Steve Bolin

I'm Steve Bolin, SVP - Customer Operations at Geneva Watch Group

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Steve Bolin is a multi-faceted business leader that is ideally suited to work in small to medium sized companies looking to turn around an underperforming business, move in a different direction, build out a new business opportunity or simply bring about change in their organization. He possesses a relentless and contagious positive attitude and a strong belief in servant leadership. His experience in all facets of a business – product development, operations, marketing, information technology and general management - give him a perspective to see how pieces from different areas fit together, creating synergies and making the whole equal more than the sum of its parts. Steve believes in people development, in the power of positive thinking and in moving with a sense of urgency and with purpose. He believe that change is the only constant and that you can’t teach curiosity.He has an incredible track record of successfully bringing about change in different ways within different businesses and across different disciplines. The common theme among them all……success. Steve's teams succeed and thrive regardless of the business challenges and best of all, they develop new leaders ready and able to continue moving the business forward. Steve is an expert in running complex operations, turning around failing units, building alliances and driving long-term revenue growth. He is a change agent with strong general management, HR management and P&L management skills. 

SVP - Customer Operations at Geneva Watch Group

April 2013 - Present | Canton, Michigan

Responsible for the management of all operational touch points between Geneva Watch Group and its customers and end consumers. Specific areas of accountability include inbound and outbound logistics, information technology, warehousing, order fulfillment and processing, customer service and after sales consumer service. Member of Executive Leadership Team. Active change agent during entire time at the company. Involved in all strategic initiatives launched to turn the company around and return it to profitability. Key accomplishments include: * Moved entire IT environment (servers and ERP environment) from data center in HKG back to the US in less than 3 months with no disruption to the company's operations. * Tripled capacity and more than doubled productivity, as measured by cost per unit produced, by re-engineering manufacturing processes in domestic watch assembly operation. * Redeveloped and launched sales representative and customer-facing web portal to streamline and improve efficiency of order entry, order processing and tracking or shipments. * Reduced after-sales service costs by over $300K and improved service levels through organizational restructuring and customer facing software implementation to supplement call center activities.

CEO at Tec Art Industries

December 2009 - April 2012 | Wixom, MI

Recruited by Private Equity firm to turn around under-performing company and position for a sale. Full P&L management responsibility. Focused on championing people development, creating an environment of empowerment, which resulted in improved decision making, sense of ownership and accountability. Streamlined the organization, revitalized product offering and re-invented go-to-market strategy resulting in return to profitability and a successful sale of the business. Improved gross margins by 4 basis points by: * Revitalizing product line through strategic elimination of old products and the introduction of new technology and dozens of new products into the mix. * Implementing a factory direct Far East sourcing strategy which included developing an end-to-end supply chain from scratch. * Rationalizing the domestic supplier base for components used in manufactured items. * Modifying the go-to-market and sales strategies and incentives to focus on higher margin items.

EVP Product Development & Marketing Services at Geneva Watch Group

February 2006 - December 2009 | New York City

Chosen for newly created position responsible for all product development and marketing for parent company worldwide. • One of 6 members on the senior management team, with 12 direct reports and responsibility for 94 employees worldwide (24 in the US and 70 in Hong Kong and China). • Integrated 5 separate product development groups into one worldwide functioning product development organization. • Defined, mapped and implemented Product Lifecycle Management system for the first time. Introduced timelines, milestones and accountabilities that improved the company’s speed-to-market on new products and reduced supply chain disruptions. • Reduced overall marketing expenses over $1 million and reduced directly controlled expenses over $350,000 (a 25% reduction) in the first year. • Created and implemented new license/business evaluation process. • Lead cross functional team that created and implemented a new launch process that resulted in the successful on-time launch of 5 new brands into the watch market world-wide over the last three years.

President - Geneva Clock Co. at Geneva Watch Group

November 2004 - February 2006 | Warren, MI

Promoted and assumed P&L responsibility for the Clock Division. Tasked with turning around the division’s sales and profitability after three straight years of double digit declines in sales and eroding gross margins. • Restructured the US and Far East operations, improving efficiencies and revitalizing the product line. • Developed and executed a successful strategy for dealing with the loss of a major brand license which had accounted for 54% of the division’s total sales. o Redesigned entire product line, rationalized product offering and implemented a new sales strategy. o The entire process took less than 8 months from concept to execution with new product on customers’ shelves. • Returned the division to profitability in the first year. Increased gross margins by 2 ½ basis points and delivered improved contribution margins while minimizing the sales decline.

VP Operations at Geneva Watch Group

November 2002 - November 2004 | Canton, MI

Promoted to oversee the company’s distribution centers in Michigan and New York City - employing over 245 people. Challenged to change the culture in the facilities and improve performance. • Reduced expenses 13% ($800,000) with increase in throughput of 26%, resulting in a 31.5% reduction in cost per piece shipped from Michigan facility in the first year. • Cut average lead-time to ship orders in half during this same time period. • Restructured New York facility and successfully implemented JD Edwards WMS. • Leveraged experience with Far East suppliers to improve supply chain efficiency. • Able to integrate distribution group into other parts of the organization (IT, sales, order management, planning, etc.) in order to improve the end-to-end process

VP Marketing at Advance Group Inc.

March 1996 - November 2002 | Warren, MI

Joined company with the objective of reinvigorating the product offering for a $24 million business that relied on Wal-Mart as their primary customer. • Grew the business by $76 million in four years to $100 million. • Responsible for leading Far East sourcing team. o Developed vendor base, worked with component vendors and production factories. • Added responsibility for sales and account management of the K-Mart business. o Increased revenue from $3 million to $15 million in three years. o Span of control from creative concept through presentation to retailer . • Developed retail sales analysis process and implemented replenishment programs.

Senior Buyer - Watches, Clocks, Sunglasses at Wal-Mart Stores

1993 - 1995 | Bentonville, AR

Total buying volume responsibility was $450 million. Had six direct reports. • Launched Wal-Mart’s first direct import private label sunglass program, including negotiations with Far East factories. • Increased the sunglass business from $36 million to $64 million in just less than two years, while increasing gross margins over 10 basis points.

Washington University in St. Louis - Olin Business School

1985 – 1987

M.B.A.

Concentration: Marketing

Activities: Vice President Graduate Business Association

Benedictine College

1981 – 1985

BA

Concentration: Economics, Business, Computer Science

Activities: Captain and 4 year starter on varsity soccer team. Resident Assistant for 3 years.

President of St. Michael's Parish Usher's Club Assistant Basketball Coach at St. Michael's School Avid Golfer. Enjoy playing and watching soccer. Play and manage in men's softball league.