Bradley Appelgate — Head of Fabrication at A3 Visual
Work experience
A3 Visual
Head of Fabrication | 11/2022 - 06/2024
Head of design/estimation/manufacture of in house fabrication department building experiential, visual marketing, visual merchandising, point of purchase, displays, tradeshow booths, permanent installations, temporary installations, step and repeat structures, and immersive experiential builds.
Fabricating Metal, plastic, plywood, HP Laminates, MDF, hardwood, softwood, acrylic, Sintra, SEG structures (including Rex Frame, Bematrix and Hybrid construction), and LED lighting systems.
Coyle Reproductions
Executive Sales | 11/2019 - 11/2022
Sales of visual marketing including small/medium/ large format printing (digital and silk screen) - design and manufacture of point of purchase displays (Metal/wood/acrylic/corrugate/paper/paper composites/vinyl/Decal) and back lit SEG displays for companies like REEF, YETI, NIKE, Florence Marine X, and GIANT Bicycles, Thank You Skateboards, Tum Yeto/Foundation/Toy Machine, PS Stix, S. L. Barbier, and James Verbicky (fine art).
DAE Systems / Dynamic Air Engineering
Vice President of Business Development | 06/2017 - 08/2019
Brought on to bring to market and develop program sales for newly patented products designed and built in house while managing 10 million dollars in gross program sales. Working/Living bi-coastal, I oversaw the Contracts Manager and Customer Service staff as well as two outside sales representatives while reporting directly to the President. Managed sales development progress on domestic and international programs. Worked closely with Engineering Department on design/development/testing/quality to meet contract requirements. Additionally took over California based factory as acting Operations Manager overseeing 19 employees. Responsible for managing production timelines, shipping, receiving, quality inspections, work order management, and inventory management. Used Microsoft Teams, Trained in Visual ERP software (executive access of Purchasing/Contracts/Inventory/Quality/Admin/Project Management/Scheduling), AS9100D Quality Inspector certified, Lead GoTo Meeting based presentations and group meetings.
Directly interfaced Sales with government contract OEM customers (Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, GM, BAE, General Dynamics, Gulfstream, Raytheon, Thales, etc) and managed program orders.
Support OEM customer engagements to design win and through to revenue. Promote DAE products & value to carrier decision makers, line level Engineering staff, and Program Management.
Coordinate and manage all customer interfaces to the Engineering and Production Management team, ensuring proper prioritization and focus to achieve product launch and revenue generation.
Took a pro-active role in addressing and resolving issues that have the potential to impact the successful and timely completion of the product based on customer production need by dates.
Developed and maintained productive business relationships with current and potential customers for legacy programs and emerging new product.
Westside Distribution/ APPELCORE Surfboard Stringers
Owner | 03/1996 - 08/2019
Westside Dist: 1996-2004
Self Financed, Developed and Operated a full service vending and coffee service company. Cold calling, direct marketing, new client development, contract negotiations, customer service, product and equipment purchasing, route development/maintenance, equipment repair, staffing, training, advertising and accounting.
• By 2001 became South Orange County’s largest third party operator for Pepsi-Cola.
• Developed over 62 Accounts including Toyota Racing Development, WATG Architects, Volcom Clothing, Paul Frank Industries, World Industries, Giant Skateboard Distribution, Element Skateboards, Acme Skateboards, Etnies shoes, P.S. Stix Skateboard Manufacturing, Black Label Skateboards, and 411 video magazine productions.
APPELCORE: 2005-current
Invented, developed, and marketed the world’s first engineered surfboard stringer. Currently producing at the PanelWorks facility and sold worldwide to surfboard foam manufacturers. APPELCORE is the industry standard for performance surfboards worldwide.
• Invented and pioneered a market changing product.
• Broke new line into market through cold calls, trade shows and social media.
• Developed international relationships and distribution channels.
Panelworks Veneer and Plywood
Sales / Purchasing / Product Development / Project Manager | 01/2011 - 06/2017
Partnered with PanelWorks, a wood laminating and veneer manufacturer, in 2010 to manufacture the APPELCORE product. Designed and Developed an engineered flooring product line to diversify factory product build mix. Instrumental in research and acquisition of new manufacturing equipment to broaden production capabilities.
• Increased gross sales 30% from $6 million to $7.8 million.
• Broke new line to a new customer base through cold calls and attending trade shows. Developed relationships with designers, custom builders and retail customers.
• Created an OEM production system for volume contract manufacturers.
• Oversaw web development, social media and direct marketing (social media, trade shows, constant contact), sales, quality control, sourcing and purchasing,
Pacific Panel Products
Outside Sales Representative | 04/2009 - 06/2017
Developed added value B2B sales division in partnership with Summit Hardwoods. Handled design/development/engineering of mass produced point of purchase materials, in store display, shop-in-shop, and complete store build outs. Worked with 3D rendering (Rhino CAD/CAM, Sketch-up) CNC Pod and Rail, CNC tables, and CNC Beam saw.
• Provided complete turnkey product development and fulfillment services for global distribution for clients including Kroeger Foods, Starbucks, Nike, Reef, Volcom, Rip Curl, Stance Socks, Vans, O’neill, Billabong, and Quiksilver amongst others.
• Cold called on C-Suite executives through design and product management.
• Proactively addressed and resolved production issues to ensure timely delivery.
• Highly experienced in manufacturing from concept drawings, to architectural blueprints, to prototyping to final production.
• Provided tear down quoting to customer from conceptual drawings through final renderings.
• Managed contract manufacturers for outsource production.
Parr Lumber Company
Inside Sales | 05/2009 - 04/2010
Hired to start a hardwood lumber and plywood sales division within an existing family owned softwood distribution company.
• Pioneered and Developed stocking molding inventory programs serving the wood flooring industry.
• Prospected, Identified, secured, and developed new business through cold calls and tradeshows.
• Provided add on sales of new product to existing customers.
Summit Hardwoods, Inc.
Inside Sales | 02/2004 - 04/2009
Hired without any previous lumber experience to help launch a new forward inventory for a Virginia based, family owned lumber mill.
• Quickly established niche market added value sales in non-traditional lumber accounts and developed vendor managed inventory (VMI) within key large accounts.
• Accounted for 60% (2.4 million of 4 million) of company’s year to year sales from 2005 to 2008 peaking at 2.4 million in 07-08.
• Specialized in trade show environment manufacturing, retail store design/development/build, point of purchase/display.
• Pioneered and developed a stocking skateboard veneer distribution program serving nationwide skateboard manufacturers, including sales into Mexico.
• Invented, developed and marketed a product for surfboard manufacturing (APPELCORE) which Summit financially partnered with me on.
• Pioneered/designed/developed a stocking product line of stretcher bar molding serving the fine art market.
The North Face
Retail Store Manager | 09/1990 - 06/1994
Hired as floor sales @south coast plaza - promoted to assistant manager to open a brand new store @ Lake Elsinore Outlet - promoted to store manager. Transferred to Mammoth Mountain assistant manager to open new store (The North Face Wilderness Outfitters location) Transferred to assistant manager to open new store @ Triangle Square in Costa Mesa.
