Jeffrey (Jp) La Forest Email & Phone Number

Benton Harbor, Michigan, Us

Skidmore is a leading manufacturer of steam condensate return, boiler feed and vacuum pump sets, vents, specialty packaged systems, and related control panels for the commercial, industrial, institutional and residential markets.Skidmore capabilities include engineering, design, R&D, welding, assembly and finishing and also has a UL approved electric control panel lab. The Company continues to grow within its market segments and is tactically developing products and engineered systems and services for new and emerging markets and customer needs.Key Contributions: • Restructuring: - Carefully reconstructed the leadership team by bringing on a new VP of Eng. & Ops, Director of Finance & HR, Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager, and an Accountant all at once. - On-boarded a new Sales & Marketing Manager as existing person retired after 43 years. - Added mechanical and electrical engineers to freshen the existing product line and to begin new product development.• Implemented a Business Operating System across the company to measure performance in select areas and introduced visual shop floor management.• Grew business 9.8%; a 7x increase versus CAGR of 1.4% (1997 ~ 2017); highest revenue on record.• Weathered 17+ price increases from suppliers with zero impact to budgeted Net Income.• Identified $369K in cost savings, including but not limited to, outsourcing of select activities, switching vendors, changing a cost center to a profit center, select investment (LED lighting), and more. • Fully redeployed ERP which included changing from Standard to Actual Costing.• Instituted a new profit share program and localized management of the company’s retirement savings program from corporate resulting in both lower cost and improved investment support. • Developed a Market Reentry Strategy for an under performing product resulting in recommendations on distribution, brand, and technical performance/ROI data.

New York, New York, Us

BDA is an investment banking firm that advises on international mergers and acquisitions, distressed situations, private placement, capital raisings, valuations and financial restructurings. We specialize in cross-border transactions involving Asia including the Middle East with enterprise values up to US$500m. We have a strong track record advising North American, European, and Asian firms on cross-border transactions. We have offices and professional staff throughout Asia, and in the US and Europe.

Plymouth, Mi, Us

Responsible for leading all aspects (P&L, sales, marketing, etc.) of Perceptron’s business in Asia to service an existing market segment, to develop new markets, and to develop new product applications. Under my direction, the Asia group has grown significantly and achieved record results. Direct an organization of 71 skilled professionals, including eight direct reports (Country Managers, Sales, Technical Support, and Administration) in Beijing & Shanghai, China; Delhi & Chennai, India; Tokyo, Japan; Singapore; and Plymouth, MI (USA). Key Contributions:• Increased bookings to $17.7M, +116%; increased revenue to $16.3M, +190%; more than doubled customer base to 38; grew team 78%, +20; and improved revenue/person by $154K, +74%. • Restructured and upgraded talent in Japan to effectively penetrate OEMs resulting in new sales to Japanese OEMs in China, Japan, Mexico, UK, and the USA.• Firsts: ASG system installations in India and Thailand, Japan MNCA WheelWorks system sale.• Nominated for 5-Diamond Awards for Commitment in 2011, 2012, and 2015, and Value in 2014.Perceptron develops, produces and markets non-contact metrology solutions for manufacturing process control as well as sensor and software technologies for non-contact measurement and inspection applications. Perceptron’s product offerings are designed to improve quality, increase productivity and decrease costs in manufacturing and product development. Perceptron also produces innovative technology solutions for scanning and inspection. The Company services multiple markets, with the largest being the automotive industry. The Company’s primary operations are in North America, Europe and Asia.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, Us

Dual appointment with the University of Michigan's Business Engagement Center (BEC) and Phoenix Memorial Energy Institute (MMPEI). At the BEC, my role was to develop and advance a portfolio of corporate relationships across the universities 41 units and academic departments. At MMPEI, my role was to build strategic and sustainable research partnerships between the university and outside partners (including industry, government organizations, other institutes and universities) who are focused on energy challenges.Key Contributions:• Primary point of contact for corporate inquiries and requests, particularly related to the field of sustainable energy.• Developed and advanced a portfolio of corporate relationships for the purpose of energy-research collaborations.• Select Activities: Carbon Neutral Vehicles; US-China: Clean Energy Research Center; DOE Combustion E-Hub.The BEC matches private-sector businesses with university technology and a wide range of business services. MMPEI was established to address the broad energy challenges in the areas of scientific research, technology, and policy/human impacts.

Northville, Michigan, Us

First person on-the-ground in Seoul, Korea in August, 2006. During the next two-and-half years, opened, structured, and staffed an office focused on Liaison Engineering, Sales & Marketing, Program Management, and Business Development; staffed with eleven professionals (accounting, HR, engineers, sales, etc.). Oversaw the planning and October 2008 start-of-production of a new manufacturing operation producing emission control products. Successfully transitioned the entire organization, now numbering thirty-two associates, to a domestic management team in December of 2008.Key Contributions:• Primary leadership focus for all key hiring, business, and investment decisions; managed $10M budget. • Executed Technical Assistance Agreement with a Tier-1 supplier and negotiated a Confidentiality Agreement for an advanced development program with a major Korean vehicle manufacturer.• Grew domestic production from $0.1M in ’08 to a projected $40.6M in ’12 with two customers.• Enabled additional $1.4M in ’09 growing to $56.4M in ’13 of revenue consisting of both imported products to Korea and engineering projects supported in Korea but benefiting other locations (US, China, and Poland).Tenneco is a $6.2 billion global manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 21,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world's largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of emission control and ride control products and systems for the automotive original equipment market and the aftermarket. Tenneco markets its products principally under the Monroe®, Walker®, Gillet™ and Clevite®Elastomer brand names.

