Stephan Bester
Technical Operations | Engineering | Procurement | Projects | Product Development
Tamarac, Florida | +1 442 244 1788 | stephan.bester@gmail.com
US Permanent Resident | Authorized to work without employer sponsorship
Professional Profile
Multiskilled technical and business professional with a career beginning in 1991 across marine engineering, automotive procurement and exports, product development, business ownership, building maintenance, law enforcement, and protective security. Combines independent hands-on troubleshooting and repair with CAD, cost analysis, supplier management, technical documentation, and project delivery. Experienced in newbuild commissioning, major refits, engineering budgets up to US$2.1 million annually, and international manufacturing quality coordination. Resourceful team contributor who researches unfamiliar systems, explains technical issues clearly, and takes responsibility for correcting problems.
Selected Achievements
Proposed and implemented a brake-pad packaging and delivery arrangement at Nissan that reduced combined packaging, handling, supplier overhead, and associated costs by a measured 45%, while shortening lead time by almost two weeks.
Created a vehicle-off-road back-order register and weekly follow-up process adopted by divisional management within approximately three weeks; received a commendation.
Managed a three-person cataloging team, including two direct reports, supporting approximately nine vehicle models with about 800 drawings per model and 2,500–6,000 parts per vehicle.
Managed engineering scope during Amanti’s nine-month refit, including replacement of three generators with two new units and integration of exhaust treatment with existing vessel controls.
Joined M/Y Graycliffs four months before delivery, tested and commissioned vessel systems, and built its IDEA planned maintenance and inventory system from scratch.
Developed nine DisplayPrep board models from concept through physical prototypes, practical testing, manufacturing documentation, and market launch.
Core Capabilities
Mechanical and electrical diagnostics; engines and generators; HVAC and refrigeration; hydraulic and pneumatic systems; hybrid and diesel-electric systems; preventive maintenance; technical procurement; supplier evaluation; cost estimation and budgeting; refits and commissioning; quality inspection; contractor coordination; CAD and fabrication; inventory and logistics coordination; evidence-based investigation; reporting and presentations, troubleshooting, process analyses & quantification, SOP development and integration, training, analytical thought pattern, weapons handling.
Work Preferences
Available immediately for technical, operational, procurement, project, quality, design, manufacturing, or business roles. Open to individual contributor or management appointments, hands-on and office work, shifts, weekends, and emergency callouts. Travel up to two weeks per trip; relocation considered where financially viable. Florida driving license.
Marine Engineering Experience
Sole Engineer appointments from 2012 to March 2017; Chief Engineer appointments following MCA certification in March 2017. Sole engineering responsibility throughout subsequent vessel appointments, with limited deck/engineer assistance on two vessels.
M/Y Graycliffs — Feadship — 50 m; R/V Scintilla Maris — Damen — 45 m; M/Y Andiamo II — Pershing — 33 m; M/Y Unbridled — Trinity — 58 m; M/Y Oceanos — Mondomarine — 52 m; M/Y Casino Royale / Lady Elaine — Christensen — 50 m; M/Y Amanti — Feadship — 52 m; M/Y Ninkasi — Holland Jachtbouw — 45 m; M/Y Coquette — Benetti — 41 m; M/Y Sin or Swim — Azimut — 35 m.
Family caregiving break | Mar 2017–Apr 2018.
Independent engineering for private and charter operations, including hybrid and diesel-electric vessels.
Mediterranean, US East Coast and Caribbean operations; Atlantic crossing and deliveries from Reykjavik to Brunswick and West Palm Beach to Harbor Springs.
Engine servicing, valve adjustments, injectors, turbochargers, cooling systems, cylinder heads and rebuilds; MTU, Caterpillar, Deutz, Kohler and John Deere.
Generator diagnostics: alternators, excitation, voltage regulation, synchronization, load sharing and power management.
Hydraulic steering, stabilizers, cranes, passerelles, doors and winches.
HVAC and refrigeration: chillers, air handlers, pumps, controls, refrigerant systems and cold storage.
Water makers, freshwater, hot-water, sewage, greywater and bilge systems.
Single- and three-phase AC; 12–24 VDC, 100–1,600 VDC and 110–480 VAC; high-voltage and hybrid testing and maintenance.
Control-system parameter changes, programming, diagnostics, replacement and commissioning.
VSAT, Starlink, Wi-Fi, switches, servers, Apple/PC systems, Sonos, Crestron and entertainment troubleshooting.
Preventive maintenance and fault finding; IDEA, Seahub and MARAD; schedules, spares, procedures, checklists, sketches and handovers.
