Jim Cummings

Conscientious, resourceful engineering professional with over 15 years' experience in the computer hardware electronics industry. Strong skills in managing projects encompassing the complete development process from concept to release. Proficient in creating data packages required for PCB manufacturing builds and managing engineering changes.

Excellent interpersonal skills in both communicating benchmark status to upper management, working with multiple internal groups, and managing third party vendors. An understanding, analytical individual who has an excellent sense of teamwork that gets results by instilling commitment, trust, compassion, and loyalty.

Owner & Operator at Kona Ice of Wendell (2015-08 – Present)

Own and manage all aspects of a mobile food-service franchise, including daily operations, sales, customer service, event coordination, marketing, inventory, finances, and community partnerships. Successfully coordinate events ranging from private parties and corporate functions to schools and community gatherings while maintaining high standards of customer service, safety, and brand compliance.

• Own and operate a mobile shaved-ice franchise, managing all aspects of daily business operations
• Coordinate and execute events, community functions, private parties, schools, churches, and corporate events
• Manage scheduling, customer relationships, sales, inventory, purchasing, and financial responsibilities
• Develop local marketing and promotional strategies to build brand awareness and increase sales
• Provide exceptional customer service while creating a fun, positive experience for customers of all ages
• Maintain compliance with health, safety, licensing, and franchise standards
• Build and maintain relationships with event organizers, businesses, schools, and community organizations
• Handle event logistics, including setup, transportation, staffing, and day-of operations
• Manage bookkeeping, deposits, expenses, and overall profitability of the business

Staff Hardware Engineer at Lenovo (acquired IBM's server division in 2014) / IBM (2001-01 – 2015-12)

Hardware development engineer and owner for the complete design of both non-expandered and expandered SAS/SATA backplanes from concept to release for the IBM/Lenovo System X-series portfolio. Performed schematic capture, bring-up, testing, debugging, validating, updating, managed engineering change orders, and created manufacturing packages for each backplane.

• Designed over 20 non-expandered and expandered backplanes for the IBM/Lenovo System X-Series portfolio
• Provided on-going support to product engineering teams working and resolving all defects and managing all engineering change orders throughout the complete development cycle
• Created HW, SW, and test specification documents and distributed to the product engineering, test, and manufacturing teams such that those teams would have a better understanding of how each backplane was designed and functioned
• Produced a technical analysis document, which was used by procurement to define the transmitter setting requirements for the entire SAS/SATA hard drive portfolio
• Created a cost, functionality, and performance analysis document between different expander vendors that was used by procurement to aid in the RFQ process
• Participated in all architectural discussions, successfully collaborated with mechanical, thermal, and power teams, and chaired discussions between in house physical design team and manufacturing to resolve DFM and DFT issues to create a robust design for each backplane

Serviceability & Metrics Analyst at Lenovo / IBM (2006-01 – 2008-12)

Prepared daily and weekly storage past due, storage performance, RGID, and material availability metric reports to senior management for the complete line of IBM System-X systems and options for all GEOs.

• Generated daily metric reports that were used by senior management in the supply chain to monitor and evaluate performance and material availability
• Introduced a performance vs. produce availability weekly report to assist senior management in the operations team to monitor and evaluate operations performance
• Created a macro for BRIO that successfully exported pivot data to excel in the correct format to minimize human error
• Maintained a monthly AG performance report and successfully inputted WW performance numbers into CRMS for all GEOs

Inventory Control Specialist at Burnham Services (1993-01 – 2001-12)

Fulfilled orders, processed new returns, performed shipping and receiving, and processed defective returns for IBM customer service representatives.

• Managed in-bound and out-bound inventory shipments and deliveries to ensure accuracy and timeliness
• Performed monthly internal and external audits on procedures and resolved inventory discrepancies
• Managed inventory and performed audits for twelve smaller operations throughout the east coast from the main office in RTP

BS in Electrical Engineering – North Carolina State University

AS in Associate in Science – Wake Technical Community College