Devin Walton Email & Phone Number

Plainpalais, Geneva, Ch

Long Beach, California, Us

- Provide service to media (print, web, and broadcast) including product and information fulfillment- Actively seek and schedule potential leads with media when new products are conceived- Act as company spokesperson when public comment is requested or required- Manage communications and expectations between national and international stake-holders- Manage a third party PR firm to fulfill overall company goals- Assess risk, negotiate and settle consumer injury claims before they escalate to representative legal counsel and/or litigation- Serve as an expert for claims that escalate to formal litigation- Consult on product planning and management for new and future products- Evaluate prototype products and collect and compile feedback from other evaluators- Produce press releases to announce new products and other significant company news or industry participation- Produce copy for print and web publication- Produce concise product information for distribution to internal and external sales force

-Founded product management group to manage and develop all cycling component, footwear, pedals and wheels sold into the N.A. market- Worked closely with overseas R&D and product planning staff to develop products that focused closely on the N.A. market and targeted key customer needs- Assessed risk, negotiated and settled consumer injury claims before they escalated to representative legal counsel and/or litigation and served as an expert for claims that escalated to formal litigation.- Collected feedback, provided prototypes and pre-production samples, and selected test riders for the N.A. product field test program, consisting of over 40 members. Summarized and relayed all feedback to marketing, R&D, and engineering groups internationally.- Proofed, amended, and co-produced technical documents, warnings, and procedures for distribution to N.A. OEM customers, frame and fork builders, distributors, retailers, and consumers.- Worked directly with engineering and design groups for all N.A. OEM customers, frame and fork builders, distributors, and retailers.

- Managed a call center and staff providing customer service and sales to N.A.- Developed domestic product assembly program, handling all aspects including selecting vendors, product and materials flow, training assembly personnel, designing packaging, distribution and order flow, production schedules based on sales forecasts, negotiating costs, and structuring contracts- Instrumental in development of 20 Full Service Centers throughout the U.S, a concept targeted at creating a strong partnership with distributor . Training, auditing, reporting and forecasting claims- Collected feedback, provided prototypes and pre-production samples, and selected test riders for the N.A. product field test program, consisting of over 40 members. Summarized and relayed all feedback to marketing, R&D, and engineering groups internationally- Worked directly with engineering and design groups for all N.A. OEM customers, distributors, and retailers.

- Drafted, presented, and launched a new warranty program for North America that was adopted worldwide in 1996.- Supervised the development and selection of 12 Authorized Warranty Centers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Other accountabilities included training personnel and auditing the activities of each center. As a result, directly returned warranty claims were reduced by over 60%.- Decreased direct warranty costs by over 15% by revising the computer programs detailing claim costs.- Directly supervised and continually trained 30 call center employees to collect product claim information, dispense product information, and receive and QA claimed product.- Collected feedback, provided prototypes and pre-production samples, and selected test riders for the North American product field test program, consisting of over 40 members. Summarized and relayed all feedback to marketing, R&D, and engineering groups in the U.S.A., Europe, and Japan.- Worked directly with engineering and design groups for all North American OEM customers, frame and fork builders, distributors, and retailers.

- Developed and implemented a functional technical support program with vehicles, equipment, and personnel that provided service directly to customers and consumers.- Supported sponsored race teams and collected feedback from pro mechanics and racers on product function, design, and durability.- Provided technical training for pro mechanics and retailers throughout the U.S.- Served as a guest instructor at the United States Olympic Training Center for the USCF Mechanic Certification program.

- Handled over 100 calls daily from retailers and consumers.- Assisted in the training of new customer service reps.- Co-wrote, produced, and presented a series of sales clinics for dealers focusing on product benefits and providing specific sales tools for the retailers.- Wrote, produced and presented the first official Shimano technical presentation for New Zealand retailers.- Established several time saving techniques and systems for the customer service division.- Answered all consumer mail sent to Shimano American.- Recorded, calculated, and reported call center statistics on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

- Managed staff of four sales persons / mechanics- Trained sales staff on quality customer care- Performed buying and inventory functions- Increased sales through carefully planned product offerings- Responsible for shop merchandising- Trained mechanics on assembly, repair, and wheel building techniques

- Managed all operations of the shop- Performed all final inspections of repairs- Increased sales by establishing a custom wheel building program

- Performed some buying, inventory, and managerial functions- Supervised a staff of 6 sales persons / mechanics- Provided training for sales persons / mechanics- Helped shop grow from 800 sq foot operation with 2 employees to a 3600 sq foot shop employing six staff members

Mechanical Engineering, Geology

General, Pre-Engineering