Team Bios
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Management
John Irion – President (803) 252-6976 ext. 1
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- Instrumental in implementing the MTC (now MEP) Program in
South Carolina at Trident Technical College in Charleston in 1989,
becoming Manufacturing Outreach Center Manager and Manager of
Programs and Alliances - 25 years of experience in business assessment, development, and
operations management and has worked with numerous economic
development groups across SC - Graduate of USC and holds a certificate from the SC Governor's
Economic Development School - Manages SCMEP's staff of Manufacturing and Technical Specialists
- 21 years of manufacturing experience in textiles and tires
- Specializes in Lean manufacturing, constraint management, and
Lean healthcare - Championed the development of the Competitiveness Review and
has become a leading trainer and implementer of Theory of Constraints - 2001 NIST MEP National Practitioner of the Year Award recipient
- BS in Textile Management from North Carolina State
- Joined SCMEP in 1998
- 24 years experience in the areas of automotive component
manufacturing and engineering consulting with Lucas Industries,
Lockwood Greene Engineers, Sommer Allibert as a Manufacturing
Supervisor, Cell Leader, Systems Engineering Consultant,
Consulting Engineer and logistics Engineer. -
20 plus years of experience working with the design development
and implementation of the Toyota Production System tools and
techniques in a variety of industries including metal cutting, welding,
electro mechanical assembly and testing, and plastic injection molding. - NIST MEP certified Lean Trainer and Professional Business Advisor
- BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Joined SCMEP in 1998
- 20 years manufacturing and senior engineering experience in machining, assembly, textiles and injection molded plastics
- Expertise in process improvement, capital equipment justification, project and technical management, Lean training and implementation, and constraint management
- NIST MEP certified Professional Business Advisor and Instructor in Lean Manufacturing
- BS from Western Kentucky University
- Joined SCMEP in 2002
- 30 years manufacturing experience in shipbuilding, textiles, primary
aluminum and composites for automotive applications with General
Dynamics, RM Industries, Alumax Inc., KIP Inc., and Coastal
Composites as General Supervisor, Superintendent, Plant Manager
and Vice President. - Key member of four separate management teams that launched
start-up operations for four major manufacturers. - NIST MEP Certified Lean trainer and Professional Business Advisor
- BA from the University of North Carolina and MSA from Central Michigan University
- 25 years in manufacturing with Milliken, Ryobi and Saddleman as an Industrial Engineer, Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager, and in International Marketing
- NIST MEP certified Professional Business Advisor
- BS from Clemson and MBA from USC
- Joined SCMEP in 2001.
- Background includes lean manufacturing training and implementation, international and domestic market research and analysis, and strategic marketing planning
- NIST MEP certified Professional Business Advisor
- NDC Certified Economic Development Finance Professional
- BS in Marketing and Finance from USC Honors College
- Joined SCMEP in 1994
- 10 Years Operations experience in defense contracting with Hughes Aircraft, RCA and Bowmar/Acton Labs Inc.
- 11 years operations experience in commercial electronics with Amp Keyboard Technologies and Newbridge Networks.
- 14 years of broad based manufacturing consulting experience with NEMTC and SCMEP.
- 20 plus years of experience working with the design development and implementation of materials management and manufacturing controls utilizing the Toyota Production System, Constraint Management techniques and various computerized tools.
- NIST MEP certified Lean Trainer and Professional Business Advisor.
- Certified to Jonah level in Theory of Constraints analysis and implementation.
- Business and French degrees from The University of California and University of New Hampshire systems.
