Graduate of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio (BAS). From 1973 to 2000, held numerous senior management and engineering positions for the Stearns Technical Textiles Company. Built and managed the Advanced Products Group consisting of two international joint venture companies: Toyobo Stearns, a manufacturing company in the U.S., Toyota automotive supply chain and Stearns Extruded Textiles, a plastics extrusion manufacturing operation. Had several years experience developing and conducting business in Europe and Japan. Developed manufacturing operations for ISO-9000 and QS-9000 certification. Extensive experience in Total Quality, kaizen, team-based project and operations management, statistical process control, scientific methods of investigation, operations cost reduction, energy and utility cost reduction, capital expenditure justification, economics-based decision-making and regulatory compliance. Consulting roles have included Vice-President of Finance and Operations positions, business planning, revenue enhancement, earnings improvement, financial budgeting and forecasting, financial analysis, cash flow management, design and implementation of business metrics, operating cost reductions and litigation support.