Philip P. Tripi

910E 465S  ♦  Wolcottville, IN 46795  ♦  260-336-9797  ♦  ptripi@philiptripi.com

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Executive Management Professional with an extensive 25+ year
background of Providing Solutions When Results Matter

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

I have the leadership skills, strong management and financial background, relevant P&L responsibility, product management, and sales management experience to be successful in a leadership role.  I have successfully improved under performing businesses through operational improvements, reducing costs, implementing financial controls and profitable sales growth. I also have experiences with M & A.  Put simply, my expertise is delivering results, because results matter.

LEADERSHIP ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Operating two highly leveraged businesses; a multi plant metal finishing rollup, where I implemented strategy that reduced operating costs, rationalized operations and customer base, tightly managed working capital, exceeded sales and EBITDA targets by 20+%; the other, a fabricator, growing the business and operating profits by 30+%.  In both of these challenges, not only did I know where and why every nickel was spent, when that nickel was coming in and where it was going every day, I also had to aggressively and profitably grow the top line.  I realized that we needed to broaden services and leverage our competencies of design for new or existing products and value added services to provide one-stop shopping for our customers, such as sub assembly and packaging.  This added several hundred thousand dollars in sales to each of these businesses.

Developing a TQM Strategic Plan as a key member of a strong senior management team, we provided a roadmap for organizational purpose, design and execution making aggressive continuous improvement a way of life.  The resulting successes placed the business in the upper tier of the parent company’s operating units in both financial and non-financial measures.  I actively managed several of those major initiatives.

I was the key manager in three major acquisitions, from analysis and recommendation, to merger and consolidation of operations and financial systems.  These were truly unique learning experiences.

SELECTED CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS

Manufacturing: Leading a cross functional team we implemented continuous flow lean manufacturing in a complex appliance manufacturing business that resulted in 35+% productivity improvements, 7 X improvements in final quality, and 50+% reductions in total inventories and outside warehousing. We also improved the finished goods and parts delivery performance to 98+% levels.  From that success initiated aggressive move to cellular manufacturing and self-directed work teams pushing day-to-day operating responsibility to the process level.

Earlier I led another cross functional team in the very successful implementation of an ERP system in that same complex appliance manufacturing business, that included CAD and streamlining major internal processes. Also led development of key supplier quality management process, establishing selection and evaluation criteria reducing supplier base and significantly improving incoming material quality.

In job shops I implemented processes and metrics leading to double digit improvements in productivity, quality, on time delivery, safety and labor turnover.

Product management:  I managed a customer focused product planning/development initiative for a new refrigeration product line, using an integrated development process, QFD or “voice of the customer”, to determine product attributes and business competencies.  We reduced time to market, improved reliability, and added significant functionality.

This team also developed an innovative premium large capacity refrigerator that far exceeded expectations in market acceptance that has generated well over $100 million in revenue.  Patent was applied for as the inventor of this product.

Sales and Customer Relations:  As part of a customer satisfaction strategy, I restructured sales and customer service to develop closer relationships with key customers.  Established direct sales and warehousing operation in largest market area, hiring staff and negotiating leases for facility and contract trucking.

Developed successful market penetration and share of customer strategies for OE and aftermarket using a blend of direct sales, manufacturers’ agents and exclusive distribution increasing sales each year.  Developed aftermarket distributor programs that included various sales aids and promotions for retail pull-through at the dealer level with double digit sales increases.

Formalized customer satisfaction surveys at retail and dealer level to improve field service, technical training and parts delivery.

Implemented prospecting and sales processes and customer profitability systems to rank customers and rationalize the customer base as needed in a variety of businesses.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

2007 to 2009
Business development and direct marketing for RV, Marine, Truck and Automotive Aftermarket.

2005 to 2006
Custom wire form fabricator with 50 employees serving a variety of industrial, commercial and
retail markets.

President/General Manager
Full P&L responsibility and sales.

2004 to 2005
Business development and direct marketing launch of  “RV Action Pack”.

1998 to 2003
Privately held custom powder coater with over 100 people in three multi-shift plants, serving a
variety of industrial and consumer markets.  Part of a metals-finishing roll-up.

President/General Manager
Full P&L responsibility for all business operations.

1990 to 1997
A $70 million manufacturer of specialty refrigerators for the recreational vehicle, marine, and
truck-sleeper industries.

Vice President Sales and Marketing, 1994-1997
Responsible for all sales, marketing, distribution, customer and technical service and field training.

Director of Business and Product Development, 1993-1994
Responsible for identifying new business opportunities, product development, supplier management
and quality,  accounting and information systems.

Director of Finance and Administration, 1990-1993
Responsible for all accounting, information systems, purchasing, material planning and implementing
lean manufacturing.

1989 and prior
A $175 million manufacturer of appliances and products for the recreational vehicle, marine and
hospitality industries.

Vice President of Finance, 1985-1989
Responsible for all financial reporting and accounting, information systems, strategic planning
and mergers & acquisitions. Also responsible for marine products division.

Controller and other accounting positions prior to 1985

EDUCATION & TRAINING

BSBA, Trine (Tri-State) University, Angola, Indiana
Executive Management Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH,
Graduate Studies in Business, Wright State University, Dayton, OH,
Crosby Quality College
Alcoa Leadership Development Program, and Quality Improvement Process training
including teambuilding, problem solving, critical process identification, customer satisfaction.
Training/Professional Development in leadership, quality, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma,
QFD, product development, Environmental, Health and Safety.