Shawn Brock — Director of Operations
Toronto / GTA · Operations Leadership · Supply Chain · Retail & DTC · PE-Backed Turnaround
+1 519-654-7600 · shawnb389@gmail.com
Director of Operations
VP Operations
Supply Chain
Toronto · GTA
Core Competencies
Process Optimization
Process optimization, continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma
ERP & Systems
ERP certifications, Epicor, Zendesk, OMS/WMS implementation, SOP development
Budgeting & Strategic Planning
P&L ownership, budgeting, financial oversight, cost reduction
Six Sigma / Kanban
Six Sigma Green Belt II certified, Kanban trained, lean principles
Leasing & Contract Negotiation
Lease renegotiation, supplier terms, vendor on-boarding
Multi-Facility Management
Multi-site retail, warehouse, and production facility oversight
Team Leadership & Development
Cross-functional team leadership, mentorship, cultural development
Cultural Awareness
Dual citizen, international supply chain, global vendor management
Key Value Creation Metrics
A career defined by quantifiable operational impact — the language of Private Equity value creation.
92%+
OTIF Achievement
Regularly achieving 92%+ On-Time In-Full at DKK Enterprises
+30%
Ecommerce Sales Growth
Grew online sales by +30% and nearly doubled online profit margin at First Jewelry
>$1.5M
Cost Savings
Financial and operational restructuring savings at Things Engraved
+$120k/yr
Profit Programs
Duties drawback, PLM, and scrap metal sell-off programs at First Jewelry
-$200k/yr
IT & SC Savings
RFP processes selecting new IT and supply chain partners at Built NY
+12%
Basket Size Growth
Grew store basket size at Things Engraved turnaround
Professional Experience
2023 – Present
Director of Operations · DKK Enterprises Inc. · Toronto, ON
Accountability for all operational areas of the SMB retail/wholesale business, including production and inventory, inbound and outbound logistics, customer experience, HR, and retail store oversight.
- Re-organized and expanded operational areas to retail best practices to achieve KPIs to planned revenue, including Zendesk implementation, ERP system automation, and new SOP training
- Introduced new a/b/c forecasting methodology and driving overstock reduction initiatives
- Regular auditing of freight costs and other key logistics expenses
- Vetted and on-boarded several new cost-competitive supply chain vendors and partners
- Assisted in the buildout and opening of new retail coffee & gifts store brand extension
- Now regularly achieving 92%+ OTIF, 2-day CX response time, <3% stockouts
Mid-Career Experience
2021–2023
Sr. Project Manager / Supply Chain Consultant (Freelance) · Second Foundation Consulting · Greater Toronto Area, ON
Post-COVID, worked part-time as a consultant while wife was treated for and recovered from cancer.
- OMS software selection and implementation for small office furniture distributor incl. training
- EDI on-boarding program for newly acquired B2C home décor brand, incl. Target auditing
- Improved production processes for metals casting foundry incorporating Six Sigma and lean manufacturing principles; initiated Six Sigma certification program
2018–2020
General Manager / CEO · Things Engraved Inc. · Kitchener, ON
$30M distressed custom gift retail chain operating 80 stores throughout Canada, owned by PE firm — turnaround mandate to stabilize and sell the business.
- Full strategic and financial leadership for all areas of the business; 10 direct reports (300+ indirect)
- Revamped stores staffing model, launched new craft shopping experience, financial and operational restructuring saving >$1.5M
- Refreshed assortment, expanded services, relaunched ecommerce sites with new Customizer & BOPIS options, balanced inventory, renegotiated leases & supplier payment terms
- Mentored veteran managers, developed and promoted new managers to transform culture and drive growth; reduced store footprint to eliminate loss leaders
- Results: Grew store basket size by +12%, increased web traffic and conversion, improved cash flow, recruited new corporate partners, increased gross margin & EBITDA
- Business sold as planned; all executive staff laid off in acquisition
Earlier Career Highlights
2014 – 2018
Vice President, Supply Chain Operations · First Jewelry Ltd. · Toronto, ON
$32M+ B2C and DTC fine jewelry and fashion accessories manufacturer operating in Canada, USA, and UK via multiple brands; 6 direct reports. Business assets sold on single owner's retirement.
- Leadership (incl. P&L responsibilities) for: Inventory Planning, Sourcing, Manufacturing (in-house and 3PL), Distribution, Customer Service, IT, and Accounting
- Oversaw production and import of nearly 1M units annually, 15k+ customer inquiries, 100k+ international shipments (ecommerce, EDI, and manual)
- Implemented duties drawback, PLM, scrap metal sell-off programs increasing profit +$120k/yr
- Led redesign & launch of new multi-currency ecommerce store with full digital marketing integration; grew sales by +30% and nearly doubled online profit margin
- Led change management efforts in operations, tech, and accounting efficiencies saving -$87k/yr
- Managed logistics and legal compliances for new launches in multiple international marketplaces
2010 – 2014
Vice President of Operations · Built NY, Inc. · New York, NY
$80M bags, totes, and home accessories producer selling domestically and internationally; 8 direct reports. Business sold to main competitor with all exec staff laid off.
- Full P&L responsibility leading multiple facilities (domestic & overseas): Inventory Planning, Sourcing, Manufacturing, China QC team, Logistics, Fulfillment, Customer Service, IT
- Produced 2.8M units annually, 250k+ orders, 15k+ customer interactions
- Conducted RFP processes to select new IT and supply chain partners, saving more than -$200k/yr
- Conducted ongoing QC inspections of overseas factories and ethically vetted all new SC partners
- Prior role: Logistics Director (Consumer Products, A+E Television Networks)
Core Competency Framework
Operations Excellence
Multi-site management, lean processes, P&L ownership, workforce leadership
PE Value Creation
EBITDA optimization, margin expansion, exit readiness, M&A integration
Supply Chain & DTC
Procurement, logistics, e-commerce, inventory management
Systems & Technology
ERP implementation, WMS, digital transformation, data analytics
Leadership Philosophy
"Operational excellence is not a destination — it is the discipline of building systems, teams, and cultures that compound value every quarter, and leave an organization stronger than you found it."— Shawn Brock, COO
Shawn leads with a bias for action, data-driven decision-making, and an unwavering focus on the metrics that matter to PE sponsors: EBITDA, margin, and scalability. Equally comfortable in the boardroom and on the warehouse floor, he rapidly diagnoses operational gaps and executes value creation plans with the urgency compressed hold periods demand.
Results-Driven
Every initiative anchored to measurable EBITDA or margin impact
Team Builder
Develops high-performing cross-functional teams at scale
Execution Speed
Operates with PE-grade urgency and disciplined prioritization
Growth Mindset
Scales organizations for exit while maintaining operational stability
Education, Credentials & Digital Presence
Academic Credentials
01
MBA: Strategic Leadership Concentration
University of Delaware
02
Bachelor of Science: Public Administration
California State University
Certifications
Project Management Professional (PMP) — Epicor University
Six Sigma Green Belt II — Target USA / CSSC
Production Inv. Planner / CPIM — APICS / ASCM
12B Combat Engineer — US Army Corps of Engineers
Executive Digital Platform
Shawn maintains a robust executive digital footprint — reinforcing credibility with PE recruiters, operating partners, and portfolio CEOs.
- Email — shawnb389@gmail.com
- Executive Portfolio Website — Leadership bio, anonymized case studies, and 90-day COO framework
- Substack / Medium — Thought leadership on PE value creation, supply chain, and digital transformation
Contact
Shawn Brock — Director of Operations
Toronto / Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada