MS Creativity and Innovation, New Product Development Professional (NPDP)
I’m an innovative product development leader with a proven track record of driving substantial market growth and increasing valuation across diverse industries. My extensive experience spans the entire product lifecycle—from foundational strategy to ongoing management and rationalization including ideation development, launch, and ongoing management. I’ve successfully led specialized teams, established industry-leading methodologies, and championed agile, user-centric approaches to deliver award-winning products. I’m passionate about conceptualizing and executing product roadmaps, leveraging category analysis to identify bolt-on acquisitions and expand into new markets. I’m dedicated to continuous improvement, always seeking to refine my toolkit while leveraging best practices and implementing strategies to optimize processes.
Areas of Expertise
Details
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Stage-Gate Process Implementation
- Partnership Development
- AI Driven Process Improvements
- Product Roadmap Development
- Product Management
- Value Proposition Development
- Business Model Development
- Industrial Design
- Industrial Materials & Processes
- Agile Product Development
- CX/UX Insights
- Concept Development
- Rapid Prototyping
- Lean Startup
Professional Experience
Senior Director of Innovation | BEHR Paint (Masco) | 2014-2024
The Senior Director of Innovation is focused on developing and executing comprehensive strategies for innovation, representing the voice of the customer, and implementing innovative processes to drive efficiency and growth. Skills required include consumer insight and experience, concepts development and testing, building and leading high-performing teams, fostering collaboration across functions, and leveraging emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning to deliver tangible results. The position develops new and impactful intellectual property, builds external partnerships, and optimizes budget allocation to ensure the success of innovation initiatives. A key responsibility is creating and managing product roadmaps values at over $200M annually.
Achievements
- Successfully managed, developed and executed all front end of Innovation processes
- Generated product roadmaps with annual values of $200M
- Led the development of BEHR’s design language in physical products
- Industrial design, and mechanical engineering of eight physical product designs from concept to tooling in under 12 months
- Acted as the internal subject matter expert across multiple product categories
- Fostering organization- wide knowledge sharing
- Custom designed, engineered, and programmed three new product testing machines and related AI analysis tools to manage the specification and quality of spray paints, paint rollers, and other paint sundries
- Created AI interest group to share best practices as well as support responsible use and deployment
- Participated in Masco level AI council to help determine corporate wide policies and implementations including piloting both customer software and the leading generative AI platforms
- Provided supervision for four insights, product development, industrial design, and engineering experts
- Active participant in formal group mentoring and individual mentoring programs including 10 product managers
- Led successful paint applicator strategy development—marking first strategic acquisition for the company in 20 years
- Created and managed a three-generation spray paint strategy, leading the company into a new product adjacency
- Part of innovation incubator across a two-year period—in order to further product and process innovation
- Developed and implemented industry leading, near-instant, low-cost, agile, consumer-focused product development and validation methodologies
Patents
- Aerosol Actuator (pending)
- Aerosol Can
Director of New Product Development | BEHR Paint – KILZ BU (Masco) | 2005-2014
This position was responsible for driving sales growth through new products. Responsibilities encompassed managing relationships with major retailers, fostering a culture of innovation within the team, and playing a key role in the development of several groundbreaking products, including the first mass-produced 0 VOC primer and paint, as well as the first water-based primer to match the performance of a solvent-based product.
Achievements
- Drove the launch of BEHR’s inaugural professional paints generating $250M+ in sales annually, creating the largest growth segment for over a decade
- Led teams from concept to completion on several industry firsts including the first mass-produced 0 VOC primer (KILZ Clean Start) and 0 VOC paint (later becoming BEHR Premium Plus), the first water-based primer matching solvent-based performance (KILZ Restoration), and the conversion of the high volume primer to 0 VOC (KILZ 2) reducing VOC’s indoors, in the atmosphere, and groundwater by millions of pounds per year
- Developed the first spray paint with a spray-any-direction valve and odor mask (KILZ Casual Colors)
- Led the first science-backed study of odor blocking capabilities
- Provided effective oversight of the line-review process with The Home Depot, Lowes, Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware, and other key accounts leading to successful placement of 50+ SKU’s
- Instrumental in fostering and maintaining a dynamic environment by promoting creative development, cross-team collaboration
- Supervised four direct reports and multiple diverse cross-functional teams as well as providing mentoring
- Led art direction for packaging supporting brand integrity in new categories
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Established and administered a Stage-Gate process within 6 months—streamlining project delivery
- Developed a group of adjacent products including partner identification, negotiation, and management—resulting in $100M+ in sales
Director of Marketing | Shur-Line / EZPaintr (Newell) | 2003-2005
The Director of Marketing strategically managed the product roadmap and product strategy for a $130M, 1500+ SKU product offering, working seamlessly with diverse stakeholders to drive sales and market share. The role involved launching over 50 unique products, including a patented product recognized with an International Design Excellence Award (IDEA). Additionally, the position utilized lean manufacturing, kaizen, and cost-reduction strategies, achieving over $500K in annual savings.