Northville, Michigan, Us

Spearheaded business development efforts in Korea resulting in first-ever domestic Korea production programs with two Korean vehicle manufacturers after identifying domestic Tier-1 partners and negotiating Technical Assistance Agreements. Led, supported, and executed business development activities in China, Japan, and Korea related to Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Ventures (formation and equity adjustments), and high-priority strategic initiatives. Provided internal services (strategy development, market research, and growth plans) to multiple business units.Key Contributions:• Lead author for a $226M growth plan for the Japanese Original Equipment group which enabled business processes to shift from North America to Japan.• Project leader for Phase 0 of a multi-million dollar Engineering Center in Shanghai, China (H2’07).• Led a team of inside and outside resources to identify a Joint Venture manufacturing partner for a new product-line in China.• Forecasting, market-research, and strategic support for International Group, Board of Directors, and other business units using data services including LexisNexis and Global Insight/World Markets Research Centre.

Co-founded and performed a multidisciplinary role in this startup company focused on doubling and tripling returns on excess inventory for consumer goods manufacturers and retailers by optimizing liquidation pricing of surplus inventory through a rules-based pricing system over online marketplaces.Key Contributions:• Raised $1.5M in financing through two private placements, one strategic investment, and one fund. • Grew company from three to 11 associates and achieved monthly sales of $100K+.• Lead author on business process patent 7,228,287B1 “Method of Providing Online Incentives.” • “Great-Eight” finalist in Wharton’s Second-Annual Business Plan Competition.

Detroit, Michigan, Us

Member of a consulting team working with five GM business units to design a new annuity based product with a $267M NPV (2002-2009).Key Contributions:• Estimated market size of 200+M vehicles using historical data and future trends for GM/non-GM producers.• Identified $1.8M (growing to $9.5M) in operational cost savings to be realized independently of the project.• Quantified competitor’s partnership-revenue structure (advertising fees and revenue sharing) at $75M/year.General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.

Member of a consulting team responsible for developing process improvement strategies and identifying cost reduction opportunities for the senior management team of an $8.6B tier-one automotive supplier.Key Contributions:• Benchmarked complex prototyping process by conducting 25 interviews with managers and engineers. • Participated on two (led one) client roundtables to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities. • Quantified savings totaling $9.8M by reducing prototype requirements, assembly costs, and testing costs.Booz & Company is a leading global management consulting firm, helping the world’s top business, government, and other institutions. Booz & Company works closely with clients to create and deliver essential advantage. We bring foresight and knowledge, deep functional expertise, and a practical approach to build capabilities and deliver real impact. Founded in 1914, Booz & Company has more than 3,300 staff members in 57 offices in more then 30 countries worldwide. (In 2008, Booz & Company separated operations from the U.S. government consulting business, which retains the name Booz Allen & Hamilton.)

Northville, Michigan, Us

First emission control technical resource to be stationed in the Japan office. Responsible for interfacing with suppliers, partners, and customers to resolve engineering and business issues between the US and Japan. Issues included product design, cost, and quality; new product marketing; and corporate strategy.Key Contributions:• Resulting information was used to advise 22 US staff, ranging from engineer to vice president, on how to best support three product lines representing $110.0M in revenue. • Teamed with Japan and US managers to develop the $2.2M annual operating plan (’98).• Developed and implemented a communication plan between Japan and US engineering centers, reducing development time and customer cost by ten percent.

Northville, Michigan, Us

Initially brought on to assist, ended up salvaging the first production opportunity with a large Japanese transplant vehicle manufacturer by rebuilding the project team after the lead engineer left the company. The resulting production launch was successful and the $9.3M project exceeded profit expectations. Key Contributions:• Helped grow the customer team from two to seven to support $71.5M in new business opportunities. • Created position of Liaison Engineer at Japan office to expand sales, speed-up project development process, and bridge the cultural gap between offices. • Managed all phases of exhaust system development: design, prototype, test, and start-of-production.

Purchase, New York, Us

Performed complete design of aluminum automobile wheels, including tooling ($240K to $480K per program), from customer concept sketches and engineering drawings for domestic and Japanese transplant vehicle manufacturers. Key Contributions:• Developed programs including testing, manufacturing trials, and customer reviews; monthly sales of $4M.• Trained in core engineering activities including product design, testing, plant manufacturing, and quality.• Completed two-week internship at Hitachi Metals America’s sales and engineering office (Farmington Hills, MI) concentrating on business procedures and observing customer negotiations with US and Japanese manufacturers.AAP a maker of cast-aluminum wheels for the automotive industry was founded in 1988 and is a subsidiary of Hitachi Metals.

Mba, Joint Major In Marketing And Operations Management

Bset, Mechanical Engineering Technology

Diploma