Richard C. Kent

About Richard C. Kent

Accomplished innovator driving new products and ecosystems, corporate growth, strategic direction, business development and financial results leading organizations, restructuring and expansions.INNOVATION DRIVEN ACCOMPLISHMENTSInnovation: Drove cross-functional, creative teams, collaboratively developing new product launches including identifying/vetting suitable manufacturing partners, creating a COGS model, and engineering, sourcing and testing packaging components. The result- 60 new product ideas within 4 months and 50+ new revenue opportunities ranging from $1,500 to Launch: Executed business planning, sales and financial pro forma projections, investment sourcing, reviewing legal documents and negotiating contracts. Secured equity capital funding. Developed regional sales targets, supply chain requirements, licensing opportunities and distribution channels.Efficiency: Led manufacturing initiatives increasing capacity 125%. Oversaw relationships of key customers and international contracts. Reduced inventory carrying costs 36%. Sourced M&A and divestiture targets. Replaced company’s ERP Manufacturing Management System to streamline quoting and optimize margin analysis. Transformed business into value-added, specialized, quick-turn plastic components and displays in POP and OEM industries.Process: Reduced quarterly project cost variances 5% QoQ by reorganizing production facility workflow and refining construction/design processes. Created and managed a formal Safety Committee bringing 8 major areas into OSHA compliance. Improved collections cycle 40%. Restructured operational workflow processes driving toward 100% project completion within targeted time goals and achieved 95% satisfaction rating.Acquisitions: Spearheaded 7-figure key business unit acquisition and critical business unit divestiture. Managed the transaction, asset purchase agreement and environmental research. Developed new markets and e-Business initiatives through an integrated marketing campaign, resulting in over 300% revenue growth.EXPERTISEP & L Leadership I Innovation I Product Development I Strategic Planning I Executive Presentations I Mergers, Acquisitions & Expansions I Flexible & Traditional Packaging I Sustainability Solutions I Hands-on Leader I Player-Coach Mentor I Team Building I Cross-Functional Leadership I Product Engineering, Design & Testing I Prototyping I Supplier Sourcing I Product Management I Brand Development I Marketing I Graphic Design I Social Media I Competitive & Consumer Market Research I Intellectual Property

Experience

1. Sales Leader Advisor

   Golf Galaxy

   Jan 2023 — Present

   Convert opportunities to sales as customer-centric golf advisor providing new product sales, marketing and innovation leadership.

Education

• United States Naval Academy

  Resources Management, Business Curriculum

• Vanderbilt University

  Bachelor's Degree, Double Major: Business Finance and Economics

• Penn State Smeal MBA Program

  Master of Management (M. Mgt.), Corporate Innovation & Entrepreneurship (current, in progress), Primary Concentration: Engineering Innovation; Graduate Certificate: Marketing Analytics

• Milwaukee School of Engineering

  Bachelor's Degree, Mechanical Engineering, Technology Emphasis