Water Cooler wisdom

Year in review

By Catherine Landgraf February 7, 2025
Each year, 180one presents our Year in Review, sharing our insights into the overall executive talent market and recapping the work we performed on behalf of our clients throughout the year. To explore what we saw in years’ past, check out the Year in Review section of The Water Cooler.
February 29, 2024
Each year, 180one presents the Year in Review, sharing our insights into the overall executive talent market and recapping the work we performed on behalf of our clients throughout the year. To explore what we saw in years’ past, check out the Year in Review section of The Water Cooler.
March 9, 2023
Each year, 180one presents the Year in Review, sharing our insights about the overall executive talent market and recapping the work we performed on behalf of our clients throughout the year. To explore what we saw in years’ past, check out the Year in Review section of The Water Cooler.

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By Catherine Landgraf February 13, 2025
Vice President of People Services ABOUT THE COMPANY Every Decision. Every Detail. Every Day. Locally owned since 1886, Lewis Crutcher Lewis is a commercial construction company committed to making a positive impact for their clients and the community they build in. At Lewis, where every employee is an owner, their people are empowered to make decisions – big and small – to meet the goals of their clients. They understand that in construction even the smallest of details affect the integrity of the work and the safety of their sites. That’s why their teams are tenacious when it comes to getting it right, day in and day out, to deliver quality buildings that stand the test of time. With personal fulfillment as one of their six core values, Lewis has a collaborative and supportive culture committed to the success and development of their people. A few notable projects which highlight their expertise in delivering high-quality, innovative projects for their clients include: The Rainier Square Tower in downtown Seattle; the Oregon Zoo Elephant Lands and the Cedarbrook Lodge . ABOUT THE ROLE The VP of People Services will serve as a strategic partner to the executive team, aligning people strategies with organizational goals to drive growth, innovation, and cultural excellence. This role will lead the charge in creating a supportive, inclusive and collaborative workplace across all levels of the organization. With a focus on scaling talent acquisition, retention, and development programs, the VP of People Services will leverage data-driven insights and innovative approaches to enhance workforce planning, performance management, and overall organizational health. In addition to driving strategic priorities, this role will act as a trusted coach and mentor, empowering the People Services team to support employees and leaders effectively. They will prioritize people over processes, ensuring a culture that values empathy, authenticity, and connection. This role requires a visionary leader who can navigate the complexities of a multi-state and unionized environment while designing actionable solutions to HR challenges and continuously adapting to evolving business needs. PRIMARY FUNCTIONS & ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Leadership : Serve as a key advisor to the CEO and executive leadership, aligning people strategies with organizational goals and fostering a culture of performance and inclusion. Align People Strategies: Collaborate with executive leadership to develop and implement People Services and Learning and Development strategies that support business objectives, drive growth, and enhance organizational effectiveness. Foster Inclusive Culture: Champion inclusion initiatives to create a workplace where all employees feel valued, engaged, and empowered to perform at their best. Support Decision-Making: Provide data-driven insights and recommendations on workforce trends, talent acquisition, compensation, and retention to inform strategic planning and executive decision-making. Drive Performance Excellence: Partner with leadership to design and execute initiatives that build leadership capacity, enhance team performance, and cultivate a culture of accountability and innovation. Utilize the Lewis Leadership Development Program’s (5) Pillars and corresponding competencies as guidelines. Performance and Talent Management : Develop and oversee the implementation and execution of an evolved performance management process. Further integrate learning and development programs to create a wholistic approach to talent management. Enhance Performance Processes: Develop and manage performance management systems that align individual and team goals with organizational priorities, ensuring continuous improvement and accountability. Integrate Learning and Development: Implement strategies to seamlessly connect performance management with learning and development programs, fostering a comprehensive and continuous approach to talent growth and retention. Support CEO in the ongoing development and implementation of the Lewis Leadership Development Program (LLDP). Support Leadership Development: Support the identification and cultivation of high-potential talent through targeted learning and development and succession planning programs. Utilize Data-Driven Insights: Leverage performance metrics and feedback to refine learning and development programs, address skill gaps, and drive organizational excellence. Employee Engagement: Develop and implement employee