Looking for My Next Opportunity

Once again I find myself looking for my next opportunity. After 11 years with Pierce Manufacturing I was down sized (rightsized?) in 2009 and shifted gears to take an operations position with Capture Online Marketing Solutions. It's been a great experience learning new skillsets and now I'm looking forward to leveraging them in the service of my next employer.

My ideal job would be a product/project management postion with a manufacturing company although I'm always open to unique and challenging openings. If you're looking for an aggressive self-starter with fabrication, engineering and marketing experience please feel free to contact me. You can e-mail, print or share my resume from the bottom of this page or open an MS Word version here. References are available as well.

Thanks for visiting!

Ben Froland

Benjamin Froland, PMP 217 Caroline St. Neenah, WI 54956

920-427-5266      benfroland@gmail.com      http://www.linkedin.com/in/benfroland

SUMMARY

Product/Project Management Professional with a strong technical background in manufacturing, engineering, and marketing and a history of progressively increasing responsibilities. Demonstrated expertise includes:

- Project Management     - Product Development    - Pricing Strategies          - Market Research

- Process Improvement    - Strategic Planning         - Strategic Alliances         - Sales Training

EXPERIENCE

CAPTURE ONLINE MARKETING SOLUTIONS, Appleton, WI     2009 - Present

Web development and social media management for corporations and non-profit organizations.

Operations Manager

Managed all functional aspects of newly formed company and assisted with daily operations as needed.

• Created all processes, procedures, SOP's, and documentation for startup company.

• Qualified customers and increased average project sale by 1000% (ten-fold) while reducing number of delinquent accounts.

• Created high-ranking websites using strategies such as search engine optimization, keywords, meta-tagging, blogs, pillar content, and social media.

PIERCE MANUFACTURING, Appleton, WI     1998-2009

Fire apparatus division of Fortune 400 Company Oshkosh Corporation.

Product Manager – Chassis and Electrical     2005-2009

Managed chassis and electrical product lines representing more than $210M in annual sales. Focus included aligning product to current economic market, reducing costs, and attacking competitor profit sanctuaries.

• Led three teams to implement required features to comply with recently updated NFPA 1901 standards including: tire pressure monitoring system, seat belt indicator, helmet storage, seat belt length, and vehicle data recorder.

• Established a new suspension offering resulting in a 68% take rate, higher profit margins, less weight, better ride quality, and a lower cost to customers.

• Revitalized underperforming product lines with new options that resulted in 70% take rate.

• Successfully negotiated exclusivity for a proprietary suspension offering that secured a competitive advantage for 50% of product lines.

• Initiated update to five year old chassis sales manuals for dealers detailing product walk-around, selling points, and common tactics used by competitors.

• Created and presented quarterly sales training for 400 dealers using Power Point and reference guides.

• Traveled nationwide to assist dealers with critical accounts at strategic points during sales negotiations.

• Created and released options for the first frontal airbag system in the fire service.

• Configured the first hands free SCBA brackets in the fire industry delivering a 75% take rate.

 

 Senior Designer - New Product Development     1999-2004

• Led two project teams to design products that merged complimentary components from other business units and tailored these products for target markets.

• Designed and implemented new door construction process which resulted in drastically reduced corrosion and warranty claims.

• Benchmarked competitor's product and led a project team to develop a new competing product featuring innovative assembly techniques that captured 50% market share after 1 year and resulted in U.S. Patent #7,234,534.

Fabrication Machine Operator     1998

CMD CORPORATION, Appleton, WI     1995 – 1997

Designer and manufacturer of high-quality converting equipment for the plastic, blown-film industry.

Saw Operator/Machinist

• Conceptualized and created new storage system for raw materials resulting in reduced inventory, increased productivity, and decreased scrap.

• As a member of the Safety Committee and Safety Incentive Committee, assisted in developing rewards program for safe employees resulting in fewer recordable accidents.

MILITARY

UNITED STATES NAVY, ATTACK SQUADRON 85, Virginia Beach, VA     1992 – 1994

A-6E attack squadron assigned to Carrier Air Wing 1, USS America, 6th Fleet.

Plane Captain/Power Plants Technician

• Maintenance efforts contributed to the flawless execution of over 1300 missions and 2400 flight hours in support of Carrier Air Wing One operations over Bosnia-Hercegovina, Somalia, and Iraq.

• Contributed to the sweep of the 1993 Pratt and Whitney Award, Hughes Trophy, and Intruder Bombing Derby.

• Certified as power plants troubleshooter for J-52 turbojet engines.

• Received Letter of Commendation from Commanding Officer for superior performance of duties.

EDUCATION

B.S, Business Administration – Project Management     2007

Colorado Technical University – Colorado Springs, CO

Graduated Summa cum Laude

A.S., Mechanical Design     2000

Fox Valley Technical College – Appleton, WI

MISCELLANEOUS

Commercial Drivers License (CDL)

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from Project Management Institute (PMI)

Computer skills include MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project as well as several CAD systems including AutoCad, CADAM, Catia V4, Catia V5, Medusa, Pro-E, and Solidworks.