Built Graycliffs’ IDEA maintenance and inventory system from scratch; tested and commissioned vessel systems.
Technical procurement and supplies; quote comparisons, invoice tracking, budget forecasts and monthly reports.
Managed Amanti’s US$2.1 million annual engineering budget and nine-month refit; replaced three generators with two units and integrated exhaust treatment with existing controls.
Class and Flag survey preparation and live testing; internal ISM audit involvement and support.
Engine-room safety systems, drills, risk assessments, safe-work procedures and crew instruction.
Technical Scope and Business Experience
DisplayPrep.com | Founder and Product Developer (zerovizclub.com | spiralsearch.net)
Jan 2024–Present | Independent venture | Products offered for sale Sep 2026
Designed nine portable food preparation and presentation board models differentiated by pan layout, size, preparation space, and intended use; built a physical prototype of each model.
Used Fusion 360 for assemblies, drawings, and renderings; produced manufacturing drawings, bills of materials, assembly instructions, and inspection checklists.
Performed practical load, stability, durability, cleaning, chemical-exposure, ergonomic, transport, impact, and food-use trials; obtained informal feedback from seven testers.
Fabricates half-inch HDPE and aluminum extrusion assemblies using saws, routers, drilling and tapping tools, and stainless fasteners. Checks dimensions, alignment, edges, stability, and finish.
Conducts supplier and lead-time comparisons, unit costing, and manufacture-to-order planning. Prepared components can be assembled in approximately 45 minutes.
Built and manages the website and ecommerce setup using a combination of site-building and coding, including Visual Basic. Creates copy, photography, images, video, and social-media material; prepares order and after-sales procedures.
Plan B Projects | Co-owner
Approx. late 2010–early 2013 | Pretoria, South Africa | 50% ownership
Operated a two-person building-maintenance business performing repairs, recurring maintenance, emergency callouts, and installations for direct corporate and institutional clients.
Completed electrical circuits, distribution boards, lighting, motors, fault finding, CCTV/access control, hot- and cold-water systems, boilers, wastewater plumbing, and waterproofing.
Performed cabinetry, kitchens, bar counters, furniture repairs, structural repairs, roofing, tiling, painting, welding, and metal fabrication. Produced AutoCAD drawings, estimates, and material requirements; handled invoicing and defect resolution.
Direct clients included Group Five, Blue Bulls, University of Pretoria, UNISA, Pretoria Central Teachers College, and Netcare hospitals.
Software Languages and References
AutoCAD 2D; Fusion 360 assemblies, drawings, and renderings; SAP; Nissan FAST; IDEA; Seahub; MARAD; Microsoft Office and advanced Excel including lookups, pivot tables, charts, and macros; Visual Basic; Adobe Lightroom; Filmora; AI-assisted research, drafting, planning, coding, and troubleshooting.
Languages: English and Afrikaans fluent; Zulu and Northern Sotho conversational.
References available from yacht captains and the ship commissioning team. Interests include landscape and architectural photography.
Automotive Procurement and Export Experience
Nissan South Africa | Parts and Accessories Division
Jun 1998–Nov 2010 | Pretoria, South Africa
Sequential appointments: Dealer Liaison Officer; Local Parts Purchaser; International Parts Purchaser; Component Export Specialist; Manager, Parts and Accessories Cataloging.
Dealer Support and Procurement
Supported a Southern African network of approximately 220 dealerships across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, and Lesotho; handled approximately 60–70 inquiries weekly.
Resolved incorrect-part, backorder, warranty, delivery, and vehicle-identification issues; prioritized urgent vehicle-off-road requirements and coordinated specialist teams.
Managed approximately 85 suppliers and purchasing expenditure of ZAR 1.8 million monthly across components, accessories, consumables, tooling, services, and facilities contractors.
Sourced and evaluated suppliers, issued RFQs, compared bids, negotiated purchasing terms, raised orders, and supported demand forecasting, stock levels, shortage management, and obsolete inventory review.
Assessed quality, capacity, pricing, delivery, financial stability, material handling, and technical compliance. Proposed and implemented the packaging change delivering a measured 45% combined cost reduction and nearly two weeks shorter lead time.
International Sourcing and Component Exports
Conducted overseas sourcing, factory visits, process audits, and manufacturing inspections against Nissan requirements and ISO 9001. Coordinated with suppliers and Nissan facilities across North America, Europe, Egypt, South Korea, and Japan.
Coordinated TSW wheel exports and semi-knockdown vehicle kits to Egypt; assessed supplier capacity, specifications, quality, packaging, and fumigation requirements.
Oversaw completion of customer shipment packages through coordination with dispatch, logistics, invoicing, and payment specialists, rather than directly performing their functions.