engagement strategies to reinforce Lewis’ Purpose, Values and Culture. Consult on elements of effective communication (w/ VP of MarComm), recognition programs (w/ CEO), and opportunities for growth and connection (w/ Department & Operations Leaders) to enhance employee satisfaction, and drive engagement. Reinforce Purpose and Values: Develop engagement initiatives that align with Lewis’ Purpose, Values, and Culture, fostering a sense of belonging and shared mission among employees. Drive Employee Satisfaction: Implement programs to enhance satisfaction and morale through effective communication, meaningful recognition, and responsive leadership. Foster Connection and Growth: Create opportunities for employees to build relationships, develop professionally, and contribute to organizational success through tailored engagement strategies. Measure and Improve Engagement: Utilize surveys, feedback tools, and data analysis to monitor engagement levels and refine strategies to address evolving workforce needs. Total Rewards and Compliance : Ensure Lewis provides competitive compensation and benefits programs, maintains compliance with employment laws, and promote an equitable and inclusive workplace. Administer Competitive Rewards: Design and manage compensation and benefits programs and systems to attract, retain, and motivate top talent while aligning with market benchmarks. Ensure Legal Compliance: Monitor and enforce compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, ensuring HR practices meet regulatory standards. Navigate Complex Union Agreements: Collaborate with leadership to address significant employment matters related to multi-geography operations and other scenarios not covered by existing union agreements, ensuring compliance and alignment with organizational goals. Promote Equity: Develop policies and programs that foster pay equity and transparency across all levels of the organization. Evaluate and Adapt Programs: Regularly assess the effectiveness of total rewards offerings, leveraging employee feedback and market data to make improvements that align with Lewis' goals and values. Department Leadership Attracts, develops, and retains a professional, high-performing People Services team in alignment with Lewis current needs and future strategic plan. Provides leadership and management direction; cultivate strong collaboration and teamwork within the team; ensure high performance through skill development, formal and informal coaching, growth assignments, and performance feedback. Provides guidance and support to ensure team develops and manages effective cross-functional relationships in a multi-stakeholder environment. SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required. Minimum 15 years of HR experience, and minimum of five years of leading HR teams. Ability to lead a functional group to high-performance; ability to think strategically and operationalize the strategy into the daily tactics of the organization. Strong strategic planning, problem solving, and client orientation skills combined with a proven record of leading change in an ambiguous and complex environment. Consultative and analytical mindset, with the ability to influence leaders and achieve results, including in areas without direct responsibility. Ability to provide quantitative and qualitative data/analysis to drive decision-making; excellent stakeholder and program/project management experience. Strong comfort with technology and proven ability to implement modern People Services and Learning technologies and solutions. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with, and influence, all levels of management and employees; ability to engender trust and respect of employees at all levels. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; highly organized, self-starter; and demonstrates good judgment in protecting confidential information and uses discretion in discussing sensitive issues. Good negotiation, communication and conflict-resolution skills; ability to represent Lewis in negotiations with external agencies, vendors and partners. Interested in Learning More? 180one is a retained search firm and has been engaged by Lease Crutcher Lewis to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Tom Haley /503.334.1350/ tom@180one.com
By Catherine Landgraf February 7, 2025
180one is pleased to announce our recent partnership with Columbia Distributing and the resulting placement of their new Chief People Officer! In 2008, Columbia Distributing, Mt. Hood Beverage, and Gold River Distributing united to form Columbia Distributing as we know it today. With this merger and the 2018 acquisitions of Marine View Beverage and General Distributors, Inc., our company is now one of the Top 5 largest beer/wine distributors in the US. Size is not our only distinction, however, as Columbia Distributing boasts an extensive selection of beverages, including craft beer, wine and spirits. Columbia Distributing’s success lies in the teamwork of the roughly 3,000 employees spread throughout 27 locations in Oregon and Washington, who every day come together to execute on a common vision. Congratulations to Jewett Cameron Company, and the 180one Search Team on a successful executive placement!
By Catherine Landgraf February 7, 2025
Each year, 180one presents our Year in Review, sharing our insights into the overall executive talent market and recapping the work we performed on behalf of our clients throughout the year. To explore what we saw in years’ past, check out the Year in Review section of The Water Cooler.
