Mike Schmit, CSSGB, CPPM

Experience

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  Cargill

  Jan 1986 - Jan 1993

  Senior Chemist, Powder Coatings and High Solids Solvent Coatings

  • Led development, scale up and market introduction of new powder coating resins and provided technical support for sales force, customers and manufacturing• Coordinated toll production and small batch efforts, consistently completing project ahead of schedule, improving quality and reducing cycle time• Received Quality Employee of the Year Award for identifying and corrected curing agent problems on the production line, resulting in improved quality and productivity

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  H.B. Fuller

  Jan 1993 - Jan 2002

  • Improved efficiency and productivity of work group by 20% through elimination of bottlenecks, optimizing team talents and streamlining the customer support process• Led a project that standardized product offerings. Initiated a team-based structure and aligned resources resulting in completion of the project in half the time typically required• Increased new product sales by 15% by conducting lab project reviews, customer satisfaction evaluations, and sales staff success and failure analyses• Coached 7 direct reports and several indirect reports to improve performance and profitability• Collaborated with R&D, customers, sales and manufacturing in development of new products and support of existing products, which contributed to the company’s profitability• Supervised weathering degradation ASTM lab. Streamlined lab processes, resulting in a 25% reduction in implementation time. Show less • Evaluated, selected, trained and installed spectrophotometers, color matching systems and software to be used in lab and plants throughout the company• Implemented Technical Knowledge System formula and project tracking software, increasing lab output by 10%• Collaborated with software supplier to conduct beta testing and software improvements• Led lab and manufacturing efficiency improvements through research, testing, training, and roll out of product development software to reduce project cycle times• Trained lab and plant employees in software functions and color theory Show less

  • Supervisor, Formulation Group/Weather Testing/Quality, Powder Coatings

    Jan 1998 - Jan 2002

  • Senior Chemist, Powder Coatings Research & Development

    Jan 1993 - Jan 1998
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  Brady Corporation

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2005

  Project Manager and Senior Chemist, Thermal Transfer Printing

  • Led projects for development, scale up and market introduction of new product that resulted in $500K annual savings• Led cross functional team of 25 from research, marketing, sales, manufacturing and administration and introduced new platform into safety market driving $7M in annual company sales• Improved product offerings by active development and scale-up of tapes, ribbons, and printers• Trusted advisor to executive leadership and recipient of their continued approval for technology development initiatives• Led ISO-9001:2000 audits which led to continuous process improvements• Patent developer – U.S. Patent 6,916,130, Michael J. Schmit, Robert J. Holt, David J. Hass, and Brenda J. Anderson “Method of Printing, Activating and Issuing an Activated Time Dependent Label” Show less

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  ACPI/Elkay Wood Products

  Jan 2006 - Jul 2019

  Technical Finishing Manager

  Direct, support, and work with, Research and Development, Manufacturing, Technical Support, Continuous Improvement, Material Suppliers, Product Marketing, Purchasing and Customer Care• Managed finish material transition and application to multiple plants for new supplier of 40+ products• Led the development of over 30 new products resulting in $98M in annual sales• Led cross functional teams for New Product Development, Training, Scale Up, and Product Manufacturing• Developed and rolled out company-wide Custom Color Match Program for Marketing/Sales/Customers• Led/worked closely with, Finishing Supplier’s Technical and Quality Control Group on multiple Continuous Improvement Projects. Show less

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  Axalta

  Mar 2020 - Apr 2020

  Technical Service Representative
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  High School and Middle School

  Sept 2020 - Oct 2021

  Substitute Teacher
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  Axalta

  Nov 2021 - Apr 2024

  Technical Service Representative