Vincent Lyons

Accomplished and seasoned Stanford-educated Engineering, Product Development, and Operations Executive with 20 plus years of experience across a diverse range of industries. With a proven track record of success in engineering, product development, business development, operations, and P&L leadership with extensive experience in transforming businesses, leading strategy and growth and directing change management. Have become known as a collaborative and servant leader, customer centric visionary, and an agent for change with a passion for leadership development.

• University of Arkansas College of Engineering, Fayetteville, AR, Advisory Council Member, 2015, 2022
• Spuhl ag, wittenbach, switzerland, Board of Directors Member, 2006, 2016

• A dynamic career including over 25 years of global automotive, consumer appliances, diversified manufacturing and aerospace & defense experience leading engineering and operations.
• Selected as a General Motors Scholar and General Motors Fellow to earn both bachelors and master's degrees in mechanical engineering.
• Led the first-ever GM European Homologation team that redesigned the Chevrolet Blazer for sell to Europe.
• As the Program Manager, New Business Development for United Technologies Automotive, led the team in winning the Delta Program from General Motors worth over $1 billion per year in sales.
• Created, developed, and launched the French Door Refrigerator Platform for Maytag Corporation which became the most successful refrigerator platform in the history of the appliance industry.
• Led Leggett & Platt’s corporate engineering operations and Machinery & Technology Group through the recession of 2008 by right-sizing capacity, optimizing product lines, and reducing structural costs to remain viable and restore profitability afterward.
• Created the Smart Products Division for Leggett & Platt responsible for developing a smart ecosystem of products including Internet of Things (IoT), Software, wireless charging, electrification, and many others.

• Hall of Fame Inductee, US Black Engineer of the Year Award (2011)
• Southern University College of Engineering “Distinguished Alumni Award” (2006)
• US Black Engineer of the Year Award “Promotion of Engineering Education” (1989)
• Black Enterprise, “The Top 100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America” (2009 & 2013)
• Active Department of Defense Security Clearance

• Director, Whole Life Engineering & ENGINEERING SITE LEADER, Collins Aerospace (rtx), St. Petersburg, FL, 2023, CURRENT, Steering the Whole Life Engineering function for Collins to optimize successful outcomes and maximize performance. Point of Contact for business transformation from Raytheon to Collins Aerospace. Direct operations of 30+ engineering labs, conducting temperature testing utilizing 300+ environmental chambers, vibration testing, EMI/TEMPEST testing, and front-end design and development. Responsible for successful Corporate AS9100 QMS Audits and 3rd party NQA Audits. Engineering site leader for both Largo and St. Petersburg facilities.
• Vice President, Engineering Operations & CTO, activepure technologies, llc, 2022, 2023, Responsible for overall technology leadership including advanced technology, engineering operations, program management, information technology and corporate quality. Developed 5 year technology roadmaps to ensure continued global leadership. Leading company in obtaining QMS and ISO certifications. Leading the development of ActivePure Research Labs, LLC. Report directly to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and member of the senior leadership team.
• Director, Systems Engineering / Specialty Engineering, Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX), 2018, 2022, Responsible for managing the engineering labs, EMI/TEMPEST, engineering assets and supply chain activities with locations in Texas, California, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, and Maryland. Oversee Lateral Test Engineering consisting of Environmental Testing, Lab Management, Advanced Prototyping, Metrology, EMI and Spectrum Management. Achieved successful Corporate AS9100 QMS Audits and 3rd Party NQA Audits in 2018 and 2019. Developed and implemented an Asset Optimization Strategy that saved the company over $100M per year. Developed new Prognostics process to reduce overall test cycles and NPD testing using predictive analysis.
• Private Consultant (President and CEO, National Instrument LLC dba Filamatic), VSL group, LLC, 2016, 2018, Responsible for setting the strategic direction and overall management of one of the premier liquid filling and capping machinery companies in the country. Strategic Plan Development. Develop value creation and growth strategies. Mergers and acquisitions planning.
• VP, Engineering & Technology and President, Machinery & Technology Group, Leggett & Platt, Inc. (NYSE: LEG), 2006, 2016, Hired by the CEO in a dual role with functional responsibility for engineering and product development of the S&P 500 Company and full P&L operational responsibility for the Machinery & Technology Group. Developed and implemented the WIN 70/30 Innovation Strategy for the corporation. Leggett ranked #30 by Patent Board List of Most Innovative Companies in 2008 and moved up to #22 for 2009. New product strategies helped to improve profit margins from over 30% from 2006 to 2015. Machinery & Technology Group had operations in Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Germany, UK, Mexico, China and the United States. Developed global sales and marketing strategies to position each brand of M&T Group as the #1 or #2 top selling brands in the world. Led an Inventory Management Review and reduced “Days Inventory Outstanding” over 30% and significantly increased inventory turns. Sales and profit margins for the Machinery & Technology Group increased from $189M in 2006 to over $230M in 2018 with profit margins of 7% to 11% respectively. Implemented continuous improvement and lean processes throughout global sites.
• Vice President, R&D and Engineering, Maytag CORPORATION (Now Whirlpool, NYSE: WHR), 2001, 2006, Served as the Chief Technology Officer for Maytag’s multi-billion dollar Refrigeration Business with engineering centers in Amana, IA, Galesburg, IL, Mexico, and London, England. Successfully reorganized refrigeration product development with the acquisition and integration of Amana Products. Prior to reorganization, Refrigeration was considered weakest among Maytag’s businesses. Launched 5 new refrigeration platforms in 2001 and 2002 with each targeted at 50% quality and 25% cost improvements including the very successful French Door Bottom Freezer. Established first-ever Virtual Realty Center in the appliance industry at Maytag. Refrigeration Business became the “cash cow” of the corporation with the success of French Door Refrigerator.
• Engineering Director & Business Unit Manager, VISTEON CORPORATION (NYSE: VS), 2000, 2001, Senior engineering and business unit manager for the $300M sensors and actuator business. Achieved a 10% improvement in gross profit margin and ROS in one year through process improvements, VAVE workshops, DFMA and Lean Initiatives. Received the Nissan Quality and Zero Defect Award from Nissan Motor Company of Japan. Served as Visteon’s Chief Negotiator on $500 million Joint Development Agreement with Hitachi of Japan to develop the next generation pressure sensor.
• Platform Director, lear Corporation/United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: LEA/UTX), 1996, 2000, Lear Corporation acquired United Technologies Automotive in 1999. Led the General Motors Switch Programs generating over $500M per year in revenue. As Program Manager, New Business Development, led team in winning the GM Delta Program worth over $1 billion in annual revenues. Served as Engineering Group Manager for the $100M Motors Products Unit manufacturing DC motors. Received QS-9000 certification after only 6 months.
• Engineering Group Manager, General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), 1986, 1996, Started career with General Motors as a GM Scholar while still in college. Responsible for product design and engineering for all suspension, dampers and tires for current and future small truck products. Implemented weight reduction initiatives that resulted in reducing overall vehicle weight by 15%. Chevrolet Blazer selected as Motor Trends Truck of the Year with suspension/ride and handling receiving the magazine’s highest praise. Export/International Engineer responsible for European Homologation of Chevrolet Blazer product.

Hall of Fame Inductee, US Black Engineer of the Year Award (2011)

Southern University College of Engineering "Distinguished Alumni Award" (2006)

US Black Engineer of the Year Award "Promotion of Engineering Education" (1989)

Black Enterprise, "The Top 100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America" (2009 & 2013)

Active Department of Defense Security Clearance