1. RESUME
Paul G. Means Jan. 17, 2016
Summary of Qualifications; Has a long experience in the shoe industry working in
production quality and development for 3 major brands, Nike, Reebok and adidas.
I have worked in Nike factories in New Hampshire, Maine and Malaysia. I have also lived in
Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and China working for Nike, Reebok or adidas.
I am an expert in outsole rubber compounding production, equipment and costing. In 1981
I worked with one other expatriate to build a rubber EVA factory to make sole units for Nike
in Malaysia. I have compounded commercialized and costed rubber and EVA formulations for
the 3 major brands. I have worked with Taiwanese equipment supplier to design rubber
injection machines, Injection EVA machine and high efficiency rubber compression molding
machine. Currently I am also responsible for material costing of Rubber and EVA compounds
adhesives, heel counters, injection plastics , PU foam materials and sock liners for adidas
group, approximate raw material value in 2015 USD $680,000,000.
Personal Details:
Name : Paul G. Means
Address : adidas Sourcing Limited
Guangzhou Representative Office
Dongshan Plaza, 12 F
69 Xianlie Road Central
Guangzhou, China P.C. 510095
Office Phone 86 20 8732 2657 ext 2365
Telephone No. : Home: 86 20 8720 2906
Mobile: 86 189 28738515
E-Mail Address : paul.means@adidas-group.com
And Private: : edna_an@yahoo.com or pgrantm1969@yahoo.com
2. Nationality : USA citizen
Marital Status : Divorced/ Re-Married
2 sons, Ernesto 17 ½, Enrico age 15 and Daughter Ann 12
Living with my wife Edna and children in China
Wife Edna C. Means, citizen Philippines hold USA Green Card
Ernesto graduates high school in May 2016 and plans to attend a
University in the Philippines.
Education:
High School : Yoncalla High School: 1965-1969
Yoncalla, Oregon 97499, USA
College / University
: Oregon College of Education:1969 - 1974
Monmouth, Oregon
(Name has changed to Western Oregon State University)
Degree in Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education
Major : Biological Sciences
Minors : Social Sciences and General Sciences
Graduate with Academic Honors
GPA 3.54 out of perfect 4.00 (A-)
Cross Country and Track Letterman
: Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon 1977
I started a Master’s Program in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Completed 2 terms, did not finish due to a lack of funds.
(University transcripts are available upon request.)
Interests & Sports : Distance Running, Coaching, Cross Country, Downhill
Skiing, Hiking, Fishing, Camping, Snorkeling, Hunting and
Photography
Employment History: Relevant to Footwear
1. Company : NIKE Inc.
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3. World Headquarters
I, Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, Oregon
97005
Period : July 1978 - September 1987
Positions : a. July 1978 - 1980
Quality Control Manager –Nike Factory Saco Maine.
Training position for Footwear Technicians and had 5 other people
Reporting to me.
b. August. 1980 - May 1981
Liaison Representative -
Contract Shoe Production
Bangkok Thailand
The 2nd
Nike expatriate to work in Thailand. Development Production ,Quality Control
c. May 1981 - August 1983
General Manager -
Nike Kulim, Malaysia
Responsibility: Worked with one other expatriate Paul Keohane to build factory to produce Rubber
outsoles, EVA and sole units for export to Nike shoe factories in USA. Worked with the architect to
plan the building and supporting suppliers of compressed air, heating boiling (thermal Oil) cooling
water and electricity.
Traveled to England, USA and Japan to source and purchase the rubber processing equipment.
Approved all technical specifications for the rubber mixing and pressing equipment. I was responsible
for the layout and installation of the equipment. Set up standard processing procedures for all rubber
and foam compounds.. Factory production, testing lab and raw material purchasing all reported to
me. We managed to run a 4 shift system for production with automatic rubber presses. We also
made sole units bonding rubber outsoles to rubber sponge RB 820 and EVA Die Cut foam that we
also produced.
d. September 1983 - June 1985
Assistant Factory Superintendent -
Nike Saco, Maine
Factory produced Nike’s most advance running shoes at the time. Saco Factory also made the air bags
as well as PU injection and PU casting of midsoles single and 2 density for Air Shoes. I trained on the
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4. PU Injection and PU casting machines. I also was trouble shooter for all production problems
especially those related to bonding
e. June 1985 - December 1985
Technical Manager -
Nike Kulim Malaysia
f. December 1985 - September 1987
Director of Physical Testing Lab -
Nike Pusan Korea
Responsibility: Oversaw the function of one expatriate and eight local staff in controlling the materials
used in shoe production. We also worked on developing new materials with suppliers and contract
shoe factories.
