Robert J. Thompson

Stryten Energy specializes in manufacturing advanced lead, lithium, and vanadium batteries, along with intelligent chargers and energy management software.

• Directed enterprise PMO portfolios spanning Transportation, Energy Components, and IT business units, representing 400+ projects, $290M Capex, and $135M EBITDA.

• Led cross-functional teams to evaluate AGM battery production strategies, infrastructure requirements, and financial viability for a $90M investment, targeting $50M EBITDA, and $224M annual revenue.

• Spearheaded a $7.5M Capex project to increase the capacity of charging and discharging batteries at Stryten’s manufacturing facility in Salina, KS, producing $5M annual cost savings.

• Coordinated a $3.8M Capex project to increase the production capacity of lead oxide at Stryten’s manufacturing facility in Salina, KS with a realized cost savings of $1.9M.

• Achieved $2.8M annualized cost savings by redesigning lead-acid battery grid plates, with a $345K Capex investment, at Stryten’s manufacturing facility in Kansas City, MO.

• Facilitated a $5M Capex capacity expansion at Stryten’s manufacturing facility in Manchester, IA aligning infrastructure requirements with operational and financial goals.

• Executed a $600K Capex project by securing a $657K annual lease to renovate a 65K sq. ft. facility in Cumming, GA to provide an infrastructure to produce lithium battery production.

• Orchestrated and completed the annual corporate Capital Planning Process, overseeing a $35M annual Capex budget across 26 North American sites by presenting and obtaining approval from the executive leadership team and Board of Directors.

Blue Bird Corporation is a leading American manufacturer of school buses powered by diesel, gasoline, propane, and electric drivetrains.

• Led a portfolio of 250 projects valued at $125M Capex, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, on-time delivery, and budget adherence.

• Executed a $53M EBITDA cost savings program, uniting purchasing and engineering teams to navigate global supply chain headwinds, mitigating economic risks, and improving profitability.

• Achieved $1.8M in annual cost savings by leading a cross-functional Value Stream Mapping initiative.

• Delivered $3M in annual cost savings by integrating electrical architecture enhancements using Voice of the Customer, Lean Six Sigma methodologies.

• Created high-impact executive dashboards, streamlining reporting processes, and improving visibility and communication into key portfolio metrics for informed decision-making.

• Directed a team of six supervisors and 150 associates, driving improvements in school bus assembly by implementing employee training initiatives that exceeded efficiency, quality, and safety goals.

• Reduced workplace incidents by 23% by instituting a daily safety training program.

• Achieved an 85% reduction in defects per unit using Kaizen and Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) principles to drive continuous process improvements and eliminate waste.

Allen-Orton is a distributor specializing in motion control and automation components and systems, catering to the manufacturing, energy, and industrial automation industries.

• Led a staff of 18 across Engineering, Purchasing, Logistics, and Production Assembly.

• Increased hydraulic power unit assembly efficiency by 23% through optimized inventory management and streamlining 6S Lean Six Sigma for continuous improvement.

• Established a distribution and service center in middle Georgia, serving Allen-Orton's largest customers, Robins Air Force Base (RAFB), and Blue Bird Corporation.

• Managed a $150M portfolio, leading sourcing strategies for engines, transmissions, and axles.

• Generated $8M in annual savings by negotiating long-term contracts with Blue Bird's top expenditure categories, reducing costs, and improving supplier relationships.

• Sourced $3M of stamping dies for Blue Bird's largest school bus redesign in 50 years.

• Delivered $2.2M in annual savings using Lean Six Sigma strategies on chassis assembly lines.

• Successfully launched a $12M low-cost school bus initiative targeting contractor markets.