By Catherine Landgraf February 6, 2025
Director of Finance WHO WE ARE Oregon Food Bank (OFB) believes that no one should be hungry. Its mission is to eliminate hunger and its root causes. They believe that food and health are basic human rights for all. It recognizes that hunger is not just an individual experience; it is also a community-wide symptom of systemic barriers to employment, education, housing and health care such as systemic racism, sexism, and cissexism. That’s why OFB works systemically to achieve its mission to end hunger: by fostering community connections to help people access nutritious food, and by building community power and strengthening networks of support and the safety nets to eliminate the root causes of hunger for good. OFB works to build community power to dismantle systems and policies that drive hunger and poverty. Oregon Food Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and they strongly encourage applications from candidates who can increase the diversity of the organization and strengthen the capacity to eliminate hunger. They believe strongly in the power of lived experience — and actively seek individuals who have experienced hunger and its root causes to join their team. The organization is stronger because of the leadership of people who have faced food insecurity in their own lives and/or hail from historically under-represented communities. Learn more about our commitment at oregonfoodbank.org/equity . WHO YOU ARE You care deeply about community, about people experiencing hunger and hold them in the center of all that you do. You are committed to apply equity as a process and an outcome of your work to disrupt systemic social patterns that promote hunger such as racism, sexism, and cissexism. You have a strong affinity with OFB’s 10 Year Vision and are profoundly excited to achieve this vision for and with our community. POSITION SUMMARY As the Director of Finance, you will contribute to the organization’s success by leading the finance team in support of an ambitious strategic plan and annual operating budget of approximately $100 million. You are a deeply knowledgeable and experienced finance professional who is passionate about building highly effective, values-driven mission-critical financial systems. You have led fiscal teams and improved processes. You wake up in the morning eager to build and belong to an effective team, find and tell the story within the numbers, and to participate in making the best decisions to meet our mission. You are known for your ability to think strategically and holistically while driving tactics and projects to fruition, but you also have the ability to get into the details from time to time. You have confidence in your skills and knowledge and the humility to reflect, listen to understand, and be changed. You are self-directed yet flexible and excel in a mission- and deadline-driven environment. You care deeply about people experiencing hunger and hold them in the center of all that you do. Most importantly you demonstrate transparency, equity and inclusivity in all that you do and work with your heart and soul to improve the world. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES Provide knowledgeable, informed, strategic and values-driven leadership as a member of the organization’s leadership and the Director of the Finance department. Be the leader on all things financial for OFB, providing key data for decisions to OFB’s Leadership Team (LT) and the Board and key information for private and government grant funders. Present regular financial reports. Provide analysis, research, and trends evaluation. Provide leadership, direction, evaluation and professional development for the Finance Department. Develop and oversee an equity focused work culture that inspires creative problem solving, learning and team building. Represent these teams at the leadership table. Partner with the Senior Controller to manage and coordinate the annual audit process (including Single Audit preparation for federal funding), preparation of audited financial statements and notes in accordance with GAAP. Oversee schedule preparation of materials for annual Information Return (IRS Form 990). Recommend and implement improvements based on audit findings. Oversee the organization’s annual budgeting and financial forecasting for short and long term planning, including cash management in partnership with the Vice President and Associate Director of Strategic Finance. Oversee accounting systems, practices, policies and investments Maintain relationships with key financial partners, including banking, investment, audit and risk management advisors. Serve as an active and collaborative member of the Leadership Team, contribute to organization-wide strategy. Actively model and demonstrate care, vulnerability, perspective and shared accountability as a colleague and supervisor; contribute to a spirit of trust and high morale for the organization; drive results for high impact; and evaluate efficacy and productivity. SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE A minimum of 10 years of applicable audit, accounting, financial operations, and business management experience, including a minimum of 5+ years of demonstrated finance and accounting team leadership experience. Expertise in the management of full-cycle month-end and year-end close management, external and internal audits, financial statements reporting and analysis. At least five years’ experience as a senior manager, with responsibility for staff supervision, development, planning, and budgeting. Adept at unifying and motivating teams to action in a fast-paced environment. An appreciation of, and enthusiasm for, involving staff in understanding and using fiscal knowledge to enhance their programs, decisions and professional growth. Experience working cooperatively within and across teams; belief in the value and power of participatory decision-making. Outstanding interpersonal skills: good listener and thoughtful respondent; positive influencer; flexible communicator who can adapt to fit cultural context and circumstances. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Non-profit experience preferred. A licensed U.S. Certified Public Accountant (CPA). A master’s or advanced degree in accounting, finance, or related field Audit experience as an auditor with a CPA/audit firm. Experience in building up an accounting team and establishing day-to-day operations enforced by internal controls. Professional, volunteer, or personal experience within food banking, hunger relief programming, and/or community food systems work, or any type of non-profit or social services work. Financial management experience in 501 c3 and 501 c4 structures is a plus. Bilingual and/or multi-cultural. Lived experience of inequity/oppression and connections to marginalized communities. Passion for eliminating hunger and its root causes, including poverty and systemic inequities Interested in Learning More? 180one is a retained search firm and has been engaged by Oregon Food Bank to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Lisa Heffernan /971.256.3076/ lisa@180one.com
By Catherine Landgraf January 29, 2025
We are excited to announce our recent collaboration with Jewett Cameron Company, resulting in the placement of their new National Sales Manager, Lumber Products! Jewett Cameron is a trading company founded in 1953. We began as a lumber brokerage and, through acquisition, the company expanded into pet containment products as well as the fence and outdoor space. In 2023 we engaged in an exclusive sales representative agreement to sell the MyEcoWorld® brand of compostable and post-consumer recycled plastic bag products. Centered around our pillars of Crafted, Stewardship, and Legacy, we seek to develop and source products from around the world that ultimately deliver value to our channel partners and consumers. As Jewett Cameron celebrates over 70 years in business and nearly 30 years on NASDAQ, we remain committed to increasing our share price by working with great suppliers to provide quality products at affordable prices that continually delight our customers. We apply the same care in developing our products as we do investing in our people, our partnerships, our environment, and in the communities where we live, work and play. Congratulations to Jewett Cameron Company, and the 180one Search Team on a successful executive placement!
