Bradley B. Leak
Greensboro,NC
Summary
Results-oriented operations and engineering executive with 25 years in chemical, automotive, consumer goods, and plastics manufacturing. Managed $35M P&L operations, driving cost savings and leading multimillion-dollar capital programs. Proven site leader focused on operational transformation, safety, and reliability in engineering, maintenance, and production.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Engineering Manager / Capital Leader
Aurorium
Greensboro, NC
07.2020 - Current
- Provide site leadership across engineering, maintenance, safety, capital, and reliability; serve as Site Director backup during offsite periods
- Managed and justified $15M+ in capital investments over five years
- Increased annual capital allocation from $1M to $3M by justifying ROI for strategic projects
- Delivered $1M+ in annual productivity savings (2020–2025)
- Reduced planned shutdown duration from 16 days to 10 days, improving quarterly financial performance
- Shifted maintenance strategy from reactive repairs to root cause elimination and asset reliability
- Increased uptime and productivity through maintenance transformation initiatives
- Stepped into production operations leadership during management gaps; enabled $1M in customer shipments through decision support and batch record execution
- Led safety observation program, closing 197 observations in 2025 to enhance workplace safety
- Executed EHS capital projects, eliminating sulfuric acid spill recurrence and reducing groundwater risk while addressing facility hazards
- Upgraded critical infrastructure: electrical systems, compressed air, chillers, steam systems, and safety interlocks
- Advanced automation through DeltaV expansion, enhancing process control and reinforcing safety interlocks
- Implemented skill progression framework (Levels 1–5) and standardized pay structure
- Reorganized team to enable 24/7 coverage, including rotating on-call model and optimized shift structure
- Coached and developed Maintenance Supervisor, facilitating promotion to Maintenance Manager
Vice President of Operations
Apple Rock
Greensboro, NC
10.2018 - 07.2020
- Reported to COO overseeing operations, engineering, assembly, scheduling, procurement, logistics, graphics, facilities, and HR leadership, ensuring seamless operational efficiency
- Improved on-time delivery, safety performance, and customer satisfaction across diverse industries, contributing to operational excellence
- Established engineering and operational processes from the ground up, facilitating scalable growth
- Reduced operating costs by 4% in Year 1 and 7% in Year 2 through lean transformation
Vice President of Engineering
Apple Rock
Greensboro, NC
01.2017 - 10.2018
- Increased engineering on-time delivery from 45% to 85% while reducing overtime
- Established engineering standards, including design guides, model libraries, and training programs, to ensure consistency and quality across projects
- Developed estimation processes and staffing model, increasing cost accuracy and repeatability
- Coordinated strategic planning and execution for internal teams and external client engagements, aligning objectives and deliverables to meet project goals
- Implemented lean methodologies across all functions, improving communication and operational yield across teams
Value Stream Manager
TE Connectivity
Greensboro, NC
11.2014 - 01.2017
- Managed $33M–$35M P&L with 24/7 operations and 214 employees across production, maintenance, tooling, and engineering
- Enhanced OEE from 72% to 83%+ over two years, driving operational efficiency
- Delivered $2.8M in productivity improvements
- Boosted asset utilization by 12%, resulting in $1M increase in operating income
- Reduced cost of poor quality by $2.35M, achieving additional $650K in savings
- Decreased scrap by 66% in Year 1 and 28% in Year 2, resulting in significant cost savings
- Improved on-time delivery to 95–99%, reducing inventory by $2M through Kanban implementation
- Achieved 840,000+ hours without a lost-time incident
Engineering Manager
TE Connectivity
Greensboro, NC
04.2014 - 11.2014
- Implemented 'Go-to Engineering' model clarifying zone ownership, establishing performance accountability
- Restructured engineering into zone-based accountability model enhancing alignment with P&L ownership
- Led transformation from reactive to proactive engineering organization
- Reduced mold breakdowns by 30% within first 60 days
- Transformed mold shop operations, improving preventative maintenance and support on floor
Global Program Manager / Engineering Leadership Roles
SC Johnson
Racine / Sturtevant, WI
01.2003 - 01.2014
- Led $22.5M global Ziploc commercialization program across 26 North American and 120 Asia co-extrusion production lines
- Achieved $6M cost savings on Ziploc during execution of largest product restage in 20 years
- Led advanced automation project integrating robotics, AGVs, PLCs, HMI, bar coding printers/applicator, and SAP across 26 machines, improving operational efficiency
- Delivered $350K–$500K annual labor savings through automation initiatives
- Reduced machine installation time from 6 weeks to 2 weeks
- Facilitated collaboration among R&D, marketing, and manufacturing to accelerate innovation-to-launch cycles
- Led national product launches including Scrubbing Bubbles Mega Shower Foamer (50% timeline reduction)
- Managed capital and expense budgets exceeding $2M each, ensuring effective allocation of resources
- Developed Cost of Experience and Design Directive frameworks to align design thinking with manufacturable solutions
- Staff / Senior Engineer – Plastics Manufacturing
- Developed global MS Project training curriculum
Education
Bachelor of Science - Manufacturing Engineering Technology (Plastics)
Ball State University
Muncie, IN01-1995
Associate of Science - Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Ball State University
Muncie, IN01-1995
Associate of Science - Architectural Drafting
Vincennes University
Vincennes, IN01-1992
Skills
- Capital Project Management
- Engineering & Maintenance Leadership
- Plant & Site Leadership
- Safety & Process Safety
- Reliability & Uptime
- Lean Manufacturing
- Cost Reduction
- Operational Excellence
- Continuous Improvement
- Automation & Digital Transformation
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- GMP / OSHA Compliance
- Strategic Execution
Early Career Experience
- Seaquist Closures / Seaquist Perfect, Project Manager / Tooling Engineer
- Mattel (Fisher-Price), Plastics Engineer
- Hamilton Glass (Gemtron), Plastics Engineer
Core Leadership Expertise
- Strategic Execution
- Plant & Site Leadership
- Engineering & Maintenance Leadership
- Capital Project Management
- Safety & Process Safety
- Reliability & Uptime
- Lean Manufacturing
- Cost Reduction
- Operational Excellence
- GMP / OSHA Compliance
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Continuous Improvement
- Automation & Digital Transformation
Professional Development
- Executive Coaching – Mario Sikora (Awareness to Action)
- Training: Design Thinking
- Lean
- Breakthrough Innovation
- Crucial Conversations
- Sustainability
- Team Effectiveness
Timeline
Engineering Manager / Capital Leader
Aurorium
07.2020 - Current
Vice President of Operations
Apple Rock
10.2018 - 07.2020
Vice President of Engineering
Apple Rock
01.2017 - 10.2018
Value Stream Manager
TE Connectivity
11.2014 - 01.2017
Engineering Manager
TE Connectivity
04.2014 - 11.2014
Global Program Manager / Engineering Leadership Roles
SC Johnson
01.2003 - 01.2014
Bachelor of Science - Manufacturing Engineering Technology (Plastics)
Ball State University
Associate of Science - Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Ball State University
Associate of Science - Architectural Drafting
Vincennes University