3. Company : Reebok Int’l Ltd.
Period : November 1987 - January 1989
Positions : Director of Quality Control: - Reebok
based in Pusan Korea. Traveled in Asia and USA
Responsibility : a. Set up basic specifications for rubber outsole, midsole
and leather quality.
b. Set up testing labs in Korea and Taiwan to enforce
standards.
c. Revised quality standards and inspection procedures.
4. Company : Adidas Asia / Pacific Ltd.
Period : February 1989 - June 1993
Positions : Vice President of Technical Services Footwear, Asia
based in Hong Kong
Extensive travel in Asia and to Germany required
Responsibility : a. Responsible for laboratory testing of all materials
used in footwear for Asia. Hired personnel and
set up labs in Hong Kong, and Korea Taiwan,
Indonesia and Thailand to accomplish the testing of foot wear
materials and finished shoes.
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5. b. Responsible for procedures to control quality of all
foot wear shipped ex Asia. Have set up inspection
procedures for finished goods.
Have assisted in setting up all the in-process quality
control guidelines.
c. Responsible for coordination and technical oversight
of production preparation.
We set up CAD CAM systems in Korea and
Hong Kong to do production upper patterns and mold
Gauges.
We have obtained qualified people to run these
systems for Adidas. We also hired qualified
people to oversee mold production in Korea and
Taiwan.
d. The Country Managers for China and the Philippines also reported
directly to me. He was responsible for pricing, quality and
delivery of the shoes from the subcontract factories in
China and the Philippines.
5. Company : Reebok Trading (Far East) Ltd. - Hong Kong
Period : June 1993 - December 1996
Positions : Managing Director Global Quality
Responsibility : a. Analysis of defective returns
b. Fit and Wear Testing
c. Testing of all footwear materials
We up labs in RBK HQ Stoughton, Korea Taiwan,
Indonesia, China and Thailand to control quality
d. Quality approval of material suppliers
e. Procedures for final inspection of footwear
f. General Procedures for footwear manufacturing
g. Evaluation of Footwear factories / suppliers quality
Control procedures.
h. Technical support of RDD / Commercialization and
Production.
i. Dealing with Accounts quality complaints regarding
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6. footwear.
j. Development of new rubber, Pu compounds and
adhesives.
6. Company : Reebok Thailand Inc.
Period : January 1997 - July 1997
Positions : Managing Director of Development
Responsibility : a. Take designs from USA and develop sample
according to the timelines.
b. Proactively develop some shoes using own ideas on
Materials and Designs.
c. Neogoiate competitive shoe prices.
d. Manage the timelines, and technical aspects of mold
making for Development and Production.
e. Assisted in solving technical problems during
Development and Commercialization.
7. Company : Reebok Thailand Inc.
Period : August 1997 – Dec. 98
Positions : Managing Director Technical Development.
Responsibility:) a. Manage the start up of Production of 3D Ultralight and IMEVA
sole units in Thailand.
b. Assist in the start up of Production of 3D Ultralight in
China and Indonesia.
c. Use expertise to develop new materials and new sole
units in Thailand.
d. Developed outsole compounds using high percentage recycled rubber
from Natural Rubber latex glove industry
8. Company : Reebok Taiwan Development Center.
Period : Jan. 99 –Nov. 99.
Position: Director of ARD (Advanced Reebok Development)
Responsibility : Develop and commercialize new materials and processes that
helped put Reebok into a leadership position in the sports footwear
industry.
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7. Work with Reebok USA colleagues in ADD, suppliers in Asia, and Reebok
colleagues in Asia to carry out the mission.
Developed High Abrasion Rubber Compound for Running
High Grip rubber compound for Soccer Boot Upper
9.) Company: Reebok Korea Development Center
Period: Dec. 99- August 2003
Position: Managing Director Technical Materials and Processes Development.
Develop and Commercialize new materials, and processes for Sports footwear.
I worked closely with Injection EVA compound supplier, components supplier and machine
maker to develop advancements in manufacturing. I developed rubber outsole compounds with 2
key suppliers for Reebok. I worked with Dong Sung adhesive supplier in developing primers
Water Based Primers for Footwear.
I worked very closely with Eclipse Polymer to development new Midsole and Unit Sole
compounds used exclusively for Reebok. Worked Closely with Shin Ho Company to develop
Clear Rubber, Oil Resistant Rubber, Duracourt Tennis Rubber.
10.) Company: Reebok China Services LTD.
Period: Sept. 2003- May 2006
Position: Managing Director Technical Materials and Processes Development.
Responsibility: Develop and Commercialize new materials, and processes
for Sports footwear. I was in charge of costing new compounds for outsole and midsoles.
