Bret Summers
Irvine,Ca
Summary
Driven and accomplished Executive Leader with 15 years of experience in transformational leadership through continuous improvement of people and processes on a local, regional and national level to improve EBITA. Strategic focused, creating multifunctional teams to help deliver results with a servant leader mindset. Created a process and culture in the facilities that was a key factor in the largest IPO in 2024. As an executive I led the due diligence in organic and non-organic growth of a $500m dollar private company to a $1.5B dollar company in three years and held an executive level position for global fortune 10 company for 15 years. A proven ability to improve facilities, develop/motivate management teams and operating procedures across multiple disciplines within an organization, using project management, best practice implantation and lean process improvement initiatives. Developed KPI’s for new business unit and managed multiple facilities across the US with a $56M P/L and responsible for $432 Million in product sales/distribution to the western United States. Design and implement strategic initiatives to impact the bottom line within a multi-billion-dollar Corporation. Served on several cross-functional boards to develop national strategies. Experience in regulatory compliance, budget oversight, and forecasting. Seasoned Executive General Manager with a proven track record in corporate strategy and operational efficiency. Specialize in forging strong business alliances, driving revenue growth, and streamlining processes for optimum productivity in Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Warehousing and logistics. Ability to lead cross-functional teams towards common goals; consistently ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. Notable contributions include turnaround management and organizational restructuring across diverse industries.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive General Manager
Lineage Logistics
Los Angeles
01.2017 - Current
- “CEO” of the business unit responsible strategic initiatives and overall EBITA of the business unit
- Transitioned the process and culture in the facility creating the Flagship for the company
- The facility was the showcase for the company to the investors which helped the launching of the largest IPO in 2024
- Ensured that the Management team is effectively running the operations and sales of the largest center in the industry in North America
- Hired the salary and hourly team member for ramp up
- Managed the final phase of the $350M building as it transitioned over to operations
- Responsible for the ramp-up and fill of the facility, resulting in the quickest ramp up in the history of the company
- Filling 80% of capacity in 7 months 4.4 years ahead of proforma while maintaining the integrity of the process, resulting in a 6-month break-even
- Effectively developed and managed the P & L of $56M with 275 employees that operates 24/6
- Hired and developed direct Reports HR, GM, 4 Operations Managers, office manager, SM and 19 administrative functions
- Focus on developing the servant leadership teams and strategic initiatives to drive continuous improvements
- Developed and implemented Lean initiatives on local and global level
- Gained BRC food certification and chain of custody certification
- USDA and FDA approved and regulated facility
- Developing key metrics for continuous improvement.
Corporate Executive Operations Manager (Director)
Velocity Vehicle Group
Fontana
01.2014 - 05.2017
- Responsible for implementation of lean principles and developing KPI’s/Metric’s within warehousing, logistics, assembly and supply chain
- Helped in the due diligence in acquisitions growing from a $500M company to a $1.5B company in three years
- Responsible for the overall effectiveness of the 26 facilities in three states with $26M in inventory and $149M in sales with $1.5B in sales
- Creating standardization of processes across multiple locations with a focus on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction
- Responsible for all of the logistics restructuring and delivery system in three states
- Developed and implement an Inventory Control Process: 56% improvement with no locations, 38.7% reduction in negative on hands, 44% reduction in inventory of cores, improved inventory accuracy by implementing a cycle count program
- Transitioned and implemented a third party delivery service to reduce corporate liability with $4M in yearly spending which improved customer service
- Transitioned Developed strategies for each facility to implement lean warehousing to increase capacity needs for growth and throughput improvements improving the delivery of customer orders by 3 hours.
Complex Director of Operations (VP)
General Motors Corporation
Rancho Cucamonga/Fontana, CA
01.1999 - 12.2013
- Transformed the worst performing facility in General Motors to one of the best performing facilities in the network, through lean implementation and cultural transformation
- Changed the culture to a top performing culture that knows how to win
- Administer $39M operational budget for multiple facilities (500k ft2, and 350K ft2) $432M in annual sales, 45k(sku) part numbers and over $29M in inventory
- Supervise and train nine direct reports and 167 personnel including non-union, union employees, human resources, medical, security, building maintenance, administrative, and logistic teams
- Monitor performance using key Metrics: Safety, People, Quality, Responsiveness, and Cost
- Interface with 200+ dealers, forecasting operational budgets to support sales and ensuring compliance to company risk management policies, including BRM/SOX
- Manage operations, regional strategies and lean implementation projects within Warehouse, Distribution, Logistics and Cross Dock/3PL Facilities for Southern California and Arizona markets
- Utilize Rail, LTL, Dedicated and Small Pack Providers.
