B.S. – INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING ’91
M.S. – INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING ’99
Brad Newman received his B.S. in industrial engineering from UA in 1991 and his Master’s in industrial engineering in 1998. His first job after receiving his bachelor’s degree was with General Motors in Tuscaloosa as a manufacturing engineer. His career then took him to Water Valley, Mississippi, where he became a business unit manager for Borg-Warner Automotive, and then to North Carolina, where he worked in multiple facilities as Engineering Manager and Area Manager for GKN Automotive.
In 1999, Newman became an operations manager for Textron Automotive in Tennessee. Under Newman’s leadership his plant was recognized as an Industry Week Top 10 Plant in North America. This led to his first plant manager job with Collins and Aikman in Nashville. In two years the plant became a preferred supplier to multiple automotive companies and was seen as a leader in the division. He then took a position in 2008 as principal and leader of the Commercial Division of Chesapeake Consulting, a leading U.S. process improvement and leadership development consulting firm.
Newman then became plant manager for ZF Chassis Systems, LLC in Tuscaloosa supplying to Mercedes-Benz U.S. International. His plant was selected as Alabama Manufacturer of the Year. Newman also established a world-class Interns and Young Professionals program for developing young talent. He is now the owner of the Black Warrior Consulting Group, marking the end of his tenure as president of Shelton State Community College.
Newman is also a recognized leader in the state, serving as chairman of West Alabama Works, vice chair of Education and Workforce Development for the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the West Alabama Regional Workforce Council/Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Board. He is a founding member of the German Business Council and the Alabama Germany Partnership. He also serves as an Advisory Board Member for the UA Blackburn Institute.
Brad lives in Northport, Alabama with his wife, Hollie. They have two children and four grandchildren. Brad’s hobbies include prison ministry and reentry, working with youth detention, leadership and workforce development, hunting, and fishing.