both the design and project engineering departments.
- Built up rapid prototyping capabilities to provide speed to market for our customers.  Investments in this area included 3D printing capabilities.  As a part of this effort, additional outside resources were identified and worked into our prototyping strategy to provide new capabilities and services for our customer base.
- Implemented MyIntervals project management system for design group to provide a data repository for all projects and a project workflow to insure our design process was being followed on every project.
- Responsible for hiring of new personnel to support the growth of the design group and to expand our capabilities into new areas.
- Responsible for marketing and brand of IQ Design Labs.  Developed "Analyze, Visualize, Execute" message.
- Extensive travel with sales team to strategic accounts to introduce the IQ Design Labs capabilities and to also present our work when engaged in active projects for customers.
- Responsible for establishing the budget and managing the P&L for the design group each year.
- Worked with PolyOne integration team to support acquisition of Spartech Corporation by PolyOne in 2013.
- Worked with Corporate Marketing to develop an overall strategy for design capabilities to be incorporated into all PolyOne business units.

Director of Design - IQ Design Labs

iThink Packaging Solutions

Secured funding over 3 years from a Fortune 500 company to start up iThink Packaging Solutions, a company focused on the development of sustainable packaging technologies to help major consumer goods companies hit their targets for Wal-Mart’s sustainable packaging goals.  Had complete responsibility for the development of the business model, it’s positioning in the market as well as all P&L and budgeting.  
 
-  Hired and trained a design and development staff along with a business development manager.
-  Worked with Vice President of Sales of funding partner to set strategic direction and financial goals of the business model and developed the “product positioning” and sales message for how we penetrated the market.
-  Trained all team members on a web based NPD data management tool called “MyIntervals” in order to create and manage a consistent pipeline of innovation for clients.
-  Implemented and trained all team members on web based life cycle analysis software (GaBi) crucial to developing solid sustainable packaging concepts.
-  Developed 3 new “paradigm shifting” packaging innovations and filed patents for them.
-  Developed and delivered all presentations relating to the technologies to major consumer goods companies including Wal-Mart, P&G, Clorox, Kraft Foods as well as others.
-  Negotiated and sold license for “thinWare” technology for the wet wipes market.
-  Negotiated with all vendors for both raw materials and capital equipment necessary for the development of the costing and implementation of the new technologies.
-  thinWare technology resulted in a license deal for funding company in the wet wipes market.
-  Assisted funding company in the evaluation of a new injection molded, in mold labeled tube technology including all design work, rapid prototyping, and line trials to validate patented material necessary to mold the product.

Owner/CEO

Nypro Inc.

Business Development Manager for Nypro’s packaging business unit with the focus being on growth in custom injection molded packaging for the Consumer Good and Food packaging market segments. Also responsible for managing a $25 million segment of their consumer packaging business focused on in-mold labeling for wet wipes and fully filled and assembled air fresheners for the top customers in this segment. 
 
-  Grew new business with market leader in baby wipes category to $20+ million.
-  Established 3 new key accounts generating a sales pipeline of over $15 million.
-  Exceeded gross profit expectations by 3% through price negotiations on raw materials.
-  Gained expert knowledge in the process of in mold labeling including labels, automation, and stack mold configurations.

Business Development Manager

Alliance Plastics

Recruited to head up all new product development activities for this $40 million dollar provider of industrial caps and closures.  Responsibilities encompassed hiring and training of a 4 man team responsible for all sales, marketing, and development activities associated with the launch of new product lines.  Scope included P&L accountability, capital budgeting, development of marketing materials, and training for 10 reps and distributors.
 
-  Established a new team or new product development managers to drive new business growth for the organization.
-  Wrote and executed a new product development process using a stage gate approach to identifying potential new products and validating markets and feasibility.
-  Identified 2 key niches of new products targeted at industrial grips for hand tools and a new line of oxygen tank seals for the specialty gas industry.
-  Launched both of these 2 new product categories within 18 months of ideation.
-  These 2 new product categories yielded over $2 million in new sales.

Manager of New Product Development

SPEED Virtual Product Development fills the gap for start-ups and mid-sized companies that want their connected devices custom designed by a team of experts at a fair price.  Our clients take comfort knowing their project is backed by decades of experience.  We make sure your product is expertly designed, feasible to make, and is made of the best performing, most economical, and available components possible.

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