Shawn Heipp Email & Phone Number

Strongsville, OH, US

Streetsboro, Ohio, US

• As General Manager at Step2 Custom, I lead with passion and purpose to elevate innovation in contract manufacturing for rotomolded products.With expertise cultivated over 27+ years, I spearhead a team of industry.
• Providing strategic leadership to guide company vision and direction. We stay ahead of industry trends, embracing what's next.
• Fostering collaborative partnerships with clients seeking our rotomolding excellence to manufacture products that stand out.
• Driving a culture focused on innovation. We continuously push boundaries to offer unique solutions and a competitive edge.I thrive on transforming visions into reality. Let's redefine what's possible together in.

• Loggerhead is a new product development services company that invents, designs and engineers products for leading consumer product companies specializing in toys and gourmet foods.
• Developed new consumer products from initial concept sketches through to commercialization for a variety of Toy and Gourmet Food Companies. Guided development for independent inventors and entrepreneurs.
• Provided design, engineering, sourcing, manufacturing and quality assurance leadership and support.
• Invented and successfully licensed 12 new consumer products.

Hudson, Ohio, US

• Leading the new product development efforts on innovative new products within the Leaf Home Safety Solutions business vertical which includes Walk-in Tubs, Shower Systems and Stair Lifts.
• Creation of new concepts and products through ideation, sketches and modeling processes.
• Develop and manage project schedules, bills of materials, costs, prototyping and budgets.
• Design components and complex assemblies with various 3D CAD software packages including Creo and Ansys Spaceclaim.
• Lead test method development, validation testing and test fixture fabrication activities.
• Identify, qualify and collaborate with new domestic and international suppliers.

Akron, OH, US

Led a Packaging Engineering team responsible for the design and development of primary packaging solutions including bottles, containers, pouches and other packages. Design of secondary packaging of inner cartons, blisterpacks and master shipper cartons. Supported the design, fabrication, implementation and debug of new tooling, fixtures and capital.

Cleveland, Ohio, US

• Pioneered a brand-new Innovation Department; led the Innovation & Product Development technical teams with responsibility of $3.4MM annual budget. Engaged in hands-on technical work on complex product innovation.
• Inspired a more creative organizational culture through introduction of Innovation Department which fueled a pipeline of innovation projects, initiatives and emerging technologies.
• Created and implemented a research program to learn about the customer experience. Engaged with consumers for various qualitative research activities to gain empathy and insights.
• Championed a Packaging Optimization Initiative to increase cost margins on high volume product lines. Identified over $2.6MM in cost savings with $750K realized within the first 6 months.
• Led design engineering on True Blue Bath Waste, Solvent Cement and Pipe Clamp projects that have resulted in 3 patents pending.

Beachwood, Ohio, US

• Created brand-new Innovation Department that implemented programs and initiatives to spur new product development, improve manufacturing processes and identify new business opportunities.
• Developed and employed innovation structure and process; instituted an innovation strategy encompassing portfolio management, customer profiles and insights, innovation platforms, and technology maps to focus on.
• Created an Innovation Ambassador and Innovation Station program to improve interdepartmental communication and promote engagement from other facilities and remote staff.
• Launched FourSight self-assessment and other training programs, educating associates about their own creative thinking profiles and other methodologies.

Westerville, Ohio, US

• Directed Innovation / New Business Development projects and initiatives, promoting new products and processes in concert with long-term business strategies for existing and new markets. Directly managed R&D Engineering.
• Led an array of exciting innovation projects through hands-on involvement in the conceptualization, design and engineering phases of product development, focusing on the needs of consumers and retailers. A few.
• Created the Elmer’s 4D Innovation Process to build methods and procedures to drive innovation; developed new open innovation programs, including the Internal Associate Idea program, open innovation portal, and power.
• Identified and nurtured productive external partnerships with tech scouting companies, research universities, industry agents, new suppliers and design firms.

