Education
Bachelor of Science: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio, 1999 (Industrial Engineering)
Positions and Work Experience
2015 -2023 Founding President & CEO, Led the launch of a peanut farmer co-op (400+ members). From zero revenue and no physical assets through building the single-largest peanut shelling facility globally and second largest peanut oil crusher in the U.S., handling 10%+ of the U.S. peanut crop; raised $70+ million in equity; generated annual revenue of ~$300 million with EBITDA of >10%., Premium Peanut, Douglas, GA
2001 -2015 Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain, Various positions including: Supply Chain Manager, Plant Manager, Business Unit Manager, Vice President N. A. Supply Chain, Senior Vice President European Product Supply, General Cable (Prysmian), Barcelona, Spain; Miami, Florida; Highland Heights, Kentucky
1996 -2001 Six Sigma Blackbelt, Various positions, both co-op and full-time including: buyer / contract administrator, materials coordinator, and Operations Management Leadership Program (OMLP), General Electric (GE), Evendale, Ohio; Fairfield, Connecticut; Munich, Germany
2025 - Associate Professor - Practice, Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
Publications
Peer Reviewed Publications
M.C. Lamb, C.L. Butts, K. Zimmer, et al (2023. ) U.S. Peanut Quality: Industry Priorities to Mitigate Aflatoxin Risk from Farm to Consumer .Peanut Science, the Journal of the American Peanut Research and Education Society, , 50 (1 ) ,
Other Publications
(2022. ) Industry Innovator Interview .Cultivate, 2 (1 ) , University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Presentations
Invited Presentations
Zimmer, Karl (02-2022. ) Competitive Exports Through Supply Chain Optimization .National Peanut Buying Points Association, Charleston, South Carolina.
Zimmer, Karl (01-2023. ) Commodity Workshop – Peanuts .Peanut and Tree Nuts Processors Association, San Diego, California.
Zimmer, Karl (03-2021. ) Industry Aflatoxin Update .American Peanut Shellers Association, Albany, Georgia.
Zimmer, Karl (08-2020. ) Aflatoxin Taskforce Pre-Harvest Update .American Peanut Shellers Association, Albany, Georgia.
Zimmer, Karl (12-2019. ) Valuation Update .American Peanut Council, Washington, D.C..
Zimmer, Karl (07-2019. ) Conflicting Objectives in the Peanut Industry .American Peanut Research and Education Society, Auburn, Alabama.
Zimmer, Karl (01-2018. ) Peanut Market Overview and Industry Challenges .Georgia Plant Food Educational Society, Tifton, Georgia.
Zimmer, Karl (03-2014. ) Supply Chain Considerations in the Wire and Cable Business .Metal Bulletin 27th International Copper Conference, Florence, Italy.
Zimmer, Karl (06-2010. ) Lean in Wire & Cable: Delivering Excellent Service While Reducing Working Capital & Costs .CRU Group 4th World Wire & Cable Conference,
Zimmer, Karl (11-2010. ) Optimizing the Supply Chain in an Ever-Changing World .American Copper Council,
Zimmer, Karl (11-2017. ) Employment Enhancement .State of Georgia, House of Representatives Rural Development Council, Warm Springs, Georgia.
Colloquium
Zimmer, Karl (11-2017). Jet Engines to Peanuts, Across Six Continents. Out of the Box: Examples of What the Internationally Prepared Engineer is Poised to Do . 20th Annual Colloquium on International Engineering Education: , Northern Arizona University.
Paper Presentations
Gulick, D., & Pearson, D., & Elliott, G., & Oliver, J., & Zimmer, K. (06-2006. ) Developing Globally Minded Engineers Through Education And Experience: A Panel Discussion On International Co Op/Internship Program Models .Chicago, Illinois. Conference. Level:National
Symposium
Pearson, Georgia Tech, and Zimmer, General Cable (02-2007. ) Getting Started – Strategies for Creating International Co-op and Internship Programs: A Panel Discussion .Palm Springs, California.
Kordys, Siemens; Little, Georgia Tech, and Zimmer, General Cable (02-2006. ) Perspectives on International Co-op/Internship Programs: A Panel Discussion .San Antonio, Texas.
Honors and Awards
2018 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Southeast Region Award Winner
2020 Lou Takacs Award American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Cooperative and Experiential Education Division (CEED) Status:Recipient
2009 Jeffrey Hurwitz Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award University of Cincinnati Status:Recipient Level:University
1999 Herman Schneider Medal University of Cincinnati College of Engineering Status:Recipient Level:College
1999 Award for Excellence in Industrial Engineering University of Cincinnati College of Engineering Status:Recipient Level:Department
2023 Lifetime Achievement Award American Peanut Shellers Association
Post Graduate Training and Education
2001Six Sigma Blackbelt, General Electric Aircraft Engines, , Evendale, Ohio
1999-2000 Six Sigma Greenbelt, General Electric Aircraft Engines, , Evendale, Ohio
Professional Affiliation
2020 -2023: United States Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee on Trade (ATAC) in Cotton, Tobacco, and Peanuts Joint appointment by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative. U.S. Department of Agriculture & Office of the U. S. Trade Representative,
2018 -2023: Georgia Rural Development Council Gubernatorial appointment. Advising Georgia's Rural Center in building healthy, vibrant rural Georgia communities. State of Georgia,
2017: Industry Delegation Lead United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and American Peanut Council (APC) visit to European Union Ports [Evaluation of Testing Procedures and other Sanitary and Phytosanitary Regulation Testing and Implementation at Key Ports]
11-2017: Delegation Lead American Peanut Council Trade Mission to Japan; presented U.S. Peanuts Alfatoxin Taskforce Update