Family - eight grandchildren
Auto Racing
Cycling
Swimming
Keith Brantley
Oviedo,Florida
Summary
Knowledgeable leader with proven background in senior leadership roles, driving strategic initiatives and fostering organizational growth. Successfully led cross-functional teams to achieve key business objectives, enhancing operational efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction. Demonstrated expertise in project management and strategic planning.
Overview
49
49
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director of Administration
Crosslife Church
12.2022 - Current
- My family has attended Crosslife Church for over 35 years so working here was a natural option. Making the transition from the secular world to the ministry world was a challenge but worth it.
- During my tenure I was able to help start Crosslife Christian Academy (CCA). This is the new elementary school that is thriving in its first year with four classes in 2024/2025. They are already giving tours for enrollment for 2025/2026. The school opening involved meetings with the local authorities, traffic studies, fencing, permitting, along with building redesign and construction. I was able to lead all these processes. Was instructed to cast a vision with our current facilities to reach full capacity by 2030 along with budgets to forecast and substantiate these needs. This was completed and presented to the appropriate committees
- I also helped diversify our finances from one checking account to numerous CD’s, money market accounts that are all earning interest along with our basic checking accounts. My team also cleaned up the accounting and reporting to make it more streamlined and easier to read
- We moved from one IT individual to a local firm, AOK, that is helping us update and bring our IT systems into current times.
- We repurposed and refurbished one of our oldest buildings, Legacy Hall, to put it back into service. This involved redesign and construction that I lead.
- I work intimately with all the ministries determining budgets and personnel for each year. I create and report the complete budget to the pastor and then to the church body.
- I oversee all the finances, child safety program, facilities, and many other ministries here at Crosslife
- It’s been a great pleasure to serve here at Crosslife
CEO
Marine Fasteners
01.2001 - 10.2022
- During this time we thrived and grew with the new business from the new industries like Solar, Food Processing, Hydro, Curtain Walls, Shower Doors, Windows, Partitions, and Above Ground Pools. Our growth was healthy but limited to what private ownership could provide. I helped design and open six new locations to help better serve these new customers
- My brother, Carl Brantley, sold the business to Wurth out of Germany in January 2008.
- If you remember history our economy took a significant hit in 2008 so things naturally changed. We made the necessary cuts and came out stronger on the other side.
- We made a small acquisition in 2009 called Brikksen who was doing about $3-1/2 to $4 million in sales at the time. They sell to strictly distributors stainless steel and other non-ferrous materials which lined up with our current inventory. We infused time and resources into Brikksen which grew to over $20mm in sales in 2022.
- In 2013 Wurth Corporate set goals for each of their 14 USA companies. Our goal was to double in size by 2021. In 2021 we achieved $101.6mm in sales.
- In 2016 we injected the Wurth C-parts Solution (CPS) to inventory control and our customers loved it.
- In 2017 we were awarded ISO 9001 Certification.
- We also made another acquisition in 2020 called Fasco who sold to retail shops like West Marine and McMaster Carr. Again, through investing time and resources we were growing that business as well. Fasco started at about $3mm in sales and was on pace to do over $3.5mm in sales in 2022.
- I was able to build a team that had a culture that respected one another, encouraged, embraced change, loved the challenge and the success.
- Our annual profit ranged over 8% very after all expenses.
CSO
Marine Fasteners
01.1991 - 12.2000
- The Marine trade, boat manufacturers, flourished from 1984 when Marine opened until 1989 when it drastically slowed down due to the current economics. When the Marine trade slowed down in 1989/1990, we needed to find other industries that used stainless fasteners to survive and grow the business. I moved out of purchasing and began what we referred to as the Industrial Division.
- We focused on specific verticals/industries by attending trade shows and seminars to where we became experts in that industry concerning their fastener needs. We then used that expertise to speak intelligently to potential customers to build relationships. This process worked over and over in the different industries. This generated a huge amount of new business for us.
- We then began to use Vertical Managed Inventory (VMI) and Customer Managed Inventory (CMI) programs to lock in the business where we could geographically.
- Beyond that we created Supply Agreements using the forecast supplied from the customer to build inventory levels that support the customers’ needs today and into the future. We applied this process to the marine industry as well and signed the five largest fastener contracts in the boating industry. The first was the Independent Boat Builders (IBBI) in 1989, American Boat Builders (ABA) in 1991, United Marine Manufacturers Association (UMMA) in 1995, Brunswick Boat Group (BBG) in 1996, and White River Marine Group (WRMG) in 2015
- Through these programs we built long-lasting relationships with our customers. We have maintained the contracts for all these groups as of 2024.
- Many of our customers have been with Marine Fasteners 20, 25, and 30+ years. There are many customer letters of recommendation on file.
Purchasing Manager
Marine Fasteners
01.1989 - 12.1990
- My main objective in purchasing was to reduce our reliance on solely domestic suppliers to locating, communicating, and building relationships with overseas vendors that have been strengthened over the last 30+ years. This transition took years and created a 30%+ differential in our pricing versus the competitors’ pricing that set us apart and began the healthy growth.
Warehouse Manager
Marine Fasteners
03.1987 - 12.1988
- Opened the second location in Indiana to better serve the builders in the Midwest. It’s grown to where it’s now the second largest location nationwide. It continues to be the main location where all the import shipments arrive, broken down, and distributed to the other locations
- While in Indiana I worked in the warehouse and sales.
- I then moved back to Florida to support purchasing and help make some vital changes in that department.
Project Manager
Lockheed Martin Marietta
01.1980 - 03.1987
- I worked in the Quality Lab for four years and was promoted to the manufacturing plant as a Project Manager in the Manufacturing Process.
- I scheduled work, prepared documentation, attended the project meetings, and handled the processes to build tools for manufacturing.
Driver Supervisor
UPS
01.1976 - 01.1980
- I began on the preload in 1986.
- I was then promoted to Preload Supervisor in 1977 and then promoted to Driver Supervisor in 1978.
Education
Associate of Arts - Business Administration
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL01-1987
Skills
- Team Building
- Vision casting
- Long Term Planning
- Problem solving
- Project Management
- Financial management
Interests
Timeline
Senior Director of Administration
Crosslife Church
12.2022 - Current
CEO
Marine Fasteners
01.2001 - 10.2022
CSO
Marine Fasteners
01.1991 - 12.2000
Purchasing Manager
Marine Fasteners
01.1989 - 12.1990
Warehouse Manager
Marine Fasteners
03.1987 - 12.1988
Project Manager
Lockheed Martin Marietta
01.1980 - 03.1987
Driver Supervisor
UPS
01.1976 - 01.1980
Associate of Arts - Business Administration
University of Central Florida
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