Wayne Chmiel is a strategic market developer and general management executive with 30 years of experience with deep expertise in strategy development, innovation, R&D product development, operations and channel development. Before joining FLANDERS, he was Vice President of Business Development for Metaltek International where he help lead them into production development and first sale of MetalTek’s own alumina forming alloy into the ethylene market. Previously he was Chief Technical Officer/Head of R&D for Sandvik Mining and Construction and sat on Sandvik’s global corporate R&D. Additionally, he served as Vice President Loading & Hauling in a successful turnaround for the longstanding Turku factory. At Caterpillar Inc, Wayne was Global Product Line Manager for Electric Rope Shovels. He also held various positions at Bucyrus International. During his time at Bucyrus the ultra-class rope shovels grew market share double-digit with significant product development, including the industry-first hydraulic crowding “HydraCrowd” system. At Komatsu America Corp as Director Product Marketing and Planning, Mining Division, he successfully launched the 830E AC as well as other mining trucks. Besides holding several mining and hybrid energy related patents Wayne obtained his MBA from Bradley University and BSc in Mechanical Engineering from University of Wisconsin – Madison.