I am looking for a short term relationship with a company that is ready to advance it's operation to a new level of profitability through the use of improved organization of staff, assets, and procedures. I am absolutely confident that you will see a significant improvement in productivity, employee morale, and safety within days after I begin organizing your operation. These improvements will be installed and remain as standard but, flexible, operational procedure thru the use of training, signage, and staff involvement.
David Allen Ropp
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CAREER SUMMARY:
Mature, experienced, technically adept, and educated with business development experience, well developed customer service strategies, professional construction management skills. Optimistic, innovative, resourceful, energetic, and collaborative, a problem-solver adept at improving an operation’s efficiencies by initiating standard operating procedures, organizing assets, and improving morale. Expert at listening to people, assessing their needs, and providing solutions. Intuitive and insightful understanding of the qualities of leadership. A self starting team player that communicates effectively, and has a verifiable track record of exceeding employer expectations.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Contract Carpenter, H.R.E. Environmental 2009
Beaumont, TX
• Served as lead carpenter on the Smith Middle School restoration. Measured, cut and assembled metal studs for non-bearing walls. Prepared rough window openings for installation of new windows. Built in-room window soffits.
• Created a ‘jig’ to facilitate the uniform construction of several hundred ‘h’-shaped assemblies used in window soffits. Results: Dramatically reduced assembly time and assured uniformity of assemblies.
Building and Grounds Supervisor 2005 - 2008
University of South Florida
• Renovated irrigation system (6” well 250gpm[at]65psi) updating the system to electrically controlled valves, reducing the labor required to water the garden by over two hours daily. Connected critical systems to municipal water supply to avoid issues when the pump or well periodically went down. Rebuilt main road through garden, removing rotted bark and replacing with road base. Redirected storm water runoff to eliminate periodic flooding of office buildings.
• Supervised, directed, and led up to 15 volunteer laborers, ten community service workers, and four work study students.
• Implemented composting operation to produce potting soil for use in the garden and for sale to the public. Result: Turned over 300 cubic yards of plant waste into 30 cubic yards of screened compost material annually. The finished compost was used in the gardens, and offered for sale at $50/ yard.
• Streamlined and organized event set-up operations involving tents, trash disposal, and vendor site preparation. Repurposed golf cart into a tent wagon which collected and organized tent parts, previously stored in scattered locations, onto one mobile platform. Reduced tent set-up and tear down from 3-4 hours to 1 hour. Repurposed another golf cart into passenger carrier capable of safely transporting up to six people from remote parking areas. Designed and installed decorative donation tubes that immediately provided tenfold increase in donations. Designed and rebuilt main sign creating a swiveling device that allowed sign to lay horizontally in heavy winds and facilitated the frequent changing of banners without a ladder. Result: Reduced set-up and tear-down times by several hours.
• Review: “Improved the interaction and cooperation of other on campus workers and improved the morale and cooperation of volunteers and community service workers to facilitate the gardens operations. Dave left his mark on the garden with the various improvements he made using his amazingly resourceful ideas and his cooperative attitude.” - Laurie Walker, Director, USF Botanical Gardens.
President / Owner, Ropp Landscaping Services, Inc. 1978 – 2004
Traverse City, MI
• Developed business acumen as sole proprietor of landscaping business located in the exclusive lakes, golf, and wine region of northwest Michigan resort town. Operated all phases of business including: designing, engineering, budgeting, marketing, sales, construction logistics, developing standard operating procedures, supervising employees, and directing subcontractor construction activities.
• Led a team of up to five employees. Earned respect of peers for providing exceptional quality and extremely efficient operation which produced unequaled value.
• Learned and practiced a variety of skills ranging from carpentry, metal fabrication, plumbing, electrical, and equipment operation. Specialized in correcting drainage, and erosion control issues. Used motivational techniques and superior customer service methods to develop a loyal customer base and keep employee morale high. Cultivated long-term relationships and developed referral/repeat business. Grew customer base to 1,000.
• Established annual revenue and profit goals. Managed company financials, as well as sales and operations. Hired and trained workforce. Ordered materials. Used marketing and sales skills to secure contracts. Oversaw accounting, finance, budgeting, marketing and operations. Rewrote and reviewed business plan.
