Gerald Knowles Email & Phone Number

Oakville, Ontario, Ca

• Development of company capital project strategies and execution for growth, revenue increases and other specific goals relating to semiconductor materials supplier requirements.• Responsible for working closely with the company's CEO and Investment Partners to plan for the company's future and identify opportunities for capital investments.• Responsible for all real estate transactions, site selections for future expansions, due diligence for and M&A opportunities, incentive awards relating to capital project economic impacts, engineering, design, contractor awards, project executions and adherence to all compliance and regulatory requirements at local, state and federal levels.• Identification of project risk areas and development of risk mitigation plans and/or contingencies.• Responsible for mentoring team members to excel in their professional disciplines• Responsible for financial planning, forecasting and performance metrics for unlimited project values.• Reporting to CEO and Board of Directors as required on capital planning and status updates.

• Lead strategic planning and execution of multimillion-dollar advanced manufacturing and construction projects, overseeing all phases from conception to completion.• Conduct comprehensive operational analyses to identify inefficiencies and develop tailored solutions, resulting in a 15% increase in manufacturing throughput and a 20% reduction in construction timelines.• Manage complex infrastructure challenges, including site selection, permitting, and regulatory compliance, ensuring alignment with project objectives and regulatory requirements.• Develop detailed cost estimates and budgets for projects, monitoring expenses and implementing cost-control measures to achieve substantial savings on capital expenditures.• Successfully negotiate contracts with contractors and subcontractors, optimizing terms and conditions to mitigate risks and ensure adherence to quality and safety standards.• Act as owner representative, liaising between clients, project stakeholders, and regulatory authorities, and providing expert guidance to drive project success and minimize delays.• Proactively identify and mitigate project risks, resulting in a 30% reduction in project-related incidents and cost overruns.• Foster positive relationships with clients, earning recognition for exceptional client service and securing repeat business opportunities.• Develop high performance Teams to ensure sustained operations

Albany, New York, Us

Executive ownership of all EHS, Security and Facility Operations, Manufacturing Equipment Operations, Capital Construction, and Real Estate transactions in all locations. Responsible for scaling the manufacturing footprint and strategy to align with the high demands of the silicon carbide semiconductor industry. Lead the fast-paced build out of a $50M pilot facility and a +$500M build out of a high volume silicon carbide wafer manufacturing facility.Responsible for continuing to scale the business through capital facility manufacturing expansions located in multiple US locations. footprints to align with the high customer demand of silicon carbide wafers for the ever growing semiconductor and electric vehicle industries.Executive support and guidance to produce large diameter silicon carbide wafers for high power and high-frequency semiconductor applications in transportation, green energy, telecommunications, and industrial markets. Ensuring delivery of step change improvements in SiC technology to drive cost, yield and performance effectiveness that exceeds industry standards

Falls Church, Virginia, Us

I assumed full responsibility for the growth and operational excellence of real estate, engineering, and operations projects over a 1200+ building campus, covering 7000 acres and 4.6M+ sq ft of manufacturing processes for a high-profile contract project for the US government Aero Space Defense industry. During my tenure, I incorporated astute change management and financial strategic planning to develop and implement corporate real estate and facilities strategies to exceed desired revenue margins immediately. I collaborated with leadership to align strategies and continuous improvement initiatives with the organizational strategic agenda. Additionally, I:• Designed and implemented Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), evaluating to identify and resolve issues, resulting in enhanced performance. • Cultivated a safety-centric culture and reduced the safety recordable rate by 90%+ to achieve a better than World Class recordable rate.• Managed 300 onsite facilities, engineering, and specialty trade craftsmen, with 8 senior-level direct reports.• Decreased safety and environmentally overdue tasks by 98%.• Oversaw an 80% reduction in monthly overtime, decreasing overtime hours by 4,000/month.• Increased manufacturing equipment operational efficiency and availability by 60%.• Realized a 15% headcount reduction while simultaneously increasing manufacturing uptime through innovative team restructuring.• Incorporated fiscal responsibility efforts to remain under $80M operation budget, overseeing various capital project budgets ranging in cost and complexity to exceed facilities metric targets for 14 consecutive months• Served on the senior leadership team, leading facility operations functions, including facilities project management, site build-out and enhancement, health and safety management, asset management, physical security, workplace strategy, and risk management.• Awarded by the US Army Commanding Officer in recognition of superior leadership and service