Set up matrix to cost finished outsole and midsole components. Worked on development of 2
color Injection EVA with key supplier an Injection
machine manufacture Tien Kang in 2005. Also worked closely with Eclipse Polymer
to develop 2 color 2 hardness Injection EVA parts. Developed and commercialized Injection
Heel counter compounds that used recycled EVA scrap but exceeded Satra standards.
11.) Company: adidas : Location Guangzhou China
Period: June 2006 – present
Position; Director Chemical Engineering, adidas Footwear Materials Group
Responsibility: Select suppliers to support adidas group in Plastics, Injection EVA, and Rubber
compounds, and Adhesives. Negotiate prices for adidas group Suppliers. Current value of raw
materials where I negotiate prices is approximately USD $ 680,000,000 per year.
Support costing group in the costing of various footwear components, Rubber outsoles, Counters,
Injection Midsoles, Sock liners, TPU Plates, Components, Thread, Toe Box, and other components.
Track Raw material prices for Synthetic, Natural Rubber, EVA Polymers, TPU and Nylon Plastics.
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8. Manage adidas Local Chemists in each country to develop new EVA and Rubber compounds. Review
and improve upon Quality Assurance systems at Rubber, EVA, and Plastic Injection suppliers.
Reduce VOC in Footwear Manufacturing.
Support Manufacturing Excellence in improving efficiency of manufacturing processes.
Assisted in the Implementation of Reactive Hot Melt adhesive for production both with Hardo Roller
Coaters and Robatic spray devices for sole units.
Implemented the use of roller coaters for Water Based adhesive to reduce labor costs versus using
hand brushing.
Developed and Commercialized Injection Rubber for outsoles that gave high productivity
Developed new Rotary Rubber Injection Press with Tien Kang Taiwan now used by several adidas
factories in Indonesia, India, China and Vietnam.
Developed and commercialized very high traction compounds for adidas Outdoor category.
Given the Stealth Award in 2014 for Compound development and commercialization by adidas
Germany Outdoor Marketing Head
Supports adidas advance group FUTURES ( ait) and Reebok Advanced Concept Group ( RAC ) in
the development of new processes and materials for Footwear Mfg.
Have developed rubber compounds that adidas uses including Mock Natural Rubber Crepe at 45A,
Fuel and Oil Resistant Compound exceeding Satra Standards, adiwear compound at 65A 40 Din in
colors, Stealth Outdoor compounds for Hiking with outstanding wet Grip , Stealth Rock Climbing
outsoles based upon Butyl Rubber the Ultimate in Grip, 100 PHR Natural Rubber compounds in
Color and Black., Non –Marking black compounds using 10% recycle rubber from 55A- 80A at 80
Din abrasion. White and Colored compounds using 5% recycled rubber produced in our rubber
molding factories from 50A through 80A and below 80 Din abrasion loss.
Have developed many Midsole and Unit Sole EVA Injection EVA compounds with High Resiliency,
low Shrinkage and excellent Dynamic Impact testing properties with Eclipse Polymer.
Have costed and commercialized all compounds developed for productio
References:
John Herlihy VP
Reebok Brand Footwear Operations
cell: (339) 206-9073
office: 1 (781) 401-4073
fax: 1 (781) 401-7805
Reebok International
1895 JW Foster Blvd.
Canton, Mass. 02021
John.Herlihy@reebok.com
Matthew Montross
Director Product Management
Advanced Concepts
office: 1 781 401 4736
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9. Reebok International
1895 JW Foster Blvd.
Canton, Mass. 02021
Matthew.Montross@reebok.com
John Edgar
Senior Director Product: BU Outdoor
adidas
Adi-Dassler- Platz 1-2
600. A.4.135
Herzogenaurach , 910 74
Germany
Phone 49 9132 843053
Jon.edgar@adidas.com
Gerry Kalaw, Country Manager – Sourcing (Vietnam)
New Balance
Gerry.Kalaw@newbalance.com
Phone +84 972907023
Dick Ambrocio
VP - Global Production and Sourcing
Deckers International Limited
Suite 601-603, 6/F, Tower 6,
The Gateway, Harbour City,
9 Canton Road, Kowloon, Hongkong
Tel: 852.3728.9401
dick.ambrocio@deckers.com
Horst Stapf
Vice President Creation Functions, Footwear
adidas
Adi-Dassler-Str.1
600. D 3 057
Herzogenaurach , 91074
Germany
phone: +49.9132.84.3153
mobile: +49.151.105 974 56
Dick Crosbie: Footwear Rubber Chemist and Consultant
18 Colonial Way
Exeter, NH 03833
USA
Home: 1 603 778 4804
Cell: 1 603 205 4804
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