• Created sales proposals, led sales presentations, managed sales contracts and service delivery.
• Familiar with engineering requirements and filed permits with local, state, and federal agencies for construction activities along Lake Michigan, wetland areas, and inland waterways and lakes.
• Achievement: Grew business through three recessions in a very competitive market. Developed a thriving, efficient business model that maximized profits with very few employees through efficient logistics, organization of tools and procedures, and reinvestment in unique, modern specialized equipment. Efficiencies led to larger profit margins than most competitors and generated a respectable living in a six-month operating season.
David Allen Ropp Page 2 of 2 roppito[at]aol.com
President / Owner Seasonally, 1998 – 2004
T.I.M.E. (Tool & Inventory Management Experts), a subsidiary of Ropp Landscaping Services, Inc.
• Developed and designed organizational systems for industrial and commercial businesses. Consulted and collaborated with business owners in retail, construction, and industrial businesses to bring shop and work stations into Q1001 compliance through cleanliness, organization, resolving safety concerns, and improving production by improving efficiency, and storage of inventory.
• Led a team of three workers. Managed budgets, maintained records of expenditure, accounting and billing. Arranged sales options and pricing. Handled collections, scheduling, and quality control.
• Utilized expertise developed as a construction worker to innovate shelving, storage devices, and organizational systems that significantly improved efficiency and production capabilities.
Achievements: Developed unique storage devices, and created standard operating procedure for organizing shops, warehouses, and work stations. Clients reported improved safety records and up to 30% increased efficiency in shop after organization process completed. Issued Patent #68,157,653 B2 on Nov. 4, 2004 for Full Access Modular Utility Trailer.
Building Construction Apprentice Winter months, Nov. 1978 – Nov. 1998
Multiple employers in the construction industry over a period of 20 years
• Developed aptitude for organizing job sites and logistics of construction projects, making projects progress smoothly and operate more efficiently.
• Became proficient at a variety of skilled trades. Worked and learned from a number of very talented builders that constructed exclusive homes, schools, and commercial buildings in the upscale golf, lakes, and wine country of Northwest Michigan. Learned to use power and hand tools, including torch and welder involved in the construction of commercial and residential buildings.
• Read and produced blueprints, discussed engineering concepts and requirements with professionals and novices. Completed work on time with attention to safety.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
B.S. Biology, 1978; Emphasis on natural sciences, geology, entomology, botany, organic chemistry.
A.A.S. Ornamental Horticulture Technology, 1976; Emphasis on low maintenance designs and soil science.
Completed 12 senior level credit hours in Environmental Health and Sciences.
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan
TECHNOLOGY SKILLS:
Proficient in Windows XP/2000, Excel and Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher.
Typing; 30 w.p.m.
EQUIPMENT SKILLS/CERTIFICATIONS:
Proficient in the operation of agricultural and construction equipment, including: end loaders, grader, fork lift, and back hoe.
Expert abilities with Harley power rock rake.
Class “B” CDL Florida driver’s license.
Florida Pesticide Applicator License, 2005.
HONORS AND AWARDS:
Received “Best Booth Award” for three out of four years at annual Grand Traverse Home Builders’ Show, 1998 – 2002
Awarded 1st place for landscape design of parade home, 2003.
MILITARY SERVICE:
Artillery Surveyor, United States Army, 1972 – 1974
Ending Rank: Specialist (E-4)
Completed advanced individual training at Ft Sill, OK in artillery surveying. Duties included surveying artillery fire base and training sites for officer basic training at Ft. Huachuca, AZ. Completed advanced correspondence courses in surveying methods and computations from Ft. Sill, OK. On-the-job training with Army Corp of Engineers. Made contour maps of Garden Canyon in the Huachuca mountain range. Learned to survey grading stakes on construction sites.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
Mecosta County Home Builder’s Association, 1981 – 1990
Grand Traverse Area Home Builder’s Association, 1993-2003
Traverse City Chamber of Commerce 1998 – 2002
Habitat for Humanity Spring Garden Show, 1998 – 2002.
BNI Traverse City Group # 1, 2002-2004 Visit Personal Website
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