David Heigl

Group Vice President | President | Financial Strategist I’m a manufacturing executive who integrates commercial strategy, operational excellence, and financial discipline to deliver sustainable, profitable growth. As Group Vice President I manage Schwarze Industries, Royal Truck, Old Dominion Brush (ODB), and Nitehawk. My leadership approach centers on 80/20 thinking to prioritize high-value customers and products while making tough decisions to strengthen profitability, including stopping production of unprofitable SKUs. Commercial Leadership: -20+ years in sales, marketing, and product management -Expanded market share in municipal, DOD, and industrial equipment through targeted sales strategies -Built high-performing sales teams aligned with operational capabilities and margin goals -Led product management through voice of the customer -Significant revenue growth over 7 years through market expansion and growing existing market share Operational Excellence: -Significant growth in operating income through lean manufacturing -Led lean transformation with kitting-based production flow, reducing inventory and waste -Reduced sourcing costs through design-for-manufacturing and supplier collaboration -Led standard work, work instructions, and accountability metrics to improve E/A Driving Financial Acumen to the Shop Floor: -Embedded meaningful, actionable metrics for teams—from absorption and earned/actual hours to quality and productivity -Made financial drivers transparent and understood at every level, aligning daily decisions to P&L goals enabling employees to "see the business" in order to make informed decisions -Cultivated a culture of accountability where operational leaders own cost, margin, and customer outcomes I believe manufacturing success depends on uniting sales, operations, and finance behind a clear, disciplined strategy that everyone understands. I'm passionate about building cultures of accountability, customer focus, and continuous improvement. Always open to connecting with other leaders committed to real results in manufacturing.