QUALIFICATIONS PROFILE
Highly successful OEM Tier One automotive CEO/COO with sales, marketing, brand building, sourcing, manufacturing, and international experience. Hands on, results oriented, inspirational leader known for motivating people to give their best, both individually and as a team, to achieve unprecedented results. Broad experience and a proven record of success growing revenues, improving operations, and managing costs with full P&L responsibility. Strong sales, marketing, and operations leadership background includes experience with lean manufacturing, quality systems, design and product development, turnarounds, startups, and acquisitions. Motivational team leader that grows revenues, brand awareness, and operating margins even under difficult market conditions.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
2007 - Present Knight of California LLC Carmel, CA
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner
Start-up manufacturer and importer of luxury womenswear and menswear
Designer and importer of shearling and cashmere outerwear from New Zealand
Importer of luxe women's blouses from Europe
Accomplishments:
- successfully designed, manufactured, and delivered Knight of California luxury
outerwear to better specialty shops throughout the USA
- successfully launched the Emanuel Berg brand of luxury women's blouses at
better specialty shops throughout the USA
- built a sales force of highly experienced commission based sales reps to sell
these collections
1998 - 2006 Robert Talbott, Inc. Monterey, CA
Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director
$55,000,000+ annual sales
Manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer of luxury menswear and womenswear
Vintner of world class wines and premium wine grape growers
Accomplishments:
- promoted twice, from VP of Operations to President, and from President to CEO
- transformed this 50 year old manufacturer of men's neckwear and dress shirts
into a vibrant, diversified manufacturer of luxury menswear and womenswear
- increased total sales from $40 million to $60 million (against a background of
major decline in the worldwide market for neckwear, historically the
Company's main product line)
- turned around the apparel business within 36 months, with a more than five-
fold gain in profitability
- increased apparel division profitability ten-fold within 48 months of joining the
Company
- doubled winery sales volume
- Talbott Chardonnay listed in Wine Spectator Top 100 (twice)
- initiated offshore contract manufacturing with a resulting $15 million increase
in annual sales volume with 25% net operating margins
- sourced new apparel products in Italy, Turkey, Poland, Hong Kong, China, New
Zealand, and India
- established new export accounts in Spain, Greece, Russia, Australia, Germany,
and the United Kingdom
- developed key sales relationships with target accounts including Harry Rosen
(Canada) and Harrods Knightsbridge (U. K.)
1995 - 1997 Eagle Ottawa Leather Company Grand Haven, MI
Vice President - Operations
$500,000,000 annual sales
O. E. M. Tier One automotive leather upholstery manufacturers
Accomplishments:
- implemented Lean Manufacturing and Toyota Production System techniques
and that resulted in over $30 million in annualized cost savings
- responsible for over 1,500 employees and $400 million annual volume
- supervised manufacturing, purchasing, human resources, scheduling, and
information systems
- reduced direct labor cost over 28%, saving $14,000,000 annually
- improved cutting yield by 4.1%, saving $12,000,000 annually
- sourced alternative raw materials, saving $4,500,000 annually
- co-chaired Honda Acura Prestige Leather development team
- visited Japan to launch Prestige Leather at the Acura division of Honda
- traveled regularly to Europe to source capital equipment ($8,000,000 annual
budget)
- ISO 9000 / QS 9000 quality certified facilities
1992 - 1995 Howes Leather Company Quincy, MA
Vice President ¡V Operations and Sales, and Director
$75,000,000 annual Sales
Diversified leather manufacturers
Accomplishments:
- responsible for seven manufacturing facilities and over 600 employees
- reopened a 1,200 hide per day tannery in Ashland, KY in 1992
- rapid improvement in operating results led to my receiving a $50,000 annual
raise within twelve months of joining the Company
- traveled regularly to Europe and Asia on sales and sourcing trips
Sawyer of Napa, Inc. Napa, CA
1987 - 1992 President
$30,000,000 annual sales
OEM Tier One automotive upholstery suppliers
Shearling and leather luxury outerwear manufacturers
Shearling leather tanners
Hide and skin brokers
Accomplishments:
- turned around leather division within three years, more than doubling both
sales and profits
- increased Leather Division sales from $7.0 million (1986) to $15.4 million
(1989)
- developed and supplied O. E. M. Tier One seating materials to Ford, G. M., and
American Motors
- established worldwide sales representation, recruiting agents in Hong Kong,
Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom,
Singapore, and Canada
- increased export sales by $4,000,000 annually
- negotiated the purchase of Knight of New Zealand Limited of Invercargill, New
Zealand and became C.E.O. of this off-shore subsidiary
- sourced products in Australia, New Zealand, Korea, and Hungary
- promoted six times while with this Company (prior positions include VP of
Operations, Operations Director, Quality Control Director, Labratory
Supervisor, etc.)
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
University of California Davis, CA
Bachelor of Science, Fermentation Science (Enology)
Continuing education:
Toyota Production System, TMC Consulting Service
Tanning Technology Course, University of Cincinnati
Leather Technology Course, American Leather Chemists¡¦ Association
Industrial Hygiene Sampling Strategies Course, N I O S H
Various Microsoft Office and QuickBooks Computer Skills Seminars
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & GOVERNANCE ROLES
Robert Talbott 401K Plan ¡V Trustee
Ashland Hide Company (division of Howes) ¡V President and C.E.O.
Columbia Tanning Corporation (division of Howes) ¡V President and C. E. O.
Knight of New Zealand, Ltd. (division of Sawyer) ¡V C. E. O. and Director
Leather Industries of America, Inc. (US trade association) ¡V Board Member, Technical Committee Member, and Executive Committee Member
Vistage - Member
Mensa - Member |
