James Stephens Email & Phone Number

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Tallahassee, Fl, Us

Tallahassee, Fl, Us

Provide executive leadership for a team of technical professionals and trades to support a 15MM GSF enterprise for a top 20 public university. Our team is noted for driving efficiencies and developing new technologies to accomplish department goals and support the University's goal to increase its national ranking. Focus areas include:Technology: Our team utilizes and develops technology to improve our processes. Recent efforts include the development of a best in class fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) with integration into the IWMS. In addition, we have modernized many of our end user systems including mobile devices for service professionals and the multi-year process of migrating our Siemens Apogee system to Desigo. Construction Services: The team manages all in house construction and core heavy maintenance shops. We have implemented a job order contracting (JOC) process which has improved our ability to deliver projects on time and on budget. We have been able to drive costs out of performance contracted projects through the development of a more efficient process that eliminates unnecessary cost.Efficiency: With a creative and collaborative process, we have been successful in the reduction of cost in areas ranging from supply chain to energy. One supply chain project developed a MRO standardization project that resulted in a $150k annual savings.Energy: Through our robust energy program, we have reduced the campus EUI by 19% to a 10-year low. The ACH reduction program optimized laboratories and resulted in an annual savings greater than $100k. We negotiated a 20MM kWh solar power agreement with our power provider which has allowed us to meet University goals while minimizing cost. Infrastructure: We are continually improving infrastructure. We implemented a chiller infrastructure project that has improved reliability and lowered operating cost by $300k per year. We operate our own 15kV electrical distribution system.

Tallahassee, Fl, Us

Transformed the Utilities and Engineering sections of a $32MM operating budget auxiliary into a more technically capable and diverse team. Developed a long term capital planning process to improve campus utility infrastructure. Additional accomplishments include:• Developed a depreciation-based capital recovery process to generate capital funds for utility projects via the utility rate.• Launched an aggressive PILC cable replacement process to improve campus 15kV system reliability.• Reorganized the chiller plant production shifts to better utilize workforce for 24/7 coverage.• Developed an improved steam trap inspection program that has significantly increased condensate return and minimized steam loss.

Tallahassee, Fl, Us

Created a comprehensive energy management program which incorporated better use of technology and benchmarking processes. Additional accomplishments include:• Managed a $1MM recurring energy fund to reduce campus energy consumption.• Designed and built an energy usage visualization system for steam, chilled water, electricity which allows building by building comparison with historical data.• Incorporated a modified Stage Gate process for project evaluation. The process insures that projects will meet specific deliverables.

Developed and implemented projects ranging from water purification to systems automation. Additional Accomplishments include:• Specified instrumentation and equipment to improve plant reliability.• Integrated equipment such as flow meters, ultrasonic level probes, steam traps, pumps, tanks, and pH controllers with customer processes.• Designed and built custom skid systems for disinfection, wastewater chemical injection, bulk liquid distribution.• Designed and built custom packaging lines that included bulk storage, filling, sealing, and boxing of a variety of liquids. One system allowed a facility to increase the production rate by 400%, while also reducing labor.

Chicago, Il, Us

• Responsible for commercialization of new processes developed by the corporate Research & Development team.• Integrated the processing functions of three plants which resulted in a headcount reduction of four supervisors, while streamlining the communication chain.• Designed and installed a new chemical process for the bleaching earth business which resulted in a new product line with an expected $500,000 per year contribution to the gross profit.• Created an information flow improvement plan which resulted in the consolidation of key performance index information into a database. Principles of the system have been incorporated throughout the company to improve reliability and productivity.• Participated in negotiations for electricity, natural gas, and fuel oil. The plants consumed approximately 100,000 MMBtu (10 contracts) per month. Coordinated with the natural gas pipeline for daily use nominations and curtailments. Interacted with Georgia Power to minimize electrical expense using a RTP (real time pricing) tariff.• Responsible for maintaining environmental compliance with air, well water withdrawal, and storm water permits.• Served as a corporate officer of the Georgia subsidiary of Oil-Dri.• Involved in the analysis of corporate strategic acquisitions.

Chicago, Il, Us

• Managed the largest plant in the Oil-Dri system (165 employees full time plus 30 temporary workers).• Assisted in the launch of Hyperion as a budgeting tool.• Implemented a vibration analysis program for the major rotating equipment which improved reliability and reduced repair cost by 10%.• Designed a production process to absorb the total production of a 50 employee plant into our facility. The result was a net headcount reduction of 2 people and net labor reduction of 52 positions.• Utilized SAP (MRPII system) to manage product additives and supply usage for a Fortune 500 company. Maintained the BOM for accuracy. • Created a high performance maintenance group that included a machine shop and instrument technicians. The result was the design, construction, and installation of several new production machines that reduced operating expenses by $150,000 per year.• Served on the corporate team that negotiated 20 year supply agreements with two Fortune 500 companies. Functioned as the primary liaison.

Chicago, Il, Us

• Designed and developed an automatic packaging system that reduced operating labor by 30% for the large bag packaging line.• Managed three automated packaging operations at two plant sites. • Responsible for the launch of two new cat litter product lines.• Increased output of a poorly performing packaging operation by 50% through management, minor system improvements, and key performance metrics.• Implemented Statistical Process Control through all packaging operations for additive control which reduced variances and improved product consistency.• Implemented the Command MRPII system (now SAP) for Clorox at the plant site. Responsibilities included maintaining BOM details and completing routine material balances.• Managed the Southeastern cat litter RDC for the Clorox company.

Chicago, Il, Us

• Designed and implemented a preventive maintenance program for all automated packaging equipment and support systems which resulted in a 10% improvement in plant reliability.• Upgraded and standardized PLC systems to Allen Bradley which resulted in the elimination of 4 PLC families for better coordination of programming activities.• Reorganized control system to better manage plant equipment which resulted in a reduction of product damage due to system failures.• Directly responsible and accountable for the design and installation of an additive control system that reduced the variance of one key ingredient by 50%.

Charlotte, North Carolina, Us

• Managed 25 maintenance, warehousing, and housekeeping employees.• Created the most efficient maintenance team in the 43 country Coats operation as measured by operator hours per kilogram.• Coordinated efforts to eliminate asbestos and PCB’s in the facility.• Completed numerous capital projects including a substation installation, comber noil extraction system, air compressor station, and a plant wide lighting upgrade.• Implemented a CMMS program that resulted in improved coordination of maintenance planning, better financial cost information for machine repairs, and improved work order management.