By Catherine Landgraf January 24, 2025
Director of Accounting & Finance ABOUT THE COMPANY Since 2005, the people of TerraFirma Foundation Systems have kept homes safe, dry, and stable. They are trusted and referred by homeowners to provide solutions for home foundations, basement and crawl space moisture, concrete leveling, and earthquake retrofitting. At TerraFirma, they understand that foundation cracks, wet crawlspaces, and musty basements are stressful. At TerraFirma, their values are important, and they don’t just talk about them, they live them. TerraFirma is looking for people who share their values of Hungry, Humble, and Smart. Servicing territories throughout Roseburg, Eugene, Portland, and Seattle, TerraFirma is rapidly growing and consistently ranked as the top foundation expert in the Pacific Northwest. NOTABLE AWARDS AT TERRAFIRMA 2024 Top Workplace Culture Excellence Award Oregon and Southwestern Washington 2021 Top Workplaces Oregon Business 2019 100 Best Companies to Work for In Oregon The Oregonian’s 2017 Top 100 Workplaces BBB A+ Rating 4.7 Star Google Rating Recipient of Supportworks Integrity Award Elite Service Award from HomeAdvisor To read more about TerraFirma’s commitment to community, you can visit their webpage here . ABOUT THE ROLE The Director of Accounting and Finance plays an integral role in overseeing all facets of financial management, including all accounting, finance, and payroll activities for the organization. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Lead, Manage, Accountability (LMA) Upholds the company’s vision and provides clear direction. Removes barriers so that the company’s vision is achievable. Provides expectations and holds employees accountable to meeting these expectations. Manages Accounting team’s performance, conducts performance reviews, and partners with HR on other performance decisions. Objectives Facilitates financial decisions by applying company policies and procedures. Delivers comprehensive and actionable financial updates to the executive team. Develops, implements, and maintains financial controls and guidelines. Maximizes efficiency in payroll, accounts receivable and accounts payable through standardized processes. Achieves budgeting goals through proper scheduling, analysis, and corrective actions. Analyzes, recommends, and implements necessary process and system improvements across the finance landscape to ensure integrity. Responsibilities Establishes (in coordination with VP of Operations) financial and operating benchmarks, budgets, and reporting standards on biweekly, monthly, and annual basis. Oversee all aspects of financial management including general accounting, month-end closing, forecasting, and financial reporting. Supervise, manage, and support the organization’s accounting and payroll departments. Responsible for the financial data analysis, record-keeping, and financial reporting to the executive team. Collaborate with the organization’s executive team to guide financial decisions and identify potential adverse finance issues early on. Monitor the company’s financial reports and determine ways to reduce costs. Maintain internal safeguards for revenue, expenses, and organizational budgets. Develop and enforce internal controls to maximize the protection of company assets, policies, procedures, and workflows. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation, anticipating future legislation, enforcing adherence to requirements, filing financial reports, and advising the executive team on necessary actions. Purpose, Mission, and Values Lives out company’s purpose, mission, and values EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS Bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting or related field. Eight or more years of experience as a Controller/Accounting leader within a fast-paced and dynamic environment. 3+ years of experience in accounting staff management. Professional certification, such as CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CA (Chartered Accountant) preferred. Skilled in verbal (including presentation skills) and written communication. Skilled in basic Microsoft programs, Word, Excel, etc. Interested in Learning More? 180one is a retained search firm and has been engaged by TerraFirma to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Tom Haley /503.334.1350/ tom@180one.com
By Catherine Landgraf January 23, 2025
Corporate Controller ABOUT THE COMPANY Founded in 1947, Oregon Tool, Inc. has grown from a basement in Portland, Oregon, to a global designer, manufacturer, and marketer of precision cutting tools, equipment, and accessories for consumers and professionals in more than 110 countries. Building off the pioneering spirit of our founder, Joseph Buford Cox, we have transformed the cutting industry and have become the world’s #1 manufacturer of saw chain and guide bars for chainsaws and diamond saw chain for concrete and pipe, a leading manufacturer of agricultural tractor attachments, and the leading OEM supplier of first-fit and replacement parts. At Oregon Tool, we are a passionate group of people dedicated to a spirit of innovation and outside the box thinking to create the world’s most efficient cutting tools and products. We believe in inspiring, listening, learning, and rolling up our sleeves to “get to work” together. Our purpose goes beyond the products we make. We are devoted to positively impacting people, communities, and