Mark Sullivan Email & Phone Number

Glenview, Il, Us

Akron, Oh, Us

In 2017, I was engaged to transform the subsidiary operations of Buckhorn Inc with ~$125M revenues based on my proven reputation for success in the industry. Buckhorn falls under the parent company umbrella Myers Industries, a leading manufacturer of polymer products for material handling and products serving agricultural, distribution, automotive, and commercial markets with ~$547M company revenues. ♦ Contributed critical input on financial planning strategy to define clear objectives focused on achieving accelerated revenue growth.♦ Restructured compensation plan and forecasting system to standardize financial benchmarks. ♦ Instrumental in strategy and labor pivot during Covid-19 pandemic to avoid workforce reduction. ✶Elevated operating income by 40% after three years of stalled profitability.✶Led lucrative 27% YoY revenue growth across three business segments stalled for previous two years. ✶Instituted Lean methodologies, root cause analysis measures, metric accountability, manufacturing action plans. ✶Increased on-time delivery from 55% to 96% over 16 months by expanding Lean best practices and capital equipment utilization.✶Reduced safety incidents by 70% and customer complaints by 50%.✶Consolidated two facilities driving operating income from 11% to 21% focused on three key segments. Completed plant closure transition for 100% utilization of new plant. ✶Identified, restructured, and generated reduction in labor cost from 3.4% to 2.9%. Recruited top talent, minimized temporary staff, increased wages, and reduced staff turnover.✶Transformed, built, and managed new Sales, Finance, HR, and Operations leadership teams. Developed winning culture for increased labor retention fostering best-in-class career experiences. ✶Directed reduction in inventory levels from $18M to $10M.

Willoughby, Oh, Us

After my extensive background in large public companies, this role allowed me to gain expansive knowledge in a single owner/privately held $30M industry leader providing standard and custom product solutions for bearing applications using cast nylon technology. I was recruited to accelerate company performance, scale, and improve efficiency and rapidly exceeded expectations. ♦ Galvanized business improvement by shifting from low price strategy to service strategy dedicated to value, quality, and rapid order fulfillment. ♦ Pinpointed key areas for improvement in partnership with distribution channel. Advised on opportunities to streamline supply capability and maximize rapid turnaround. ♦ Drove tactical process improvements based on Lean principles. Implemented cultural and behavioral improvements to instill enterprise wide accountability and strengthen team contributions/buy-in. ♦ Cultivated strong business relationships to identify growth and expansion opportunities.✶Pivoted business from previous 30% YoY annual revenue and EBITDA decline to 14% revenue growth and doubled EBITDA through extensive transformation efforts.✶Launched operational restructuring process to realize 28% additional volume in ‘full’ plant. Drove capacity utilization from 70% historic best performance to 78%.✶Navigated extensive operational and supply challenges, ensured minimal customer service disruption and neutral-to-positive impact on financial deliverables.

Brooklyn Heights, Ohio, Us

After three years with GrafTech, I was promoted to a VP role for this subsidiary upon my predecessors’ departure. GrafTech International is a publicly traded company for global graphite electrode leader delivering highly engineered services, customer-focused solutions, and products. As part of my promotion, my responsibilities increased to include full P&L accountability. I was instrumental in successfully executing their broad scale turnaround.♦ Spearheaded development, communications and implementation of effective growth strategies and processes.♦ Directed investment in targeted applications with advanced crystal technology which drove cost savings and efficiency. ♦ Cultivated continual margin advancement by reengineering product management, sales, and operational processes.♦ Recruited, hired, trained team from the ground up. Prepared performance reviews and plans carried out disciplinary directives and terminations as needed. Fostered a culture of excellence to maximize loyalty and retention with ~417 staff.♦ Executed change management plans, identified areas for improvement that reduced costs, drove profitability, and promoted customer loyalty.♦ Conducted comprehensive financial analysis to define forecasting, projections, volumes, and profitability. Managed $84M budget.✶Pioneered strategic five-year board level roadmap to align mission, conquer commoditization, minimize competition, and drive new business segments to profitability. ✶Strengthened corporate sustainability with $20M margin improvement through cost reduction and re-calibration of resources. ✶Eradicated ineffective business development practices and uncovered 80% expense reduction for China.✶Avoided 50% revenue decrease resulting from global subsidized competition. 50% of business was replenished in same year.

Brooklyn Heights, Ohio, Us

In 2011, I was recruited from Dow based on my organizational turnaround expertise to transform commodity to solutions business model. After 25+ years, I decided it was time for a change, and I was eager to utilize all my experience from Dow to grow/expand another organization. ♦ Directed strategic business profitability with innovative technology/product solutions to promote brand awareness and capture market share. ♦ Refined business focus to drive process transformation and continuous improvement. Realized consistent cost savings while exceeding key business objectives.♦ Led sales team of 16 to target high growth/disruptive applications in electronics.♦ Closed and executed two strategic sales opportunities that drove profitability and exceeded regional goals.♦ Secured prominent customer commitment for new market introduction with newly designed service model. ♦ Recruited, hired, and managed high-performing team of nine to establish and grow China market.✶Grew line of business from $80M to $120M during first three years through robust rebrand and business transformation strategies.✶Catalyst for successfully restructuring sales and commercial teams, resulted in 30% growth of share in new markets/applications.✶ Championed 9% SG&A costs reduction with tactical execution of sales and marketing realignment.

Midland, Michigan, Us

During my expansive 28 year tenure with Dow Chemical, I served in almost every business operations/sales role progressing from a sales specialist to critical executive leadership across multiple lines of business. Dow is a Fortune 500 public company with $57B revenues, 55K employees in 180 countries across chemicals, plastics, agro-sciences, and materials.♦ Managed high-caliber team comprised of 22 sales (direct leadership) and 17 technical service, and R&D staff (indirect leadership)♦ Envisioned and deployed business segmentation initiative focused on high growth through enhanced customer value and timely execution.♦ Originated and implemented new customer engagement, contract, and pricing strategies. Drove key initiatives to reduce operating costs.✶Conceptualized and restructured crucial business practices. Devised key strategies propelling annual revenue growth of $120M. ✶Spearheaded substantial gross margin increase from 11% to 19% in two-years. Achieved EBITDA growth of 50% over six quarters.✶Instrumental in achieving four quarters of unprecedented EBIT for business unit with no additional SGA.✶Led unification of disparate sales/service teams, financials, and systems from $287M acquisition. Developed strategic integration plan for significant margin growth impact within blended model.

Midland, Michigan, Us

✶Transformed & streamlined $1.4B distribution model to overcome channel leverage and re-establish Dow leadership for improved profitability.✶Drove distribution business from 12.9% to 15% gross margin with only eight direct reports.

Midland, Michigan, Us

Recruited to CEO’s corporate innovation leadership team to turn around seed businesses and launch new innovations. Implemented ROI-based innovation pipeline. Launched successful new products and turned around money losing projects. Met strategic objectives and exceeded financial targets.

Midland, Michigan, Us

Recruited to turn around contract manufacturing business and drive integration of $58M acquisition. Eliminated losses and created one commercial organization to increase margins and capability. Revenue responsibility: $90M.

Midland, Michigan, Us

Restructured long term R&D project to match investment to revenue potential. Grew new business from zero to $6M.

Midland, Michigan, Us

Drove higher growth and margins within $62M business.

Midland, Michigan, Us

Master Of Science In Industrial Administration, Marketing & Finance

Bachelor'S Degree, Economics & Management - Graduated Cum Laude