Shepherd Whitcomb Email & Phone Number

Albion, Michigan, United States

Driving the success of Caster Concepts products by gaining a deep understanding of the customer experience and applicationsGenerating and leading the implementation of new ideas that solve customer material handling challenges and drive market growthOwner of product pricing and positioning strategiesScope, prioritize, and execute strategic activities based.

Maumee, Ohio, United States

• Led the strategic planning and new product development for all storm door and screen products. I was brought into the organization to facilitate change, as the company transitioned from being a privately held company.
• Partnered with the Direct to Consumer (B2C) team to identify, test, and refine the direct sales of niche product segments, resulting in a 200% sales growth in a 3-month period.
• Built a business plan and received buy-in from key stakeholders that supported capital investments of $4.5M. Partnered with Finance Team to provide solid business justification and an 18-month ROI.
• Simplified SKU complexity by 60%, utilizing 80/20 principles to analyze, discontinue and replace underperforming product offerings, that did not align with the company’s strategic plans.
• Coordinated with cross-functional teams including Sales, Marketing, Operations, Purchasing, and Supply Chain to ensure efficient product line transition.
• Expedited comprehensive market research, which formed a critical fact base for product planning.

Detroit Metropolitan Area

• Owned strategic planning for all video inspection tools in the automotive, aerospace, and industrial markets. Championed several significant programs. Quickly stepped in and led the effort to gather critical market.
• Developed and implemented a pricing strategy to ensure EBITDA targets were met.
• Built justification, recruited, hired, and mentored an Associate Product Manager colleague to increase the company's ability to address market opportunities.
• Conducted Voice of Customer (VOC) research, and communicated findings back to key stakeholders. Executed competitive market analysis inclusive of product attributes, pricing, promotion, messaging, and channel coverage.
• Implemented a concept backlog and quarterly grooming process. Provided critical software sprint scoping to the Engineering Manager.
• In partnership with the Channel Marketing Team developed strategic marketing programs that increased market penetration by 4%.

Ann Arbor, MI

• Drove strategic planning for four distinct product platforms, across four unique brands. Led the New Product Development (NPD) process, including strategically leveraging supplier partners to accelerate development..
• Managed a high-performance NPD and Product Management Team of 6 contributors.
• Tracked key in-market performance metrics, through the use of advanced business intelligence tools.
• Achieving a consistent New Product Vitality Index (NPVI) rating of >25%.
• Led Voice of Customer (VOC) research, and communicated insights and findings back to stakeholders.
• Executed competitive analysis inclusive of key attributes, pricing, promotion, and channel coverage.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

• Led commercialization efforts for a Farm Management Software start-up company. Built strategies, and identified new markets, products, and services to support acquisition of new users. Worked with a cross-functional.
• Created clear, compelling value propositions that resonated with users in-app and online marketing campaigns.
• Communicated consumer needs to product development, sales, marketing, and customer success teams.
• Implemented a try, buy, renew model that guided users from free to premium paid services.
• Mapped user's online journey and mobile application. Created user personas, epics, and stories to guide prioritization of development efforts.
• Ensured value statements and messaging were consistent across the enterprise.

Novi, MI

• Develop and maintain product road map. Responsible for a strategic plan for long-term sustainable growth.Identify and champion the integration of new technology that maintains an industry-leading position.Conducted.
• Compile competitive landscape analysis. Develop product placement and benchmarks. Tailored the product mix into strategic ranges.
• Developed and executed successful marketing programs that drove an increase in sales by 50 percent over the previous year.
• Collaborate with partner companies to provide complimentary utility, sales, marketing, and financial support for two distinct products.
• Manage the product warranty process and associated corporate risk.
• Provide monthly, quarterly, and annual, revenue forecasts to executive management that informed the larger corporate strategy.

Plymouth, Michigan

• Product planning for a category of electronic tools, targeted for the professional automotive technician market.
• Led the research, requirements documentation, and development of new products and complimentary accessories to broaden the product range.
• Manage the global client relationships. To ensure sales and distribution support in all regions of the world.
• Work with each global region to tailor the product mix to meet the unique regional requirements and create a stronger product mix. Travel to client sites in the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, China, and Australia.
• Monitor trade publications, attend trade conferences and network to keep informed of changes in the industry and market place.
• Work with legal counsel to develop strategies, and file patents to protect company’s intellectual property and bolster competitive position.