landscapes around the world. We are committed to building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment and implementing sustainable practices to help reverse the impacts of the global climate crisis. We are built on a pioneering spirit and believe in leading with humility, global stewardship, and owning it day in and day out. We know what it takes to get the job done, and we know our people are the way it happens. ABOUT THE ROLE Reporting directly to the CFO, the Corporate Controller provides global leadership of the Company’s accounting functions. The Corporate Controller is responsible for the accounting and financial reporting operations of the organization including financial reporting, financial close, financial consolidation and reporting processes, internal controls, and global accounting policy and procedures. This role will work closely with senior leadership to enhance the company’s financial performance and support its global growth initiatives. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Financial Reporting Oversee the preparation and accuracy of consolidated financial statements in compliance with U.S. GAAP, IFRS, and other relevant international accounting standards. Ensure timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting for internal and external stakeholders. Manage the preparation and production of consolidated financial reports adhering to internal reporting deadlines. Interface with external auditors on the timing and coordination of the year-end audit and work closely with them throughout their audit cycle. Develop and communicate the reporting schedule internally to Oregon Tool locations and facilitate compliance with reporting deadlines. Streamline and provide continual improvements to the master closing package template utilized by all reporting units. Lead and manage the external reporting cycles in an accurate and timely manner to achieve compliance with debt covenants and reporting deadlines including preparation of financial statements and footnotes. Ensure that the reporting system is able to produce financial information in the format and configuration required by senior management. Accounting Operations Lead the North America accounting team, ensuring accurate and efficient day-to-day accounting operations. Oversee the monthly and year-end close processes, ensuring timely reconciliations, accurate journal entries, and adherence to closing schedules. Ensure compliance with internal controls, policies, and procedures to safeguard company assets. Maintain and monitor an effective system of internal accounting and financial reporting controls. Interpret and analyze and report on periodic results. Maintain an internal performance management reporting system. Provide accounting direction and support to company-wide reporting units. Manage the collection and consolidation of data from company-wide reporting units. Supervise the general ledger for various accounts and legal entities, ensuring the accounting records are accurate and well documented. Lead continuous improvement efforts to improve processes and shorten reporting cycle times. Maintain, update and improve policies, processes, and systems including automation of key activities. Team Management Lead, mentor, and develop the management teams across CP, Mold, and PD, ensuring accountability and high performance. Establish clear performance metrics and KPIs for all areas of the business to drive results and enhance team collaboration. Maintain good communication, promote problem-solving, assign responsibilities, and provide training and mentoring to employees. Select and develop key operational executives and successors, assign accountabilities, set objectives, and establish priorities. Team Leadership and Development Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing accounting team. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, promoting efficiency, accuracy, and best practices. Manage performance, establish clear development goals, and provide ongoing coaching for team members. Lead documentation and continual improvement of departmental work processes. QUALIFCATIONS Education Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or related field required Certified Public Accounting (CPA) designation required Knowledge and Experience At least ten years of progressively responsible public and corporate accounting experience Experience in a national or regional public accounting firm is preferred International experience is preferred At least five years of progressively responsible management and leadership experience Experience in a manufacturing environment strongly preferred Skills and Abilities Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to inspire and guide cross-functional teams. Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking abilities. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders. Extensive knowledge of GAAP, Sarbanes Oxley regulations, international accounting, SEC and tax issues Excellent presentation skills Collaborative and effective team player Able to lead teams that are globally dispersed Initiative, demonstrated track record of achieving results Proficiency with ERP systems, SAP preferred, and Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)  Interested in Learning More? 180one is a retained search firm and has been engaged by Oregon Tool to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Lisa Heffernan /971.256.3076/ lisa@180one.com
