Mike Pennington

Director, Distribution Operations @ Northwestern Glass Fab

About

As Director of Distribution Operations, I lead with the belief that true success comes from balancing sharp strategy with people-first leadership. My role is about more than moving products; it is about building systems, teams, and culture that scale. I focus on operational excellence: driving efficiency, ensuring quality, and creating an environment where people feel valued and motivated to deliver their best. I take pride in simplifying complexity, streamlining workflows, and leading teams through improvements that make a measurable impact on the business. At the end of the day, operations is about people. When teams feel empowered and supported, productivity follows and results take care of themselves. If you are interested in connecting on leadership, operations, or building strong teams that deliver, let’s talk.

Country

United States

City

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Industry

Glass, Ceramics & Concrete

Skill

Supply Chain Optimization, Strategic Enterprise Management, Business Process Improvement, Organizational Culture, Team Management, Decision-Making, Strategic Thinking, Conflict Management, Business Management, Organization Skills, Lean Methodologies, Strategy, Relationship Building, Culture Change, Coaching & Mentoring, People Development, Contract Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Key Performance Indicators, Written Communication

Experience

Director, Distribution Operations

Northwestern Glass Fab

2025-10 - Present · 1 yr

Production Manager

Northwestern Glass Fab

2021-12 - 2025-10 · 3 yrs 11 mos

As a Production Manager at Northwestern Glass Fab, I oversee a two-shift facility producing $18M in products annually. I achieved a 98% on-time delivery rate and increased employee retention by 20% post-COVID through a focus on culture and talent development. Implementing EOS principles, Lean manufacturing, and Six Sigma methodologies, I improved productivity, reduced downtime, and shortened cycle times. Additionally, I led process improvement projects and developed training programs to enhance team performance

Plant Manager

Gemini, Inc.

2017-12 - 2021-12 · 4 yrs 1 mo

Cannon Falls, MN

As a Production Manager at Gemini, Inc., I led a two-shift manufacturing facility in thermoforming plastics, generating over $5M annually. I focused on strategic planning, exceeding customer expectations, and achieving KPIs. I implemented lean manufacturing, enhanced productivity, and built high-performing teams. With P&L responsibilities, I met financial targets and controlled costs. By applying best practices, I improved plant efficiencies, developed training programs, and streamlined processes to enhance production quality and operational excellence.

Production Supervisor

Gemini, Inc.

2015-2 - 2017-12 · 2 yrs 11 mos

Cannon Falls, MN

As a Production Supervisor at Gemini, Inc., I managed day-to-day operations of plaque production, implemented process improvements in CNC milling and chemical etching, and enhanced team productivity through effective supervision and training. I collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline workflows, optimized equipment maintenance schedules to reduce downtime, and facilitated inter-departmental communication to improve operational efficiency. My efforts played a key role in achieving annual revenue targets.