- Pete is based in Charleston and serves manufacturers in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
- Joined SCMEP in 2008
- 25 years manufacturing experience in textiles, automotive, plastics, metal fabrication and with JP Stevens, Greenwood Mills, Kemet, Bosch, Emitec, BKI, and Fabri-Kal as Manufacturing Manager, Manufacturing Supervisor, Quality Manager, and Quality Assurance Supervisor
- Experienced in ISO/QS and Lean implementation with concentrations in cellular manufacturing, quick changeover, team development, 5S and
visual management - Certifications include Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and ASQ Quality Engineer
- BS in Management from USC
- Joined SCMEP in 2008 from Kemet Electronics in Simpsonville
- 20 years experience in product and process development in consumer electronics, electronic components, business machines, high speed manufacturing, and textiles
- Experienced in Lean Product Development, product portfolio management, project management, innovation management, and enterprise development
- Certified Eureka! Winning Ways Coach, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, licensed SC Professional Engineer, and certified PDMA New Product Development Professional
- BS from North Carolina State and MBA from Clemson
- Joined SCMEP in 1998
- 8 years experience in research and development in metallurgy, plastics, and pharmaceuticals as a chemisty and sales representative with INCO Alloys International, Amoco Performance Products, and the Upjohn Company
- 9 years experience in compliance programs for the nuclear industry with Savannah River Site
- 20 years experience with hands-on implementation of Toyota Production System tools and techniques in a variety of industries and businesses
- Consults in environmental, safety and health, energy, ISO management systems, Lean & Clean manufacturing, problem solving, leadership, and culture change
- NIST MEP certified Lean trainer and Professional Business Advisor, SME Bronze certified Lean practitioner, ISO 14001 and 9001 Lead Auditor, Certified Safety Professional, Certified Environmental Manager
- BS in Chemistry and Physics from Marshall University and Associates diploma in Safety Management from Government Institutes
- Joined SCMEP in 2003
- 10 years manufacturing experience in power generation at GE Gas Turbines as New Product Introduction Program Manager, Advanced Product and Processing Engineer, Supplier Quality Engineer, Fabrication Supervisor, Manufacturing Engineer, and MRP/Buyer, and at Milliken in automotive printing operations as a Process Improvement Engineer
- Graduate of GE’s Operations Manufacturing Leadership Program for future leaders of GE; consistently ranked in the top 10% of GE’s leadership graduates
- Certified Six Sigma Green Belt and trained Six Sigma Black Belt, NIST MEP certified Lean trainer and Professional Business Advisor, and certified as an instructor for the Lean Healthcare West© reVIEW© program
- Assists clients with strategic planning, problem solving techniques, implementation of Lean, and Lean healthcare.
- BS in Industrial Engineering from Clemson
- Joined SCMEP in 2006
- 20 years manufacturing experience, working in aerospace, automotive, and electronics manufacturing as a quality engineer with AlliedSignal, Bose Corporation and Bosch Braking Systems
- Experienced in Lean implementation with concentrations in Value Stream Mapping, 5S, and Problem Solving
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer and Certified Quality Manager
- BS in Industrial Management from Clemson and post-graduate studies in quality science areas including APQP, SPC, Root Cause Analysis, 8D Analysis, and Value Stream Mapping
- Stacy Smith - Vice President of Finance ext. 8 +
- Brittney Godfrey - Office Manager ext. 5 +
- Kathy Hartzog - Executive Assistant ext. 3 +
- Teresa Kirby – Receptionist ext. 0 +
- Patrick Loveland - IT Manager ext. 9 +
- Sheila Bledsoe - Administrative Assistant ext. 212 +
Chuck Spangler - Vice President (864) 288-5687 ext. 210
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Regional Vice-Presidents
Andy Carr (864) 288-5687 ext.202
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Rhonda Huskins (803) 324-2273
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Joe Jacobs (843) 278-7737
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Larry Jolly (864) 288-5687 ext.209
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Tim Sinclair (803) 252-6976 ext.7
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Pete DuBrule (843) 670-5687
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Charleston, SC Office (843) 670-5687
Wade Pitts (864) 918-2418
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Growth Services Manager
Chris Wayne (864) 414-8458
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Technical Specialists
Vivian Harper (803) 315-3864
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Melanie Sudduth (864) 354-4773
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Susan Whitehead (864) 607-3280
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Staff
Greenville Office - (864) 288-5687