By Catherine Landgraf January 14, 2025
Group President ABOUT THE COMPANY Founded in 1937, Columbia Machine is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of concrete products equipment, serving customers in over 100 countries. From mixing and batching to automatic cubing and splitting, Columbia builds a complete line of equipment to outfit your entire concrete products plant. Columbia is driven by the belief that innovation can transform industries, empower communities, and create a more efficient, sustainable world. With operations spanning five continents and a commitment to excellence in service and support, their purpose extends beyond engineering advanced equipment. They are pioneering innovation and paving a better tomorrow with factory automation solutions worldwide. ABOUT THE ROLE Reporting to the CEO, the Group President, will oversee operations within the United States, encompassing all aspects of the three lines of business: Concrete Products (CP), Molds, and Palletizing (PD). This leadership role is pivotal in driving the strategic direction and operational excellence across the U.S. including the Smithsburg, MD, Ontario, CA, Orlando, FL, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia based service centers, ensuring alignment with the Company’s strategic objectives and fostering a collaborative culture among the teams. The successful candidate will be responsible for integrating various functions including manufacturing, engineering, sales, procurement, production control, and maintenance and enhancing overall performance with a strong focus on quality and innovation. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Leadership Provide strategic vision and leadership for U.S. Operations, aligning all functions - CP, Molds, and PD - with the Company's overall objectives. Collaborate closely with the CEO, CFO and executive team to define and execute the strategic objectives for the U.S. business unit. Implement programs and processes to meet operational and financial requirements, evaluate and report results. Operational Oversight Oversee all operational activities within the U.S. business unit, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in CP, Mold, and PD processes. Foster an environment of innovation and continuous improvement across all lines of business. Lead and facilitate department continuous improvement goals and objectives. Integrate corporate efforts, monitor and evaluate results, provide necessary resources, and develop strategic partnerships. Ensure that cost targets and delivery schedules are maintained, and profitability is achieved. Team Management Lead, mentor, and develop the management teams across CP, Mold, and PD, ensuring accountability and high performance. Establish clear performance metrics and KPIs for all areas of the business to drive results and enhance team collaboration. Maintain good communication, promote problem-solving, assign responsibilities, and provide training and mentoring to employees. Select and develop key operational executives and successors, assign accountabilities, set objectives, and establish priorities. Collaboration & Communication Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and communication to ensure alignment among teams and integration of efforts across all business areas. Act as the primary point of contact for all U.S. Operations business matters with the CEO, CFO and global executive leaders. Drive collaboration with all Columbia Group businesses, promoting U.S. product offerings sold and serviced in the Western Hemisphere. Provide board-level oversight and strategic direction as required. Serve our Customers Collaborate with the sales and marketing teams to implement effective sales initiatives, ensuring alignment with overall business goals and customer needs. Foster strong relationships with key customers and stakeholders, identifying new market opportunities and expanding the customer base. Represent the Company to major customers within the U.S.; can include up to 25% domestic and international travel to build customer relationships. Responsible for driving and improving sales and marketing efforts across the U.S. business units. Establish critical service operations and productivity criteria for operations. Maintain cutting-edge operational processes by benchmarking leading practices, exploiting market channels, and ensuring quality service. Financial Management Drive the financial performance of the U.S. business unit by developing and implementing strategies to enhance profitability across all lines of business. Monitor financial metrics, analyze variances, and implement corrective actions to achieve profitability targets while optimizing operational efficiency. Forecast operational requirements, prepare an annual budget, schedule expenditures, analyze variances, and initiate corrective actions. Identify cost-saving opportunities and drive financial performance while maintaining high-quality standards across all operations. Quality Management Establish and maintain a culture of quality throughout the U.S business unit, implementing quality assurance and control measures to meet or exceed customer expectations. Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations related to product quality. Innovation Drive innovation initiatives across the three U.S. lines of business, promoting a culture of creativity and forward-thinking solutions. Collaborate with engineering and teams to introduce new technologies and processes that enhance product offerings and operational efficiency. Risk Management Maintain the Company's reputation by enforcing ethical business practices, complying with or influencing the development of laws and regulations. Identify and mitigate operational and financial risks across the U.S. business unit, ensuring business continuity and compliance with relevant regulations. Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and excellence in all aspects of the business. EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred. 10+ years of experience in a senior leadership role within a multinational engineering or manufacturing environment, with a proven track record of driving growth and operational excellence. Extensive experience in capital equipment sales, preferably in a similar industry, to effectively lead sales initiatives and support business growth. Extensive experience with ERP systems, CRM (Customer Relationship Management Software) required. Experience with CAD a plus. Interested in Learning More? 180one is a retained search firm and has been engaged by Columbia Machine to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Tom Haley /503.334.1350/ tom@180one.com
By Catherine Landgraf January 13, 2025
Ready Or Not- Here They Come! As Baby Boomers reach retirement age in unprecedented numbers, businesses are facing a significant leadership gap. This generation, born between 1946 and 1964, has long been the backbone of the workforce. However, with the wave of retirements already underway, organizations are now tasked with filling the void left by these seasoned leaders. By 2030, all Baby Boomers will be over 65, and many are already stepping down from key positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 11,000 Baby Boomers are retiring every day, creating “The Silver Tsunami” phenomenon See 180one 2023 Year in Review: Silver Tsunami The scale of this shift is staggering. By 2029, an estimated 72 million people in the U.S. will be 65 or older, making up about 20% of the population. The workforce is shrinking, and with fewer younger workers entering the market, businesses must focus on developing talent from within. This demographic change is creating a talent gap that organizations cannot afford to overlook, particularly in industries where seniority and experience have historically been critical to career progression. A recent Fortune study highlighted a concerning trend: for "lifers", those who start at the bottom and work their way up, it takes an average of 33 years to reach the CEO position. If businesses continue to rely on the "seniority" model for leadership, it could be over a decade before Millennials are ready to step into top roles. The Need to Develop Younger Generations So, where will the next generation of leaders come from? Millennials and Generation Z are the natural candidates to step into these roles, yet many companies have not made sufficient investments in their development. These younger generations are tech-savvy, adaptable, and eager for career progression, but they often lack the depth of experience that Baby Boomers accumulated over decades in the workforce. The transition to a younger, more diverse leadership team is not just necessary, it's inevitable. With Millennials expected to make up 75% of the global workforce by 2030, businesses must prioritize succession planning and leadership development to ensure a strong pipeline of talent. According to a 2023 Deloitte report, only 21% of organizations globally are confident in their succession plans for leadership roles. This is a critical gap that must be addressed immediately. Without focused investment in leadership development for younger workers, companies risk losing their competitive edge and innovation capacity due to a lack of experienced leaders to guide them through the changing landscape. Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders To close the leadership gap, companies must begin investing in younger generations to develop their leadership skills and prepare them for executive roles. Programs that focus on mentorship, training, and fast-track leadership development are essential for ensuring Millennials and Gen Z are ready to step up when needed. Research from Gallup shows that organizations with strong internal leadership programs are 2.5 times more likely to have high employee engagement. Developing younger talent not only strengthens the leadership pipeline, but also fosters a more engaged workforce, as younger employees are more likely to stay with a company that offers growth opportunities. Companies can also implement job shadowing, leadership courses, and rotational programs, which allow younger employees to gain experience across various departments. These initiatives help build a more well-rounded skill set and ensure a smoother transition when it’s time for them to take on senior roles. Act Now The Baby Boomer retirement wave presents both challenges and opportunities. While the departure of experienced leaders creates significant gaps, it also offers the chance to bring in fresh talent and develop the next generation of executives. Companies that act now to invest in leadership development for Millennials and Generation Z will be better positioned to maintain business continuity, drive innovation, and thrive in the years ahead.
