Mike Manikas

Experience

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  Pirelli

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2011

  Lead R&D Tech

  I have also been a part of two start operations including Pirelli Tire North America's MIRS production facility in Rome Georgia. I was very fortunate to be a part of several highly successful operations that included the Installation Team of Pirelli's Cutting Edge Modular Integrated Robotized System, the Quality Team, and North America’s Research and Development Testing department. My role in the R&D Testing Department included: setting testing priorities, logistics (including working with OE's on delivery of Prototype Vehicles and timing of tire deliveries on a global scale), hosted weekly meetings with the OE Account Managers (GM, Ford, Chrysler, and BMW). I also trained as a Test Driver on several of the Prototypes for the aforementioned companies. Other duties included calibration of all of the measuring devices and Indoor Dot Fatigue & High-Speed Test Machines.I also assisted the Racing Team with the design and layout for the fitting process for the first race as the Spec Tire for Grand Am at the 24hrs of Daytona and several events thereafter as racing support.I gained an extensive amount of Track Time at Road Atlanta and different proving grounds across the country driving on various types of surfaces including Wet and Dry Handling. Conceptualized layout of the Production Quality Department based on the facility’s 5-year plan and took responsibility for the purchase and setup of new testing machinery at Pirelli Tire North America. Exceeded the company deadline for the first production tire off of the MIRS (Modulated Integrated Robotized System) by one month as one of the initial 13 MIRS Technicians hired by Pirelli Motorsports in the US. Show less

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  The Carlstar Group

  Jan 2011 - Oct 2016

  Technical Engineer

  Designed and laid out new testing facility in Jackson TN. Managed the flow of testing through the test lab and report data to the design engineering group. I also worked in Warranty Claims analyzing tires that have been returned through our Warranty Claims Department to determine why the customer returned product. This included the report out and documentation of the findings of every claim that was processed. Wrote new policies that helped the Carlisle Tire Warranty Claims department minimize the volume of tires being shipped back to the facility for processing, saving $100,000+ the first year and raising customer satisfaction grades. Show less

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  Hankook Tire America Corp.

  Oct 2016 - Jun 2019

  Senior Associate Engineer

  Responsible for various engineering support assignments which include the set up and implementation of various tire/vehicle system tests in the laboratory and on the road. Assignments include knowledge of tire testing and/or electronics, transducers, amplifiers and data acquisition systems. Responsibilities also include preliminary reporting, maintenance, calibration of equipment, planning and organizing High Speed Uniformity, Rolling Resistance, RPK, Flat Spot Testing and experiments required to support department projects with Development Engineering staff.Evaluate purchases and implement new equipment to advance Hankook's experimental tire analysis technology.Engineering Support for Hankook Tire's Racing programs in North America work directly with various GT and Prototype Vehicles in FARA and the Hankook 24hr Racing series. This includes offering technical advice regarding vehicle set-up and proper starting tire pressures to help teams optimize the proper thermal operating window for each compound offered at each event, helping them achieve maximum performance out of our race tires.I'm currently licensed to test drive at one of the nation’s top Proving Grounds on all surfaces performing Objective and Subjective testing. Identified four new tire sizes to develop for Hankook’s new ultra-high-performance segment, demonstrating to the Global Management Team the value added by placing product in a high visibility, high margin, low volume market. Created new racing venues to facilitate growth in the Hankook Racing Tire segment, multiplying sales from $30,000 in 2016 to a projected $12,000,000 in 2019. Provided technical guidance to three American race teams in the 2017 Creventic 24H race, optimizing car setup to work with Hankook Race Slicks. These efforts led to very successful results for the teams, with one overall class win, and two earning podium positions in another class. Show less

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  Porsche Beachwood

  Jun 2019 - Nov 2020

  Sales Professional
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  NEXEN TIRE

  May 2021 - now

  Senior Test Engineer

  Well known as an innovative leader, with an extensive career in the tire industry give me the right tools for success. My unique background combines technical skills tire testing, manufacturing, quality management, product development, and project management with a strong business acumen and strengths in strategic development, sales, and marketing.A strong communicator, I can clearly explain technical information to non-technical audiences and articulate business goals and strategies. I take pride in being highly relatable and develop individuals and teams to realize their full potential. A self-motivated and versatile professional, my broad experience, military service, and record of accomplishments have prepared me to be a formidable candidate for a career as an effective leader in any industry. Show less