Dana Kowalski

Dana is a high-potential candidate with 9 years of manufacturing experience, currently serving as a 2nd Shift Production Supervisor. She meets the core requirements for mechanical aptitude, leadership experience, and continuous improvement (Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt). While she lacks the required Bachelor's degree and has only managed 12 reports compared to the 40 required for this role, her local proximity and track record of internal promotion make her a strong 'stretch' candidate for an organization that values long-term tenure.

The score reflects a strong alignment with the industry, location, and 'soft' requirements like mechanical curiosity and leadership potential. However, points were deducted because the candidate holds an Associate's degree rather than the required Bachelor's degree, and the current scope of her leadership (12 people, 1 shift) is significantly smaller than the target role (40 people, 3 shifts). Her technical skills in Excel are noted as 'basic' while the JD seeks 'proficiency'.

screen further

While Dana is a strong cultural and industry fit, the recruiter should first confirm if the client is firm on the Bachelor's degree requirement and willing to mentor a 'stretch' candidate into the larger headcount responsibility.

Decision support only. A recruiter reviews every recommendation.

• Proven track record of internal promotion from Material Handler to Supervisor
• Strong safety record with zero recordable incidents in 2 years and OSHA 30 certification
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt with tangible 5S and process improvement results
• Local candidate residing in Maryland Heights with experience in high-volume packaging

• Educational gap (A.A.S. vs. required Bachelor's degree)
• Significant jump in responsibility from 12 direct reports to 40 across three shifts
• Lack of experience with P&L, budgeting, or high-level production planning

• Specific proficiency level with advanced Excel functions (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables)
• Experience with ERP systems beyond SAP WM transactions
• Extent of involvement in equipment maintenance and troubleshooting

Dana is a rising production leader currently supervising 2nd shift operations at Riverbend Packaging. She brings a strong foundation in Lean Six Sigma principles and a stellar safety record, having maintained zero recordable incidents over the past two years. Dana is a 'homegrown' talent who worked her way up from the floor to supervision, demonstrating the exact type of long-term commitment and mechanical curiosity your team values. While this role represents a step up in headcount responsibility, her success in improving inventory accuracy to 98% and reducing changeover times by 20 minutes suggests she is ready for a management challenge. She is a local Maryland Heights resident seeking a long-term career home.

• You currently manage 12 people; how would you adapt your leadership style to oversee a 40-person, three-shift operation?
• Can you walk us through a specific mechanical or technical problem you solved on the production line?
• The JD requires Excel proficiency; describe the most complex spreadsheet or data tracking tool you have managed.
• How do you handle hand-offs and communication between shifts to ensure production continuity?