# Ken Vandervelden

Ken Vandervelden is a remote worker on Himalayas, Chief Operating Officer at E.F. Walter Group / Walter's Shoe Care, based in Canada.

Source: https://himalayas.app/@kenvandervelden

```text
Chief Operating Officer at E.F. WALTER GROUP, expanding Walter's Shoe Care into 90+ countries and growing revenue 25%.
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| Detail | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Availability | Looking for a job |
| Location | Canada |
| Authorized to work in | Canada |
| Salary expectations | 270k+ CAD |
| Job categories | Chief Operating Officer, President, Chief Executive Officer |
| Skills | P&L management, Business Strategy, International Market Expansion, Business Development, M&A, Divestiture, Operational Turnaround, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Financial Management, Product Development, Global Sourcing, Lean Manufacturing, KPI Management, ERP Implementation |

## About

```text
At E.F. WALTER GROUP / WALTER'S SHOE CARE, I lead global expansion and operating performance. I established distribution partnerships across Latin America and APAC, and helped grow revenue 25% through complementary product lines.

Previously at E.F. WALTER GROUP, I held full P&L and balance sheet accountability for three business units, with $20M+ in annual revenue and 100+ employees. I also led acquisitions and divestitures, launched China factory operations, and introduced Microsoft Dynamics and live Power BI reporting.
```

## Experience

### Chief Operating Officer (current)

E.F. Walter Group / Walter's Shoe Care. Jan 2023 - Present

```text
Recruited back to lead global expansion, profitable growth and operating performance, with executive oversight of international business development, customer partnerships, product development, sourcing, supply chain, banking and finance.
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Skills: International-Business-Development, Strategic-Partnerships, Product-Development, Sourcing, Supply-Chain, Banking, Finance, Restructuring, Cost-Reduction, Revenue-Growth

### Managing Partner / Owner & General Manager

Kenali Group Inc.. Jan 2021 - Dec 2023

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Led an entrepreneurial importer, distributor and installer of specialty composite products. Grew start-up revenue from $0 to more than $500K and sold the business at a 4x EBITDA multiple.
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Skills: entrepreneurship, Business-Growth, Distribution, Sourcing, Negotiation, Exit-Strategy

### VP of Operations / General Manager

E.F. Walter Group. Jan 2011 - Dec 2021

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Principal operating executive to the CEO with full P&L and balance sheet accountability for three business units totaling $20M+ in annual revenue and 100+ employees. Directed manufacturing, finance, sales, supply chain, marketing and product development.
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Skills: P&L-management, Manufacturing, Finance, Sales, Supply-Chain, Marketing, Product-Development, Global-Sourcing, M&A, Restructuring, Digital-Transformation, Microsoft-Dynamics, Power-BI, KPIs, Lean, Kaizen

### Director of Operations

E.F. Walter Group. Jan 2008 - Dec 2011

```text
Led manufacturing, quality, supply chain, customer service and logistics for shoe care and industrial foam divisions. Secured more than $3.5M through manufacturing grant programs and reduced labour requirements by 14%.
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Skills: Manufacturing, Quality, Supply-Chain, Customer-Service, Logistics, Grant-Funding, SR&ED, Smart, EMA, KPIs, Change-Leadership

### Equity Partner / Director / Board Member

Core Chair Inc.. Jan 2006 - Dec 2010

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Equity partner, director and board member of an entrepreneurial venture developing and licensing a patented articulating office chair. Designed the initial articulating chair mechanism and led early proof-of-concept work.
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Skills: Product-Innovation, Prototyping, Corporate-Development, Budgeting, Investor-Relations, Licensing

### Plant Manager / Production Manager

Attica Manufacturing. Jan 1996 - Dec 2008

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Progressed through production management and plant leadership roles at a manufacturer of CNC components and complex assemblies. Oversaw production, scheduling, quality control, and human resources.
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Skills: Production-Management, Plant-Leadership, CNC, Quality-Control, Scheduling, Human-Resources, Client-Relations

## Education

### Ivey Business School

Quantum Shift Senior Executive Program, Business Administration. 2023 - 2023

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Completed the Quantum Shift Senior Executive Program at Ivey Business School in 2023.
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### Ivey Business School

Ivey Leadership Program, Leadership. 2008 - 2008

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Completed the Ivey Leadership Program at Ivey Business School in 2008.
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### Osgoode Hall Law School

Bachelor of Laws, Law

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Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, completed in 1997.
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## Tech stack

- Power BI

To contact Ken, message them from this profile with a Himalayas employer account: [Hire on Himalayas](https://himalayas.app/hire).

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