Richard is a manufacturing and product development professional with over 35 years of experience and profound expertise in Lean manufacturing, Quality Executive, Product Development, Process Development and Improvement, Supplier Development-financial and operational assessment, Supply Chain Analysis, and Operational Financial Management.

Currently Richard is VP of New Technology and Business Development at ASG Renaissance. The major achievements include light material development, lithium battery design and manufacturing, and advances in body armor. Richard is devoted to helping automotive industries find new opportunities in adjacent sectors in South east Michigan

Prior to ASG, Richard was Vice President of International Operations at Harbour Consulting. His achievements included improving productivity by 10% at a client's German plant; due diligence for acquisition of a French-German plant; and developing plans for the growth of client's operations in China and Asia Pacific regions. The company was reorganized under a new business advisory firm from the East Coast.

Prior to joining Harbour, Richard held several positions at Ford Motor Company. As Vice President of Ford China Operations in Beijing, Richard was responsible for implementing the operations of a Ford Asian multi-plant. He established and negotiated the joint venture process for site location, design of facility and local construction—saving the company over $100M and achieved ROI targets. Along with implementing ISO 9001 and Lean principles, he also implemented just in time inventory controls, which reduced costs and improved efficiencies by 20%; and a China Supplier Development program. He also successfully championed Six Sigma deployment for the plans in India, China, Thailand, Philippines, and Taiwan for a total savings of $30M.

As General Manager of Mazda North American Operations, Richard was responsible for all facets of manufacturing and product development in a standalone multi-plant site. He successfully developed and implemented a strategy positioning Mazda 626 as best in class quality for 4 years, launched 6 vehicles, achieved Harbour's award for most competitive facility in North America. Mazda North America achieved its first profitable year under Richard's direction.

Under his leadership Mazda North America implemented ISO standards, Lean manufacturing principles, averaging 20% cost reduction year-over-year; resulting in a recorded savings of $25M; and applied the principles of self directed teams implementing the 5S process achieving corporate milestones in safety, delivery, cost, quality and people.

Education and Certifications

• Master of Business Administration, Madonna University
• Master of Arts in Economics, Central Michigan University
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
• Bachelor of Business Administration in Cost Accounting, University of Michigan
• General Motors Journeyman Card, Tool and Die

Affiliations and Memberships

• Society of Automotive Engineers
• Society of Manufacturing Engineers
• Automation Alley

Product Patents

· Ceramic extrusion process for catalytic converters.

· Platinum palladium coatings of thin walled ceramic extrusions

· Electronic wheel tone sensing device for anti lock brake systems

· Electronic Anti Lock Brake Systems Modulator Device