Expert Details
Metal Packaging (Beverage Cans, Aerosol Cans, Food Cans, etc.), Design, and Innovation

ID: 735160
Georgia, USA
Expert's team and he commercialized numerous new products at Coke in his last role including Share A Coke packaging, shaped aluminum bottle, digital cooler, solar vendor, recyclable full-body shrink label, sparkling PlantBottle®, reusable vessel, 1.25 L and 253 ml plastic bottles, and the variety station. Expert provides management consulting in metal packaging and more generically packaging to global CPG brand owners, start-ups, package manufacturers, etc.
Key areas of focus:
Cost Reduction, Package Development, Optimized Manufacturing, Technical Analysis, Project Management, Material Knowledge, Expert Witness
Overview:
MS and BS in Mechanical Engineering
30+ years experience
Worked for Coca-Cola and Alcoa
Expert witness experience
~20 patents granted
Understand the complete value chain
Cans, end metal bottles
Education
Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
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Year: 1985 | Degree: Master of Science | Subject: Mechanical Engineering | Institution: Michigan Technological University |
Year: 1983 | Degree: Bachelor of Science | Subject: Mechanical Engineering | Institution: Michigan Technological University |
Work History
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
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Years: 2016 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Principal | Department: |
Responsibilities:Management consulting in packaging with a specialty in metal packaging (beverage cans, aerosol cans, food cans, etc.) |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2015 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: President | Department: |
Responsibilities:Consultant on metal, plastic, and secondary packaging development for international packaging manufacturers and brand owners.- Services include cost reduction, technical deep dives, project management, new package development, package strategy, assessments, opportunity identification, packaging specifications, problem-solving, etc. Management consulting in packaging with a specialty in metal packaging (beverage cans, aerosol cans, food cans, etc.). New product development. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2013 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Group Director | Department: R&D |
Responsibilities:Responsible for sparkling package and immediate consumption equipment development (ideation through commercialization) in North America.- Managed a team of 20 technical professionals (full-time, contractors, and interns) that commercialized ~20 new products. - Grew Coca-Cola’s declining NA Sparkling Business through innovation and leadership. - Delivered tens of millions of dollars in productivity savings. - Commercialized several strategic initiatives to supported company sustainability objectives. - Developed solutions to maintain business continuity in high-risk situations. - Leveraged external talent to meet business needs and translate ideas into forms more easily understood by brand, marketing, and strategy personnel. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2010 to 2013 | Employer: The Coca-Cola Company | Title: Director | Department: |
Responsibilities:Responsible for sparkling package development in North America.- Managed a team of 6 associates that commercialized ~15 projects. - Developed a 3-year strategic packaging innovation pipeline for the sparkling business unit. Commercialized the sparkling PlantBottle®. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2009 to 2010 | Employer: The Coca-Cola Company | Title: Global Packaging Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Responsible for growing our global business with customers in the club and hard discounter channels through packaging innovation.- Developed and commercialized several innovations for Club Store & Hard Discounter customers. - Developed global packaging standards for the global juice business. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2006 to 2009 | Employer: The Coca-Cola Company | Title: Global Packaging Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:Responsible for global sparkling package development (Coca-Cola, Diet Coke/Coke Light, Sprite, and Fanta)- Commercialized several new global packages in support of Coca-Cola, Sprite, and Fanta brand strategies – Coke OTG bottle, Fanta Splash bottle and glass, Sprite Zero package, etc. - Championed development and commercialization of the contour M5 alu bottle. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2004 to 2006 | Employer: The Coca-Cola Company | Title: Global Polymer Packaging Development Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:Responsible polymer and polymer-related developments globally.- Managed a 4-person team of polymer engineers, scientists, and chemists. - Commercialized proprietary acetaldehyde scavenger for PET (AAA) water bottles. - Evaluated plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) barrier and Melt-To-Preform technologies. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2000 to 2004 | Employer: The Coca-Cola Company | Title: Group Manager, Global Metal Packaging & Global Package Design | Department: |
Responsibilities:Responsible for industrial design, computer-aided design, and metal packaging globally.- Managed a 5-person team of metallurgists, industrial designers, and CAD designers. - Launched PowerAde aluminum bottle in North America and converted the global Coca-Cola System to PVC-free can end coatings. - Restarted the GA Chapter of PDMA with 5 professionals. President for 2 years. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1998 to 2000 | Employer: The Coca-Cola Company | Title: Group Manager, Global Packaging Materials Development | Department: |
Responsibilities:Responsible for polymer, metal, and glass material developments globally.- Managed a 4-person team of metallurgists, material scientists, polymer scientists, and polymer chemists. - Developed Acetaldehyde scavenging (AAA later commercialized), PET barrier improvement (PLEMAT later commercialized), and improved product flavor through closure material reformulation (later commercialized). |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1997 to 1998 | Employer: The Coca-Cola Company | Title: Principal Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Responsible for metal package developments globally. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1985 to 1997 | Employer: Alcoa Inc. | Title: Techncial Supervisor | Department: R&D |
Responsibilities:Responsible for leading a technical new product development team and being the technical member of the business unit's new product development team.- Managed a 4-person technical team that commercialized 2 new-to-the-world packaging innovations - D&I aluminum bottle and sleek can. - Commercialized the B64 end shell that saved the metal packaging industry ~$400MM annually. |
International Experience
Years | Country / Region | Summary |
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Years: 1985 to 2015 | Country / Region: Numerous - Europe, Asia/Australia, South America | Summary: Worked with packaging suppliers, equipment suppliers and brand owners globally relative to packaging innovation. |
Career Accomplishments
Associations / Societies |
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Institute of Packaging Professionals - Southeast Chapter President and Board Member Project Management Institute Packaging Digest Editorial Board The Canmaker Magazine Editorial Board Product Development and Management Association |
Licenses / Certifications |
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Strategy and Innovation Executive Education Certification from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA New Product Development Certification from Product Development and Management Association Project Management Certification from Project Management Institute Six Sigma Green Belt |
Awards / Recognition |
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Institute of Packaging Professionals Southeast Chapter: inducted into honor society and won Chapter of the Year 3 years in a row as Southeast President. 4 Metal Packaging Awards |
Publications and Patents Summary |
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20+ Patents Issued 1 Alloy Registration 10 Published Technical Papers |
Additional Experience
Expert Witness Experience |
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Five patent cases. Additional information is available upon request. |
Marketing Experience |
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Worked functionally with Coke Global Marketing for 5 years relative to package innovation. |