John Azara

John Azara is an experienced leader in manufacturing and operations with a robust background spanning over two decades. Currently serving as the Director of Client Engagement and Regional Manager/Strategic Advisor at IMEC Illinois since August 2016, John focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies through tailored solutions. Prior roles include Director of Operations at Phonak, where John managed over 400 employees in custom hearing aid production, and Project Management roles at Woodward, Inc., where global cost-reduction projects were executed. Additional experience has been gained at Knowles Electronics, 3Com, and US Robotics, in various management capacities across manufacturing, product development, and supply chain management. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering Technology from DeVry University and is a certified Project Management Professional.