Top 10 Manufacturing Leaders - 2025

Pablo Perez has spent nearly three decades proving that world-class manufacturing begins and ends with people. From leading operations at global giants such as Unilever and Johnson & Johnson to his current role at Oregon Potato Company (OPC), he has built a career defined by efficiency and sustainability. Today, he makes sure that OPC’s operations run with precision, deliver food of the highest quality and create sustainable growth that will endure for generations.

Jake Wagner is a manufacturing expert with hands-on experience in field service and production management. He drives innovation and enhances product quality by seamlessly integrating manufacturing with engineering and operations.

Pat Galecki is the director of manufacturing strategy at Cummins Inc., a power solutions manufacturing company. He has been working in the automotive industry for more than two decdes years. As the director, he oversees the establishment of new businesses, evaluates manufacturing operations and leads several projects to enhance efficiency and performance.

Roxanne Davis is the senior vice president of manufacturing at Post Consumer brands, a consumer packaged goods food manufacturer. She is a seasoned manufacturing and supply chain executive with over 20 years of experience in the food industry. She manages the cereal, pet food, and nut butter/snack categories and oversees the business management teams.

Mark Hughes is the vice-president of manufacturing at iRhythm Technologies, a medical equipment manufacturing company. He has successfully scaled companies from startup to over $600 million in annual revenue and is experienced in leading operations, manufacturing, engineering, supply chain and distribution functions. He has over 30 years of experience in the medical device and life science industries.

Charles Kingdon is a manufacturing leader known for driving revenue growth and shareholder value. He is currently serving as the director of manufacturing at Chart Industries, an industrial machinery manufacturing company. In his current role, he oversees the production of specialized gas storage and transport equipment for multiple industries.

Alberto Alfonso is a global executive with over 20 years of experience in engineering, manufacturing and program management. Currently director of operations and manufacturing at Goodyear Tire and Rubber company, he specializes in strategy development, process optimization and team building.

Jason Friedman is the director of manufacturing at Interface, a modular flooring company. He has an extensive background in managing complex production processes and system integration. His experience spans across planning, forecasting, procurement, KPI development, audits and capital management. He strongly believes in creating value through innovation, team building and system-wide thinking.

Jerry Karban is the director of manufacturing at Edwards Lifesciences, a medical technology company specializing in heart valve and critical care innovations. With over 20 years in medical device operations, he previously held leadership roles at Abbott and Guidant Vascular, specializing in delivery system manufacturing and quality engineering.

Jake Beaman is an experienced Plant manager, who is currently working as the manufacturing director of BD, a medical equipment manufacturing company. he is a healthcare leader with expertise in plant management, process improvement, cross-functional team leadership and strategic operations across multiple sites and product lines.