Reviewed dimensions, finishes, casting defects, balancing and testing records, batch traceability, markings, and inserts; selected samples for specialist load testing.
Implemented an existing jig-based wheel-insert checking procedure that eliminated a reported misalignment defect affecting secure fastening.
Coordinated weekly customer discussions on orders, shipment status, rejected products, rework, and urgent quality issues. Used export cost models incorporating logistics and government incentives; added LME metal pricing to improve margin visibility.
Catalog Management and SAP Integration
Supervised two employees, maintaining nine vehicle-model catalogs with approximately 800 drawings per model and 2,500–6,000 parts per vehicle in Nissan FAST.
Created, modified, and simplified 2D AutoCAD parts illustrations using engineering drawings, photographs, parts lists, and Japan-supplied data; used layers, blocks, dimensions, layouts, and revision controls.
Uploaded SAP VIN-linked bills of materials into FAST; coordinated part-number changes, supersessions, discontinuations, and interchangeability with purchasing and Japan-based quality teams.
Performed data cleanup, migration, mapping, testing, and reconciliation during SAP transition. Coordinated correction of incompatible export-file delimiters to enable catalog integration.
Identified catalog content exchanged between two models; coordinated correction with Japan and reissue to dealerships. Completed six- and eight-week training visits to Japan, coached team members, and presented updates to colleagues and senior management.
Earlier Career and Qualifications
Prospective Ice | Founder and Sole Owner
Approx. late 2010–early 2013 | Pretoria, South Africa
Established an ice manufacturing and distribution business serving approximately 36 recurring customers, including shops, restaurants, wholesalers, gas stations, event planners, and a rugby union.
Operated 18 mainly Hoshizaki machines with approximately nine tons of combined nominal daily capacity. Managed two employees and seven-day operations, covering packing and delivery when necessary.
Maintained ice machines, compressors, pumps, motors, wiring, controls, sensors, evaporators, cold rooms, freezers, and doors; performed refrigerant work and arranged specialist assistance when needed.
Managed water filtration and UV treatment, plumbing, electrical supplies, and solar backup. Used Excel for orders and stock control, with monthly inventory counts and cost-based pricing.
Secured recurring stadium supply work, providing approximately seven–nine tones per rugby match. Used bulk purchases from competitors to maintain service during seasonal demand peaks.
South African Police Service | Constable through Major
Jan 1991–Jan 1998 | Pretoria and assignments across South Africa
Served in visible policing, criminal investigations, K9, endangered-species investigations, tactical response, and VIP protection. Worked within a seven-person investigative unit without direct-report supervision.
Handled up to 64 active cases; interviewed witnesses and suspects, prepared statements and case files, maintained evidence custody, and testified in regional and higher courts.
Used scene photography, sketches, measurements, structured searches, and forensic analysis coordination; worked with prosecutors, laboratories, specialist police units, and wildlife authorities.
Investigated wildlife trafficking through intelligence, surveillance, searches, evidence processing, arrests, animal relocation coordination, and prosecution support. Participated in coordinated undercover operations.
Provided personal protection to the Minister of Foreign Affairs within South Africa, including advance checks, route planning, travel and vehicle preparation, threat assessment, and immediate route changes.
Completed police diving training in 1994 and participated in underwater evidence recovery. Maintained K9 readiness and continued training; provided informal peer mentoring.
SBV Services | Security Officer
Approx. two months in early 1998 | South Africa
Worked in cash-in-transit security following departure from SAPS.
EMS Specialists | Volunteer Ambulance Assistant
Approx. three years from late 2010 | Pretoria, South Africa
Supported ambulance stocking, scene assistance, triage, patient comfort, and supervised emergency assistance. Volunteered mainly on weekends; held no independent clinical qualification during this service.
Education and Professional Training
MCA Chief Engineer Certificate of Competency, Y3 / SV - issued Mar 2017; valid to 2027. Cayman Islands, Marshall Islands, and Jamaica endorsements.
Project Management Certificate - University of Pretoria, Postgraduate School of Business, 2012.
Senior Certificate (Matric) - Montana High School, Pretoria, 1990. Subjects included mathematics, science, manual technical drawing, and electrical studies.
STCW and ENG1 - expire 2028. Training includes AEC 1 and 2, diesel engineering, auxiliary equipment 1 and 2, engine-room resource management, advanced firefighting, survival craft, operational procedures, ship construction, hotel services, designated duty engineer, leadership/teamwork, and leadership/management. Additional training: MTU manufacturer training, Netherlands high-voltage training, and police specialist courses in investigations, tactical response, K9 handling, protection, and diving.