General Manager of Operations-National Processing Center
General Motors Corporation
Lansing, MI
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Directed inventory control processes for 2.2M square-foot national distribution and parts assembly center
- Ensured quality for systems supporting daily sales of $2.25M and distribution of 9,000 single-line and LTL shipments
- Controlled inventory of over 160k (sku) part numbers worth over $360M
- Trained, developed, supervised, and evaluated 20 salaried, 500 union, and contract employees
- Initiated policy and procedure changes to improve efficiency and meet metric goals for safety, quality, cost, responsiveness, and labor
- Monitored logistic providers for national supply chain, including TL, LTL, Rail and small package shippers.
General Manager of Operations-National Processing Center
General Motors Corporation
Lansing, MI
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Promoted to impact shipping for domestic and international customers, directing two warehouses and five shipping departments averaging $1.75M in daily sales
- Developed and managed 5 supervisors and 115 union employees
- Led policy changes to improve operational efficiency and meet corporate goals
- Worked on national strategic initiatives to improve the distribution network through the US.
Operations Supervisor-Regional Distribution Center
General Motors Corporation
Reno, NV
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Managed 47% of facility receiving, picking, packing, processing, and shipping, averaging $108M per year
- Supervised staff of up to 50 union employees.
Marketing/Account Executive, Outside Sales
Val-Pak National Direct Mail
Reno, NV
01.1997 - 01.1998
- Identified and cultivated new revenue sources for direct marketing promotions
- Increased sales through effective cold-calling, prospecting, and sales presentations
- Analyzed businesses and implemented strategies to help clients achieve goals
- Applied knowledge of industrial average’s and benchmarks to close sales and negotiate contracts
- Designed graphics layouts for advertising materials.
Director of Operations
- Driven and accomplished Executive Leader with 20 years of experience in transformational leadership through continuous improvement of people and processes on a local, regional and national level to improve EBITA
- Strategic focused, creating multifunctional teams to help deliver results with a servant leader mindset
- Created a process and culture in the facilities that was a key factor in the largest IPO in 2024
- As an executive I led the due diligence in organic and non-organic growth of a $500m dollar private company to a $1.5B dollar company in three years and held an executive level position for global fortune 10 company for 15 years
- A proven ability to improve facilities, develop/motivate management teams and operating procedures across multiple disciplines within an organization, using project management, best practice implantation and lean process improvement initiatives
- Developed KPI’s for new business unit and managed multiple facilities across the US with a $56M P/L and responsible for $432 Million in product sales/distribution to the western United States
- Design and implement strategic initiatives to impact the bottom line within a multi-billion-dollar Corporation
- Served on several cross-functional boards to develop national strategies
- Experience in regulatory compliance, budget oversight, and forecasting.
Education
MBA -
University of Michigan
Lean Manufacturing Concentration -
Kettering University, MI
BS, Business Administration in Marketing -
University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Skills
- Developing Leadership Teams
- Lean Implementation Expert
- National Strategic Planning
- P&L ownership EBITA focused
- Distribution and Logistics Expert
- Best Practice/Metric Development
- Budget Administration
- Continuous Improvement Focused
- Six Sigma Methodology Knowledge
- Manufacturing Process Improvement
- Supply Chain Management/Integration
- Automated and Non-Automated
- Servant Leader Mindset
- Bundled Service Management
- Risk Management & SOX Controls
- Visionary Leader
- Performance Analyst
- Legal/Regulator Compliance
- Cross-functional expert collaborator
- Sales and Marketing strategy
- Utilities/Municipalities Management
- Transitional Management
- FDA/USDA regulator experience
- Joint Quality/Safety Council Leader
- Cultural Transformation
- Dedicated and non-dedicated system
- 3PL management/oversight
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Operations Management
- Organizational Development
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- P&L Management
- Supply Chain Management
Affiliations
- Board of Directors for the Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity
- Lean Enterprise Institute – Member, DMA-Distribution Management Association
Certification
- Bronze Lean Certified, General Motors Corporation
- Currently pursuing Six Sigma Lean Certification
Timeline
Executive General Manager
Lineage Logistics
01.2017 - Current
Corporate Executive Operations Manager (Director)
Velocity Vehicle Group
01.2014 - 05.2017
General Manager of Operations-National Processing Center
General Motors Corporation
01.2004 - 01.2007
General Manager of Operations-National Processing Center
General Motors Corporation
01.2001 - 01.2004
Complex Director of Operations (VP)
General Motors Corporation
01.1999 - 12.2013
Operations Supervisor-Regional Distribution Center
General Motors Corporation
01.1999 - 01.2001
Marketing/Account Executive, Outside Sales
Val-Pak National Direct Mail
01.1997 - 01.1998
Director of Operations
MBA -
University of Michigan
Lean Manufacturing Concentration -
Kettering University, MI
BS, Business Administration in Marketing -
University of Nevada, Reno, NV