Ricardo Rodrigues
Vice President and General Manager @Gerdau Long Steel North America
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WORK HISTORY
Vice President and General Manager @Gerdau Long Steel North America
Wilton, IA, US
Direct all aspects of steel mill operations, including production, maintenance, quality, safety, environmental compliance, and logistics, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and industry standards.• Lead a diverse, unionized workforce, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across all departments.• Develop and execute strategic plans to optimize plant performance, increase throughput, and reduce operational costs while maintaining high safety and quality standards.• Oversee multimillion-dollar budgets and CAPEX projects, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and timely execution of capital investments.• Implement Quality Improvement methodologies, driving process improvements, waste reduction, and measurable gains in productivity and equipment reliability.• Champion a strong safety culture, achieving significant reductions in incident rates through proactive risk management and employee engagement.• Build and mentor high-performing leadership teams, focusing on succession planning, talent development, and organizational capability building.• Collaborate with corporate leadership and external stakeholders, including suppliers, regulators, and community partners, to support business continuity and growth.• Utilize data-driven decision-making, leveraging KPIs, operational dashboards, and advanced analytics to guide strategic initiatives and performance management.
EDUCATION
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Master, Steel Metallurgy
FGV - Fundação Getulio Vargas
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Management
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul
Engineer's degree, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering
SKILLS
ABOUT RICARDO RODRIGUES
As a seasoned engineer with over 18 years of experience in Rolling Mill processes - including Wire Rod, Bar Mill, and Structural Products - I bring a deep technical foundation and a strategic mindset to leadership. My career has been defined by a commitment to operational excellence, team empowerment, and continuous improvement.I lead with a strong grasp of industrial processes and a proven ability to guide teams through complex challenges. My leadership style is grounded in collaboration, clarity, and accountability, enabling me to drive performance while fostering a culture of growth and innovation.I have extensive experience in standardization, process analysis, and cost management, which allows me to identify opportunities for efficiency and implement sustainable improvements. I actively contribute to shaping business strategies, particularly in areas of production optimization, workforce training, and capital investment planning.Above all, I am passionate about developing people. I believe that strong teams are built through mentorship, clear communication, and shared purpose. I continuously invest in leadership development - both my own and that of those around me - to ensure long-term success and resilience.
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