Devin Walton

Cotecna Inspection became the parent company to ACT Lab and expanded global footprint as well a capability into new markets including apparel, food, food contact, cosmetics, appliances, electronics and other consumer goods. I was selected to establish relationships and pursue new business in a market where Cotecna had no brand recognition

• Pursue and maintain relationships with large retailers with proprietary protocol
• Produce compliance plans and test protocol for clients along with compliance risk consultation
• Key staff resource as compliance and regulatory in-house expert, covering mechanical, chemical for North America, EU and other regions by demand
• Tasked with regular research into regulatory changes and standards updates
• Research and initiate contact with certification partners
• Broker testing, manage relationships, and negotiate pricing and contracts with subcontracting partners for testing that is outside of the native scope of network laboratories
• Research ROI and establish plan of execution for expansion of lab scope and capability to meet client demands and/or market trends
• Forecast sales for new categories
• Find, research, and negotiate potentially beneficial acquisition target companies
• Some companies that I created relationships with include: Ikea, FlexFit, Funko, SpinMaster, TikTok Shop, and Rivian
• Regularly attend 5 to 7 trade shows and exhibitions annually prospecting potential clients

• Pursue specialty segment and large clients for test laboratory that specializes in testing bicycles, e-bikes, e-mobility products, children's products, multi-category PPE, and outdoor industry products
• Pursue and maintain relationships with large retailers with proprietary protocol
• Produce compliance plans and test protocol for clients along with compliance risk consultation
• Key staff resource as compliance and regulatory in-house expert, covering mechanical, chemical for North America, EU and other regions by demand
• Tasked with regular research into regulatory changes and standards updates
• Pursue, maintain relationships, and negotiate pricing and contracts with certifications partners
• Pursue, manage relationships, and negotiate pricing and contracts with subcontracting partners for testing that is outside of native scope
• Research ROI and establish plan of execution for expansion of lab scope and capability to meet client demands and/or market trends
• Forecast sales for new scope additions

• Monitor and assess lab processes for accuracy and efficiency
• Serve as functional link between salespeople and operations
• Assist in onsite management and training of staff at global lab locations
• Source, manage, and maintain relationships with subcontractors / negotiate contracts and pricing
• Research and produce reference materials to aid sales in creating compliance protocol for clients

• Provide service to media (print, web, and broadcast) including product and information fulfillment
• Actively seek and schedule potential leads with media when new products are conceived
• Produce and execute concepts for product launches on a global basis
• Act as company spokesperson when public comment is requested or required
• Manage communications and expectations between national and international stake-holders
• Manage third party PR firm to fulfill overall company goals
• Assess risk, negotiate and settle consumer injury claims before escalated to representative legal counsel and/or litigation
• Serve as expert for claims that escalate to formal litigation
• Consult on product planning and management for new and future products
• Evaluate prototype products and collect and compile feedback from other evaluators
• Produce press releases to announce new products and other significant company news or industry participation
• Produce copy for print and web publication
• Produce concise product information for distribution to internal and external sales force

Manager, Product Management Group

July 2003 - Dec 2005

• Founded product management group to manage and develop all cycling components, footwear, pedals and wheels sold into North American market
• Worked closely with overseas R&D and product planning to develop products focused on N.A. market
• Assessed risk, negotiated and settled consumer injury claims before they escalated to representative legal counsel and/or litigation and served as expert for claims that escalated to formal litigation.
• Field test program management: Collected feedback, provided prototypes and pre-production samples, and selected test riders for N.A. product field test program, consisting of over 40 members. Summarized and relayed all feedback to marketing, R&D, and engineering groups internationally.
• Proofed, amended, and co-produced technical documents, warnings, and procedures for distribution to N.A. OEM customers, frame and fork builders, distributors, retailers, and consumers.
• Worked directly with engineering and design groups for all N.A. OEM customers, frame and fork builders, distributors, and retailers

Customer Services Group Manager

Jul 1997 – Jul 2003

• Managed call center and staff providing customer service and sales to North America
• Developed domestic product assembly program: selecting vendors, product and materials flow, training assembly personnel, package design, distribution and order flow, production schedules based on sales forecasts, cost and contract negotiation
• Instrumental in development of 20 Full Service Centers throughout US that provided warranty fulfillment and other associated services on behalf of Shimano
• Training, auditing, reporting and forecasting claims
• Field test program management as detailed above

Warranty, Quality Assurance, and Field Test Manager

Jul 1995 - Jul 1997

• Drafted, presented, and launched new warranty program for North America that was adopted worldwide in 1996.
• Supervised development and selection of 12 Authorized Warranty Centers throughout U.S. and Canada. Other accountabilities included training personnel and auditing activities of each center.
• Directly supervised and continually trained 30 call center employees to collect product claim information, dispense product information, and receive and QA claimed product.
• Field test program management as detailed above

Shimano Multi-Service Program Supervisor

Nov 1993 – Jul 1995

• Developed and implemented technical support program with vehicles, equipment, and personnel that provided service directly to event participants and consumers throughout North America
• Supported sponsored race teams and collected feedback from professional mechanics and racers on product function, design, and durability.
• Provided technical training for professional mechanics and retailers throughout U.S.
• Served as guest instructor at United States Olympic Training Center for USCF Mechanic Certification program

Technical Customer Service Representative

Jul 1992 - Nov 1993

• Handled over 100 calls daily from retailers and consumers
• Assisted new customer service rep training
• Co-wrote, produced, and presented series of sales clinics for dealers for North America
• Wrote, produced and presented first Shimano endorsed technical presentation for New Zealand retailers.
• Answered all consumer mail sent to Shimano American.
• Recorded, calculated, and reported call center statistics on daily, weekly, and monthly basis

• Managed sales and mechanics staff
• Trained sales staff on quality customer care
• Performed buying and inventory functions
• Increased sales through carefully curated product offerings
• Responsible for shop merchandising
• Trained mechanics on assembly, repair, and wheel building techniques