Sylvester L. Hester, President and CEO, LM Manufacturing , LLC. Sylvester’s proven track record of successfully forming, leading and growing businesses in the demanding, exacting and most times punitive auto industry made him the right choice for both Ford and Magna. From 1998 to 2019, Hester grew his firm from 16 people (1 location) in the auto industry to 2,300 people (18 locations) while driving a diversification strategy into the aerospace, pharmaceutical, food and beverage and the government business sectors. Hester has a love for people and the community and will use this venture to further advance employment, revitalization, and revenue growth in underserved communities.
Supply Chain Innovation: Advising & Consulting
Base: Michigan & Arizona
Corporate Board Appointments
Eagle Quest International, Ltd. (EQI) – Atlas Holdings
Fox Factory Holding Corporation
Kinta AI Advisory Board
Sid Johnson is an accomplished Chief Procurement and Supply Chain Officer with a demonstrated track record of successfully transforming global teams. His expertise is advising leadership how to create value and implement corporate strategies while directing and managing international operations. Sid’s experiences living and working in diverse cultures around the world have given him a unique and deep knowledge of how to effectively partner with the business to drive transformational strategies and innovation.
Sid retired as Head of Procurement at Harman International where he led global direct and indirect procurement ($5 Billion in spend) for connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions, and services supporting the Internet of Things. He led and designed the strategic path to move procurement from its traditional cost-focused basis to being a strategic business enabler.
During his tenure at Aptiv, Sid was senior vice president of Global Supply Chain Management. He was responsible for supplier management functions including over 1,200 employees operating in 30 countries and shipping 87 million assemblies daily. The materials budget was $8.5 Billion; the operating budget was $76 Million. Sid implemented progressive supply chain strategies that enabled evolving business models and accelerated merger integration and enterprise growth.
Prior to being appointed senior vice president, Sid served as vice president of Global Supply Chain Management for Delphi Packard Electric. He oversaw purchasing activities for a $6 Billion business unit across three regions: Asia Pacific; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and the Americas. In this role, he built supplier capabilities and implemented global sourcing strategies that allowed for greater business flexibility and cost efficiencies.
Sid began his career at General Motors holding a variety of positions in operations, lean manufacturing, purchasing and quality assurance before joining Delphi in 2000.
Sid’s former board appointments include: vice chair of the National Minority Development Council board of directors, board member of the International Trade Centre, a joint agency between the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, and chair of the Institute for Supply Management board of directors.
Sid earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and technology from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and a master’s degree in industrial management from Wesleyan University in Indianapolis. He also is a Certified Professional in Supply Management®, a J. Shipman Gold Medal Award winner (ISM) and a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.
Kelvin Squires acquired Center Line Electric, Inc. (and its low voltage division- Center Line Technologies) in 2016 and now serves as the CEO.
Prior to the acquisition, Center Line Electric/Technologies had sales of $79 million. After the
acquisition, Center Line Electric/Technologies grew to over $100+ million in sales. As Owner/
Operator of Center Line Electric, Inc, the company has grown its top line by 35% in the 5 years
of ownership/leadership.
Kelvin Squires retired from Ford Motor Co as the Global Power Train Manufacturing Engineering – Chief Engineer in 2016 after 32 years in the automotive industry.
At Ford, Kelvin was responsible for delivering all new Engines, Transmissions, Driveline Components
(Axles, RDU, Independent Rear Suspension, and Hybrid Battery systems for Ford Motor Company in North
America (US, Canada, Mexico), South America (Brazil, Argentina) and Asia Pacific (China, India,
Thailand).
The Global Chief Engineer position is responsible for Powertrain engineering, procurment and delivering
approximately $1.2 billion a year of new powertrain programs globally. In this role, Kelvin had over 200 engineers, supervisors and managers reporting to him throughout, the US, South America, Mexico, Canada, Thailand, China , India and South Africa.
Manufacturing Background Kelvin joined Ford Motor Company in 2001 as the Lean Manufacturing Manager (LMM) at Cleveland Engine Plant #2, after 17 years of Power Train experience with Chrysler Motors Corporation.
Kelvin, held various management positions in finance, manufacturing, and manufacturing
positions at Chrysler before joining Ford Motor Company.
In 2003, Kelvin was named Plant Manager for Dearborn Engine Plant and Woodhaven Forging and led the turnaround of these two plants (DEFTP and Woodhaven Forging). before Kelvin’s appointment as Plant Manager, collectively the plants were running $10 Million over budget. After the first year of Kelvin’s Plant Manager Leadership, the plant erased the $10 million dollar deficit and came in $1.5 million under budget. DEFTP was scheduled to close, but the positive dollar deficit and came in $1.5 million under budget. DEFTP was scheduled to close, but the positive turnaround help senior manufacturing leadership change the decision and kept DEFTP open and is still producing High Tech engines today.