Westerville, Ohio, US

• Supervised New Product Development team consisting of mechanical, packaging and quality engineers along with industrial designers; team collaborated on all design, engineering and quality assurance for new products in.
• Led product development and project management for Science/Education and Innovation business segments; Boosted Science/Education sales from $6M to $13M in three-year tenure.
• Bolstered Quality Assurance program, resulting in improvements in various testing protocols, external partner relationships, process enhancements and improved support to business teams.
• Led Quality Assurance and Engineering on the creation of 300+ SKUs for Walmart craft aisle in 2008.

West Chester, OH, US

• Led the new product development on all structural goods including packaging, gift sets, store display racks and accessories. Controlled internal inventories, developed new vendor base and managed external co-pack.
• Provided leadership to transform the reactive purchasing department to a process oriented supply chain department.
• Designed free-standing retail display racks and created stylish, innovative gift set packaging.
• Negotiated long-term contracts that accounted for a 12% average reduction in raw material costs.
• Consolidated vendor base by over 30% and streamlined purchasing processes with remaining vendor base.
• Developed recipes for specialty food product line and Robert Rothschild Cookbooks.

Hudson, OH, US

• Managed the new product development engineering team consisting of U.S., Asian and European product and quality engineers for Roleplay, Backyard, Seasonal, Inflatables, Ride-ons and Sports categories which accounted.
• Lead engineer on New Business Development segments such as Inflatable Bouncers, DIY Wood Playsets and Wood Furniture Line.
• Developed, introduced and streamlined an improved new product development process.

Hudson, OH, US

• Supervised the Roleplay project engineering team; coordinated development projects and collaborated on the Marketing strategy.
• Designed and launched 14 new products within the Kitchen and Workshop programs.
• Transformed a struggling category into an industry leader again while increasing the category’s gross margin from low 20s to high 30s.

Hudson, OH, US

• Led the development and engineering of 75 new product launches from initial concept to retail shelf. Collaborated with Marketing, Industrial Design, Sourcing and Manufacturing on daily basis.
• Discovered consumer problems and needs through qualitative and quantitative research sessions
• Created the product design; Developed functional prototypes for design validation and testing
• Controlled the project management including timelines, costing and budgets.

• As the Owner and Principal of Culinary Concepts, I provided consulting services to gourmet food manufacturers, focusing on the development of innovative recipes, cookbooks, and point of sale food ideas. My culinary.
• Developed unique recipes and gourmet food product lines that enhanced client brand portfolios and increased consumer engagement.
• Created and published several cookbooks, featuring original recipes and food pairing concepts that supported in-store promotions and point-of-sale initiatives.
• Collaborated with clients to design product packaging and display solutions, ensuring that the visual appeal matched the premium quality of the gourmet food offerings.
• Provided expertise in food trends and flavor development, leveraging my culinary education to bring fresh, marketable ideas to clients.

Worked with Executive Chef Nick Kustala and staff to launch Lure Bistro in Bratenahl Place. Continued on as Sous Chef for evening dinners, private parties and weekend/holiday brunches. Menu was eclectic menu with heightened focus in seafood.

Brecksville, OH, US

• Conducted the product development, engineering and project management of gastro-intestinal feeding devices and plastic surgery products.
• Created part/assembly drawings and CAD models, built functioning prototypes, designed mold layouts and analyzed materials.
• Invented a patented plastic surgical device as well as a gastro-intestinal device.
• Evaluated testing of existing product, developed quality assurance inspection procedures and supported 510K regulatory compliance process.
• Generated various documentation controls such as manufacturing procedures, bill of materials, specification sheets and design history files.

Pawtucket, RI, US

• Created new concepts and designed products including part and layout drawings, molding plans, engineering calculations and prototype models.
• Provided engineering support to the marketing and industrial design disciplines.
• Assisted in development of such toy lines as Star Wars, Gargoyles, Starting Line-up, Fairywinkles and Baby Buddies at Kenner Products division.

Bachelors, Mechanical Engineering

Culinary Arts/Chef Training

Leadership Institute