By Catherine Landgraf December 31, 2024
Senior Vice President of Manufacturing ABOUT THE COMPANY A-dec is the premium leader in the dental equipment industry designing and manufacturing products that span dental chairs, lights, handpieces, furniture, air management, infection control and delivery systems found in dental offices and operatories. With over 1300 employees, and headquartered in Newberg, Oregon, A-dec’s familial culture and values have been attributed to their commitment to the Newberg community and its employees through various investments and programs. ABOUT THE POSITION The Senior Vice President of Manufacturing is responsible for leading A-dec’s Manufacturing, supply chain, and planning functions to create a competitive advantage for the company for both existing and new products. Leading a team of Directors and Managers, this position ensures the continuing advancement of quality performance, cost effectiveness and safety of the manufacturing function while developing new ways to improve the service level for customers and meet the financial objectives of the organization. The Senior Vice President of Manufacturing manages the manufacturing, supply chain and planning functions to ensure continuous improvement, employee engagement and talent development. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Participate as an active member of the executive leadership team providing the vision, leadership, and roadmap necessary to achieve the company’s strategic initiatives consistently and predictably. Define and communicate the vision for Manufacturing and visibly champion current and long- range objectives or programs to ensure successful implementation. Develop annual Manufacturing objectives and ensure tactical plans are executed throughout operations along with aligning metrics, employee goals, and visual dashboards to ensure business objectives are met within operational and regulatory boundaries. Define the skill sets and training programs required to produce increasingly complex products and maintain an effective talent base across the manufacturing, supply chain, and planning teams. Define and establish staff planning parameters necessary for effective operation of Manufacturing processes to include shift schedules, staffing levels, overtime limits, temporary employee ratios, etc. Provide direction, leadership and guidance to ensure relentless focus on delivering results and engage and empower team members to create a culture of safety, quality, continuous improvement, and personal development. Lead the development and implementation of the Manufacturing expense and capital expenditure budgets. Oversee the Manufacturing capacity plan and optimize utilization across Manufacturing while ensuring the production plan is achieved and meets the sales forecast in a timely manner. Lead Manufacturing Engineering in the transformation and optimization of Manufacturing areas to maximize quality, safety and operational efficiency. Lead the Supply Chain team on Production Planning and supply chain requirements to meet customer demands. Collaborate with cross-functional development teams to continuously achieve successful implementation of new or improved manufacturing systems and ensure utilization of capable, cost-effective production processes for manufacturing operations. Partner with Product Development and New Product Introduction (NPI) teams to ensure new product and innovation projects are executed as planned implementing manufacturing processes and testing to proactively resolve identified process capability conflicts. Work collaboratively across the broader organization to leverage corporate resources and align Manufacturing with top level initiatives. Mentor and coach talent across the business to ensure the organization is developing a pool of operational leaders. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES Ability to create and communicate vision as well as understand the big picture and translate to application Ability to proactively identify, anticipate and resolve problems and be comfortable relying on instincts to make decisions Ability to work cross functionally with all levels of the organization Ability to motivate and engage the workforce, create effective teams and build peer relationships Ability to create and implement strategies Ability to initiate self-development Comprehensive knowledge of quality management systems/ISO, lean manufacturing, and the product development process Advanced oral and written communication skills with public speaking experience EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s degree in business or engineering along with relevant work experience required, MBA or M.S. in related field preferred At least 15 years of progressive leadership experience with 5+ years in a senior leadership position managing a similar scope and sized operations and manufacturing team. Experience in strategic planning for organizations of similar size and/or scope as well as managing the vision and purpose of a division and or business segment of an organization Strong project management experience Experience in mergers and acquisitions preferred Experience managing a vertically integrated operation preferred Experience leading corporate-wide projects or initiatives Medical device industry / dental or medical device fields experience preferred Experienced in establishing partnerships with other companies and external organizations preferred Interested in Learning More? 180one is a retained search firm and has been engaged by A-dec to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Tom Haley / 503-334-1350 / tom@180one.com
By Catherine Landgraf December 30, 2024
We are pleased to announce we have recently been recognized as one of Oregon’s Most Admired Companies. The Portland Business Journal sent a survey to some 3000 CEO level executives asking them what companies they most admire in 10 different categories. 180one was selected as a finalist in the Recruiting/Consulting category and invited to attend the awards ceremony, where we stood out with the 9 th place spot. It was a great event to be honored at, and share the moment with our clients who were also recognized in the Top 10 of their respective categories such as A-dec, Hyphn, Salt & Straw, Leatherman, Columbia Sportswear, and R&H Construction.  When we started 180one in 2007, our main mission was to help Portland businesses grow and thrive by providing them the access to the executive-level talent they deserve. And do it in a way that allows us to truly partner with our clients and build relationships with them outside of any of the searches they engage us on – since we work and live in the same community as our clients. 17 years later, to be recognized today as a Most Admired Company by our clients is a testament to our team’s professionalism, how they’ve partnered with our clients, and the work they’ve performed on our clients’ behalf. Thank you to our clients for your support over the past 17 years, and we look forward to being your search partner in the years to come.
By Catherine Landgraf December 18, 2024
180one is pleased to announce our recent partnership with VSG and the resulting placement of their new Vice President of Sales and Business Development! Dover’s Vehicle Service Group is the global leader in designing and manufacturing vehicle service, collision and automotive OEM equipment. It is one of the founding companies of Dover Corporation, an eight billion dollar diversified global manufacturer. VSG consists of fifteen leading vehicle lifting brands (Rotary, Forward, Blitz, Ravaglioli etc.), collision repair (Chief), wheel services, diagnostics (Butler, Rotary, Chief and Ravaglioli) and tier-one automotive brands (WARN Automotive) with operations worldwide, including regional business operation centers and large manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Congratulations to VSG!
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