Michelle Burrell

Skills & Abilities

20+ years’ experience in Product Development and Marketing for both publicly held Fortune 500 and privately held companies
Co-inventor/author various patents/articles on radio frequency cure-on-demand adhesives, plastic laser welding, and door protection

CornellCookson – Mountain Top/Wilkes Barre, PA

10/2010 — 9/2017

Developed and implemented all marketing strategies and initiatives
Increased market penetration and overall profitability by creating greater demand for products and services

In addition to product development responsibilities listed in position below, responsible for the strategic vision and execution of that vision for our growing Retail Business Segment, with a focus on National Accounts
- CornellCookson acquired their Retail National Account sales channel in 2014 (Cornell Storefront Systems which was integrated with five other divisions

AZEK Building Products – Scranton, PA

8/2009 to 10/2010

Full P&L responsibility of AZEK’s $100+ million cellular PVC trim and moulding product lines
Managed cross-functional teams to execute product development of AZEK’s trim and moulding product lines
Created and implemented a Stage-Gate New Product Development Process
Managed multiple consulting firms on projects like product innovation, industrial design, competitive intelligence, market studies and new/adjacent markets

InterMetro Industries – Wilkes Barre, PA

7/2007 to 8/2009

Managed Applications Engineer and AutoCAD Designer/Sales Support staff in US and Philippines
P&L Responsibility of Metro’s Starsys® product line; a modular storage, transport and work-center system for the healthcare and commercial markets.
Managed cross-functional teams to execute product development functions of Starsys® product line
Employed strategic planning and VOC for the development of “new to market” and ancillary products to complement the current offering. Prioritized all product development activities.
Utilized an award-winning stage-gate process for all product development activities from research to market. Presents pertinent information to the Product Development Committee (executive level management) for gate approval.
Developed educational materials and implemented training programs for direct sales force, independent representatives and dealers

Gentex Corporation – Carbondale, PA

9/2001 to 7/2007

Product & Applications Development Manager

Managed all US operations for a plastic laser welding assembly process (Clearweld®). Managed all relationships with key sales channel partners
Managed all R&D, Engineering, Contract Manufacturing, Customer Service and Marketing personnel.
Created a stage-gate implementation process to bring customers from feasibility through implementation of the Clearweld® process in their facility
Responsible for the development and implementation of the worldwide marketing strategy and operating plan. Developed a European and Asian presence. Assisted in development of a European applications development laboratory. Created European and Asian relationships with sales channel partners.
Identified plastic joining companies as potential sales channel partners and developed these relationships
Developed training program including technology transfer for domestic and international employees and partners.
Created and provided content for all promotional materials
Developed and implemented a contract/pilot manufacturing capability

Acted as point of contact for all customers and plastics joining industry to educate and gauge interest
Wrote technical white papers and articles in trade magazine publications
Prepared and presented seminars for customers and plastics joining/industry specific conferences
Exhibited or attended various domestic and international trade shows (plastics, medical, electronics, packaging, and automation shows)

Corning, Inc. – East Benton, PA

10/2000 to 9/2001

Developed and implemented new product processes for implementation in a new facility
Identified and evaluated process variability, bringing about solutions and projects focused on process control
Implemented Continuous Flow Manufacturing and balanced workloads in kitting
- Increased productivity by 230%
- Reduced errors by 90%
Conducted experiments (design, perform and evaluate) resulting in improved production performance and product quality
Provided education/training to 400+ Operations Associates as needed in the implementation of production process changes

Ameritherm, Inc. – Rochester, NY

10/1999 to 10/2000

Assisted in patent application processes, resulting in a patent for RF cure on demand adhesives
Performed feasibility studies resulting in Joint Development Agreements with consumable market industry leaders
Planned, conducted and analyzed DOEs, including statistical analysis and report preparation

Zotos International, Inc. – Rochester, NY

5/1994 to 10/1999

Evaluated raw materials, products made on-site and by outside vendors to determine if they meet product specifications
Audited other departments to determine whether their procedures comply with the ISO 9002 system, suggested corrective actions for non-compliance and ensured corrective action was implemented within allotted time

University of Scranton — BS Chemistry, Scranton, PA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT Sloan Executive Management — Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership, Cambridge, MA

Board of Directors – The Luzerne Foundation, Luzerne, PA
Mentor – Everwise Mentoring Program
2016 Recipient Salvation Army Community Service Award – Salvation Army, Wilkes-Barre, PA

Total Leadership Connections™ Program — Creative Energy Options: 2016-2017
Negotiation Training — Dr. Victoria Husted Medvec (Professor at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management): 2016
Decision Analysis — Stanford University: 2014
Action Selling — The Sales Board: 2010
Communicative Manager — Emerson Training Program for InterMetro Industries: 2008
Metro Leadership Development — InterMetro Industries: 2008
Manager Training — Penn State University: 2006
Time Management — Penn State University: 2006