Kevin Carpenter

I began my career as a manufacturing engineer and have built a reputation as a change agent, someone brought in to solve tough problems, lead enterprise transformations, and deliver results. I believe that the call of the engineer is to enact transformative change, even when it’s uncomfortable. My strength lies in articulating a vision, engaging teams in its creation, and delivering lasting results. As Chief Supply Chain Officer at The Toro Company, I led the integration of Toro’s supply chain into a unified global function, an effort that delivered $300M in cost savings in 3 years, improved gross margins by 4%, and enabled $600M in incremental revenue. I also championed the rollout of smart factory technologies, including MES systems and robotics, which improved throughput, efficiency, and quality. As General Manager of the aftermarket business, I expanded the division to $850M in revenue and improved profitability through pricing, digital growth, and channel optimization. These transformations contributed to Toro’s earnings growth and $5B in revenue. At Carrier, I held enterprise leadership roles in operations, quality, and advanced manufacturing. As the Vice President, Operations for Residential HVAC, I secured $45M in annual run rate savings and $120M in productivity gains by implementing operational improvements across global facilities. In other Carrier roles, I built a supplier excellence program that delivered $98M in projected savings and expanded automation and IoT capabilities. Earlier in my career at Rockwell Automation, I created and scaled the company’s first centralized manufacturing engineering organization, which supported 21 global sites. By aligning plant-level teams and implementing a 5-year automation strategy, we improved time-to-market by 25% and increased productivity from $10M to $35M. Throughout my career, I’ve delivered transformations while leading with a human-centered approach. At Toro, I launched the “We Are One, We Are Winners” initiative to create shared accountability and pride across our global teams. At Carrier, I developed “Everyone Matters in Operations,” a cultural campaign that emphasized visibility and care. I believe that transformation cannot succeed without trust, and that people perform at their best when they feel seen, valued, and empowered. That same belief shapes my endeavors outside the workplace, founding a nonprofit organization that connects college students to C-suite mentors, creating opportunities for the next generation.