Durham, North Carolina, Us

I supported the unremitting business growth for 5M+ sq ft of semiconductor real estate, operations, and construction efforts for all locations in a dual role. I provided day-to-day leadership and ongoing development for engineering, operations, employee services, capital project management, health and safety, and space utilizing teams. I also directed 3 large Global campuses with approximately 4k employees total while also steering due diligence for potential mergers and acquisitions. Using trust, empowerment, and accountability, I developed high-performing teams to drive efficient and scalable facilities operations. I managed operations (+$100M) and (+$900M) capital budgetMost noteworthy, I: • Spearheaded the opening of 7 new locations (5 within Europe/Asia) within 90 days, securing location selection, lease negotiations, space fit-ups, and relocations. • Orchestrated requirements for all leased locations, including negotiations, tenant fit-out requirements, and ongoing improvements. • Guided the greenfield site expansion project, overseeing ~$900M semiconductor fab with 600 employees onsite, and maintained an aggressive project timeline while remaining under budget.• Championed $10k - $2.0B facility expansion and substantial renovation projects.• Provided incisive recommendations on technical design, facility infrastructure, and process systems.As VP, Facility Employee Services, I designed and executed employee service programs and spaces to fulfill the wellness needs of 4k+ employees across 3 US locations. I established state-of-the-art fitness facilities and launched a world-class café, collaborating with subcontractors to meet project deliverables on time and on budget. Moreover, I:• Implemented a wellness training program, driving collaboration between café and fitness center, resulting in significant employee health improvements.• Realized annual savings of 18% through newly negotiated contracts, which also increased employee engagement by 35%.

Hollywood, Fl, Us

I managed a regional office of engineers and project managers within life science and pharma industries to position the business for a merger. I partnered across the organization to build strong, collaborative teams, coordinating resource sharing and developing repeatable procedures to establish efficiency. I championed 100+ consecutive projects, including airports, pharmaceutical, higher education, data centers, and government, directing all northeast design, commissioning, and energy construction projects while coaching and mentoring a high-achieving team to foster high-morale operations.

Yarmouth, Maine, Us

I steered all firm operations, increasing revenue by 300%+ while decreasing overhead by 40% within 36 months. Directed all re-branding efforts, guiding office expansions into new locations and markets. Refined all human resource benefit and employee incentive programs, developing innovative employee career paths and trainings to increase employee engagement and well-being. Achievements include:• Serving as a senior leader in designing LEED-rated and net-zero buildings, including museums, high-rise multifamily buildings, industrial manufacturing, laboratories, data centers, and government buildings.• Bringing in the highest-rated platinum building in the US.

Westbrook, Maine, Us

With IDEXX Laboratories, I held accountability for multi-site operations including systems, equipment, contract negotiation, vendor liaison, process engineering, program management, budgeting, forecasting, CAPEX/OPEX planning, and staff development. Some of my accomplishments included the following:◆ Managed critical infrastructure including plant, facility support, CMMS, and BAS systems using expert technical knowledge.◆ Developed relationships with vendors to successfully negotiate contracts and service agreements.◆ Provided oversight for the telecom and fiber-optic inter-connectivity program to facilitate ongoing operations.◆ Designed robust processes and procedures to prevent errors, discrepancies, and system issues across the business.◆ Maintained regulatory compliance as an expert on EH&S and MSDS requirements which achieving ISO:9001 accreditation.◆ Launched new office buildings and spearheaded large-scale employee migration/relocation projects for 100+ FTE’s.◆ Delivered capital improvement projects and provided staff members with training, coaching, and mentoring.

Master Of Business Administration - Mba

Hvac Design And Controls

High Pressure Mechanical Engineer