Bill Hickman

Background

About Bill Hickman

AREAS OF EXPERTISE • Dynamic history overseeing the entire product launch process—from identifying key features and requirements to developing the business case to managing technical development and launch plans. • Adept in global team building, collaborating with business leads and key stakeholders, monitoring deadlines, understanding and articulating priorities, strengthening product roadmaps and presenting product lifecycle assessments and recommendations. • Excellent communicator skilled at leading cross-functional technical teams in successful project delivery. PROFICIENCIES Technical: Strategic Product Planning, Product Launches, Market Strategies/Insights, Process/Manufacturing Engineering, Failure Analysis, Yield Improvement, Product Roadmaps Core: Relationship Building, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Process Improvements, Communication PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Seagate Technology, Longmont, CO, 4/1991 to 8/2019 Senior Staff Program/Product Manager (6/2006 to 8/2019) Led product management development and first-to-market launches of complex, technical products portfolios for Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Dell. Managed the end-to-end product process—determining scope, gathering customer requirements, creating testing timelines, managing overseas factory transfers, optimizing product portfolios, and executing marketing support. Worked cross-functional with sales, operations, marketing, and engineering to align shared product development and launch tasks. Supported technical customer managers, coordinating design review, test unit placement, product transfers, and engineering change requests. Drafted white papers and business cases to support operation and business functions. Key Achievements: Drove profit margins by 20% by continually integrating product portfolio optimization strategies. Consistently identify and resolve hardware and software issues, yield improvement, and reliability targets. Increased market share from 15% to 85%+ for all products by leading competition in new product launches. Collaborated with customers and marketing and engineering teams develop “best-in-class” products and features, ensuring adherence to customer requirements and quality standards. Improved product branding by redesigning product labels and integrating new marketing strategies. Worked from 7/1998 to 5/2006 as a Staff Program/Product Manager for manufacturing and process engineering and from 4/1991 to 6/1998 as a Lead Manufacturing Process Engineer. Oklahoma City University (MBA) South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (BSEE).