HENRY J. FREE
Odessa,FL
Summary
Versatile, results-oriented manager with hands on knowledge combined with superior planning and problem-solving skills. Uses organizational skills, confident decision-making, and ingenuity to achieve objectives and goals under less than favorable conditions.
Overview
1
1
Certification
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Capital Project Manager
Tekni-Plex Inc.
2024.12 - Current
- Lead end-to-end execution of major capital projects (typically USD $2–20M) from concept through commissioning and handover.
- Developed and managed project charters, business cases, scopes, budgets, schedules, and risk mitigation plans to align project goals with organizational objectives.
- Managed supply chain operations to optimize inventory levels and improve efficiency.
- Ensured adherence to corporate engineering standards, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), and safety requirements to maintain quality and regulatory compliance.
- Oversaw procurement processes for capital equipment to achieve cost efficiency and meet technical specifications.
- Supply chain management
Project Manager/Engineer
EMS Group USA, LLC
2022.06 - 2024.10
- Developed project scope and line layout, communicating effectively with customer, EMS sales, and engineering teams to align expectations
- Prepare, review, and ensure compliance with project contracts and specifications
- Managed outside project vendors and installation contractors to ensure timely and quality project execution
- Develop accurate project budgets and ensure projects are delivered on budget
- Provided technical advice to resolve problems.
- Drive weekly meetings with customers, internal teams and OEM’s if needed to ensure close communication and project alignment
Senior Project Manager & Director of Construction
AmertechTowerServices, LLC – Tampa, FL
2021.01 - 2022.05
- Oversaw construction department, ensuring site safety and managing budget of $10,000,000 and project superintendents
- Responsible for project budgets, material procurement, project change orders, project schedule for projects ranging from $50 - $2,000,000
- Managed execution of cooling tower design, erection, repair and rebuild projects
- Executed cooling tower design, erection, repair, and rebuild projects, ensuring adherence to project specifications and timelines
- Managed project budgets, material procurement, project change orders, and schedules for projects ranging from $50 to $2,000,000.
- Maintained construction schedule of all company projects in Microsoft Projects
- Direct reports included Construction Manager (1) and Project Superintendents (6 – 8)
- Created construction plans, project-specific safety plans, and project schedules for proposals, aligning with project requirements and objectives
- Direct point of contact following receipt of purchase order from customer
Service Operations Director
Kelvion Inc.
2019.12 - 2021.01
- Managed service and repair operations across four locations, ensuring effective workflow and resource allocation
- Oversaw financial management, planning, and control systems to optimize service operations
- Manage department budget in coordination with the VP of Service
- Report financials on a monthly basis, including percent on time deliveries, WIP, inventory levels and monthly gross margins
- Plan, schedule, and coordinate departmental activities to fulfill sales orders, meet inventory requirements
- Provided technical input to staff on the scope of work and materials needed to repair or service work
- Develop, implement and enforce industry standard safety policies and procedures
- Planned, scheduled, and coordinated departmental activities to fulfill sales orders and meet inventory requirements efficiently
- Develop & implement plan to cross train field service employees, expanding coverage across the US
Florida Operations Manager
Cooling Tower Depot, Inc.
2018.02 - 2019.10
- Manage cooling tower repair/rebuild projects
- Oversee estimating for projects sold in the Southeast
- Overall responsibility for individual project budgets and schedule
- Work with companies in the power, refinery, chemical, and pulp & paper industries
- Utilized View Point for project cost tracking
- Worked with companies such as Kiewit, Nucor Steel, Covanta, Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA)
Director of Construction / Operations
ENEXIO US, LLC, f.k.a. GEA Heat Exchangers, Inc.
2005.01 - 2018.02
- Manage execution of cooling tower construction, repair/rebuild projects
- Direct reports include project managers, project assistants, estimating, proposal, construction managers, construction administration and safety personnel
- Overall responsibility for construction department budget, individual project budgets and schedules, warranty claims, project superintendents and construction site safety
- Work with companies in the power, refinery, chemical, and pulp & paper industries
- Utilize SAP for project cost tracking
- Develop construction plans, project specific safety plans, and project schedules
- Developed new processes for tracking project costs which resulted in marked project forecasting improvements
Senior Project Manager
ENEXIO US, LLC, f.k.a. GEA Heat Exchangers, Inc.
