With 8 years of expertise in the manufacturing industry, 10 successful years in sales and nearly 30 years of leadership proficiency, Rob is responsible for leading IMEC’s field staff. He joined IMEC 5 years ago as a Regional Manager and within the last few months, transitioned to serving as IMEC’s Client Engagement Manager. His wealth of experience and his passion for building relationships - with teammates, clients, community leaders and partners - makes him a valuable asset to the IMEC team.
I helped develop a joint pilot funding project with Danville Area Community College, Vermilion Works (WIOA) and Vermillion Advantage (EDC) to provide education and training to incumbent workers for Continuous Improvement, HR Best Practices, Manufacturing Skills, and Leadership Skills through the IMIN Network structure. This partnership has supported nearly 200 people in getting new training over the course of a year and strengthened the community of manufacturers and other organizations with exciting new topics monthly.
MOST CHALLENGING PROJECT THAT RESULTED IN POSITIVE IMPACTS?
A lean transformation project with a fourth generation family-owned company that wanted to grow, but needed to work through long held family approaches to production and leadership that were limiting their success. We provided strategic planning, value stream mapping, and lots of personal coaching with the family members to help identify how they'd like to work in the future. Eventually, the concepts began sticking and the company was able to expand their market share while overcoming some of the former family sticking points. They have reported strong impacts in new sales, cost savings, and employee retention/expansion and credit much of that success to IMEC's persistence and guidance.
NEW INDUSTRY TREND YOU’RE INTERESTED IN PURSUING THAT DRIVES GROWTH THROUGH ENTERPRISE EXCELLENCE?
I’m interested in identifying effective methods to make culture changes stick in organizations. With the pace of change and a generation of millennials expecting places of work to be rewarding financially and personally, traditional cultures will have to shift in manufacturing to be attractive and stay relevant.
COMMON TOPICS NOTICED WITHIN THE INDUSTRY?
There is a need for networking across companies to share best practices and learn from each other - this crosses industry lines, as well as organizational structures. If you aren't in a peer group with others who are challenging your thinking or giving you good advice on how to lead this generation, you are missing out and your employees may not be as productive as they could be as a result of you not learning.
MOST USEFUL MEDIA FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
I continue to find reading and listening to audiobooks to be my preferred method of professional development. Barnes & Noble and Amazon/Audible love me as a result!
"It's about how we can do this together." Rob Newbold, Client Engagement Manager- IMEC
Learn more about Rob and how he can help you create your competitive future here.
