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Introduction
Steve brings over twenty five years of project management, process engineering, and continuous improvement within the manufacturing sector. As a Chemical Engineer by degree, Steve's technical expertise adds depth to his ability to adapt to his project environments. Steve has broad industry experience inside a multitude of project scopes including: start-ups, installations, system modifications, process design, product improvement, automation, system and capacity improvements, and cost savings initiatives.
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Profile
Steve has expertise in the integration of systems into the manufacturing industry. With a background that includes positions ranging from Project Manager, Operations Director, Maintenance Director, and Senior Process Engineer, his ability to problem solve and create change continues to drive success with his projects and clients.
Representative Work Experience
Ceramics
Developed, installed and started-up innovative process for producing new scale inhibitor product.
U.S. patent pending on microwave mixer/dryer process. Teamed with plant to develop, install and start-up new equipment to resolve processing issues in the aging, rinsing and drying process steps of a pilot plant production line. Integral member of Engineering Team that designed and built new large scale proppant production line to match upgraded pilot plant process. Capital budget of $70MM.
Food Manufacturing
Managed project to design, install and start-up retail cooked pasta line, producing “It’s Pasta Anytime” (shelf-stable RTE dinner), meeting aggressive timeline and efficiency goals.
Collaborated with equipment vendors to design state-of-the-art system to hot fill cooked pasta into individual pouches for RTE retail dinner. Developed patented thermal holding drum to meet critical processing requirements. Managed projects improving processes producing short, long, specialty and flavored pastas. Managed several projects to optimize carton and pouch packaging lines in pasta plants.
Evaluated retail dessert production and packaging processes for efficiency, labor and capacity improvements. Optimized food cup filling operations to minimize downtime. Several cost saving initiatives to improve operations were recommended. Evaluated
conversion to aseptic pudding line. Implemented forklift leasing program.
R&D
Commercialization manager for new product launches. Directed external suppliers in poultry, fruit and packaging industries to deliver new products, meeting quality and costing goals. For launches, directed eight plants (five suppliers), establishing SPC and sensory programs, to maintain quality and consistency throughout system. For fresh fruit launch, directed ten supplier plants, overcoming difficult quality control and shelf life challenges, to deliver consistent fresh fruit throughout North American. Directed projects to improve manufacturing processes for quality and profit enhancements. Collaborated with poultry suppliers to leverage equipment innovations and transition from manual to automated portioning processes. Automation delivered quality improvements and over $5MM in annual savings.
Carbon Black
Supported efforts to design, construct and start-up modern carbon black plant in China. Managed delivery of $25MM in equipment to China. Directed Operations, Maintenance and Shipping department staffs at carbon black plant. Managed plant equipment maintenance and reliability. Directed major capital projects and turnarounds. Responsible for key production indicators, quality and scheduling. Implemented and led plant SPC program.
Client and Company Listing
Kraft-Heinz Company
Carbo Ceramics
Perdue Farms Inc.
Lakeview Farms
Wendy's International
Borden Foods Corporation
Degussa Corporation
Sid Richardson Carbon Co.
Ashland Chemical Co.
Education
B.S. Chemical Engineering, The Ohio State University
