David Kemper

About David Kemper

I run KemperStrategy, an independent strategic advisory practice serving precision manufacturers navigating regulated markets, primarily defense and medical devices. My career has alternated between these two worlds for thirty years, and pattern recognition across multiple regulated and technical industries is the core of what I offer.My current primary engagement is with YKK USA, the U.S. subsidiary of the $8B+ global precision manufacturer, where I am advising the president\'s office on defense market product and service expansion via additive manufacturing. My work spans business planning, technology mapping, manufacturing implementation, partner venture development, procurement entry strategy, and CMMC/ITAR compliance positioning.I\'m an industrial engineer by training, which shapes how I work: systems, process flows, and production economics first. I build financial models that translate strategic options into investment decisions, and business plans designed to accelerate capital commitment — whether from a corporate parent, a board, or an external investor. That foundation and two decades of business and corporate development in medical device manufacturing, including joint ventures, M&A, and multi-company partnerships operating as unified vendors to Fortune 500 customers means I move comfortably between shop floor and boardroom.Earlier chapters include military/aerospace electromechanical components, Special Operations tactical gear, and a long run of medical device corporate development spanning companies from $30M to $8B. Throughout, I helped precision manufacturers enter and grow within high-stakes regulated markets where success depends on building trusted partnerships across organizational boundaries.I welcome conversations with executives navigating defense market entry, additive manufacturing commercialization, medical device partnership development, or the challenges of global manufacturers operating across U.S. regulatory environments.Specialties: Joint Ventures, Acquisitions, Quality and Regulatory Systems, Product Development, Manufacturing, Business Development, Sales, Collaborative Trust Networks, Leadership Development, Measurement and Control Systems, Marketing Strategy, Market Research, Strategic Planning, Business Analysis and Due Diligence. Engineering, Entrepreneurial Development

Experience

1. President

   Kemperstrategy, Inc

   Oct 2002 — Present · Asheville, NC, US

   Independent strategic advisory practice serving precision manufacturers navigating regulated markets in defense and medical devices.Current engagement: Advising the president\'s office of YKK USA, U.S. subsidiary of the $8B+ global precision manufacturer, on defense market product and service expansion via additive manufacturing — including business planning, technology mapping, manufacturing implementation, partner venture development, procurement entry strategy, financial modeling, and CMMC/ITAR compliance positioning.Selected prior engagements:Corporate development emissary for $8B global manufacturer — sourced and evaluated JV and acquisition opportunities in medical device markets, advising senior Americas leadership on a 10x revenue growth strategy over five years.Multi-year board-level leadership of a 12-company custom surgical drape manufacturing consortium — developed $20M in new revenues and built multi-company partnerships operating as unified vendors to Fortune 500 customers.Advised $6B manufacturing corporation on launch of a new medical device business unit — led implementation of ISO 13485 and FDA 21 CFR 8xx compliance for rapid commercialization.

Education

• North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

  High School

• North Carolina State University

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Industrial Engineering

• Western Carolina University

  Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance, General

Skills

• Executive Coaching
• Management
• Team Building
• Innovation
• Marketing
• Manufacturing
• Business Alliances
• Strategic Partnerships
• Market Opportunity Assessment
• Sales
• Balanced Scorecard
• Executive Management
• Business Development
• Business Planning
• Integrated Marketing
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Entrepreneurship
• Business Strategy
• Business Plan Evaluation
• Innovation Consulting
• Program Management
• Leadership
• Strategy
• Product Development
• Analysis
• Management Consulting
• Product Marketing
• Training
• New Business Development
• Budgets
• Finance
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Fundraising
• Marketing Strategy
• Strategic Planning
• Competitive Analysis
• Negotiation
• Marketing Management
• Market Analysis
• Selling