Conrad Zumhagen

Current

President & Innovation Zealot at THE ZUMHAGEN COMPANY LLC

Past

Executive Director, General Manager at Johnson Controls, Inc.
Vice President at Complax Corp. & Tarxien Corp. (jointly owned)
V.P., Marketing & Technology at Decoma International (Magna)

Director, Commercial Development at Ashland Chemical Company
General Manager - Marketing at GE Plastics

see less...

2 more...

Education

University of Massachusetts at Lowell

Recommended

8 people have recommended Conrad

Connections

323 connections

Industry

Automotive

Websites

Conrad Zumhagen’s Summary

Independent innovation catalyst, with over 30 years of management experience and accomplishments in the automotive and plastics industries.

Conrad Zumhagen’s Specialties:

Driving/catalyzing innovation as the primary differentiator of a business. Connecting products, services, technologies and strategy to their markets and customers. Effective, bottom up/top down business planning and strategy. Facilitating diverse groups in industrial companies resulting in actionable initiatives and faster, profitable growth.

Conrad Zumhagen’s Experience

President & Innovation Zealot

THE ZUMHAGEN COMPANY LLC

(Automotive industry)

February 1998 — Present (11 years 10 months)

Conrad Zumhagen became an independent contractor and business catalyst in 1998, bringing over 30 years of experience and achievements to clients - primarily those in the automotive and plastics industries. In his corporate career, he led profitable growth via innovation in strategy, market, product, and business process development, and is now helping clients by focusing on these areas and catalyzing innovation. He has demonstrated skills in differentiating organizations, products and services—matching them to markets and anticipated customers’ needs. Clients have included international manufacturers of materials, components, systems & services (with annual sales of $20 million to $30 billion), business owners, investors, and technology providers.
Executive Director, General Manager

Johnson Controls, Inc.

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; JCI; Automotive industry)

1993 — 1998 (5 years )

As Executive Director, Product Planning & New Product Dev.: formed a seat innovation team, led development of new seating systems. Led & negotiated a new JV (Intertec Systems), establishing JCI in instrument panels. Led JCI, Intertec & (during acquisition) Prince teams to become Chrysler’s new instrument panel supplier.
As General Manager, Engineered Plastics Division: grew revenues & improved quality, safety, operations and labor relations.
Vice President

Complax Corp. & Tarxien Corp. (jointly owned)

(Automotive industry)

1991 — 1993 (2 years )

Interrelated automotive components suppliers, with total 1993 revenues of Cdn $60 million. Complax manufactured SMC & BMC automotive exterior body parts; Tarxien supplied interior components & subsystems, such as door opening assemblies.
Directed the marketing, sales & business planning functions for both companies. Acted as a key participant and leader in the assessment, management and turnaround of Complax, reversing 1991 losses ($10 million) to breakeven in 1992, profitability in 1993, reducing unattractive sales while adding $5 million of higher value new business. Assured Tarxien's profitable growth by adding new customers & products with new sales of $13 million/yr.
V.P., Marketing & Technology

Decoma International (Magna)

(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; MAG; Automotive industry)

April 1988 — November 1989 (1 year 8 months)

Leadership of business units responsible for marketing, new product development, design & engineering, production tooling and composite part production, in the automotive exterior painted plastics business. Member of sr. mgmt. team that grew revenues from $250 to $450 million, EBIT from $6 to $30 million.
Director, Commercial Development

Ashland Chemical Company

(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; ASH; Chemicals industry)

1984 — 1988 (4 years )

Led composite resin systems groups, creation of Structural RIM.
General Manager - Marketing

GE Plastics

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; GE; Automotive industry)

1972 — 1984 (12 years )

GE Plastics: contributed to world leadership in engineering thermoplastics & key factor in industry’s first Detroit area tech center (and 4 of the 6 GE breakthrough applications). Led worldwide automotive team. Managerial positions: Automotive Marketing & Sales; General Manager, Lexan Marketing Dept.; Mgr.,Strategy Development.

Conrad Zumhagen’s Education

University of Massachusetts at Lowell

B.S. , Plastics Technology , 1960 — 1965

Furthered business education via several company (e.g., GE)-sponsored accelerated management programs.

Activities and Societies:

SPE Student Chapter, President, Delta Kappa Phi; interfraternity council.