Kelsey Stopkey
Charlotte,NC
Summary
Dynamic senior operations leader with extensive experience in manufacturing, packaging, and direct-to-consumer operations. Demonstrated success in people management, process optimization, and cost reduction, while fostering cross-functional collaboration and elevating safety and quality standards.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Manager, Operations
BIC
Charlotte, NC
01.2024 - Current
- Drive significant labor and operating cost improvements by enforcing disciplined headcount and overtime management, reducing turnover, standardizing work, and partnering with vendors, Procurement, Finance, and cross-functional leaders, delivering $600K+ favorable direct labor and $1.3M+ favorable to the annual Packaging budget, while securing CapEx approval for automation, improving labor cost accuracy, and unlocking sustained productivity gains
- Led a site-wide safety transformation by redesigning high-risk forklift/pedestrian layouts, eliminating ergonomic hazards, executing 5S standards, strengthening PPE and emergency response practices, and providing interim safety leadership, resulting in reduced interaction risk, stronger compliance, and continuation of 3+ years with no Lost Time Injuries (LTI)
- Champion a data-driven quality improvement culture across Packaging and Inkbox operations, achieving 0.10 DPM (defects per million) through disciplined corrective action, workforce stabilization, standardized KPI, and ISO-aligned process standardization, leading to the attainment of ISO22716 Cosmetic GMP certification and FDA Medical Device establishment for the Inkbox operation
- Strengthen cross-functional alignment and customer outcomes for Inkbox operations by partnering with IT and Customer Service to enforce SLAs, accelerate fulfillment, and embed KPI-driven decision-making, consistently achieving less than 3-day processing fulfillment target
- Own end-to-end inventory management for Inkbox and Tattly, establishing SOPs from the ground up to ensure inventory and cost accuracy, purchasing discipline, and reliable delivery while balancing customer expectations with operational and financial constraints
Operations Manager
BIC
Charlotte, NC
05.2023 - 12.2023
- Directed 1st and 2nd shift production operations, overseeing a Production Manager, multiple shift supervisors, and 450+ packaging associates, consistently delivering safety, quality, and production targets across a high-volume environment
- Led the onsite startup and scale-up of Inkbox and Tattly manufacturing, assembly, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) fulfillment operations, building processes, staffing models, and workflows from the ground up to stabilize execution, increase throughput, and strengthen end-to-end DTC service performance
- Designed and implemented cross-functional planning processes that drove 99% weekly schedule attainment, organized and completed $750K in rework, and delivered $1M+ in combined direct labor, indirect labor, and material cost savings
- Drove operational excellence and cost efficiency by redesigning training and shift-handoff processes to improve retention and productivity, strengthening scheduling and performance controls, tightening labor and OT governance, and co-developing the 2024 budget to deliver $500K+ in sustained savings
Production Manager
BIC
Charlotte, NC
02.2022 - 05.2023
- Managed 1st shift supervisor and 250+ packaging associates, coordinating daily production floor execution to meet safety, quality, and output targets
- Reduced internal quality defects by 42% and rework by 29% by designing and deploying standardized hourly quality check processes
- Led cost-savings and lean manufacturing initiatives, optimizing headcount and throughput through process improvement and disciplined 5S implementation
- Developed and enforced contingent workforce policies in partnership with HR, driving a 24% reduction in turnover and a 3.5% improvement in attendance
- Partnered with HR to deliver monthly leadership and soft-skills training for hourly team leads, strengthening frontline leadership capability and workforce engagement
Production Process Engineer/Manager
Prysmian Group
Claremont, NC
08.2020 - 02.2022
- Directed all glassmaking processes of optical fiber factory, including the management of process control engineers and technicians
- Utilized data-analysis tools to identify and realize improvements in production output through preventive maintenance and machine optimization, resulting in a 25% daily production and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) increase
- Collaborated with raw and non-raw material suppliers to identify drifts in quality and validate new material, maintaining optimal internal product quality
- Coordinated cost-reduction projects with international colleagues using lean six sigma methodologies, directing the daily and monthly activities in the workshop
R&D Process Engineer
Prysmian Group
Billy-Berclau, France
07.2018 - 07.2020
- Transferred the equipment, technology, and documentation of newly developed cost-reducing glassmaking processes between French, US, and Dutch optical fiber factories
- Led cross-functional teams to test and validate new glass products by determining feasibility and identifying roadblocks in path to full-time production
- Industrialized new equipment and implemented it into production by developing process control tools and standard work procedures
International Graduate Program
Prysmian Group
Claremont, NC
02.2017 - 07.2020
- Rotated through R&D, Sales, Operations, and Logistics departments during first year of the program to gain full understanding of business in preparation for 2-year international assignment
- Attended yearly trainings in Milan, IT at Prysmian Headquarters and SDA Bocconi School of Management, interacting and collaborating on the business progression of the company with global colleagues and top-level management
Associate
alliantgroup, LP
Houston, TX
06.2016 - 02.2017
- Utilized technical knowledge to identify and calculate research and development tax credits for small and midsize businesses
- Managed the progression of over 60 multi-industry studies to meet strict internal and external deadlines, achieving monthly and quarterly output targets
- Conducted detailed project discussions and interviews with project managers in engineering and manufacturing industries
Education
BSE - Chemical Engineering
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 08.2012 - 05/2016
Procurement And Supply Management Certificate -
University of North Carolina At Charlotte
Charlotte, NC 10.2025 - 11.2025
BIC Illuminate Leadership Journey
The Ken Blanchard Companies
05-2024
Reliability Excellence Funadamentals
Life Cycle Institute
10-2017
Skills
- Supply Chain Management
- Process Engineering
- People Management
- Lean Six-Sigma
- Data Analysis
- Process Improvement
- Project Management
- Microsoft Office
- French Language (Intermediate)
Timeline
Procurement And Supply Management Certificate -
University of North Carolina At Charlotte
10.2025 - 11.2025
Senior Manager, Operations
BIC
01.2024 - Current
Operations Manager
BIC
05.2023 - 12.2023
Production Manager
BIC
02.2022 - 05.2023
Production Process Engineer/Manager
Prysmian Group
08.2020 - 02.2022
R&D Process Engineer
Prysmian Group
07.2018 - 07.2020
International Graduate Program
Prysmian Group
02.2017 - 07.2020
Associate
alliantgroup, LP
06.2016 - 02.2017
BSE - Chemical Engineering
Arizona State University
08.2012 - 05/2016
BIC Illuminate Leadership Journey
The Ken Blanchard Companies
Reliability Excellence Funadamentals
Life Cycle Institute