MELISSA STEPHENS
Elizabethtown,KY
Summary
Results-driven leader with over 15 years of manufacturing expertise, most recently launching BlueOvalSK's Kentucky battery mega site. Proven ability to navigate complex business development landscapes and achieve strategic goals within the battery and EV sector. Committed to fostering a culture of innovation and operational excellence to drive long-term industrial growth
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Acting Team Manager
BlueOvalSk
Glendale, KY
11.2025 - Current
- Operations Leadership: Direct all Electrode manufacturing operations, ensuring peak efficiency, quality, and on-time delivery for high-scale production goals.
- Strategic Resource Management: Optimize manpower and resource allocation to hit aggressive output targets while significantly reducing operational costs.
- Workforce Development: Lead staff training and 'Versatility' strategies, mentoring production teams to ensure 100% compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
- Contractor Management: Oversee key external partners (Moverette, Samkoo, and SKOTP), managing performance and resolving roadblocks to ensure seamless integration.
- Process Optimization: Spearhead Lean and 6S initiatives to identify bottlenecks, streamline workflows, and eliminate waste across the plant.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Quality Control, Supply Chain, and Support departments to drive plant-wide cost-effectiveness and operational synergy.
- Financial & Data Oversight: Monitor KPIs, manage inventory, and control production costs, providing detailed status reports to senior leadership.
Sr Production Supervisor
BlueOvalSk
Glendale, KY
05.2025 - 11.2025
- Coordinated: activities between tech and operations teams to bridge the gap between automation and production.
- Managed: workforce versatility and manpower placement, ensuring 100% leadership coverage during peak times.
- Executed: quality protocols, including Gemba walks, contamination audits, and the development of rigorous control plan documentation (Level D/E).
- Directed third-party contractors and vendor lists (MRO/MTO) while procuring all departmental consumables and overseeing inventory audits.
Production Supervisor
BlueOvalSk
Glendale, KY
11.2023 - 05.2025
- Tasked by senior leadership to oversee and report commissioning of machines through launch tasks and progress of equipment.
- Executed contamination mapping documents, process implementation, training, and led CEO presentations. Maintained clean room environments by educating and directing personnel.
- Cross functional Collaboration partner with Quality Control, Supply Chain, and Support departments to drive plant-wide cost-effectiveness and operational synergy.
- Workforce Development through Training/ Mentoring hourly and salary personnel, driving KPI's through servant leadership. Oversaw planning/completion of on-the-job training, teaching team building, OIS writing to multiple departments and other sister facilities.
- Directed production plans through task delegation, establishing priorities, and monitoring progress. Placements of manpower by evaluating labor metrics and operator skillsets and managing conflict resolution between departments and personnel.
Production Supervisor
EMERSON / TOPWORX
Louisville, KY
02.2022 - 11.2023
- Operational leadership and strategic development of operators and allocation of resources and skillsets. Monitoring workflow and KPI targets, pivoting through multiple lines to produce manufactured products.
- Executed manufacturing results by communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results through coaching, counseling and disciplining employees. Initiating and enforcing systems, policies and procedures.
- Implement cost reductions and continuous improvement through Kaizen/ SIX SIGMA. Updating process and observing control points and equipment.
- Directed production plans by scheduling and establishing priorities, delegating tasks. monitoring progress and revising schedules.
- Cross functional collaboration between support and operations teams to execute targets. Resolves conflict between personnel and departments by investigations and analyzing data.
Production Supervisor
FORD Motor Company/ AEROTEK
Louisville, KY
09.2020 - 02.2022
- Cross functional collaboration, leading with One FORD (leadership) behaviors combined with outstanding interpersonal, teambuilding, and communication skills with safety, quality and support staff to include senior leadership to ensure objectives are being met and communicating all issues.
- Implement and optimize throughput in accordance with Kaizen (Continuous Improvement) and coach problem resolution to the lowest level through Process Confirmation resulting in budget and cost objectives.
- Executed First Time Through, inventory, cost, scrap, supply, and tooling expense targets by maintaining expectations and enforcing policies, analyzing data and pivoting through roadblocks.
- Workforce Development Build Team Leader and Team Member capability to optimize throughput through strategic planning and versatility.
- Directed work to unionized hourly workforce and holding employees accountable for following processes pertaining to daily work assignments in terms of safety, quality, and throughput creating a conducive work environment to complete tasks and achieve target metrics.
Production Coordinator
AGC
Elizabethtown, KY
10.2019 - 07.2020
- Directed all plant activity on shift, working closely with other leadership to promote a safe and productive work environment through Lean principles and 6s.
- Cross functional Collaboration and communication to all levels of associates and departments within the company to execute targets and resolve conflicts.
- Execute production startups, shutdowns and job changes by managing labor metrics and skill sets to ensure all departmental and plant metrics are met.
- Implement and lead problem solving activities including cost reductions and continuous improvement by monitoring and analyzing data.
- Workforce Development through coaching. Develops plans through consistent training and annual performance evaluations to production teams for continued success.
- ISO Certified Automotive Supplier
General Manager
Culvers
Simpsonville, KY
10.2018 - 05.2019
- Directed team to increase business sales and net profit to meet the annual budget while attaining the mission through preparation and review of daily/ weekly summary reports against daily controls.
- Executed completion of daily and weekly follow-up of schedule and daily deployment based on budget forecasts to meet system labor percentages.
- Maintains and controls product inventory according to business needs and reducing waste by maintaining controllable costs.
- Workforce Development through planning/ monitoring effective training strategies and demonstration of food safety practices.
Production Coordinator
METALSA STRUCTURES
Elizabethtown, KY
03.2012 - 09.2018
- Operational Leadership in directing 40+ unionized employees and Support Techs on production rotation, goal setting and performance management targeting key performance indicators.
- Identified and anticipated plant needs, developed plans, and made recommendations for implementation to senior leadership.
- Directed work load distribution in operations and manage daily changes in production and scheduling. Analyze bottlenecks and optimization of process' using Lean principles.
- Monitor all reporting activities (production, scrap, etc.) to ensure accuracy and identify areas of opportunity for performance improvement.
- Workforce Development Training and mentoring team leaders and team members in cross-training activities, problem solving and escalation in abnormal operating conditions.
- Launch team participation in new production of Falcon frames to include teaching natural business teams and team building as part of Metalsa Operating Systems.
Education
Diploma -
Central Hardin
Business Management - Credit Hours
Sullivan University
Skills
- Production and assembly leadership
- Analytical process improvements
- Total Quality Management
- Relationship development expertise
- Direct management of supervisors and supervisor development
- KPI delivery and reporting
- Green belt SIX SIGMA
- Adaptability and flexibility
Timeline
Acting Team Manager
BlueOvalSk
11.2025 - Current
Sr Production Supervisor
BlueOvalSk
05.2025 - 11.2025
Production Supervisor
BlueOvalSk
11.2023 - 05.2025
Production Supervisor
EMERSON / TOPWORX
02.2022 - 11.2023
Production Supervisor
FORD Motor Company/ AEROTEK
09.2020 - 02.2022
Production Coordinator
AGC
10.2019 - 07.2020
General Manager
Culvers
10.2018 - 05.2019
Production Coordinator
METALSA STRUCTURES
03.2012 - 09.2018
Diploma -
Central Hardin
Business Management - Credit Hours
Sullivan University