2005.01 - 2009.01
- Managed engineering, procurement, budget, and schedules of large industrial cooling tower repairs/rebuilds for projects between $50 K and $10 M
- Managed subcontractors performing work by issuing & negotiating contracts, setting schedules & providing work plans
- Monitored timelines and flagged potential issues to be addressed
- Worked directly with design and engineering to achieve innovative design replacing competitor’s proprietary product
Engineering/Manufacturing Manager
Rhein Medical Inc.
2000.01 - 2005.01
- Responsible for manufacturing of disposable ophthalmic instruments, manufacturing budget, and component inventory
- Provide design and technical drawings using AutoCAD for development of new instruments and manufacturing of tooling
- Worked with regulatory on new processes, new product releases, and validations
Manufacturing Manager & Project Manager
Barry Wehmiller
1991.01 - 2000.01
- Supervised 10+ people in procurement, manufacturing and assembly of change parts for high-speed packaging equipment.
- Managed field service and customer service for installation of change parts and service parts
- Processed and scheduled manufacture of parts for packaging equipment, from 1 to 8 machines simultaneously, using Mapics mainframe inventory control system
- Scheduled and coordinated equipment deliveries and customers plant visits using Microsoft Projects
- Liaison between customer and engineering, customer and manufacturing during equipment manufacturing
- Responsible for schedule, budget, engineering, equipment purchase, contractor selection, and site supervision of packaging line integration for projects between $1M and $8M
- Provided cost estimates, timelines, personnel requirements for projects, and developed packaging line layouts to fit the customers' needs using AutoCAD-12
Education
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MOSkills
- Project management industrial equipment & construction projects
- Project planning and development
- Project budgeting & forecasting
- Project scheduling
- Project estimating
- Purchasing & procurement
- Advanced problem solving
- Team building
- Subcontractor management
- Knowledgeable in construction safety
- Computer efficiency with Microsoft Office & Projects, SAP & Sage ERP Systems and AutoCAD
- Detail oriented
- Extremely organized
Accomplishments
- Manage operations group for design, erection, and repairs of field erected cooling towers. Department includes project management, proposals, estimating and construction. Complete budget responsibility for entire department of over 30 personnel.
- Project manager for demolition and construction of (2) 225' round cooling towers. Managed project schedule, procurement of material and customer relations. Project completed on time (6-week outage schedule), under budget by $250K.
- Engineered food & beverage packaging line layouts, selected and specified packaging equipment to meet customer needs. Equipment types included case packers, palletizers, shrink wrappers, beverage fillers, etc.
- Developed new department designed around service and maintenance of cooling towers. The group included sales and service crews to inspect, perform preventive maintenance, and minor repairs on field erected and package cooling towers. Provided company another avenue to servicing and creating new customers. Performed over 60 projects in each of the first 2 years.
- Computer Proficiency - Used Microsoft Excel to develop labor tracking spreadsheets for construction projects giving project managers a forecasting tool for labor.
Certification
- Project Management Certificate - University of South Florida
- State of Florida - General Contractor License
Additional Information
- Project Management Certificate - University of South Florida
- State of Florida - General Contractor License
- Contractor license qualifier for the following states: Georgia, California, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana
Timeline
Capital Project Manager
Tekni-Plex Inc.
2024.12 - Current
Project Manager/Engineer
EMS Group USA, LLC
2022.06 - 2024.10
Senior Project Manager & Director of Construction
AmertechTowerServices, LLC – Tampa, FL
2021.01 - 2022.05
Service Operations Director
Kelvion Inc.
2019.12 - 2021.01
Florida Operations Manager
Cooling Tower Depot, Inc.
2018.02 - 2019.10
Director of Construction / Operations
ENEXIO US, LLC, f.k.a. GEA Heat Exchangers, Inc.
2005.01 - 2018.02
Senior Project Manager
ENEXIO US, LLC, f.k.a. GEA Heat Exchangers, Inc.
2005.01 - 2009.01
Engineering/Manufacturing Manager
Rhein Medical Inc.
2000.01 - 2005.01
Manufacturing Manager & Project Manager
Barry Wehmiller
1991.01 - 2000.01
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Missouri University of Science and Technology