M.

Metin Vargonen
metin.vargonen@gmail.com • 518-423-6196
Sr. Product Manager – (US Citizen) www.linkedin.com/in/metinvargonen • Cumming, GA, US

Summary
Accomplished and performance-driven business leader with hands-on experience in product development and management
with a focus on improving productivity and quality. Solid background in engineering, research, manufacturing, and
commercial environments. Proven track record of spearheading and delivering complex projects from conception to
completion under budget and on time. Expert in establishing and communicating the long-term vision and strategy for
product / portfolio. Skilled in pricing, technology development, marketing, and sales support operations: establish and
implement strategic go-to-marketing initiatives.

Areas of Expertise
♦ Product Development ♦ Program & Project Governance ♦ Issue & Problem Resolution
♦ Strategic Planning & Execution ♦ Cost Reduction & Control ♦ Computational Modeling & Simulation
♦ Team Building & Leadership ♦ Process Improvement ♦ Business Planning & Management

Professional Experience
Fluence, Arlington, VA (100% Remote) December 2021 - Present
Senior Product Manager, Liquid Cooled Energy Storage

Product management responsibilities over liquid cooled battery enclosures for MW scale energy storage, $1B market
segment. Additional responsibility over BESS telco systems hardware and enclosures. Mainly focused on reducing or
eliminating risks of thermal propagation in case of battery thermal runaway in order to ensure safe operation and bankability.

● International joint venture product development tactical product lead in conjunction with NorthVolt – 100% carbon
neutral battery supplier.
● Reduced cost and TCO for customers by 15% through various LEAN cost out methodologies
● Supported global field sales operations with product guidance
● Pricing SME and advisor for product management org. colleagues

Stryten Mfg. (formerly Exide), Milton, GA 2018 to 2021

Product Manager, Motive Power (Batteries & Chargers)

Ensure effective management of battery and charger portfolio, valued at ~$200M+. Evaluate and upgrade existing pricing
model away from ‘cost-plus’ and into a ‘value-based’ for additional revenue and more sensical price ramping. Oversee
numerous cost reduction activities for power electronics. Plan and monitor various operations, including technology and
product development, marketing, and sales support. Act as battery subject matter expert for lead acid and other alternative
chemistries. Establish and execute go-to-market initiatives. Lead, guide, and train large cross-functional teams for
continuous process and performance optimization. Support and streamline GNB cloud digital twin development for wireless
asset tracking using IOT tech.

● Designed and launched the Fury X-7, an industry leading battery charger, for significant market disruption as well
as Marathon Subzero cold-storage battery, a high-tech lead acid solution for cold storage warehouses.
● Managed two large private label battery programs for $20M+ revenue per year.
● Executed and spearheaded over five large capital projects through stage-gate PMO process with high visibility to
upper management with a focus on improving project outcomes and deliverables.

Exide Technologies, Milton, GA 2015 to 2018

Manager & Acting Director, New Product Development, Motive Power Engineering | Sr. Product Engineer, NPD

Tracked and improved performances of MP Prod. Dev. team; prepared and presented reports directly from senior VP of
engineering. Controlled $2M budget with a focus on cost reduction. Administered various operations comprising of new
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product development and identification and Capex planning. Trained and guided junior engineers / interns on personal and
professional development. Planned and performed experiments (DOE) as well as improved process output with minimal
experimentation.

● Received fast track promotion from senior product engineer to managerial position.
● Spearheaded and completed $900K major process automation project.
● Decreased processing time in battery formation and improved quality for $0 Capex, ($4M+ cost avoidance) by using
product / process development expertise.
● Generated >$1M cost reduction per year without adversely impacting quality (design improvements, secondary
suppliers, and LEAN / VAVE by providing effective leadership to team.
● Achieved #2 position and $25M+ gross sales by monitoring all battery builds at the plant (10 DV & 2 PV runs) for
new product development, including Marathon FPX forklift battery.

Additional Experience
Battery Design Engineer, Motive Power, | R&D Engineer, Global R&D Company, Exide Technologies
Solar Engineer, ASL

Education
Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Conc.
U. North Georgia, Cumming, GA
Master of Science in Materials Science & Engineering
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics: Energy Conversion
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Associate of Science in Math, Science, Physics
Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY

Licenses & Certifications

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification -SBTI LLC, December 2017
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification – SBTI LLC, July 2014
Essentials of Management Certification (20+ Hours of management training) – Emory, September 2017
Project Management Certification – Kepner Tregoe, August 2013

Technical Proficiencies
C++, C#, Perl, Linux, MS Office Suite

Hobbies
Inventing – various solar and electric inventions, including a home garage-built electric skateboard,
autonomous wall-avoiding robot, solar thermal driven air conditioner, and more.
Writing – member of Atlanta Writer’s Club and SFPL Writer’s Group.
Forsyth County Poll Worker – personally served as a clerk to address the poll worker shortage during the
pandemic of 2020, and assistant poll manager during 2022 election.

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