Karl van Blankenburg

Operations Leadership | Business Management | Lean Manufacturing | Turnarounds | Continuous Improvement | Green-field Start-ups

Role
Vice President of Development at City Ventures
Location
Omaha, NE, US
LinkedIn followers
500 followers
General Business & ManagementView LinkedIn profile

About Karl van Blankenburg

My passion for manufacturing was sparked at age five after first witnessing the transformation of plastic pellets into a molded part - an experience that felt like magic and set the course for my career. After completing a mold maker apprenticeship and earning journeyman status, I advanced into senior-level business operations management, accumulating over thirty years expertise in designing and manufacturing a diverse array of products.Throughout my career I have served the major automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, delivering a wide range of interior, exterior, under-hood, and functional components, as well as sub-assemblies, tooling, and automation systems. Beyond automotive, I have contributed to industries including aerospace, defense, recreational vehicles, office furniture, sporting goods, consumer products, packaging, industrial, and retail.My leadership experience includes managing multi-site manufacturing businesses located in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, overseeing operations with revenues up to $450 million. I have hands-on expertise in all facets of operations, including strategic business planning, budget development, administrative management, sales and marketing, product cost development, CAD design, product development, engineering, program management, quality assurance, IT, ERP/MRP/MES systems, planning and scheduling, supply chain management, lean manufacturing, facilities planning, human resources, employee development, acquisitions, divestitures, start-ups, and turn-arounds with full P&L responsibility.

Experience

  1. Vice President of Development

    City Ventures

    Nov 2020 — Present · Omaha, NE, US

    Vice President of Development -(2022 - Current)Sr. Business Operations Manager - City+Ventures (20••••22)Director - Equipment, Management, & Development - Rocket Carwash (20••••22)Director - Operational Support & Supply Chain - GS Labs (20••••21)As Vice President of Development, I leverage my comprehensive expertise to drive operational excellence, optimize supply chain performance, and spearhead new site development.City+Ventures is a premier development and investment company focused on building companies and communities. We are a group of business savvy, community-minded individuals who invest our time and capital into developing, enhancing, and promoting growth in companies and communities.Led by seasoned entrepreneurs, we put our capital, relationships, and smarts to work by partnering with other entrepreneurs and communities to drive growth and create a brighter future.Our core holdings include a broad range of real estate assets and a portfolio of complementary businesses. Recently acknowledged as an Inc. honoree as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the United States is a direct reflection of our unwavering commitment to people, adaptive thinking and disciplined practices.

Education

  • College for Creative Studies

    Transportation Design

  • Michigan State University

    Certificate, Project Management

  • Macomb Community College

    Engineer’s Degree, Applied Technology - Plastics & Mold Making

  • Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of Business

    Business Administration, Management and Operations

  • Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center

    Toyota Production System - Lean Manufacturing

Skills

  • Product Development
  • Leadership
  • Exterior Trim
  • Engineering
  • Prototyping
  • Apqp
  • Injection Molding
  • Kpi Implementation
  • Program Management
  • Moldmaking
  • Automotive
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Product Design
  • Six Sigma
  • Financial Management
  • Components
  • Executive Management
  • Lean Manufacturing
  • Business Planning
  • Operations Management
  • Management
  • Operational Turnaround
  • Plastic Injection Molding
  • Manufacturing
  • Kaizen
  • Rapid Prototyping
  • Budget Development
  • Purchasing
  • Value Stream Mapping
  • Process Improvement
  • Toyota Production System
  • Organizational Effectiveness
  • Leadership Development
  • Strategic Planning
  • Employee Relations
  • Start-Ups
  • Manufacturing Operations Management
  • Root Cause Problem Solving
  • Machine Tools
  • Tooling Development

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Karl van Blankenburg — Vice President of Development at City Ventures in Omaha, NE, US | Unifers