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.

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.
• 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.

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.
• 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.
• Responsible for maintaining environmental compliance with air, well water withdrawal, and storm water permits.

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.

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.

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.