TIM LANCASTER
McPherson,KS
Summary
Dynamic executive leader with extensive experience in driving strategic growth and developing key partnerships across specialized fabrication and infrastructure markets. Proven ability to lead complex projects and deliver tailored solutions in high-demand environments, particularly within data center and mission-critical infrastructure sectors.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President of Business Development
SERRMI PRODUCTS
Pittsburgh, KS
01.2024 - Current
- Executive leader responsible for strategic growth, market development, customer relationships, and major project opportunities across specialized fabrication and infrastructure markets.
- Led strategic business development initiatives across data center, railroad & transit, and oil & gas industries, driving market penetration and growth.
- Develop executive-level relationships with data center customers, EPCs, OEMs, contractors, utilities, integrators, and strategic industry partners.
- Identify and pursue complex, large-scale opportunities from early customer engagement and project development through RFQ/RFP, commercial negotiations, and contract award.
- Work directly with customers and project stakeholders to understand infrastructure requirements, project schedules, fabrication needs, supply-chain considerations, and execution challenges.
- Lead major RFQs and RFPs, coordinating estimating, engineering, project management, manufacturing, procurement, and operations to develop competitive and executable solutions.
- Developed strategic account plans and market strategies, resulting in actionable sales forecasts and long-term growth initiatives.
- Evaluate market opportunities and customer requirements against manufacturing capabilities, capacity, material availability, lead times, and commercial requirements.
- Provide executive leadership with market intelligence, competitive insights, strategic opportunities, and recommendations for future growth.
- Established and strengthened long-term partnerships within data center and infrastructure ecosystem, enhancing collaborative opportunities and business alignment.
- Represent the company in executive-level customer meetings, industry conferences, trade shows, and strategic market-development activities.
Director of Customer Relations
PTMW
Topeka, KS
01.2019 - 01.2024
- Senior customer-facing leadership role focused on national business development, strategic relationships, customer retention, and growth.
- Expanded relationships with existing and prospective customers, driving engagement and fostering loyalty across the United States.
- Developed a deep understanding of customer needs, competitive positioning, manufacturing capabilities, and market opportunities.
- Identified opportunities to expand existing accounts and enter new markets.
- Managed complex customer issues, developing strategies that restored confidence and strengthened long-term relationships.
- Worked directly with customers, engineers, project managers, and operations teams to develop solutions aligned with technical, commercial, and project requirements.
- Served as a bridge between customers and internal engineering, manufacturing, project management, and leadership teams.
- Provided leadership with customer and market intelligence that informed strategic decision-making and targeted growth initiatives.
Director of Specialized Products
PTMW
Topeka, KS
01.2015 - 01.2019
- Led a specialized business division focused on engineered products and mission-critical applications, with responsibility for customers, engineering, project execution, financial performance, and business growth.
- Cultivated strategic relationships with integrators, owners, EPCs, and mission-critical infrastructure customers to enhance collaboration and project success.
- Managed project managers by overseeing their activities and ensuring alignment with project goals. throughout the complete project lifecycle.
- Managed revenue, cost, margin, project performance, and overall business-unit results.
- Held P&L responsibility for individual projects and the specialized products business unit.
- Coordinated engineering, procurement, manufacturing, project management, and customer requirements to deliver complex projects on time and within budget.
- Led project engineers through solution development, engineering, and design.
- Evaluated material requirements, supplier capabilities, manufacturing capacity, and project schedules to support successful execution.
- Created solutions for highly engineered and schedule-sensitive projects, ensuring adherence to quality standards, cost constraints, capacity needs, and delivery timelines.
Director of Sourcing
PTMW
Topeka, KS
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Directed sourcing strategy and procurement activities to align with growth objectives of manufacturing organization.
- Led the organization's strategic sourcing and procurement activities for direct and indirect materials.
- Managed strategic supplier relationships while negotiating pricing, contracts, payment terms, and commercial conditions to optimize value.
- Developed and implemented streamlined purchasing processes and sourcing strategies to enhance operational efficiency.
- Reduced direct material costs through supplier negotiations, strategic sourcing, and improved purchasing practices.
- Evaluated suppliers based on cost, quality, lead time, capacity, delivery performance, and total cost of ownership.
- Worked closely with operations and production to ensure material availability and minimize supply-chain disruption.
- Supervised buyers and purchasing administrative staff to ensure effective procurement processes.
- Supported accounting and finance with purchasing reconciliation and invoice resolution.
Sourcing Coordinator
PTMW
Topeka, KS
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Joined organization during rapid growth and developed purchasing and supply-chain processes to support increased manufacturing demand.
- Managed purchasing activities across assigned commodities.
- Coordinated efforts across purchasing, production, project management, accounting, and operations to streamline processes.
- Coordinated material flow to support production schedules.
- Monitored open orders, supplier commitments, delivery schedules, and material requirements.
- Cultivated strong relationships with suppliers and subcontractors to enhance collaboration and efficiency.
- Implemented purchasing and supply-chain processes to improve coordination and visibility.
- Reduced inventory turn days by 50%.
Education
BACHELOR OF ARTS - BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Baker University
Baldwin City, KS01-2012
Skills
- Strategic Business Development
- Market development
- Customer relationships
- Strategic Partnerships
- Project & Program Leadership
- RFP strategies
- Contract negotiation
- Supply Chain Strategy
- Supply Chain & Strategic Sourcing
- Vendor management
- Financial management
- Cost management
- Operational Strategy
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Data Center & Mission-Critical Infrastructure
Industry Experience
- Data Centers & Mission-Critical Infrastructure
- Electrical & Power Infrastructure
- Engineered Manufacturing & Fabrication
- Railroad & Transit
- Oil & Gas
- Industrial & Heavy Manufacturing
Technology Professional Knowledge
- SAP
- Microsoft Dynamics SL
- Microsoft Office
- APICS Practices
- Strategic Sourcing
- Procurement
- Total Cost of Ownership Analysis
- P&L Management
- Project Management
- Manufacturing Operations
What I Bring To An Organization
Deep understanding of the data center and mission-critical infrastructure ecosystem, including owners, developers, EPCs, integrators, OEMs, contractors, utilities, and specialized manufacturers., Executive-level experience developing strategic accounts, identifying opportunities, leading major RFQs/RFPs, negotiating commercial relationships, and building long-term partnerships. Direct leadership experience in sourcing and procurement, supplier development, contract negotiation, material availability, inventory optimization, and total cost of ownership., Firsthand understanding of how engineered products move from customer requirement → engineering → sourcing → fabrication → project execution → delivery. Experience managing project teams, business units, budgets, P&L, profitability, schedules, customer expectations, and operational performance., Ability to connect business development, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, operations, project management, and customers around a common objective.
Timeline
Vice President of Business Development
SERRMI PRODUCTS
01.2024 - Current
Director of Customer Relations
PTMW
01.2019 - 01.2024
Director of Specialized Products
PTMW
01.2015 - 01.2019
Director of Sourcing
PTMW
01.2013 - 01.2015
Sourcing Coordinator
PTMW
01.2010 - 01.2013
BACHELOR OF ARTS - BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Baker University