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Proprietary Design and Development Director

Top Management

Versatile, creative and collaborative global product leader achieves bottom line results through creation of strategic vision, effective business planning, cultivating best methods of product development processes (Stage Gates) and development of high performing teams with emphasis on driving critical thinking and accountability.

Passionate about driving change, building strong relationships, fostering strong team environments and developing trust with all stakeholders.  20+ year's expertise in product development arena driving growth through consumer driven approach to compelling and differentiated product assortments and rejuvenation of core product categories.

Responsible for leadership of Product Management, Engineering, Advanced R&D activities, Industrial Design, Testing Methodology and Project Management.  Leading organization through change from Brand Product Teams to Category Product Teams.  This role is the key collaborator/connector with Proprietary Marketing, Product Safety, Purchasing, Supply Chain, Quality, Sales and Distribution. 
Key Accomplishments/Intiatives; 
•	 Product Management;  
o	Leading teams through development and implementation of GTM process which created the framework to more effective and collaborative business strategy development, brand strategy development and product strategy development.  Through this process, the cross functional teams developed an annualized cadence with specific stage gates identified to ensure timely share out of plans and the opportunity to solicit feedback throughout the process.  
o	Primary driver of R&D team to identify new innovative technologies within ebike hub and mid drive system partners, to establish relationships with key resources and to implement strategic plans on utilization of e-drive systems.    Analyzed drive systems based on ride assist experience, controller / HMI experience, availability, costing and innovation alignment.  This process included extensive consumer testing/insight development for both controller/application interface and ride performance.  
•	Organizational Structure; Working as a primary change agent to transition organization from family led, enthusiast driven portfolio and bike development to formalized approach of analyzing the global market for gap and opportunity analysis.  Brought discipline of analyzing market opportunities utilizing NPD data and other data sources.  Changed from intuitive based portfolio decisions to data informed decisions.  Led Industrial Design in VOC and ethnography studies. 


(Somerset, WI) and Mustang Seats (Three Rivers, MA) (Sept 2017 - Mar 2019)
Manufacturers of Motorsports aftermarket products and motorcycle seats, annual revenue $90M
Vice President of Product Development; leading Category Management, Engineering and Design team in turning around 4 year double digit category declines by driving accountability of critical steps throughout development process, attracting talent / developing tier II leaders, concentration on innovative products and aligning priorities and resources to the attainment of top revenue generating projects.
• Vision leader for Product Development team - improved speed to market thru implementation of stage gate process resulting in greater alignment and prioritization of top ROI projects. Conducted business flow analysis across organization resulting in creation of	RACI with identified critical milestones and established accountability.
• Created strategy for MAG Groups' (4 companies) largest and most complex OEM project by resolving ambiguity thru managing scope creep, resource planning, budget allocations and tracking of 270 projects from design through global store sets.
• Implemented new strategic direction to pivot business to consumer driven development of multi-fit product categories appealing to primary and adjacent markets.  Resulted in taking back market prominence in lighting category.  Within 18 months, turned around (16.1%) 2015-2017 CAGR to 2018 growth of 15.8%.

Vice President of Product Development

Find out detailed information about Jill Kemna, Proprietary Design and Development Director in East Bethel, MN

Jill Kemna: Proprietary Design and Development Director in East Bethel, MN

Jill Kemna

University of Minnesota

University of St. Thomas