About Maverick Optimizations
Management Consulting Built for Manufacturing Leaders
Brian Watkins is the Founder and Principal of Maverick Optimizations, a consulting firm purpose-built to help $5–50M manufacturing companies scale smart, stabilize operations, and prepare for what’s next.
He works with businesses facing rapid growth, post-acquisition complexity—or what he calls being operationally plateaued: when internal systems, teams, or execution can’t keep up with the business’s potential.
With over 30 years of executive leadership across medical device, construction, and industrial sectors, Brian specializes in navigating moments of high-stakes change—whether that’s rapid growth, leadership transition, or post-acquisition integration. His work blends big-picture strategy with hands-on execution to drive results where it counts most.
As a Fractional COO, EOS® Integrator, and CEPA-aligned value operator, Brian partners with founder-led and PE-backed businesses to deliver operational clarity, build high-accountability teams, and embed systems that scale.
He’s led plant turnarounds, ERP rollouts, FDA-compliant scale-ups, and M&A integrations with cultural and systems alignment. Certified as a Six Sigma Black Belt with an Executive MBA, Brian’s background combines technical depth with business insight.
Leadership Philosophy
Brian believes in challenging conventional thinking, implementing scalable systems, and empowering teams to outperform long after the engagement ends. Through Maverick Optimizations, he delivers the clarity, urgency, and execution required to turn operational chaos into sustainable growth.
Career Highlights
- $4.8M Profit Turnaround – Led Lean manufacturing overhaul, implementing cellular flow and digital inventory control
- Medical Device Excellence – Directed FDA-regulated operations with 100% compliance and full customer satisfaction
- Construction Efficiency – Reduced prefab waste by 32% and accelerated timelines on healthcare and data center builds
- Operational Optimization – Delivered multimillion-dollar savings through automation and process refinement
- M&A Integration – Executed successful post-acquisition integrations across systems, culture, and operations
Education & Certifications
- MBA, Executive MBA in International Business – Kent State University
- BS, Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics Minor – Penn State University
Certifications:
- Six Sigma Black Belts (Eaton / GE)
- Lean Manufacturing – Lean Enterprise Institute
- Project Management – Fred Pryor
- Creative Innovation – Mike Vance’s “Think Out of the Box” Series