Achievements
- Launched 50+ unique products in under 24 months
- Learned and leveraged the Newell Operating System including lean manufacturing, kaizen, and related cost-reduction strategies
Director of Global Sourcing | O’Sullivan Furniture | 2001-2003
The Director of Global Sourcing was tasked to build a global sourcing initiative at O’Sullivan Furniture providing access to design, materials, and processes not available in their in-house panel processing facilities. The role became the company’s go-to expert for materials and manufacturing techniques, providing insights that shaped design and production strategies. Additionally, the position directed the formation and management of multidisciplinary teams to optimize operational workflows and elevate product standards.
Achievements
- Successfully built a global sourcing initiative at O’Sullivan Furniture, identifying and cultivating over 20 strategic partnerships with suppliers across Brazil, China, Finland, and Thailand, significantly enhancing the company’s supply chain and product offering
- Successfully supported placement at all key retailers
Merchandising Manager | Lee/Rowan (Newell) | 1999-2001
This Merchandising Manager owns the development and launch of products, from concept to commercialization, with continued product management responsibility for a year post-launch. Reducing channel conflict through branding and merchandising was critical to success in the role. The leader in this role manages a diverse team of ten marketing professionals. Success in this role is demonstrated by significant top-line and bottom-line growth.
Achievements
- Developed and executed a division wide product roadmap
- Over $6M in sales generated by products developed in the first six months
- Owned the development and launch of a line of 6 patented soft-goods organizers including qualifying and leveraging new to the company vendors in China
- Managed a diverse team of 10 including product managers, industrial and graphic designers, and model makers
Patents
Product Manager | Newell Home Hardware (Newell) | 1997 – 1999
The Product Manager has full P&L ownership and encompasses the full spectrum of product management responsibilities, including developing and executing the product strategy, developing and managing a detailed product roadmap, and leading successful product launches. It also involves conducting thorough market research, cross-functional team leadership, deep analysis of product metrics, and contributing to product promotion efforts. This was an exceptionally SKU intensive offering with multiple brands with over 1000 finished goods SKUs each.
Achievements
- Full P&L ownership for $45M product line
- Contributed to 56% in sales growth in a mature market while achieving over $2M cost savings through innovative product development and design for manufacturing
- Led the line review process with The Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, and other key accounts
Product Engineer | Newell Home Hardware (Newell) | 1995 – 1997
This new role was created to accelerate the integration of a recent acquisition through optimization and documentation for over 300 SKUs of ready-to-assemble organizers and cabinets. Additional duties included the development and standardization of bills of materials, CAD drawings, and 3D models, which enhanced manufacturing efficiency and product uniformity and enabled a factory relocation from California to Tennessee.
Product Designer | Sunbeam Outdoor Products | 1992 – 1995
This position was responsible for the design and development of Sunbeam Outdoor Products’ new lines of outdoor furniture and gas grills. Extensive knowledge about industrial materials and processes like cast and extruded aluminum, formed steel, CNC wire bending, and natural wood processing was critical for success in the role. Initial concepts were translated into tangible designs through sketches, renderings, and 3D CAD models. In addition to developing physical forms, this position was also responsible for the development and implementation of fashion and color strategies across a wide range of fabric products for the outdoor furniture range.
Professional Development & Associations
Details
- New Product Development Professional (NPDP)
- LInkedIn Learning certificates in:
- Exploring a Career in User Experience Design
- UX Foundations: Interaction Design
- Sketching for UX Designers
- UX Design: 1 Overview
- UX Design: 2 Analyzing User Data
- UX Design: 3 Creating Personas
- UX Design: 4 Ideation
- UX Design: 5 Creating Scenarios and Storyboards
- UX Design: 6 Paper Prototyping
- UX Design: 7 Implementation Planning
- Planning a Career in User Experience
- Project Management with Monday.com
- WordPress Essential Training
- Generative AI for Business Leaders
- Former President – St Louis Chapter Product Development and Management Association
- Former President – Student Chapter of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) at Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI)
Public Speaking
Details
- Keynote speaker agile product development and insights | Quirks Event | NYC
- Panelist on creativity | Knowledge, Innovation, and Enterprise (KIE) conference
- Panelist at the Systematic Inventive Thinking conference | NYC
Education
Masters of Science | Creativity and Innovation | Minor – Entrepreneurship | Drexel University
Bachelor of Fine Arts | Industrial Design | Kansas City Art Institute