In 2006, Kelvin was promoted to Director of Manufacturing position, at Automotive Component Holdings, LLC (ACH) a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. • During Kelvin’s 2.5 year stint as Director, leading 8 plants, he help lead the turnaround of all 8 plants and get them ready for sale. Five of the 8 plants were turned around from losing money to become profitable under his leadership. The 5 profitable plants were in fact sold. The three plants that did not turn a profit were closed and their product line was sold off to existing suppliers that made Steering components, Driveshaft components and Vehicle HVAC components.
In late 2008, Kelvin was named Executive Engineer for North American Engine – Manufacturing Engineering organization. Kelvin’s responsibility included all current model engine production at 8 engine plants in North America and all new engine programs going into North America (USA, Canada and Mexico).
In 2010, global responsibility was added to Kelvin's role as, Global Chief Engineer position and included launching the Global Puma engine in South Africa, Thailand, and Argentina. By 2011, Asia Pacific region along with all of South America was added to Kelvin’s area of responsibility.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Kelvin graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1982. Kelvin worked for 2 years at Proctor & Gamble Corporation before going back to University Of Rochester –Simon Graduate School of Management and attained his MBA with concentrations in Finance, Information Systems, and Accounting (1985).
Brian Grady is the Global Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Magna Seating. In his role, he is responsible for sales, marketing, business development and M&A. Brian’s leadership is instrumental in strategizing and securing current and future commercial business as well as enhancing our customer relationships around the world.
Brian started at Magna in July 2020 and has an extensive background of over 25 years in the automotive industry. Before joining Magna, he held various leadership roles in his 21 years at JCI/Adient in Global Sales & Marketing, Operations, Customers Business Units, Metals/Mechanisms, both in North America as well as in Europe. In addition to his seating experience, he spent 2 year in Johnson Controls Power Solutions Battery Business. Prior to JCI/Adient, Brian worked for General Motors and Hawtal Whiting.
Brian has a Bachelor of Science in Business degree from Ferris State University, Big Rapids Michigan.
Magna International Inc.
Apr 1999 – Present Aurora, Ontario
Jan 2020 – Present VP Finance, Continuous Improvement
Feb 2012 – Dec 2019 Director of Planning
Apr 2008 – Feb 2012 Controller, Cosma International Group
Mar 2006 – Apr 2008 Manager Special Projects, Cosma International Group
Dec 2002 – Feb 2006 Manager, Planning
May 2000 – Nov 2002 Manager, Financial Reporting
Apr 1999 – May 2000 Financial Analyst
As VP Finance, Continuous Improvement, I lead Magna’s initiative to remove waste and improve overall Finance processes across the organization. Working with various stakeholders to achieve results. Developing teams to identify and resolve inefficient processes. I am the Finance lead on various Steering Teams to provide oversight to various initiatives that cross multiple functions (examples: Human Resource Information System, Consolidated Payroll, Magna’s employee profit-sharing plan). As Director of Planning, was responsible for all aspects of Magna’s annual business plan, strategic plan, quarterly forecast process and oversight of senior management compensation and Employee Equity and Profit Participation Plan (“EEPPP”) Planning (Business Plan, Strategic Plan and Quarterly Forecasts) Provide guidance to Magna Groups for business plan preparation including key assumptions, tools to complete the plan, presentation templates and support files Review and challenge Group business plans, financial statements and presentations Prepare Magna consolidated business plan and presentation to Board of Directors Senior Management Compensation On a quarterly basis, calculate executive management compensation in accordance with employment contracts Work closely with CEO and CFO in completing executive compensation summaries and reports for Magna’s Corporate Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee Review and approve quarterly bonus calculations for senior managers of the Groups Review and approve proposed Employment Contract Authorization Forms (“ECAF”) for senior managers of the Groups and review with C-Level executives for their approval EEPPP Provide Finance lead for Human Resources department responsible for EEPPP Review and approve calculations of the profit participation pool Review and approve annual communications and calculations provided to employees Other Work closely with other functional areas of the company, including Taxation, Treasury, Investor Relations, Legal and Human Resources Oversight of various aspects of the business that directly report to me – Neighbourhood Network, Magna Golf Club, Magna flight operations, Corporate Accounting.
Copyright © 2022 LM Manufacturing - All Rights Reserved.