Joe Leotta Email and Phone Number

Managed the successful execution of product innovation and renovation projects from Concept through Post-Launch, including planning activities, resource alignment, and providing transparency to project status across a broad cross-functional team, including Commercial, Operations/Technical, and R&D functions. This role required strong project management skills and the ability to collaborate effectively, provide insight around potential risks/opportunities, initiate resolutions, communicate effectively, and deliver results. Other key accomplishments:• Post-Launch Process: Developed with the Nestle Pizza business a user-friendly 12-month Post-Launch review process for launched projects. Successfully operationalized the new process as an integral part of Stage-Gate procedures for the USA Baking, Prepared Foods, and Pizza & Snacking businesses headquartered in Solon. • Operations Improvement Team Mapping: Appointed as PMO representative for 2014 Nestle USA Operations Improvement Team mapping of the Solon innovation/renovation processes, involving relevant representatives from 20+ cross-functional areas. Mapping used for development of additional productivity activities.• Project Schedule Template: Co-developed standard schedule template for renovation projects based on OIT mapping. I defined all schedule activities in schedule to facilitate team understanding of required work. • Effective Meetings: Researched effective project team status meeting procedures, including the management of multiple projects, for improving the effectiveness of project status meetings.• Productivity: In 2015 was appointed as PMO Stage-Gate Advisor to product developers/project managers of 15 projects involving the identification of product production efficiencies.

Innovation Process Owner for the global Stage-Gate process for the Decorative Paints in the US. Managed Stage-Gate process and procedures, acted as a project management resource for Project Leads, monitored key project status.

Managed 20+ larger and often complex corporate and cross-functional Decorative Paints US/Canada projects and initiatives in the areas of Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, Purchasing, R&D, and Risk Management, including business continuity planning

Audited internal controls/business processes in Paints, Explosives, Chemical & Polymers, Tioxide, Materials, and Regional Businesses

Performed business research and analysis, internal consulting, project management, human resource development, training, sales and operations planning, forecasting, capital budgeting, financial analysis, credit management.

Purchase/sales/underwriting of loans in secondary market. Management of retail branch operations - mortgage and consumer loans. Loan origination, escrow, service. Training and operations consulting.